Conditional aircraft cabin warning and signalling system for determining the cabin status

• US 7,932,837 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2007
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Giesa, Hans-Gerhard, Zwirn, Fabian
• Primary Examiner(s): La; Anh V
• Application Number:
  US11/899,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20080068220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 340/574, 340/945, 340/541, 340/573.1, 340/457.1, 280/735, 280/801.1, 180/277, 180/286, 180/287, 180/289, 180/268, 701/45, 244/122.R, 297/468, 297/477
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0093 Aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01088 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4866 Displaying or indicating arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

A monitoring method for monitoring a seat status for an aircraft. A seat occupancy status of a seat element is measured by a seat occupancy sensor, and the fastening status of the seat element is measured by a fastening sensor. The seat occupancy status and the fasting status are transmitted to a monitoring device. The monitoring device automatically generates a warning signal if a combination of a predetermined occupancy status and a predetermined fastening status occurs.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring seat status for an aircraft, wherein the method comprises:

measuring a seat occupancy status of a seat element by a seat occupancy sensor;

measuring a fastening status of the seat element by a fastening sensor;

transmitting the seat occupancy status and the fastening status to a monitoring device; and

automatically generating a warning signal by the monitoring device if a combination of a predetermined occupancy status and a predetermined fastening status occurs; and

wherein the monitoring device is activated automatically at predetermined flight status data;

wherein the flight status data is selected from the group consisting of data on an altitude change of the aircraft, weather radar data, wind data, data for detecting turbulences, and flight phase-specific times.

2. The monitoring method of claim 1;

wherein the seat occupancy status and the fastening status are continuously measured such that the monitoring device detects a change of the seat occupancy status and a change of the fastening status.

3. The monitoring method of claim 1;

wherein the monitoring device is automatically activated at predetermined parameters; and

wherein the parameters are selected from the group consisting of duration of a seat status, number of non-fastened safety belts and number of vacant booked seat elements.

4. The monitoring method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the warning signal to a central indicating unit; and

indicating the warning signal by the central indicating unit.

5. The monitoring method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining of a position of the seat element in the aircraft; and

indicating the position of the seat element on the central indicating unit.

6. The monitoring method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the warning signal to a local indicating unit by the monitoring device;

indicating the warning signal by the local indicating unit; and

wherein the local indicating unit is installed within a range of perception of a passenger situated in the seat element.

7. The monitoring method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the warning signal to a decentralized indicating unit by the monitoring device;

indicating the warning signal by the decentralized indicating unit; and

wherein the decentralized indicating unit is assigned to the seat element.

8. The monitoring method of claim 1, further comprising:

storaging of the seat occupancy status and the fastening status in a storage element.

9. The monitoring method of claim 8,

wherein passenger data is provided to the storage element;

and

the seat occupancy status and the fastening status are compared with the passenger data.

10. The monitoring method of claim 1,

wherein the seat occupancy status and the fastening status of a plurality of seat elements are made available to the monitoring unit.

11. The monitoring method of claim 10, further comprising:

activating of the monitoring device for a predetermined number of a seat elements selected from the plurality of seat elements.

12. The monitoring method of claim 1,

wherein the warning signals are selected from the group consisting of audio signals, illumination signals, vibration signals, video signals and recorded voice signals.

13. The monitoring method of claim 1,

wherein at least one of the seat occupancy status, the fastening status and the warning signals is transmitted by wireless transmission.

14. The monitoring method of claim 1,

wherein the fastening sensor is arranged in a belt lock of the seat element;

wherein the fastening sensor includes a Hall sensor; and

wherein the fastening status is measured by the Hall sensor such that the engagement between a belt lock and a belt buckle of the seat element is detected.

15. The monitoring method of claim 14,

wherein the fastening status is transmitted to the monitoring device by a conductor woven into a belt band;

and

wherein the belt band connects the belt lock and the belt buckle to the seat element.

16. The monitoring method of claim 1,

wherein the seat occupancy sensor is arranged in a seat cushion of the seat element;

and

wherein a weight of an object situated on the seat cushion is measured such that the seat occupancy status is determined.

17. The monitoring method of claim 1,

wherein the seat occupancy sensor is arranged in a seat cushion of the seat element;

and

wherein the shape of a seat impression of an object situated on the seat cushion is measured such that the seat occupancy status is determined.

18. A monitoring system for an aircraft for monitoring seat status comprising:

a monitoring device; and

a seat element with a seat occupancy sensor and a fastening sensor;

wherein the seat occupancy sensor is operative to measure the seat occupancy status of the seat element;

wherein the fastening sensor is operative to measure the fastening status of the seat element;

wherein the seat occupancy status and the fastening status can be transmitted to the monitoring device;

wherein the monitoring device is operative to automatically generate a warning signal if a combination of a predetermined occupancy status and a predetermined fastening status occurs; and

wherein the monitoring device is activated automatically at predetermined flight status data; and

wherein the flight status data is selected from the group consisting of data on an altitude change of the aircraft, weather radar data, wind data, data for detecting turbulences, and flight phase-specific times.

19. An aircraft comprising a monitoring system for monitoring a seat status according to claim 18.