Computer system and graphical user interface for testing of inflatable personal restraint systems

• US 8,914,188 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2011
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shields, Ronald A., Settles, Peter Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jerrah
• Application Number:
  US13/228,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20120259503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 701/31.5, 701/31.4, 701/34.3, 701/45, 701/29.6, 701/32.8, 701/33.2, 701/29.1, 701/3, 701/29.7, 701/29.8, 701/29.9, 701/31.7, 701/31.8
• US Class Current: 701/32.8
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/062 Belts or other passenger restraint means for passenger seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06205 Arrangements of airbags
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0621 Airbag initiation or activation means
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2201/00 Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0256 injecting test signals and analyzing monitored process response, e.g. injecting the test signal while interrupting the normal operation of the monitored system; superimposing the test signal onto a control signal during normal operation of the monitored system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/22 Detection or location of defective computer hardware by testing during standby operation or during idle time, e.g. start-up testing

Abstract

A system for testing a number of electronic module assemblies (EMAs) that control one or more personal restraint systems. A programmed processor with a computer system transmits signals that instruct the EMAs to perform a diagnostic self-test. The results of the self-test are received by the computer system and stored in a computer readable memory. In one embodiment, the computer system is a cabin management computer system for use on an aircraft.

Claims

1. A cabin management computer system that is connected to the number of electronic module assemblies via a wireless communication link for remotely testing a number of electronic module assemblies that control the deployment of one or more personal restraint devices in an aircraft, comprising:

a programmed processor configured to execute program instructions that cause the programmed processor to;

transmit a code that indicates that testing of the electronics module assemblies in the aircraft is to begin;

transmit one or more codes that identify a particular electronics module assembly on the aircraft that controls the deployment of one or more personal restraint systems and cause the identified electronics module assembly to perform a diagnostic self-test;

receive diagnostic self-test information from the identified electronics module assembly associated with the one or more codes indicating if the one or more personal restraint systems controlled by the identified electronics module assembly can deploy; and

transmit a code that causes the particular electronics module assembly to return to a sleep mode after the cabin management computer system has received that diagnostic self-test information from the particular electronics module assembly.

2. A system for testing personal restraint systems in an aircraft comprising:

a memory for storing a sequence of program instructions;

a processor included in a cabin management computer system of an aircraft for executing the programs instructions such that the processor presents one or more user interface screens that contain;

icons representing seats in the aircraft that are equipped with a personal restraint systems;

a control that is selectable to instruct a selected personal restraint system to initiate a self-test routine;

wherein the processor is configured to execute program instructions to

broadcast a signal that causes electronic module assemblies that control the personal restraint systems to awaken from a sleep mode;

broadcast a signal that uniquely identifies a particular electronic module assembly to begin a diagnostic self-test;

receive a signal from the particular electronic module assembly with results of the diagnostic self-test; and

present an icon on a user interface screen that represents the seat associated with the particular electronic module assembly in a manner that visually indicates if the personal restraint system is working properly.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to present a user interface screen with different seating layout patterns.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to present a user interface screen in which each of the icons representing an aircraft seat is shown in a visually distinctive manner that indicates the results of a self-test routine.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to execute program instructions to transmit a signal that causes the particular electronics module assembly to return to the sleep mode.

6. A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores program instructions that are executable by a processor in a cabin management computer system of an aircraft for testing personal restraint systems in the aircraft, wherein the instructions are executable by a processor to:

present one or more user interface screens that contain;

icons representing seats in the aircraft that are equipped with a personal restraint systems; and

a control that is selectable to instruct a selected personal restraint system to initiate a self-test routine, which when selected causes the processor to

broadcast a signal that causes electronic module assemblies that control the personal restraint systems to awaken from a sleep mode;

broadcast a signal that uniquely identifies a particular electronic module assembly to begin a diagnostic self-test;

receive a signal from the particular electronic module assembly with results of the diagnostic self-test; and

present an icon on a user interface screen that represents the seat associated with the particular electronic module assembly in a manner that visually indicates if the personal restraint system is working properly.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to present a user interface screen with different seating layout patterns.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to present a user interface screen in which each of the icons is shown in a visually distinctive manner that indicates results of the diagnostic self-test.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 6, further storing instructions that are executable by the processor to transmit a signal that causes the particular electronics module assembly to return to the sleep mode.