Storage capacity status indicator and associated systems and methods

• US 9,764,842 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2015
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Woicekowski, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, R. A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COURSON, TANIA C
• Application Number:
  US14/709,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20160332729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 116 86, 116200, 116201, 116281, 116284-285, 116209, 40459-460, 40491-493, 4060607, 40907
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/003 Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/00 Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/02 using only mechanical transmission

Abstract

Described herein is a system for a mobile platform includes a storage compartment that defines an interior space. The storage compartment forms part of the mobile platform. Further, the storage compartment is operable to physically separate the interior space from an exterior space. The system also includes a visual indicator that provides to the exterior space a visual indication of a storage capacity status of the interior space of the storage compartment.

Claims

1. A system for a mobile platform, comprising:

a storage compartment defining an interior space, the storage compartment forming part of the mobile platform and being operable to physically separate the interior space from an exterior space; and

a visual indicator providing to the exterior space a visual indication of a storage capacity status of the interior space of the storage compartment by applying a coloration to illuminate a door of the storage compartment, the coloration visible from the exterior space.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator further comprises a mechanical display switchable between at least a first configuration indicating a first storage capacity status of the interior space of the storage compartment and a second configuration indicating a second storage capacity status of the interior space of the storage compartment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator comprises a light source to generate light to illuminate the door.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the light is switchable between a first color indicating a first storage capacity status of the interior space of the storage compartment and a second color indicating a second storage capacity status of the interior space of the storage compartment.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator further comprises an electronic display.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the electronic display displays a percentage of a storage capacity of the interior space of the storage compartment.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator is coupled to the storage compartment.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the door of the storage compartment comprises a movable partition, the movable partition at least partially defining the interior space; and

the visual indicator being coupled to the movable partition.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a volumetric sensor that detects the storage capacity status of the interior space of the storage compartment.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the visual indicator is operably coupled to the volumetric sensor to automatically provide the visual indication of the storage capacity status of the interior space of the storage compartment based on input from the volumetric sensor.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the volumetric sensor wirelessly transmits the input to the visual indicator.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the visual indicator switches a color of the storage compartment between a first color and a second color; and

the first color indicates a first storage capacity status of the interior space of the storage compartment and the second color indicates a second storage capacity status of the interior space of the storage compartment.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator further comprises a remote visual indicator that is remote from the storage compartment.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the remote visual indicator is positioned in a crew work space of the mobile platform.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the remote visual indicator is positioned external to the mobile platform.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the remote visual indicator comprises an electronic display of a mobile device.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of storage compartments each defining an interior space and each operable to physically separate a corresponding portion of the interior space from the exterior space, wherein the visual indicator provides to the exterior space a visual indication of the storage capacity status of the interior space of each of the plurality of storage compartments.

18. A system for tracking a storage capacity status of a storage compartment of a mobile platform, comprising:

a volumetric sensor that detects the storage capacity status of the storage compartment;

a control module operably coupled to the volumetric sensor to receive the storage capacity status from the volumetric sensor; and

a visual indicator operably coupled to the control module, the visual indicator including a mechanical display to display physical indicia providing a visual indication of the storage capacity status of the storage compartment in response to a command from the control module.

19. A method of tracking a storage capacity status of a storage compartment of a mobile platform, comprising:

detecting the storage capacity status of the storage compartment; and

visually indicating the storage capacity status of the storage compartment on an electronic display screen of the storage compartment based on the detected storage capacity status.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising visually indicating the storage capacity status of the storage compartment to a location external to the mobile platform.

21. A system for a mobile platform, comprising:

a storage compartment defining an interior space, the storage compartment forming part of the mobile platform, wherein the storage compartment comprises a door movable relative to the interior space between an open position and a closed position, the door physically separating the interior space from an exterior space in the closed position; and

a visual determination apparatus coupled to the storage compartment, the visual determination apparatus providing to the exterior space visual access to the interior space of the storage compartment when the door is in the closed position.