B/e Aerospace, Inc.

Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Francis Xavier L Garing

Alexander Nicholas Pozzi

Alyssa G Mellett

Robert D Wilkey

Jae Hun Gu

Robert J Henshaw

Julia M Brooks

Benjamin D Stephens

Suzuko Hisata

Kosta Gianakopoulos

Adam Britton

Thomas W Cahoon

Benjamin Stephens

A modular panel system for attachment to an overhead stowage bin including an elongate bracket, a plurality of spacers, and at least one panel removably attached to the plurality of spacers without requiring tools to facilitate panel interchangeability independent of stowage bin structure. The at least one panel can be marked with, for example, branding, cabin class designation, advertising or wayfinding.

Overhead bin modular panel

A cable actuating mechanism that actuates through a central pivot axis of a pivoting mechanism including two articulating cable actuators that contact opposing ends of a floating pin that passes through the center of the pivot. One actuator is affixed to a stationary assembly of the pivot device and the other actuator is affixed to a rotating body of the device. A first cable pulled at one end of the device pulls a second cable at an opposing end of the device through the articulating cable actuators. The cable actuating mechanism can be used to unlock, for example, a seat recline lock device in an aircraft seat equipped with a pivoting armrest, among other applications within and outside of an aircraft cabin environment.

Pivoting cable actuating mechanism

A unified passenger service unit (PSU) control concentrically incorporates a reading light, a gasper outlet, and a notification ring within a control knob rotatable or pushable (via a pushbutton or the control knob itself) by an occupant of the aircraft seat to which the PSU control corresponds. The notification ring may be activated by the passenger or by the cabin crew, and may be visible throughout the aircraft. The notification rings may indicate an attendant call, or be activated by the crew in groups or waves to direct passenger activity. The PSU control includes a user interface (UI) display that serves as a control interface for the gasper outlet and reading light. The UI display may also show indicators or messages sent by the cabin crew.

Unified passenger service unit (PSU) control

A seat sensor array for use in an aircraft or the like, including: a passenger presence sensor operable for determining if a passenger is present in/absent from a seat; a seat back position sensor operable for determining if a seat back of the seat is in a reclined/upright position; a seat cushion engagement sensor operable for determining if a seat cushion of the seat is dislodged/removed from the seat; and a controller in communication with the passenger presence sensor, the seat back position sensor, and the seat cushion engagement sensor operable for receiving passenger presence information from the passenger presence sensor, seat back position information from the seat back position sensor, and seat cushion engagement information from the seat cushion engagement sensor and communicating this passenger presence information, seat back position information, and seat cushion engagement information to a crew member via wired or wireless means.

Seat sensor array and controller and seat assembly incorporating same

In embodiments, an illumination system includes a plurality of light sources and a plurality of fixed communicators disposed within the passenger cabin. The plurality of fixed communicators can be configured to send signals to or receive signals from a mobile communicator coupled to or carried by an object. The illumination system further includes a controller in communication with the plurality of light sources and the plurality of fixed communicators and/or the mobile communicator. The controller is configured to determine a location of the object within the passenger cabin based on signals communicated between the plurality of fixed communicators and the mobile communicator. The controller is further configured to selectively activate one or more of the light sources based on the determined location of the object to illuminate a portion of the passenger cabin in proximity to the object.

Object tracking illumination system

In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus for treating air discharged to a passenger suite of an aircraft includes an enclosure that houses components for treating air passing through the enclosure and a detachable cover connected to the enclosure that provides access to the components. Air treatment components associated with air treatment flow paths within the enclosure include a blower with a fan that draws air through an air intake on the enclosure. An air duct is affixed to a discharge of the blower and directs the air discharged from the blower through an air treatment flow path that includes a scented cartridge with a scented medium that is absorbed into the air passing through the air duct. An air exhaust port is attached at a discharge end of the air duct that discharges the air conditioned by the scented cartridge through an air exhaust vent on the enclosure.

Air treatment module

An aircraft tray table assembly includes a recessed storage compartment covered by a pivoting lid which becomes an integral part of the tray table surface upon closing. A mirror may be fixedly attached to the inside of the lid. A passenger may be provided a mirror surface by flipping open the pivoting lid when positioned in a passenger seat within an aircraft. A retractor may be configured to closing of the pivoting lid when a passenger manually translates the tray table into a stowed position, thereby avoiding contact of the deployed lid with aircraft fixture surfaces proximate the stowed position of the tray table.

Sliding tray table with storage compartment

A cable actuating mechanism that actuates through a central pivot axis of a pivoting mechanism including two articulating cable actuators that contact opposing ends of a floating pin that passes through the center of the pivot. One actuator is affixed to a stationary assembly of the pivot device and the other actuator is affixed to a rotating body of the device. A first cable pulled at one end of the device pulls a second cable at an opposing end of the device through the articulating cable actuators. The cable actuating mechanism can be used to unlock a seat recline lock device in an aircraft seat equipped with a pivoting armrest, among other applications.

In an illustrative embodiment, systems and methods for controlling projection of graphical elements onto surfaces of an aircraft cabin interior may include a projector mounted to a surface of a static element of an aircraft passenger suite that outputs the graphical element onto a projection surface. The graphical element may correspond to a received projection request. A controller may receive a projection request from a computing device indicating a type of graphical element for display onto the projection surface. The type of graphical element may correspond to a type of communication message such as a message between a passenger and a flight attendant within the aircraft cabin. The graphical element may generated for display by the projector based on at least one of the type of graphical element associated with the received projection request and a native language of the passenger or flight attendant.

Projection information display

A storage bin space utilization detection and display system for use with a storage bin for storing one or more objects, including: a plurality of sensors disposed within an interior portion of the storage bin, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is associated with one of a plurality of regions defined within the interior portion of the storage bin, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is operable for detecting a presence/absence of the one or more objects within the associated region defined within the interior portion of the storage bin; and a visual indicator device operable for indicating the detected presence/absence of the one or more objects within the associated region defined within the interior portion of the storage bin to an individual outside of the storage bin.

Overhead storage bin utilization detection and display system

Systems and methods for adaptively controlling lighting within a passenger suite of an aircraft cabin include a light sensor disposed on or within a surface of a static element of the passenger suite that detects illumination characteristics of external lighting system(s) within the aircraft cabin. The illumination characteristics may include lighting color and intensity. A controller may cause illumination of one or more illumination devices disposed near surfaces of the passenger suite such that the illumination of the surfaces matches or complements the sensed illumination characteristics of the external lighting system(s) independent of any communications received from the external lighting systems, thereby allowing additional ambient lighting systems to be added to the aircraft cabin without having to be integrated with other aircraft lighting systems.

Adaptive lighting system for an aircraft interior

A portable electronic device holder incorporated in a seatback of a passenger seat. The device holder includes a shelf and a release latch arranged to hold the respective bottom and top edges of a portable electronic device for hands-free use. The latch holds the shelf in a stowed position flush with the seatback and releases to allow the shelf to rotate away from the seatback for use. The shelf is positioned apart from a tray table, when present, so that the device holder and tray table can be deployed and used at the same time.

Deployable seatback holder for portable electronic devices

A cable release mechanism for a seat of the type having a seat bottom and a seat back adapted to be moved by a lockable gas spring between upright and reclined positions relative to the seat bottom. An electric motor is operatively attached to the gas spring by a cable movable by the motor to move the seat back between the upright and reclined positions, and a switch is electrically connected to the motor for initiating operation of the motor to move the cable. A related method is also disclosed.

Electronically actuated mechanical cable release for locking gas spring and method

In a preferred embodiment, a mechanical cable release mechanism for actuating an adjustable feature of an aircraft passenger seat includes a driving control mechanism disposed within a seat bottom region of the passenger seat, a moveable control mechanism disposed between the seat bottom region and the adjustable feature, a mechanical cable connected at one end to the moveable control mechanism and at the other end to the driving control mechanism, and an electronic actuation mechanism configured, upon triggering, to activate the driving control mechanism to pull or push the mechanical cable, thereby actuating the moveable control mechanism.

Electronically actuated cable release mechanism for adjustable aircraft passenger seat features and method therefor

A personal electronic device holder for a seat back that includes a support housing positioned on an upper shroud portion of the seat back and an upper support for supporting the top edge of the electronic device positioned in the support housing. The upper support is mounted for movement between a lowered, stowed position in the support housing and a raised, deployed position extending out of and above the support housing. A lower support is provided for supporting the bottom edge of the electronic device, and is positioned for movement between a stowed position covering the support housing and a deployed, lower position below the support housing. The upper support and lower support have respective engaging surfaces defining between them a user-selected space for engaging and holding the top edge and bottom edge of the electronic device in a use position.

Growing community of inventors

Atlanta, GA, United States of America

Francis Xavier L Garing