CONFIGURATION AND MONITORING SYSTEM FOR AN AIRCRAFT CABIN ELEMENT, FUSELAGE AND AIRCRAFT COMPRISING SAID SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MONITORING AN AIRCRAFT

• US 20140002278A1
• Filed: 05/17/2013
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Aerotechnics
• Original Assignee: Intertechnique SA (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Boomgaarden, Gunter, Gluck, Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/896,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20140002278A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/02 Masks gas-masks for animals A62B18/06; masks for welders A61F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 21/00 Devices for producing oxygen from chemical substances for respiratory apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 25/005 for high altitude
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/00 Respiratory apparatus for medical purposes A61M16/00
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/02 with compressed oxygen or air
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/08 containing chemicals producing oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/14 for high-altitude aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/02 Valves non-return valves mounted in breathing masks or helmets A62B18/10
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 10/00 Flight suits helmets in general A42B3/00; breathing helmets A62B18/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00155 Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 13/00 Arrangements or adaptations of air-treatment apparatus for aircraft crew or passengers, or freight space , or structural parts of the aircraft treatment rooms with artificial climate for medical purposes A61G10/02; respiratory apparatus in general A62B; for vehicles in general B60H
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2231/00 Emergency oxygen systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2231/02 Supply or distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2231/025 Oxygen masks; Mask storages; Features related to mask deployment
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/02 Preparation of oxygen by liquefying F25J
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/0296 Generators releasing in a self-sustaining way pure oxygen from a solid charge, without interaction of it with a fluid nor external heating, e.g. chlorate candles or canisters containing them charges per se C01B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/00 Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/224 Paging receivers with visible signalling details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 : using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 : Weight reduction

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a configuration and monitoring system for an aircraft cabin element of a plurality of cabin elements in a cabin of an aircraft, the system comprising:

• • a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, wherein the RFID-device is associated with the aircraft cabin element adapted for providing a monitor signal adapted to indicate a status of the aircraft cabin element by a monitor information,
  • a RFID-reader communicatingly connectable to the RFID-device,
  • a controlling unit of a central cabin system. According to the invention
  • the RFID-reader is communicatingly integrated in the central cabin system by being continuously communicatingly connectable to the controlling unit in the cabin, wherein information are centrally collectable and accessable by the controlling unit, and
  • at least one repeater is adapted for expanding the monitor signal in the cabin to the RFID-reader, wherein the monitor information includes continuously, responding status data of the aircraft cabin element during the flight.

Claims

1. A configuration and monitoring system for an aircraft cabin element of a plurality of cabin elements in a cabin of an aircraft, the system comprising:

a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, wherein the RFID-device is associated with the aircraft cabin element adapted for providing a monitor signal adapted to indicate a status of the aircraft cabin element by a monitor information,

a RFID-reader communicatingly connectable to the RFID-device,

a controlling unit of a central cabin system, characterized in that

the RFID-reader is communicatingly integrated in the central cabin system by being continuously communicatingly connectable to the controlling unit in the cabin, wherein information are centrally collectable and accessable by the controlling unit, and

at least one repeater is adapted for expanding the monitor signal in the cabin to the RFID-reader, wherein the monitor information includes continuously, responding status data of the aircraft cabin element during the flight.

2. A configuration and monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft cabin element including the continuously, responding status data is adapted to a cabin component and/or a cabin supply item.

3. A configuration and monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein a RFID-device and a sensor unit is assigned to the RFID-device and/or the RFID-reader, in particular a sensor unit integrated in the RFID-device and/or the RFID-reader, communicating continuously, responding status data providing analyzable and transponder callable status data.

4. A configuration and monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the continuously, responding status data of the RFID-device provides health and usage data.

5. A configuration and monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the continuously, responding status data are provided in a defined time interval.

6. A configuration and monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the continuously, responding status data are provided after upper and/or lower warning limit.

7. A configuration and monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the continuously, responding status data are adapted for maintenance modus.

8. A configuration and monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the continuously, responding status data are provided to a hand held readers.

9. A fuselage of an aircraft comprising a configuration and monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the monitor information including the continuously, responding status is provided to an aircraft cabin element and/or a fuselage element.

10. An aircraft comprising a configuration and monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft is configured with at least a cabin and a cabin element from a plurality of cabin elements and the aircraft cabin element configuration with the monitor information includes the continuously, responding status data provided to provided to an aircraft cabin element and/or an outside-cabin element.

11. Method of monitoring an aircraft cabin element, comprising:

a radio frequency identification device (RFID), wherein the RFID-device is associated with the aircraft cabin element adapted for providing a monitor signal adapted to indicate a status of the aircraft cabin element by a monitor information,

a RFID-reader communicatingly connectable to the RFID-device,

a controlling unit of the cabin management system, the method comprising the steps of;

providing a monitor signal adapted to indicate a status of the aircraft cabin element by a monitor information

communicating between the RFID-device and the RFID-reader, wherein the RFID-reader is communicatingly integrated in the central cabin system by being communicatingly connectable to the controlling unit in the cabin, wherein all information are centrally collectable and accessable by the controlling unit,

expanding the monitor signal in the cabin to the RFID-reader by at least one repeater antenna,

providing continuously responding status data of the aircraft cabin element during the flight in the monitor information.

12. Method of monitoring an aircraft cabin element according to claim 11, wherein the RFID-reader for the continuously, responding status data is communicatingly connecting to the controlling unit in the cabin.

13. Method of monitoring an aircraft cabin element according to claim 11, wherein the controlling unit is centrally collecting and accessing all information of the continuously, responding status data.