Method for Configurable USB Power Management

• US 20160329724A1
• Filed: 05/07/2015
• Published: 11/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Ibrahim, Yakentim M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,960,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0624 Arrangements of electrical connectors, e.g. for earphone, internet or electric supply
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2221/00 Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence

Abstract

Within examples, systems for power distribution within the cabin of an aircraft are provided and methods for operation. The system includes a passenger seat of the aircraft. The passenger seat includes a charging module. The charging module is configured to supply power to a connected device of the passenger seat. The passenger seat also includes a passenger control unit (PCU) coupled to the charging module. The passenger control unit is configured to determine a power requirement for the connected device. Additionally, the passenger seat is associated with a seat grouping of the aircraft. The seat grouping of the aircraft includes at least one passenger seat. Further, the power distribution system includes a power supply configured to supply power to at least one charging module based on the determined power requirement.

Claims

1. A power distributing system in an aircraft, the system comprising:

a charging module, wherein the charging module is configured to supply power to a connected device;

a passenger control unit (PCU) coupled to the charging module, wherein the passenger control unit is configured to determine a power requirement for the connected device and a supplied power level, wherein the PCU is associated with a seat grouping of the aircraft, and wherein the seat grouping comprises at least one passenger seat; and

a power supply configured to supply power to at least one charging module based on the supplied power level.

2. The power distributing system of claim 1, wherein the seat grouping comprises a master PCU.

3. The power distributing system of claim 2, wherein the master PCU is configured to communicate with the PCU of the seat grouping to determine a power requirement of a connected device for the PCU.

4. The power distributing system of claim 3, wherein the master PCU is further configured to control the power supplied by the power supply, based on the determined power requirement of the connected device for the PCU.

5. The power distributing system of claim 3, wherein the master PCU is further configured to determine a charging priority for the connected device for the PCU.

6. The power distributing system of claim 1, wherein the seat grouping comprises multiple passenger seats and the power supply is configured to supply power to each seat of the seat grouping.

7. The power distributing system of claim 1, wherein the distributing system comprises a plurality of seat groupings and each seat grouping has a respective power supply.

8. The power distributing system of claim 1, further comprising a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to communicate with the PCU and a server.

9. The power distributing system of claim 8, wherein the server is configured to control the power supplied by the power supply, based on the determined power requirement of the connected device for the PCU.

10. The power distributing system of claim 9, wherein the server is further configured to determine a charging priority for the device for the PCU.

11. A method of distributing power in an aircraft, the method comprising:

providing a device connection via a charging module at a passenger seat associated with a seat grouping of the aircraft, wherein the device connection is configured to supply power to a connected device and wherein the seat grouping of the aircraft comprises at least one passenger seat;

determining a power requirement for a connected device with a passenger control unit (PCU) of the passenger seat; and

supplying power to at least one charging module based on the determined power requirement via a power supply.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising communicating with the PCU of the seat grouping via a master PCU to determine a determined power requirement of the connected device for the respective PCU in the seat grouping.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising controlling the power supplied by the power supply via the master PCU, based on the determined power requirement of the connected device for the respective PCU.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a charging priority for the connected device for the respective PCU via the master PCU.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising supplying power to each seat of the seat grouping via the power supply.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of seat groupings and wherein each seat grouping has a respective power supply.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising to communicating with the PCU and a server via a control unit of each passenger seat.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising controlling the power supplied by the power supply via the server based on the determined power requirement of the connected device for the PCU.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a Cabin Service System Server is further configured to determine a charging priority for the connected device.

20. A method of distributing power in an aircraft, the method comprising:

assigning a passenger seat of an aircraft to a seat grouping, wherein for the seat grouping;

supplying power to a passenger control unit (PCU) of the passenger seat via a power supply,

determining a priority for a of connected device within the seat grouping via a master PCU,

providing power to a respective PCU of the grouping based on the determined priority via the master PCU; and

for the passenger seat;

providing a device connection via a charging module at the passenger seat, wherein the device connection is configured to supply power to the connected device,

determining a power requirement for the connected device with the PCU of the passenger seat,

communicating the power requirement from the PCU of the passenger seat to the master PCU, and

supplying power provided by the power supply to at least one charging module.