User interface, system and computer product for monitoring aircraft cabin systems

• US 20040145612A1
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Riedel, Christian, Frey, Martin, Kopitzke, Kirsten, Holst, Joerg
• Granted Patent: US 7,509,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/810
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

A user interface for monitoring and controlling a plurality of aircraft cabin systems includes a liquid crystal display screen having a display surface configured to provide an input to the user interface when touched by a user of the user interface, and a plurality of touch sensitive input keys adjacent to the liquid crystal display screen. Each key is labeled with a symbol identifying a respective one of the plurality of aircraft cabin systems. First and second system menus corresponding to first and second systems of the plurality of aircraft cabin systems are displayable on the display screen as first and second system graphical menus when a touch sensitive key identifying the appropriate system is activated by the user. The first and second system graphical menus including status information and operating functions of the first and systems respectively, as well as at least one input area configured to provide at least one of selection and control of the operating functions of the respective system when touched by the user.

Claims

1. A user interface for monitoring and controlling a plurality of aircraft cabin systems, comprising:

a liquid crystal display screen having a display surface configured to provide an input to said user interface when touched by a user of the user interface;

a plurality of touch sensitive input keys adjacent to said liquid crystal display screen, each key labeled with a symbol identifying a respective one of said plurality of aircraft cabin systems;

a first system menu associated with a first system of said plurality of aircraft cabin systems, the first system menu being displayable on said display screen as a first system graphical menu when the touch sensitive key identifying the first system is activated by the user, said first system graphical menu including status information and operating functions of said first system and at least one input area configured to provide at least one of selection and control of said operating functions of said first system when touched by said user; and

a second system menu associated with a second system of said plurality of aircraft cabin systems, the second system menu being displayable on said display screen as a second system graphical menu when the touch sensitive key identifying the second system is activated by the user, said second system graphical menu including status information and operating functions of said second system and at least one input area configured to provide at least one of selection and control of said operating functions of said second system when touched by said user.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein said plurality of aircraft cabin systems comprise at least two of:

a cabin information system, a cabin audio system, a cabin video system, a cabin lighting system, a cabin air conditioning system, a cabin smoke detector system, an aircraft door monitoring system, and a water supply and wastewater system.

3. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising a status menu that can be selectively able on said display screen, whereby said status menu includes status information respectively for said cabin systems.

4. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising a programming menu that can be selectively able on said display screen, whereby said programming menu includes display indicators and input buttons to allow the user to program functions of each of said plurality of cabin systems.

5. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising a header line displayed on said display screen and configured to display an identification of a respective active one of said graphical menus that is being displayed on said display screen.

6. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising a main menu displayed on said display screen, said main menu simultaneously displaying information relating to said plurality of aircraft cabin systems for a user to view when selecting one of said input keys.

7. A system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of aircraft cabin systems, comprising:

a liquid crystal display screen having a display surface configured to provide an input to said user interface when touched by a user of the user interface;

a plurality of touch sensitive input keys adjacent to said liquid crystal display screen, each key labeled with a symbol identifying a respective one of said plurality of aircraft cabin systems;

a computer including software to be executed on the computer, wherein the computer is configured to;

display on said display screen a first system graphical menu associated with a first system of said plurality of aircraft cabin systems when the touch sensitive key identifying the first system is activated by the user, said first system graphical menu including status information and operating functions of said first system and at least one input area,

provide at least one of selection and control of said operating functions of said first system when the input area of the first system graphical menu is touched by said user,

display on said display screen a second system graphical menu associated with a second system of said plurality of aircraft cabin systems when the touch sensitive key identifying the second system is activated by the user, said second system graphical menu including status information and operating functions of said second system and at least one input area, and

provide at least one of selection and control of said operating functions of said second system when the input area of the second system graphical menu is touched by said user.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said plurality of aircraft cabin systems comprise at least two of:

a cabin information system, a cabin audio system, a cabin video system, a cabin lighting system, a cabin air conditioning system, a cabin smoke detector system, an aircraft door monitoring system, and a water supply and wastewater system.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said computer is configured to display a status menu on said display screen when a status menu request is input to either a touch sensitive key or an area of said display screen surface, said status menu including status information for said cabin systems.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said computer is configured to display a programming menu on said display screen when a programming menu request is input to either a touch sensitive key or an area of said display screen surface, said programming menu including display indicators and input areas to allow the user to program functions of each of said plurality of said cabin systems.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said computer is configured to display a header line on said display screen, which identifies a respective active one of said menus that is being displayed on said display screen.

12. A system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of aircraft cabin systems, comprising:

means for displaying information relating to said plurality of aircraft cabin systems to a user;

means for inputting user inputs relating to at least one of selection and control of said plurality of aircraft cabin systems;

means for causing said means for displaying to display a first system graphical menu associated with a first system of said plurality of aircraft cabin systems in response to a user input to said means for inputting, said first system graphical menu including status information and operating functions of said first system and at least one input area providing at least one of selection and control of said operating functions of said first system when the input area of the first system graphical menu is touched by said user; and

means for causing said means for displaying to display a second system graphical menu associated with a second system of said plurality of aircraft cabin systems in response to a user input to said means for inputting, said second system graphical menu including status information and operating functions of said second system and at least one input area providing at least one of selection and control of said operating functions of said second system when the input area of the second system graphical menu is touched by said user.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said plurality of aircraft cabin systems comprise at least two of:

a cabin information system, a cabin audio system, a cabin video system, a cabin lighting system, a cabin air conditioning system, a cabin smoke detector system, an aircraft door monitoring system, and a water supply and wastewater system.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising means for causing said means for displaying to display a status menu when a status menu request is input to said means for inputting, said status menu displaying status information for said cabin systems.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising means for causing said means for displaying to display a programming menu when a programming menu request is input to said means for inputting, said programming menu including display indicators and input areas to allow the user to program functions of each of said plurality of cabin systems.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising means for causing said means for displaying to display a header line that identifies a respective active one of said graphical menus that is being displayed on said means for displaying.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein said program instructions further cause the system to display a status menu on said display in response to a user input to the system, said status menu displaying status information relating to said cabin systems.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein said program instructions further cause the system to display a programming menu on said display screen in response to a user input to said system, whereby said programming menu includes display indicators and input buttons to allow the user to program functions of said plurality of cabin systems.

17. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for execution on a computer controlled system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of aircraft cabin systems, which when executed by the system, cause the system to perform the following:

display a main menu including information relating to each of said plurality of aircraft cabin systems;

display a first system graphical menu associated with a first system of said plurality of aircraft cabin systems in response to user input to a touch sensitive key identifying the first system, said first system graphical menu including status information and operating functions of said first system, and at least one touch sensitive input area;

perform at least one of selection and control of said operating functions of said first system in response to user activation of said touch sensitive area of the first system graphical menu;

display a second system graphical menu associated with a second system of said plurality of aircraft cabin systems in response to user input to a touch sensitive key identifying the second system, said second system, graphical menu including status information and operating functions of said second system and at least one touch sensitive input area; and

perform at least one of selection and control of said operating functions of said second system in response to user activation of said touch sensitive area of the second system graphical menu.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein said program instructions further cause the system to display a header line on the display, said header line displaying an identification of a respective active one of said graphical menus that is being displayed.