System for and method of servicing a plurality of service positions

• US 8,325,023 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2009
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Kohlmeier-Beckmann, Carsten, Kessler, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US12/503,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20100012780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 340/286.06, 340/686.1, 340/691.1, 340/691.6, 340/3.1, 340/5.1
• US Class Current: 340/286.06
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/44 Spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/47 Circuits; Control arrangements
• 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

Abstract

The present invention concerns a system for servicing a plurality of service positions which are assigned to a plurality of installation elements, in particular passenger seats in an aircraft, comprising: a plurality of service units, in particular lighting units, wherein the number of service units exceeds the number of service positions to be serviced, and a control unit, wherein the control unit is adapted to receive a respective item of control information including an identification in respect of an installation element and to control a predetermined service unit on the basis of the identification, and a method of servicing a plurality of service positions which are assigned to a plurality of installation elements, in particular passenger seats in an aircraft, and a corresponding computer program.

Claims

1. A system for servicing a plurality of service positions which are assigned to a plurality of installation elements, in particular passenger seats in an aircraft, comprising:

a plurality of service units, in particular lighting units, wherein the number of service units exceeds the number of service positions to be serviced; and

a control unit,

wherein the control unit is adapted to receive a respective item of control information including an identification in respect of an installation element and to control a predetermined service unit on the basis of the identification.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the identification includes an indication of a position of the installation element and wherein the control unit is provided with a predetermined association between the position and at least one service unit.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the identification includes the indication of an absolute or relative position of the installation element and the control unit is adapted to derive from the absolute or relative position an association with the at least one service unit.

4. The system as set forth in claim 3 comprising a servicing unit linked to the installation element, wherein the servicing unit is adapted to receive signals, in particular radio signals, for determining the absolute or relative position of the installation element and to communicate the control information including the identification on the basis of the determined position to the control unit.

5. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the identification includes the indication of an identifier of a position out of a plurality of possible positions of an installation element, wherein at least one service unit is assigned to each identifier.

6. The system as set forth in claim 5 comprising a servicing unit linked to the installation element, wherein the servicing unit is adapted to read an identifier of the position of the installation element out of the environment of the installation element.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the identification includes the indication of a unique designation of a servicing unit linked to the installation element and wherein the control unit is equipped with a predetermined association between the designation and at least one service unit.

8. The system as set forth in claim 7 further comprising:

a plurality of presence sensors, in particular microswitches and/or light barrier units, which are respectively adapted to determine a presence of an installation element at an associated position; and

a plurality of servicing units with a respective unique designation,

wherein each installation element out of the plurality of installation elements is linked to at least one servicing unit,

wherein the plurality of positions associated with the presence sensors has a predetermined first sequence, and

wherein the plurality of servicing units has a predetermined second sequence,

wherein the predetermined association between the designation and at least one service unit is afforded in accordance with the sequence of the positions with an installation element present.

9. The system as set forth in claim 7 further comprising:

a locating unit for locating the installation element by way of the servicing unit,

wherein the servicing unit is adapted to emit a locating signal, and

wherein the locating unit is adapted to receive the locating signal and to locate by means of the locating signal.

10. The system as set forth in claim 7 comprising

an enquiry unit adapted to emit a plurality of enquiry signals which are respectively associated with a predetermined position region and to receive an answer signal from the servicing unit, wherein the servicing unit is adapted to receive an enquiry signal from the plurality of enquiry signals and to emit an answer signal in answer to the reception of the enquiry signal, wherein the answer signal includes the designation of the servicing unit,

wherein the association between the designation and the at least one service unit is determined on the basis of the answer signal.

11. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the control unit is adapted to control a predetermined group of service units on the basis of the identification.

12. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the control unit is adapted on the basis of the identification, instead of the predetermined service unit or the predetermined group of service units, to control an adjacent service unit or group of service units.

13. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the servicing unit is autonomous in terms of power, wherein the servicing unit is in particular adapted to acquire the power necessary for emission of an item of control information from a service action by a user, for example by way of a piezoelectric unit which is adapted to obtain power from a button press by the user.

14. A method of servicing a plurality of service positions which are assigned to a plurality of installation elements, in particular passenger seats in an aircraft, in particular with a system as set forth in claim 1, comprising the steps:

receiving an item of control information;

taking an identification in respect of an installation element from the control information; and

controlling a predetermined service unit, in particular a lighting unit, on the basis of the identification from a plurality of service units, wherein the number of service units exceeds the number of service positions to be serviced.

15. A non-transitory computer program product for use on a computer system comprising computer code adapted to cause said computer system to carry out the steps of a method as set forth in claim 14 when the computer code is executed on the computer system.

16. A system for servicing a plurality of service positions within a passenger aircraft comprising:

a rail element having a first plurality of lighting units, the first plurality of lighting units being arranged in a row along a length of the rail element;

a plurality of passenger seats arranged within the passenger aircraft, the rail element being located above the plurality of passenger seats, the first plurality of lighting units outnumbering the plurality of passenger seats, each of the plurality of passenger seats also having a servicing unit, the servicing unit transmitting control information when activated by a user, the control information including position information regarding the position of the passenger seat associated with the servicing unit; and

a control unit configured to receive control information from the servicing units, the control unit illuminating one or more of the lighting units based upon the received control information and position information.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the rail element is a single rail element.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the rail element is a double rail element.

19. The system according to claim 16 further comprising:

a double rail element having a second plurality of lighting units and located above the plurality of passenger seats, the second plurality of lighting units being arranged in two rows along a length of the double rail element, the first plurality of lighting units and the second plurality of lighting units outnumbering the plurality of passenger seats.