Seat power systems and methods

• US 9,771,154 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2014
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Controls Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc), BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Controls Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Hess, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Xuan
• Application Number:
  US14/397,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20150123464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 307 91
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0264 characterised by the type of electrical connection, e.g. wiring, plugs or USB
• 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 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: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to an intelligent seat power system in which a plurality of seat nodes are embedded in respective aircraft seats. The seat nodes receive power and commands from a plurality of power supply units, each of which is connected to a cabin management system. The seat nodes are able to monitor and control functionality at the seat, and communicate their status back to the cabin management system.

Claims

1. A power system for providing power within an aircraft, wherein the aircraft includes a source of AC power having a first frequency, the power system comprising:

a power supply unit, the power supply unit including a frequency converter subsystem, the frequency converter subsystem being configured to receive power from the source of AC power and to convert the received power having the first frequency into converted power having a second frequency less than the first frequency, the power supply unit being configured to monitor total power consumed by a plurality of seat nodes;

each of the plurality of seat nodes comprising a microprocessor and an AC monitor and control element, the AC monitor and control element of each of the plurality of seat nodes being configured to monitor the converted power received from the frequency converter subsystem of the power supply unit and to control the received converted power as output power that is output from each of the plurality of seat nodes, the output power from each of the plurality of seat nodes being individually selectively controlled based on the monitored total power consumed by the plurality of seat nodes;

a power network configured to provide the converted power from the frequency converter subsystem of the power supply unit to the plurality of seat nodes, wherein; and

a data network configured to communicate data between the power supply unit and each of the plurality of seat nodes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each AC monitor and control element comprises at least ones relay for individually selectively controlling the output power from each of the plurality of seat nodes based on the monitored total power consumed by the plurality of seat nodes.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the data network is formed by a bi-directional data-over-power network that operates using the power network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of seat nodes comprises at least one outlet.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of seat nodes includes a AC/DC converter configured to perform as a data-over-power interface between the power supply unit and the seat node.

5. A method for providing power within an aircraft, wherein the aircraft includes a source of AC power having a first frequency, the power system comprising:

supplying power having the first frequency from the source of AC power to a power supply unit having a frequency converter subsystem;

converting the received power having the first frequency into converted power having a second frequency less than the first frequency;

supplying the converted power from the frequency converter subsystem to a plurality of seat nodes;

monitoring by the power supply unit the total power consumed by the plurality of seat nodes;

monitoring at each of the plurality of seat nodes the converted power received from the frequency converter subsystem of the power supply unit; and

controlling at each of the plurality of seat nodes the received converted power as output power that is output from each of the plurality of seat nodes, the output power from each of the plurality of seat nodes being individually selectively controlled based on the monitored total power consumed by the plurality of seat nodes.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the data network is formed by a bi-directional data-over-power network that operates using the power network.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising controlling at least one relay for individually selectively controlling the output power from each of the plurality of seat nodes based on the monitored total power consumed by the plurality of seat nodes.

9. A power system for providing power within an aircraft, wherein the aircraft includes a source of AC power having a first frequency above 60 Hz, the power system comprising:

a plurality of seat nodes, each of the plurality of seat nodes comprising a microprocessor and an AC monitor and control element;

a power supply unit, the power supply unit including a frequency converter subsystem, the frequency converter subsystem being configured to receive power from the source of AC power and to convert the received power having the first frequency into converted power having a second frequency at essentially 60 Hz;

a power network configured to provide the converted power from the frequency converter subsystem of the power supply unit to the plurality of seat nodes, wherein the AC monitor and control element of each of the plurality of seat nodes is configured to monitor the converted power received from the frequency converter subsystem of the power supply unit and to control the received converted power as output power that is output from each of the plurality of seat nodes; and

a data network configured to communicate data between the power supply unit and each of the plurality of seat nodes, the data network being a bi-directional data-over-power network that operates using the power network.

10. The power system of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of seat nodes includes a AC/DC converter configured to perform as a data-over-power interface between the power supply unit and the seat node.