Integrated projector included in a seat for displaying information

• US 7,722,192 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2007
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Huonker, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps; Georgia Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOWDHURY, SULTAN U.
• Application Number:
  US11/765,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20080106702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 353/82, 353/12, 353/70, 340/945, 345/169
• US Class Current: 353/82
• 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 11/06 Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats crew seat constructions for emergency purposes B64D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0601 Arrangement of seats for non-standard seating layouts, e.g. seats staggered horizontally or vertically, arranged in an angled or fishbone layout, or facing in other directions than the direction of flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/02 Arrangements or adaptations of signal or lighting devices

Abstract

The invention comprises a system for displaying image elements for an aircraft seat. The system comprises a seat element with a projection device, and comprises an imaging region for imaging an image element. The image projection device is designed such that the image element can be projected on the imaging region.

Claims

1. A system for displaying image elements for an aircraft seat, with the system comprising:

an imaging region for displaying an image element, the imaging region comprising position coordinates;

a seat element with an image projection device operable to project the image element onto the imaging region, the image projection device being also operable to flexibly adjust the position coordinates of the imaging region such that the imaging region is positionable in various locations, the image projection device comprising an image adjustment device for adjusting image characteristics of the image element; and

a control unit operable to automatically control the image projection device depending on the position coordinates of the imaging region.

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein the image projection device comprises position coordinates;

wherein the control unit is designed to control the image projection device depending on the position coordinates of the image projection device and depending on the position coordinates of the imaging region.

3. The system of claim 2,

wherein the control unit is designed to control the image adjustment device if there is a change in the position coordinates of the image projection device and/or in the position coordinates of the imaging region.

4. The system of claim 2,

wherein the image projection device comprises a first position sensor;

wherein the first position sensor is designed to determine the position coordinates of the image projection device.

5. The system of claim 2,

wherein the imaging region comprises a second position sensor;

wherein the second position sensor is designed to determine the position coordinates of the imaging region.

6. The system of claim 1,

wherein the seat element comprises a seat-state sensor;

wherein the seat-state sensor is designed to determine seat-state data of the aircraft seat;

wherein the control unit is designed to evaluate the seat-state data, and to display it in the imaging region by means of the image projection device.

7. The system of claim 1,

wherein the imaging region is arranged in a first region;

wherein the first region is selected from the group comprising the backrest of a seat, the armrest of a seat, a seat cover, an overhead region and a floor region.

8. The system of claim 1,

wherein the image projection device is arranged in a second region;

wherein the second region is selected from the group comprising the backrest of a seat, the armrest of a seat, a seat cover and a headrest.

9. The system of claim 1,

wherein the control unit is arranged in the seat element.

10. The system of claim 1,

wherein the system further comprises a multitude of seat elements;

wherein each of the multitude of seat elements comprises an image projection device;

wherein the control unit is designed to control the respective image projection devices of the multitude of seat elements.

11. The system of claim 1,

wherein at least one of the control units and of the image projection devices is equipped for connection to a network;

wherein by way of the network, information can be provided.

13. The use of a system for displaying image elements for an aircraft seat of claim 1 in an aircraft.

14. An aircraft comprising a system for displaying image elements for an aircraft seat of claim 1.

12. A method for displaying image elements for an aircraft seat, wherein the method comprises:

projecting an image element on an imaging region by means of an image projection device of a seat element, wherein the imaging region comprises position coordinates;

using the image projection device to flexibly adjust the position coordinates of the imaging region so as to change a location of the imaging region;

adjusting image characteristics of the image element using an image adjustment device of the image projection device;

using a control unit to automatically control the image projection device depending on the position coordinates of the imaging region.