VEHICLE CABIN WAYFINDING ASSEMBLY

• US 20170247111A1
• Filed: 02/26/2016
• Published: 08/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Valentine, JR., William Hanson
• Granted Patent: US 10,214,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/00 Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0038 Illumination systems for cabins as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/007 Indicators or signs in the cabin, e.g. exit signs or seat numbering
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2203/00 Aircraft or airfield lights using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/02 Arrangements or adaptations of signal or lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0083 Array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane combination of two or more reflectors F21V7/0025
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

A vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly is configured to be secured within an internal cabin of a vehicle. The vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly may include a placard having a front face, and at least one directional reflector offset from the front face of the placard. The directional reflector(s) defines one or more indicia, and is configured to directionally reflect light that is emitted from a light source into an application zone.

Claims

1. A vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly configured to be secured within an internal cabin of a vehicle, the vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly comprising:

a placard having a front face; and

at least one directional reflector offset from the front face of the placard, wherein the at least one directional reflector defines one or more indicia, and wherein the at least one directional reflector is configured to directionally reflect light that is emitted from a light source into an application zone,

wherein the application zone is defined between a minimum reflection angle and a maximum reflection angle, wherein the minimum reflection angle is determined by a first perspective that extends upwardly from a first surface of a first seat that is separated from a second surface of a second seat by an aisle, and wherein the maximum reflection angle is determined by a second perspective that extends upwardly from the second surface of the second seat that is separated from the first surface of the first seat by the aisle.

2. The vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly of claim 1, wherein an orthogonal axis is normal to the planar front face, wherein the at least one directional reflector is configured to receive the light from the light source, and wherein the at least one directional reflector is configured to directionally reflect the light toward a direction in which individuals approach the vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly.

3. The vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly of claim 1, wherein the directionally-reflected light has an intensity within the application zone that is higher than outside of the application zone.

4. The vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one directional reflector is shaped as one or more wayfinding indicia.

5. The vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one directional reflector surrounds at least one planar area of the front face that is shaped as one or more wayfinding indicia.

6. The vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one directional reflector comprises a plurality of parallel reflector segments separated by gaps.

7. The vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one directional reflector comprises a vertically convex reflective surface that outwardly bows away from the front face of the placard.

9. The vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly of claim 1, wherein the first perspective is at a first height that is a ninety-fifth percentile of male human height, and wherein the second perspective is at a second height that is a fifth percentile of female human height.

10. The vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one directional reflector comprises at least one reflective surface that is horizontally concave and vertically convex.

11. The vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one directional reflector comprises a plurality of reflective units, and wherein a reflective surface of each of the plurality of reflective units is horizontally concave and vertically convex.

25. The vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly of claim 1, wherein the first perspective is an inboard perspective, wherein the first seat is an inboard seat, and the first surface is an outboard-most surface of the inboard seat, and wherein the second perspective is an outboard perspective, wherein the second seat is an outboard seat, and the second surface is an inboard-most surface of the outboard seat.

8. (canceled)

12. A vehicle comprising:

a fuselage defining an internal cabin;

at least one light source within the internal cabin; and

a vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly secured within the internal cabin, the vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly comprising;

a placard having a front face; and

at least one directional reflector offset from the front face of the placard, wherein the at least one directional reflector defines one or more indicia, and wherein the at least one directional reflector directionally reflects light that is emitted from the at least one light source into an application zone,

wherein the application zone is defined between a minimum reflection angle and a maximum reflection angle, wherein the minimum reflection angle is determined by a first perspective that extends upwardly from a first surface of a first seat that is separated from a second surface of a second seat by an aisle, and wherein the maximum reflection angle is determined by a second perspective that extends upwardly from the second surface of the second seat that is separated from the first surface of the first seat by the aisle.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the directionally-reflected light has an intensity within the application zone that is higher than outside of the application zone.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the at least one directional reflector is shaped as one or more wayfinding indicia.

15. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the at least one directional reflector surrounds at least one planar area of the front face that is shaped as one or more wayfinding indicia.

16. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the at least one directional reflector comprises a plurality of parallel reflector segments separated by gaps, and wherein a height to depth aspect ratio of the at least one directional reflector is constant.

17. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the at least one directional reflector comprises a vertically convex reflective surface that outwardly bows away from the front face of the placard.

18. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the first perspective is at a first height that is a ninety-fifth percentile of male human height, and wherein the second perspective is at a second height that is a fifth percentile of female human height.

19. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the at least one directional reflector comprises a plurality of reflective units, and wherein a reflective surface of each of the plurality of reflective units is horizontally concave and vertically convex.

26. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the first perspective is an inboard perspective, wherein the first seat is an inboard seat, and the first surface is an outboard-most surface of the inboard seat, wherein the second perspective is an outboard perspective, and wherein the second seat is an outboard seat, and the second surface is an inboard-most surface of the outboard seat.

20. A method of efficiently directing passengers aboard a vehicle, the method comprising:

emitting light from a light source that is not directly visible to the passengers towards a vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly that is proximate to a row of seats; and

directionally reflecting the emitted from the light source with at least one directional reflector of the vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly into a defined application zone extending into an aisle of the vehicle cabin, wherein the directionally reflecting operation comprises reflecting light at an increased intensity within the application zone, and not reflecting light or reflecting light at a decreased intensity outside of the application zone,

wherein the application zone is defined between a minimum reflection angle and a maximum reflection angle, wherein the minimum reflection angle is determined by a first perspective perspective that extends upwardly from an first surface of a first seat that is separated from an second surface of a second seat by an aisle, and wherein the maximum reflection angle is determined by second perspective that extends upwardly from the second surface of the second seat that is separated from the first surface of the first seat by the aisle.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the first perspective is an inboard perspective, wherein the first seat is an inboard seat, and the first surface is an outboard-most surface of the inboard seat, wherein the second perspective is an outboard perspective, and wherein the second seat is an outboard seat, and the second surface is an inboard-most surface of the outboard seat.

21. A vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly configured to be secured within an internal cabin of a vehicle, the vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly comprising:

a placard having a front face; and

at least one directional reflector offset from the front face of the placard, wherein the at least one directional reflector defines one or more indicia, and wherein the at least one directional reflector is configured to directionally reflect light that is emitted from a light source into an application zone, wherein the at least one directional reflector comprises a vertically convex reflective surface that outwardly bows away from the front face of the placard.

22. A vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly configured to be secured within an internal cabin of a vehicle, the vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly comprising:

a placard having a front face; and

at least one directional reflector offset from the front face of the placard, wherein the at least one directional reflector defines one or more indicia, and wherein the at least one directional reflector is configured to directionally reflect light that is emitted from a light source into an application zone, wherein the at least one directional reflector comprises at least one reflective surface that is horizontally concave and vertically convex.

23. A vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly configured to be secured within an internal cabin of a vehicle, the vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly comprising:

a placard having a front face; and

at least one directional reflector offset from the front face of the placard, wherein the at least one directional reflector defines one or more indicia, and wherein the at least one directional reflector is configured to directionally reflect light that is emitted from a light source into an application zone, wherein the at least one directional reflector comprises a plurality of reflective units, and wherein a reflective surface of each of the plurality of reflective units is horizontally concave and vertically convex.

24. A vehicle comprising:

a fuselage defining an internal cabin;

at least one light source within the internal cabin; and

a vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly secured within the internal cabin, the vehicle cabin wayfinding assembly comprising;

a placard having a front face; and

at least one directional reflector offset from the front face of the placard, wherein the at least one directional reflector defines one or more indicia, and wherein the at least one directional reflector directionally reflects light that is emitted from the at least one light source into an application zone, wherein the at least one directional reflector comprises a vertically convex reflective surface that outwardly bows away from the front face of the placard.