Plug-n-play power system for an accessory in an aircraft

• US 8,245,969 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2011
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lee, Donald B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tien
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bonzell, Philip J
• Application Number:
  US13/253,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20120025017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.5, 244/129.1, 174/97, 174/48, 362/404, 439/94, 439/110, 439/121, 439/527
• US Class Current: 244/118.5
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/08 Three-wire systems; Systems having more than three wires
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/002 in which a reserve is maintained in an energy source by disconnecting non-critical loads, e.g. maintaining a reserve of charge in a vehicle battery for starting an engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A power system for an aircraft is disclosed. The power system comprises a power module unit and at least one mounting rail detachably coupled to the power module unit. The mounting rail provides structural support and electrical power to the power module unit. A power system in one embodiment may use mounting rails that double as power rails supplying power to the power module unit. Control is accomplished over a wireless link. The power rail control may be accomplished remotely via a standard or solid state relay. Normal rail power for the rail mounted power module unit may come from the utility bus.

Claims

1. A cabin services system, comprising:

a cabin control unit to provide a plurality of cabin services;

at least one passenger control unit;

at least one passenger service unit comprising a plurality of switches corresponding to a plurality of cabin services; and

at least one mounting rail to provide both structural support and electrical power to the passenger service unit,

wherein the at least one passenger service unit is coupled to an electrical spring contact that detachably clips to the at least one mounting rail, the electrical spring contact providing both structural support to the at least one passenger service unit and a spring coupling to the at least one mounting rail, wherein the electrical spring contact is coupled to the at least one passenger service unit by a non-conductive insulating support that clips onto the mounting rail and provides electrical isolation from the at least one passenger service unit.

2. The cabin services system of claim 1, wherein the cabin control unit is communicatively coupled to a cabin attendant panel and a plurality of cabin zone units, wherein the cabin zone units communicate wirelessly with a corresponding plurality of seat group networks.

3. The cabin services system of claim 1, further comprising:

a power source; and

a simplified overhead electronics unit coupled to the power source via a nonessential power bus and an essential power bus, wherein the simplified overhead electronics unit provides a power output to the at least one mounting rail.

4. The cabin services system of claim 3, wherein the simplified overhead electronics unit comprises:

a first converter to convert power on the nonessential power bus from 115V AC to 12V DC;

a second converter to convert power on the essential power bus from 28V DC to 12V DC; and

a relay to switch the power output from the nonessential bus to the essential bus when the essential bus is energized.

5. The cabin services system of claim 3 further comprising:

a first electrical circuit coupled to the mounting rail and the simplified overhead electronics unit to provide power to essential functions while electrically connected to the mounting rail; and

a second electrical circuit coupled to the mounting rail and the simplified overhead electronics unit to provide power to operation of non-essential functions while electrically connected to the mounting rail.

6. The cabin services system of claim 5, wherein the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit operate concurrently.

7. The cabin services system of claim 5, wherein the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit operate alternately based upon a polarity of the power of the mounting rail.

8. The cabin services system of claim 7, wherein the simplified overhead electronics unit utilizes a discrete signal to trigger a reversal of the polarity of the power of the mounting rail.

9. A passenger service unit, comprising:

a plurality of switches corresponding to a plurality of cabin services; and

a wireless communication interface to receive wireless communication from a remote electronic device,

wherein the passenger service unit is coupled to an electrical spring contact that detachably clips to a mounting rail, the electrical spring contact providing both structural support to the passenger service unit and a spring coupling to the at least one mounting rail, wherein the electrical spring contact is coupled to the passenger service unit by a non-conductive insulating support that clips onto the mounting rail and provides electrical isolation from the passenger service unit.

10. The passenger services unit of claim 9, wherein the at least one mounting rail is coupled to a simplified overhead electronics unit, which is coupled to a power source via a nonessential power bus and an essential power bus, wherein the simplified overhead electronics unit provides a power output to the at least one mounting rail.

11. The passenger services unit of claim 10, wherein the simplified overhead electronics unit comprises:

a first converter to convert power on the nonessential power bus from 115V AC to 12V DC;

a second converter to convert power on the essential power bus from 28V DC to 12V DC; and

a relay to switch the power output from the nonessential bus to the essential bus when the essential bus is energized.

12. The passenger services unit of claim 11, further comprising:

a first electrical circuit coupled to the mounting rail and the simplified overhead electronics unit to provide power to essential functions while electrically connected to the mounting rail; and

a second electrical circuit coupled to the mounting rail and the simplified overhead electronics unit to provide power to operation of non-essential functions while electrically connected to the mounting rail.

13. The passenger services unit of claim 12, wherein the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit operate alternately based upon a polarity of the power of the mounting rail.

14. The passenger services unit of claim 13, wherein the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit operate concurrently.

15. The passenger services unit of claim 14, wherein the simplified overhead electronics unit utilizes a discrete signal to trigger a reversal of the polarity of the power of the mounting rail.

16. A method to install a passenger services unit in a vehicle, comprising:

securing a mounting rail to a vehicle structure; and

coupling the passenger service unit to an electrical spring contact that detachably clips to the mounting rail, the electrical spring contact providing structural support to the passenger service unit and a spring coupling to the mounting rail, wherein the electrical spring contact is coupled to the passenger service unit by a non-conductive insulating support that clips onto the mounting rail and provides electrical isolation from the passenger service unit.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

coupling the mounting rail to a simplified overhead electronics unit;

coupling the simplified overhead electronics unit to a power source via a nonessential power bus and an essential power bus, such that simplified overhead electronics may provide power output to the at least one mounting rail.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the simplified overhead electronics unit comprises:

a first converter to convert power on the nonessential power bus from 115V AC to 12V DC;

a second converter to convert power on the essential power bus from 28V DC to 12V DC; and

a relay to switch the power output from the nonessential bus to the essential bus when the essential bus is energized.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

coupling a first electrical circuit coupled to the mounting rail and the simplified overhead electronics unit to provide power to essential functions while electrically connected to the mounting rail; and

coupling a second electrical circuit to the mounting rail and the simplified overhead electronics unit to provide power to operation of non-essential functions while electrically connected to the mounting rail.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit operate alternately based upon a polarity of the power of the mounting rail.