METHOD, SYSTEM, AND EXECUTABLE PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR CONTROLLING PASSENGER SERVICES

• US 20170073074A1
• Filed: 02/20/2015
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bombardier Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bombardier Incorporated, Joseph Rezile, Julien Fabrice Lachere, Pierre Gagnon
• Inventors: GAGNON, Pierre, REZILE, Joseph, KIRMOYAN, Marc, NOLEN, Brad, LACHER, Julien Fabrice, KARCESKI, Jeffrey David
• Granted Patent: US 10,144,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/44 Spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/47 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/76 for spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps spotlighting on or for specific fittings B60Q3/20; spotlighting in mass transit vehicles B60Q3/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 29/02 Cabins or other living spaces; Construction or arrangement thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1484 Windows B64C1/1492 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0053 Cabin passenger reading lights
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2013/003 Cabin ventilation nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2203/00 Aircraft or airfield lights using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A system for controlling passenger services includes a sensor that generates a signal representative of the at least one of the position of the seat, the presence of passenger in the seat, the position of the at least one hand of the passenger, the configuration of the at least one hand of the passenger and the direction of movement of the at least one hand of the passenger. A first light source, an air supply, and a window shade are disposed at a predetermined locations with respect to the seat. A controller, connected to the sensor, generates a control signal that controls at least one parameter associated with at least one of light generated by the first light source, air supplied by the air supply and a degree of openness of the window shade.

Claims

1. A system for controlling passenger services, comprising:

a sensor adapted to sense at least one of a position of a seat, a presence of passenger in the seat, a position of at least one hand of the passenger, a configuration of the at least one hand of the passenger and a direction of movement of the at least one hand of the passenger and generate a signal representative of the at least one of the position of the seat, the presence of passenger in the seat, the position of the at least one hand of the passenger, the configuration of the at least one hand of the passenger and the direction of movement of the at least one hand of the passenger;

a first light source disposed at a first predetermined location with respect to the seat;

an air supply disposed at a predetermined location with respect to the seat;

a window shade disposed at a predetermined location with respect to the seat; and

a controller operatively connected to the sensor to receive the signal and generate a control signal to be received by at least one of the first light source, the air supply and the window shade, where the control signal controls at least one parameter associated with at least one of light generated by the first light source, air supplied by the air supply, and a degree of openness of the window shade.

2. The system for controlling passenger services of claim 1, further comprising:

a passenger input device, the passenger input device generating a passenger input signal from the passenger as to the at least one parameter,

wherein the controller generates the control signal based on the passenger input signal.

3. The system for controlling passenger services of claim 1, further comprising a window shade sensor associated with the window shade to sense a degree of openness of the window shade that generates a window shade signal, wherein the control signal also controls the at least one parameter based on the window shade signal.

4. The system for controlling passenger services of claim 1, further comprising a cabin light sensor associated with a cabin light to sense the cabin light and generate a cabin light signal, wherein the control signal also controls the cabin light based on the cabin light signal.

5. The system for controlling passenger services of claim 1, further comprising an ambient light sensor associated with the ambient light that generates an ambient light signal, wherein the control signal also controls the ambient light based on the ambient light signal.

6. The system for controlling passenger services of claim 1, further comprising an air supply sensor associated with an air supply that generates an air supply signal, wherein the control signal also controls at least one of an air flow direction and an air flow rate also based on the air supply signal.

7. The system for controlling passenger services of claim 6, wherein the air supply comprises an air nozzle.

8. The system for controlling passenger services of claim 1, wherein the first light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

9. The system for controlling passenger services of claim 1, further comprising:

a second light source disposed at a predetermined location with respect to the seat,

wherein the control signal is received by the second light source and controls at least one parameter associated with light generated by the second light source.

10. The system for controlling passenger services system of claim 1, wherein the second light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

11. The system for controlling passenger services of claim 10, wherein the control signal provides proportional control over the first light source and the second light source.

12. A method for controlling passenger services, comprising:

receiving, by a controller, at least one of a first input signal from a sensor, wherein the first input signal concerns at least a position of a seat adapted to receive a passenger therein, a second input signal from the sensor, wherein the second input signal concerns at least a presence of the passenger in the seat, and a third input signal from the sensor, wherein the third input signal concerns at least one of a position, orientation, and directional motion of at least one hand of the passenger; and

adjusting, by the controller, at least one parameter associated with at least one of light generated by a first light source, air supplied by an air supply, and a degree of openness of a window shade, based on the first input signal, the second input signal, and the third input signal.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a passenger input signal from a passenger input device associated with the seat, wherein the passenger input corresponds to the at least one parameter associated with the light generated by the first light source, the air supplied by the air supply, and the degree of openness of the window shade; and

adjusting, by the controller, the at least one parameter associated with the light generated by the first light source, the air supplied by the air supply, and the degree of openness of the window shade, based on the passenger input signal.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second input signal is associated with a weight of the passenger in the seat.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising at least one of:

receiving, by the controller, a fourth input signal from a window shade sensor, wherein the fourth input signal concerns a degree of openness of the window shade;

receiving, by the controller, a fifth input signal from a cabin light sensor, wherein the fifth input signal concerns a parameter associated with the cabin light;

receiving, by the controller, a sixth input signal from an ambient light sensor, wherein the sixth input signal concerns a parameter associated with the ambient light; and

receiving, by the controller, a seventh input signal from an air supply sensor, wherein the seventh input signal concerns at least one of an air flow direction and an air flow rate associated with the air supply,

wherein the controller further controls at least one parameter associated with comfort for the passenger based on at least one of the fourth input signal, the fifth input signal, the sixth input signal, and the seventh input signal.

17. An executable computer program product embodying instructions for a method of operation of a passenger service system, wherein the instructions comprise steps to:

receive, by the controller, at least one of a first input signal from a sensor, wherein the first input signal concerns at least a position of a seat adapted to receive a passenger therein, a second input from the sensor, wherein the second input signal concerns at least a presence of the passenger in the seat, and a third input from the sensor, wherein the third input signal concerns at least one of a position, orientation and direction of motion of at least one hand of the passenger; and

adjust, by the controller, at least one parameter associated with at least one of light generated by a first light source, air supplied by an air supply, and a degree of openness of a window shade, based on the first input signal, the second input signal, and the third input signal.

18. The executable computer program product of claim 17, wherein the instructions further comprise steps to:

receive a passenger input signal from a passenger input device associated with the seat, wherein the passenger input corresponds to the at least one parameter associated with the light generated by the first light source, the air supplied by the air supply, and the degree of openness of the window shade; and

adjust, by the controller, the at least one parameter associated with the light generated by the first light source, the air supplied by the air supply, and the degree of openness of the window shade, based on the passenger input signal.

19. The executable computer program product of claim 17, wherein the instructions further comprise at least one step to:

receive, by the controller, a fourth input signal from a window shade sensor, wherein the fourth input signal concerns a degree of openness of the window shade;

receive, by the controller, a fifth input signal from a cabin light sensor, wherein the fifth input signal concerns a parameter associated with the cabin light;

receive, by the controller, a sixth input signal from an ambient light sensor, wherein the sixth input signal concerns a parameter associated with the ambient light; and

receive, by the controller, a seventh input signal from an air supply sensor, wherein the seventh input signal concerns at least one of an air flow direction and an air flow rate associated with the air supply.

20. The executable computer program product of claim 19, wherein the instructions further comprise at least the step to:

adjust, by the controller, at least one parameter associated with comfort for the passenger based on at least one of the fourth input signal, the fifth input signal, the sixth input signal, and the seventh input signal.