Infrared communication system for activating power drive units in an aircraft cargo loading system
First Claim
1. A cargo loading system installed in a cargo compartment of an aircraft, the cargo loading system comprising:
- a plurality of power drive units (PDUs), each of the PDUs comprising a light detector coupled to a PDU processor and configured to receive and process an incoming light signal;
at least one main control panel (MCP) mounted on the aircraft;
a controller connected by a wired network to the plurality of PDUs and also to the main control panel; and
at least one wireless remote control handset configured to selectively emit a coded light signal;
wherein;
each PDU processor is programmed to;
determine whether a coded light signal received at the light detector comprises a valid command signal from the handset to be provided to the controller; and
provide an appropriate first command information signal to the controller, if the received coded light signal is determined to be a valid command signal from the handset;
the controller is programmed to;
obtain the first command information signal provided by the PDU;
determine which, if any, of said plurality of PDUs should be activated, in response to the first command information signal; and
send a first PDU control signal to activate only those PDUs that the controller has determined should be activated in response to the first command information signal; and
in addition to determining whether a coded light signal received at the light detector, each PDU is configured to detect whether an Unit Load Device (ULD) is overhead, based on (a) light reflected from an underside of an ULD, and (b) measurement of ambient light.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air cargo loading system also includes a controller, a main control panel and a plurality of PDUs (PDUs), at least the controller and the PDUs being connected by a wired network. Each PDU has a motor, at least one driver roller element coupled to said motor, a light source, a light detector, and a processor. The light detector of each PDU is configured to receive and process an incoming coded light signal from a wireless remote control handset. The PDU'"'"'s processor determines whether the received coded light signal is a valid command signal and, if so, provides a command information signal to the controller via the wired network. The controller decodes the command information signal and, in view of its knowledge of container locations, various switch settings and other status information, the controller then sends the appropriate control signals to turn on the required PDUs in response thereto. Because wireless remote handsets are used to communicate with the controller, the air cargo system may either be wholly devoid of local control panels or, have only a very small number of local control panels.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A cargo loading system installed in a cargo compartment of an aircraft, the cargo loading system comprising:
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a plurality of power drive units (PDUs), each of the PDUs comprising a light detector coupled to a PDU processor and configured to receive and process an incoming light signal; at least one main control panel (MCP) mounted on the aircraft; a controller connected by a wired network to the plurality of PDUs and also to the main control panel; and at least one wireless remote control handset configured to selectively emit a coded light signal;
wherein;each PDU processor is programmed to; determine whether a coded light signal received at the light detector comprises a valid command signal from the handset to be provided to the controller; and provide an appropriate first command information signal to the controller, if the received coded light signal is determined to be a valid command signal from the handset; the controller is programmed to; obtain the first command information signal provided by the PDU; determine which, if any, of said plurality of PDUs should be activated, in response to the first command information signal; and send a first PDU control signal to activate only those PDUs that the controller has determined should be activated in response to the first command information signal; and in addition to determining whether a coded light signal received at the light detector, each PDU is configured to detect whether an Unit Load Device (ULD) is overhead, based on (a) light reflected from an underside of an ULD, and (b) measurement of ambient light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A cargo loading system installed in a cargo compartment of an aircraft, the cargo loading system comprising:
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a plurality of power drive units (PDUs), each of the PDUs comprising a light detector coupled to a PDU processor and configured to receive and process an incoming light signal; at least one main control panel (MCP) mounted on the aircraft; a controller connected by a wired network to the plurality of PDUs and also to the main control panel; and at least one wireless remote control handset configured to selectively emit a coded light signal;
wherein;each PDU processor is programmed to; determine whether a coded light signal received at the light detector comprises a valid command signal from the handset to be provided to the controller; and provide an appropriate first command information signal to the controller, if the received coded light signal is determined to be a valid command signal from the handset; the controller is programmed to; obtain the first command information signal provided by the PDU; determine which, if any, of said plurality of PDUs should be activated, in response to the first command information signal; and send a first PDU control signal to activate only those PDUs that the controller has determined should be activated in response to the first command information signal; and an interior of the cargo compartment is devoid of local control panels.
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15. A cargo loading system installed in a cargo compartment of an aircraft, the cargo loading system comprising:
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a plurality of power drive units (PDUs), each of the PDUs comprising a light detector coupled to a PDU processor and configured to receive and process an incoming light signal; at least one main control panel (MCP) mounted on the aircraft; a controller connected by a wired network to the plurality of PDUs and also to the main control panel; and at least one wireless remote control handset configured to selectively emit a coded light signal, the at least one handset comprising a stop button which, when activated, results in all the PDUs in the cargo loading system becoming deactivated;
wherein;each PDU processor is programmed to; determine whether a coded light signal received at the light detector comprises a valid command signal from the handset to be provided to the controller; and provide an appropriate first command information signal to the controller, if the received coded light signal is determined to be a valid command signal from the handset; the controller is programmed to; obtain the first command information signal provided by the PDU; determine which, if any, of said plurality of PDUs should be activated, in response to the first command information signal; send a first PDU control signal to activate only those PDUs that the controller has determined should be activated in response to the first command information signal; and the controller is configured such that after the stop button has been activated; the cargo loading system must be reset at the main control panel; and an audible and/or visual warning is given when the cargo loading system is reset.
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16. A cargo loading system installed in a cargo compartment of an aircraft, the cargo loading system comprising:
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a plurality of power drive units (PDUs), each of the PDUs comprising a light detector coupled to a PDU processor and configured to receive and process an incoming light signal; at least one main control panel (MCP) mounted on the aircraft; a controller connected by a wired network to the plurality of PDUs and also to the main control panel; and at least one wireless remote control handset configured to selectively emit a coded light signal, the at least one handset comprising a stop button which, when activated, results in all the PDUs in the cargo loading system becoming deactivated;
wherein;each PDU processor is programmed to; determine whether a coded light signal received at the light detector comprises a valid command signal from the handset to be provided to the controller; and provide an appropriate first command information signal to the controller, if the received coded light signal is determined to be a valid command signal from the handset; the controller is programmed to; obtain the first command information signal provided by the PDU; determine which, if any, of said plurality of PDUs should be activated, in response to the first command information signal; send a first PDU control signal to activate only those PDUs that the controller has determined should be activated in response to the first command information signal; and activating the stop button causes at least one PDU to deactivate without controller involvement.
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17. A cargo loading system installed in a cargo compartment of an aircraft, the cargo loading system comprising:
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a plurality of power drive units (PDUs), each of the PDUs comprising a light detector coupled to a PDU processor and configured to receive and process an incoming light signal; at least one main control panel (MCP) mounted on the aircraft; a controller connected by a wired network to the plurality of PDUs and also to the main control panel; and at least one wireless remote control handset configured to selectively emit a coded light signal, the at least one handset comprising a stop button which, when activated, results in all the PDUs in the cargo loading system becoming deactivated;
wherein;each PDU processor is programmed to; determine whether a coded light signal received at the light detector comprises a valid command signal from the handset to be provided to the controller; and provide an appropriate first command information signal to the controller, if the received coded light signal is determined to be a valid command signal from the handset; the controller is programmed to; obtain the first command information signal provided by the PDU; determine which, if any, of said plurality of PDUs should be activated, in response to the first command information signal; send a first PDU control signal to activate only those PDUs that the controller has determined should be activated in response to the first command information signal; and activating the stop button causes a first device to broadcast a direct stop command on all buses to which said first device is connected, said direct stop command being received by a plurality of other devices; and any PDUs receiving said direct stop command will deactivate without controller involvement. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A cargo loading system installed in a cargo compartment of an aircraft, the cargo loading system comprising:
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a plurality of power drive units (PDUs), each of the PDUs comprising a light detector coupled to a PDU processor and configured to receive and process an incoming light signal; at least one main control panel (MCP) mounted on the aircraft; a controller connected by a wired network to the plurality of PDUs and also to the main control panel; and at least one wireless remote control handset configured to selectively emit a coded light signal;
wherein;each PDU processor is programmed to; determine whether a coded light signal received at the light detector comprises a valid command signal from the handset to be provided to the controller; and provide an appropriate first command information signal to the controller, if the received coded light signal is determined to be a valid command signal from the handset; the controller is programmed to; obtain the first command information signal provided by the PDU; determine which, if any, of said plurality of PDUs should be activated, in response to the first command information signal; and send a first PDU control signal to activate only those PDUs that the controller has determined should be activated in response to the first command information signal; in a first mode of operation, the main control panel has control over the entire cargo compartment and the controller is configured to ignore coded light signals emitted by the handset for activating one or more PDUs, but is configured to respond to a stop command issued by the handset; and in a second mode of operation, the controller is configured to issue control signals, in response to coded light signals emitted by the handset for activating one or more PDUs.
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20. A cargo loading system installed in a cargo compartment of an aircraft, the cargo loading system comprising:
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a plurality of power drive units (PDUs), each of the PDUs comprising a light detector coupled to a PDU processor and configured to receive and process an incoming light signal; at least one main control panel (MCP) mounted on the aircraft; a controller connected by a wired network to the plurality of PDUs and also to the main control panel; and at least one wireless remote control handset configured to selectively emit a coded light signal;
wherein;each PDU processor is programmed to; determine whether a coded light signal received at the light detector comprises a valid command signal from the handset to be provided to the controller; and provide an appropriate first command information signal to the controller, if the received coded light signal is determined to be a valid command signal from the handset; the controller is programmed to; obtain the first command information signal provided by the PDU; determine which, if any, of said plurality of PDUs should be activated, in response to the first command information signal; and send a first PDU control signal to activate only those PDUs that the controller has determined should be activated in response to the first command information signal; in a first mode of operation, the main control panel has control over the entire cargo compartment and the controller is configured to ignore coded light signals emitted by the handset for activating one or more PDUs; and in a second mode of operation; the controller is configured to issue control signals, in response to coded light signals emitted by the handset for activating one or more PDUs; the main control panel has control over a first zone of the cargo compartment in which a first set of PDUs are located; and the handset has control over a second zone of the cargo compartment in which a second set of PDUs are located. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A cargo loading system installed in a cargo compartment of an aircraft, the cargo loading system comprising:
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a plurality of power drive units (PDUs), each of the PDUs comprising a light detector coupled to a PDU processor and configured to receive and process an incoming light signal; at least one main control panel (MCP) mounted on the aircraft; a controller connected by a wired network to the plurality of PDUs and also to the main control panel; and at least one wireless remote control handset configured to selectively emit a coded light signal;
wherein;each PDU processor is programmed to; determine whether a coded light signal received at the light detector comprises a valid command signal from the handset to be provided to the controller; and provide an appropriate first command information signal to the controller, if the received coded light signal is determined to be a valid command signal from the handset; the controller is programmed to; obtain the first command information signal provided by the PDU; determine which, if any, of said plurality of PDUs should be activated, in response to the first command information signal; and send a first PDU control signal to activate only those PDUs that the controller has determined should be activated in response to the first command information signal; the main control panel has control over a first zone of the cargo compartment in which a first set of PDUs are located; the handset has control over a second zone of the cargo compartment in which a second set of PDUs are located; a plurality of PDUs are covered by two or more unit load devices (ULDs) in the second zone, with more than one ULD being eligible to be moved in response to a valid command signal from the handset; and the controller is configured to; give first highest priority to activating one or more PDUs so as to move a selected ULD that has uncovered PDUs at both its forward and aft ends, the uncovered PDUs being within the second zone; and give second highest priority to activating one or more PDUs so as to move a selected ULD that (a) has an uncovered PDU at one of its ends, the uncovered PDU being within the second zone, and (b) is either at the end of the second zone or has at least one covered PDU at the other of its ends. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A cargo loading system installed in a cargo compartment of an aircraft, the cargo loading system comprising:
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a plurality of power drive units (PDUs), each of the PDUs comprising a light detector coupled to a PDU processor and configured to receive and process an incoming light signal; at least one main control panel (MCP) mounted on the aircraft; a controller connected by a wired network to the plurality of PDUs and also to the main control panel; and at least one wireless remote control handset configured to selectively emit a coded light signal;
wherein;each PDU processor is programmed to; determine whether a coded light signal received at the light detector comprises a valid command signal from the handset to be provided to the controller; and provide an appropriate first command information signal to the controller, if the received coded light signal is determined to be a valid command signal from the handset; the controller is programmed to; obtain the first command information signal provided by the PDU; determine which, if any, of said plurality of PDUs should be activated, in response to the first command information signal; and send a first PDU control signal to activate only those PDUs that the controller has determined should be activated in response to the first command information signal; in addition to determining whether a coded light signal received at the light detector, each PDU is configured to detect whether an Unit Load Device (ULD) is overhead, based on light reflected from an underside of an ULD; and each PDU is provided with two light detectors, a first light detector receiving light for use by the PDU processor to process coded light signals from the handset, and a second light detector receiving light for use by the PDU processor to determine whether an ULD is overhead. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A cargo loading system installed in a cargo compartment of an aircraft, the cargo loading system comprising:
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a plurality of power drive units (PDUs), each of the PDUs comprising a light detector coupled to a PDU processor and configured to receive and process an incoming light signal; at least one main control panel (MCP) mounted on the aircraft; a controller connected by a wired network to the plurality of PDUs and also to the main control panel; and at least one wireless remote control handset configured to selectively emit a coded light signal;
wherein;each PDU processor is programmed to; determine whether a coded light signal received at the light detector comprises a valid command signal from the handset to be provided to the controller; and provide an appropriate first command information signal to the controller, if the received coded light signal is determined to be a valid command signal from the handset; the controller is programmed to; obtain the first command information signal provided by the PDU; determine which, if any, of said plurality of PDUs should be activated, in response to the first command information signal; and send a first PDU control signal to activate only those PDUs that the controller has determined should be activated in response to the first command information signal; in addition to determining whether a coded light signal is received at the light detector, each PDU is configured to detect whether an Unit Load Device (ULD) is overhead, based on light reflected from an underside of an ULD; and the controller is configured to calculate an estimated size of an ULD. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification