FIXTURE FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES, VEHICLE SEAT WITH INTEGRATED FIXTURE AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE IN A FIXTURE

• US 20160152340A1
• Filed: 11/19/2015
• Published: 06/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Bauer, Hans-Achim, Zybala, Andr?
• Granted Patent: US 10,029,796 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0624 Arrangements of electrical connectors, e.g. for earphone, internet or electric supply

Abstract

A fixture for electronic devices includes a substantially planar receptacle, and a mounting framework arranged at least partially at the surrounding edges of the receptacle, the mounting framework having at least one framework component made from a shape memory material and/or an electro-active polymer, wherein the framework component exhibits a relaxed state and a triggered state in which the framework component is moved or flexed inwardly into the area of the receptacle.

Claims

1. A fixture for an electronic device, comprising:

a substantially planar receptacle;

a mounting framework arranged at least partially at surrounding edges of the receptacle, the mounting framework comprising at least one framework component comprising a shape memory material and/or an electro-active polymer,

wherein the framework component exhibits a relaxed state and a triggered state in which the framework component is moved or flexed inwardly into an area of the receptacle.

2. The fixture according to claim 1, wherein the framework component comprises at least one bracket element which is configured to perform an angling motion into the area of the receptacle when moving from its relaxed state to its triggered state.

3. The fixture according to claim 2, wherein the fixture comprises four bracket elements which are arranged at corners of the rectangular receptacle.

4. The fixture according to claim 1, wherein the framework component comprises at least one looped element which encircles a first portion of the area of the receptacle in its relaxed state and a second portion of the area of the receptacle in its triggered state, the first portion being larger than the second portion.

5. The fixture according to claim 4, wherein the second portion of the area of the receptacle has an annular or elliptical shape.

6. The fixture according to claim 4, wherein the second portion of the area of the receptacle is completely encompassed by the first portion of the area of the receptacle.

7. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a fixture having;

a substantially planar receptacle;

a mounting framework arranged at least partially at surrounding edges of the receptacle, the mounting framework comprising at least one framework component comprising a shape memory material and/or an electro-active polymer, the framework component exhibiting a relaxed state and a triggered state in which the framework component is moved or flexed inwardly into an area of the receptacle; and

a framework controller coupled to the fixture and configured to emit an activation signal to the at least one framework component, the activation signal being configured to control the at least one framework component to move from its relaxed state to its triggered state.

8. The vehicle seat according to claim 7, further comprising:

a charging coil arranged in a vicinity of the receptacle; and

a fixture controller coupled to the charging coil and the framework controller,

wherein the fixture controller is configured to detect presence of an electronic device in the proximity of the charging coil and to cause the framework controller to emit the activation signal, if the presence of an electronic device in the proximity of the charging coil has been detected.

9. The vehicle seat according to claim 8, further comprising:

a charging controller coupled to the charging coil and configured to wirelessly charge an electronic device held in the fixture by the charging coil.

10. The vehicle seat according to claim 8, further comprising:

a release switch coupled to the framework controller and configured to cause the framework controller to cease transmitting the activation signal to the framework component upon manual activation.

11. An aircraft comprising at least one vehicle seat, the vehicle seat comprising:

a fixture having;

a substantially planar receptacle;

a mounting framework arranged at least partially at surrounding edges of the receptacle, the mounting framework comprising at least one framework component comprising a shape memory material and/or an electro-active polymer, the framework component exhibiting a relaxed state and a triggered state in which the framework component is moved or flexed inwardly into an area of the receptacle; and

a framework controller coupled to the fixture and configured to emit an activation signal to the at least one framework component, the activation signal being configured to control the at least one framework component to move from its relaxed state to its triggered state.

12. A method for mounting an electronic device in a fixture, the fixture having:

a substantially planar receptacle;

a mounting framework arranged at least partially at surrounding edges of the receptacle, the mounting framework comprising at least one framework component comprising a shape memory material and/or an electro-active polymer, the framework component exhibiting a relaxed state and a triggered state in which the framework component is moved or flexed inwardly into an area of the receptacle,

the method comprising;

detecting presence of an electronic device in the receptacle;

causing the at least one framework component to move or flex from its relaxed state to its triggered state, thereby grabbing the electronic device at its edges or corners and holding it in place within the area of the receptacle.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein detecting the presence of an electronic device comprises detecting a radio frequency signal in the vicinity of a coil near the receptacle.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

detecting manual activation of a release switch, when the at least one framework component is kept in its triggered state; and

returning the framework component to its relaxed state, if an activation of the release switch is detected.

15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

wirelessly charging the electronic device held within the receptacle by the mounting framework.