Aircraft seat with shared control architecture

• US 8,674,542 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2013
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sit
• Original Assignee: Sit
• Inventors: Petitpierre, Jean-Luc
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US13/897,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20130249281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 302 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0224 Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00155 Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0624 Arrangements of electrical connectors, e.g. for earphone, internet or electric supply
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06395 characterised by the arrangement of electric motors for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/403 with centralised control, e.g. polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40215 Controller Area Network CAN

Abstract

The invention essentially concerns an aircraft seat (1), comprising control units (17.2, 22.2, 27), at least one node (11-15) to execute a particular action or function, and a display (22.1) for viewing video data. Said node (11-15) and said display (22.1) are capable of being actuated by the control units (17.2, 22.2, 27). A keyboard (17.1) for transmitting a command signal addressed to the control units (17.2, 22.2, 27) is connected to said control units (17.2, 22.2, 27). The control units are shared between the display (22.1), the key board (17.1) and the node (11-15).

Claims

1. A method of controlling objects associated with a seat of a passenger vehicle, comprising:

a. receiving, at a first control pack, first and second control inputs from a passenger seated or lying in the seat;

b. transmitting the first control input via a wired CAN bus to a first actuator configured to move a first component of the seat; and

c. transmitting the second control input, via either a wired Ethernet bus or wirelessly, to a second control pack (i) remote from the first control pack and (ii) comprising a display screen.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which the second control pack is present on the back of a seat separate from the one in which the passenger is seated or lying.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising also transmitting the first control input to a second actuator configured to move a second component of the seat.

4. A method according to claim 1 in which the first and second actuators are configured to communicate with each other via the CAN bus.

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising executing the first control input so as to move the first component of the seat.

6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising executing the second control input so as to manage the display screen.