Sensors for an aircraft for locating devices

• US 8,634,851 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2010
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Glaser, Daniel, Schwark, Uwe, Mller, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Chuong A
• Application Number:
  US13/201,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20110300880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4566, 455418-420, 455/431, 455 6711- 6714, 4551151-1154, 4552261-227, 455 301- 305, 340 1251- 1254, 340 1326- 133, 340/541
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensor network for determining the position of devices and gear in an aircraft. The sensor network exhibits several sensor nodes, which have an autonomous power supply. The sensor nodes can communicate wirelessly with each other and with a central processing unit. The position of each individual sensor node can be determined by evaluating high-frequency signal parameters.

Claims

1. A sensor network for determining a local arrangement of several sensor nodes, wherein the sensor network comprises:

a plurality of sensor nodes, wherein each sensor node comprises;

a sensor unit configured to acquire signal parameters from adjacent sensor nodes of the plurality of sensor nodes, based upon which signal parameters a position of the sensor node within the sensor network is determinable; and

a communication unit configured to communicate with other sensor nodes of the plurality of sensor nodes and to transmit data based on the acquired signal parameters to a central processing unit,

wherein the central processing unit is configured to receive the data transmitted by each of the plurality of sensor nodes and to determine relative positioning of each sensor node of the plurality of sensor nodes with respect to the other sensor nodes of the plurality of sensor nodes by correlating the transmitted data, and

wherein the relative position of each of the plurality of sensor nodes is determined based on a correlation of data received from the several sensor nodes of the plurality of sensor nodes.

2. The sensor network of claim 1, wherein the sensor network is configured to determine the positions of seats in a cabin of an aircraft.

3. The sensor network of one claim 2, wherein the central processing unit is configured to determine the positions of the seats and subsequent transmission of corresponding position information, whereupon the seats are automatically configured.

4. The sensor network of claim 1, further comprising:

a permanently installed sensor node whose having a predetermined position relative to an aircraft, the predetermined position being a fixed reference point.

5. The sensor network of claim 1, wherein the parameter is a high-frequency signal parameter.

6. The sensor network of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is further configured for acquiring a measured value selected from the group consisting of temperature, vibration, acceleration, expansion and pressure.

7. The sensor network of claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply unit for supplying the sensor node with electrical energy;

wherein the power supply unit is configured to autonomously supply power to the sensor node through energy conversion.

8. The sensor network of claim 7, wherein the power supply unit comprises a vibration generator, a thermoelectric converter, an antenna for receiving electromagnetic energy, or a photovoltaic unit for converting light into electrical energy.

9. The sensor network of claim 1, wherein a first sensor of the plurality of sensor nodes is configured to pass along information to a second sensor of the plurality of sensor nodes;

and

wherein the second sensor is configured to pass along information to a third sensor node or to the central processing unit.

10. An aircraft with a sensor network for determining a local arrangement of several sensor nodes, wherein the sensor network comprises:

a plurality of sensor nodes, each sensor node comprising a sensor unit configured to acquire signal parameters from adjacent sensor nodes of the plurality of sensor nodes, based upon which signal parameters a position of the sensor node within the sensor network is determinable; and

a communication unit configured to communicate with other sensor nodes of the plurality of sensor nodes and to transmit data based on the acquired signal parameters to a central processing unit; and

a central processing unit designed to receive the data transmitted by each of the plurality of sensor nodes and to determine relative positioning of each sensor node of the plurality of sensor nodes with respect to the other sensor nodes of the plurality of sensor nodes by correlating the transmitted data,

wherein the relative position of each of the plurality of sensor nodes is determined based on a correlation of data received from the several sensor nodes of the plurality of sensor nodes.

11. A method for determining a local arrangement of several sensor nodes of a sensor network in an aircraft, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

acquiring signal parameters from adjacent sensor nodes of the several sensor nodes by each sensor node of the several sensor nodes based upon which signal parameters the position of each sensor node of the several sensor nodes within the sensor network is determinable;

communicating, by the sensor node of the several sensor nodes, with other sensor nodes of the several sensor noses and transmitting data based on the acquired parameter to a central processing unit; and

determining the relative position of each sensor node of the several sensor nodes with respect to the other sensor nodes of the plurality of sensor nodes by correlating the transmitted data received from the several sensor nodes.