Apparatus and method to monitor the occupancy of seating

• US 9,302,781 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2014
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corporation (Astronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corporation (Astronics Corporation)
• Inventors: Jouper, Jeffrey A., Peabody, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): EL CHANTI, HUSSEIN A
• Application Number:
  US14/189,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20150239573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06 Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats crew seat constructions for emergency purposes B64D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for monitoring the occupancy of seating. Sensors provide measurements to a control circuit that determines an occupancy state for each seat. Information regarding the occupancy of the seats can be presented on a display. In some instances, additional inputs can be used to adjust the occupancy determinations to account for environmental factors. Also, the occupancy states of the seats can be cross-checked with a passenger manifest to facilitate the boarding of a vehicle containing the seating.

Claims

1. A seating monitoring system, comprising:

a plurality of sensors, each associated with one of a plurality of passenger seats on a commercial aircraft;

the sensors configured to communicate with at least one control circuit; and

wherein the control circuit is configured to determine the occupancy states of the seats using input from the associated sensors and communicate the occupancy states to a display, wherein the input is adjusted based on a measured altitude input; and

wherein the display is configured to present an amount of occupancy information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is a centralized display.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors are integrated with an overhead stowage construction.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the presented occupancy information includes a manifest report formed from cross-checking a passenger manifest with the occupancy state of each of the passenger seats.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuits are further configured to adjust the determination of the occupancy states according to a measured temperature input.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein a type of the sensors is selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic, infrared, photo, LED, and laser.

7. A system for monitoring the occupancy of a passenger enclosure, comprising:

a plurality of sensors, each associated with one of a plurality of passenger seats;

wherein each sensor is a laser sensor;

wherein each sensor configured to measure a distance between the particular sensor and the nearest surface in a direction of interest;

at least one control circuit, together configured to receive from each sensor a distance measurement and determine an occupancy state for each of the passenger seats, wherein the distance measurement is adjusted based on a measured altitude input; and

a display, configured to receive from the control circuits the occupancy state of each of the passenger seats and present an amount of occupancy information.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the passenger seats are passenger seats on a commercial aircraft.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the display is a centralized display.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the presented occupancy information includes a manifest report formed from cross-checking a passenger manifest with the occupancy state of each of the passenger seats.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the manifest report includes an amount of alert information regarding any passenger seats that are supposed to be empty according to the passenger manifest but have an occupancy state other than empty.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the control circuits are further configured to adjust the determination of the occupancy state of each of the passenger seats according to at least one of a measured temperature input and a measured altitude input.

13. A method of monitoring the occupancy of at least one seat, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one seat, each having at least one associated sensor;

providing at least one control circuit;

measuring using the sensors the distance between each sensor and each associated seat when the seats are empty;

measuring using the sensors the present distance between each sensor and each associated seat;

determining using the control circuits an occupancy state for each seat based in the measured present distance, wherein the measured present distance is adjusted according to a measured altitude input, adjusting for according to a measured altitude input; and

presenting on a display an amount of occupancy information regarding the occupancy states of the seats.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the display is a centralized display.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one seat is a plurality of passenger seats on a commercial aircraft.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

forming a manifest report by cross-checking a passenger manifest with the occupancy state of each of the passenger seats; and

presenting the manifest report on the display.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein during the step of determining the occupancy state for each seat, adjusting the determination according to a measured temperature input.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein a type of the sensors is selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic, infrared, photo, LED, and laser.