Interactive electronic signage system and method of operation for an aircraft

• US 9,873,509 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2014
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bombardier Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bombardier Incorporated
• Inventors: Gagnon, Pierre, Rezile, Joseph, Bisson, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Pardo, Thuy
• Application Number:
  US14/890,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20160114890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 345158, 345156, 345173, 701 3, 701120, 701 316, 324537, 463 31, 348143, 367124, 340971
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 3/00 Devices or single parts for facilitating escape from buildings or the like, e.g. protection shields, protection screens; Portable devices for preventing smoke penetrating into distinct parts of buildings A62B1/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/007 Indicators or signs in the cabin, e.g. exit signs or seat numbering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/12 Avionics applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092

Abstract

A signage display system for an aircraft includes a controller for receiving input and generating a command, a central controller connected to the controller, the central controller receiving the command and generating a display signal responsive to the command, at least one peripheral device connected to the central controller, the peripheral device receiving the display signal prompting the device to display safety information, an input associated with the peripheral device for receiving an acknowledgement of the safety information and generating an acknowledgement signal responsive to the acknowledgement, such that display of the safety information is discontinued in response to receipt of the acknowledgement. A method and set of instructions also are provided.

Claims

1. A signage display system for an aircraft, comprising:

a controller for receiving input and generating a command wherein the command is associated with a predetermined flight condition necessitating a display of safety information, wherein the flight condition is selected from at least one of taxi, takeoff, landing, and turbulence;

a central controller connected to the controller, the central controller receiving the command and generating a display signal responsive to the command;

at least one peripheral device connected to the central controller, the peripheral device receiving the display signal prompting the device to display the safety information;

an input associated with the peripheral device for receiving an acknowledgement of the safety information and generating an acknowledgement signal responsive to the acknowledgement.

2. The signage display system of claim 1, wherein the peripheral device discontinues display of the safety information in response to receipt of the acknowledgement.

3. The signage display system of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the acknowledgement signal to the central controller.

4. The signage display system of claim 3, wherein the central controller discontinues the display signal in response to receipt of the acknowledgement signal.

5. The signage system of claim 1, wherein the controller is one of a cockpit controller and a cabin controller and the command is one of a cockpit command and a cabin command.

6. The signage display system of claim 5, wherein the cockpit controller is disposed on the aircraft'"'"'s flight deck.

7. The signage display system of claim 5, wherein the central controller connects to at least one of the cockpit controller and the cabin controller via at least one of a wired and a wireless connection.

8. The signage display system of claim 1, wherein the central controller comprises at least one processor adapted to execute instructions.

9. The signage display system of claim 1, wherein the at least one peripheral device comprises a display.

10. The signage display system of claim 9, wherein the input and the display are incorporated into the at least one peripheral device.

11. The signage display system of claim 10, wherein the at least one peripheral device is selected from a group comprising a passenger control unit, a monitor, a tablet, a smartphone, a computer, a portable device, a television, and a personal electronic device.

12. The signage display system of claim 9, wherein the input and display comprise a touch-sensitive display screen.

13. The signage display system of claim 1, wherein the safety information is textual.

14. The signage display system of claim 1, wherein the safety information is pictorial.

15. The signage display system of claim 1, wherein the input is an acknowledgement icon incorporated in the safety information.

16. A method of operating a signage display system for an aircraft that includes a controller for receiving input and generating a command and a central controller connected to the controller, the method comprising:

generating a command, at the controller, upon receipt of input indicative of a predetermined flight condition necessitating a display of safety information, wherein the flight condition is selected from at least one of taxi, takeoff, landing, and turbulence;

receiving the command from the controller at the central controller;

generating a display signal by the central controller in response to receipt of the command, the display signal being indicative of a necessity to display the safety information;

providing the display signal to a peripheral device for causing the peripheral device to display safety information in response to the display signal.

17. The method claim 16, wherein the peripheral device discontinues display of the safety information in response to receipt of the acknowledgement.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

transmitting the acknowledgement signal to the central controller.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the central controller discontinues the display signal in response to receipt of the acknowledgement signal.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the controller is one of a cockpit controller and a cabin controller and the command is one of a cockpit command and a cabin command.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the input associated with the peripheral device is incorporated into the peripheral device.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

after discontinuing generation of the display signal by the central controller, providing access to other aircraft functionality at the peripheral device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the other aircraft functionality comprises an inflight entertainment system.

24. A set of instructions executable by at least one processor embodying a method of operating a signage display system for an aircraft that includes a controller for receiving input and generating a command, a central controller connected to the controller, at least one peripheral device connected to the central controller, and an input associated with the peripheral device, the set of instructions comprising commands to:

generate a command, at the controller, upon receipt of input indicative of a predetermined flight condition necessitating a display of safety information, wherein the flight condition is selected from at least one of taxi, takeoff, landing, and turbulence;

receive the command from the controller at the central controller;

generate a display signal by the central controller in response to receipt of the command, the display signal being indicative of a necessity to display the safety information;

provide the display signal to a peripheral device for causing the peripheral device to display safety information in response to the display signal.

25. The set of instructions claim 24, wherein the peripheral device discontinues display of the safety information in response to receipt of the acknowledgement.

26. The set of instructions of claim 24, further comprising commands to:

transmit the acknowledgement signal to the central controller.

27. The set of instructions of claim 26, further comprising commands so that the central controller discontinues the display signal in response to receipt of the acknowledgement signal.

28. The set of instructions of claim 24, wherein the controller is one of a cockpit controller and a cabin controller and the command is one of a cockpit command and a cabin command.

29. The set of instructions of claim 24, wherein the input associated with the peripheral device is incorporated into the peripheral device.

30. The set of instructions of claim 24, further comprising commands such that, after discontinuing generation of the display signal by the central controller, access is provided to other aircraft functionality at the peripheral device.

31. The set of instructions of claim 30, wherein the other aircraft functionality comprises an inflight entertainment system.