Aircraft cabin component and method for manufacturing an aircraft cabin component

Abstract

An aircraft cabin component for use in an aircraft cabin of an aircraft includes a component having at least one parameterized surface. A flexible OLED display assembly is adhered to the at least one parameterized surface of the component and closely conforms to the curvature of the at least one parameterized surface. The flexible OLED display assembly includes a printed electronics layer and an array of OLEDs deposited on the printed electronics layer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to aircraft cabin components with integrated multi-function displays, such as liner panels, ceiling panels, or floor panels. The invention further relates to methods for manufacturing such aircraft cabin components.

[0002] Although the invention and the problem on which it is based are generally applicable to any kind of component, such as in the passenger cabin of a land, air or water transport vehicle in the transportation industry, or even in a building or land-based structure (e.g., a disco, cinema, recording studio, concert hall or the like), the invention and the problem on which it is based will be explained in more detail with reference to aircraft cabin components used in the passenger cabins of commercial aircraft. Background Technology

[0003] Airlines face a growing need to differentiate themselves from competitors, particularly by cultivating enhanced customer experiences. Providing passengers with higher standards of cabin comfort leads to an improved flight experience and greater customer loyalty. The cabin offers the most freedom and flexibility in design choices to meet this need.

[0004] A typical passenger aircraft includes a fuselage that houses the cabin, which, among other things, includes passenger seats, carry-on baggage compartments, sanitation facilities, and other cabin spaces. The cabin interior is typically separated from the aircraft's fuselage, skin, and other structural components by the linings of multiple adjacent lining panels, as well as corresponding floor and ceiling panels.

[0005] OLED technology for building displays is well-known, for example, as illustrated in document US 5,952,789 A. However, media and lighting solutions provided to aircraft passengers based on this technology are typically based on different and separate built-in devices that are not integrated into the cabin itself, or at least not fully integrated. Several attempts have been made to integrate media and lighting systems into the cabin, such as those disclosed in documents DE 10 2006 007 285 A1 and DE 10 2012 108 956 A1. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One of the objectives of this invention is to overcome traditional obstacles to integrating media and lighting systems into the structural components of the cabin, such as shape limitations, fragility, weight, integration complexity, and cost.

[0007] This objective is achieved by an aircraft cabin component having the features of claim 1, an aircraft having the features of claim 13, and a method for manufacturing the aircraft cabin component having the features of claim 15.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the invention, an aircraft cabin component for use in an aircraft cabin includes a component having at least one parametric surface (i.e., a surface having a smoothly varying curvature at any point on the surface). A flexible multifunctional electronic component is adhered to the at least one parametric surface of the component and closely conforms to the curvature of the at least one parametric surface, the flexible multifunctional electronic component including a first printed electronics layer and an OLED component deposited on the first printed electronics layer.

[0009] According to a second aspect of the invention, an aircraft includes an aircraft cabin equipped with at least one aircraft cabin component conforming to a first aspect of the invention, and / or an aircraft cabin component assembly, the aircraft cabin component assembly including at least one aircraft cabin component conforming to the first aspect of the invention, and an active noise cancellation controller coupled to a speaker and a microphone of the at least one aircraft cabin component, the active noise cancellation controller being configured to receive noise recorded by the microphone and output a noise suppression signal that destructively interferes with the noise recorded by the microphone to the speaker. The general idea is also applicable to other components, such as walls, ceilings, or floors of buildings (e.g., discos, concert halls, cinemas, recording studios, etc.) that need to shield against external noise.

[0010] According to a third aspect of the invention, a method for manufacturing an aircraft cabin component for use in an aircraft cabin includes: printing an electronic product layer on a flexible carrier substrate; printing an OLED array on the printed electronic product layer; and depositing the flexible carrier substrate on a parametric surface of the component such that the flexible carrier substrate adheres to at least one parametric surface of the component and closely conforms to the curvature of the parametric surface. The printing process may in particular be an inkjet printing process or a transfer printing process.

[0011] The development of the cabin based on a full-screen cabin concept achieves several beneficial effects of this invention. The components used for the display, along with organic semiconductors, allow for a seamless fit with the cabin contours. Furthermore, the structural design of the aircraft cabin components effectively addresses the mechanical vibrations that traditional stand-alone displays must contend with. The integrated approach to designing aircraft cabin components with built-in media and lighting allows for maximum industrial agility and manufacturing speed, better management of airline customization, and effortless integration within the end-to-end supply chain.

[0012] Intelligent aircraft cabin components (such as the intelligent aircraft cabin component proposed in this invention) can provide a unique experience for passengers inside the aircraft cabin. The combination of organic semiconductors and printed electronics integrated into the surface of the components allows for the embedding of many flexibly designed functions into the aircraft cabin components. The use of printed electronics ensures economic feasibility, flexibility, low power consumption, and portability through uncomplicated known manufacturing techniques.

[0013] The combination of OLED technology and printed electronics on flexible substrates offers excellent brightness, light intensity, and color fastness, low power consumption, competitive manufacturing costs, and high passenger satisfaction. The mechanical flexibility of the stacked multi-functional displays and electronics layers ensures a perfect fit to the cabin's shape.

[0014] This invention offers numerous advantages for the cabin environment. Due to the possibilities offered by this invention, separately installed electronic devices (e.g., individual displays or interactive elements) can be avoided or at least significantly reduced in number. Holding components such as brackets or the like can be reduced. In short, weight and space reductions are possible, thereby reducing resources available for aircraft flight, as any weight reduction can have a significant impact on the aircraft's load and therefore fuel consumption. The printing process used to stack the layers for forming the multi-functional display provides exceptional design freedom and the possibility of integrating functional and structural elements into a single component, which would otherwise require meticulous assembly work in conventional manufacturing.

[0015] Furthermore, this invention offers several advantages for the overall safety and reliability of the cabin's electrical infrastructure. Due to the integrated approach, inspection and maintenance work can be significantly reduced. Therefore, not only can weight, cost, installation, and manufacturing work be significantly reduced, but the overall reliability of the cabin's electrical infrastructure can also be improved.

[0016] Advantageous embodiments and improvements of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

[0017] According to some embodiments of aircraft cabin components, flexible multifunctional electronic components can be ultra-thin. In some embodiments, flexible multifunctional electronic components can be very flexible, especially truly flexible. Exceptional flexibility can be achieved by appropriately selecting the materials for the layers of the multifunctional electronic component and by keeping the layer thickness below the upper boundary threshold of the layer thickness.

[0018] According to some embodiments of aircraft cabin components, the OLED front panel may include an organic light-emitting layer, a cathode layer deposited on the organic light-emitting layer, and an encapsulation layer deposited on the cathode layer. Advantageously, such OLED displays operate without backlighting because they emit visible light. Therefore, OLED displays are capable of displaying deep black levels and can be thinner and lighter compared to comparable displays based on other technologies (such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs)). OLED displays can advantageously achieve enhanced contrast under low ambient light conditions.

[0019] According to some embodiments of aircraft cabin components, the OLED array may include an OLED substrate deposited on the first printed electronics layer, an organic TFT array layer deposited on the OLED substrate, and an OLED front panel deposited on the organic TFT array layer. Such an active-matrix OLED device (AMOLED) advantageously uses a thin-film transistor backplane to directly access and switch each individual OLED pixel, thereby allowing for higher resolution and larger display size.

[0020] According to some embodiments of aircraft cabin components, the aircraft cabin components may further include a second printed electronics layer deposited on the OLED assembly. Advantageously, the transparent electronics layer may overlay the OLED, thereby providing more direct access to the surrounding environment. Possible applications involve providing touch-sensitive electrodes on the OLED display or various environmental sensors for sensing parameters near the aircraft cabin components.

[0021] According to some embodiments of aircraft cabin components, the aircraft cabin component may further include a protective capping layer deposited on the second printed electronics layer.

[0022] According to some embodiments of aircraft cabin components, the aircraft cabin component may further include a flexible carrier substrate disposed between at least one parameterized surface of the flexible multifunctional electronic component and a first printed electronics layer, the material of the flexible carrier substrate exhibiting strong chemical affinity to the material of the component. This allows the multifunctional electronic component to be variably adapted to various materials used in the component. In particular, there is no need to reduce requirements when designing the structural, mechanical, and functional aspects of the aircraft cabin component, because the multifunctional electronic component can optimally interact with the component by using a specially adapted carrier substrate.

[0023] According to some embodiments of aircraft cabin components, a first printed electronics layer can be directly deposited on at least one parameterized surface of the component.

[0024] According to some embodiments of aircraft cabin components, the components can be one of the following: lining panels, ceiling panels, floor panels, coat racks, cabin doors, compartment partition modules, curtains, baggage compartment doors, galley sidewalls, or sidewalls of lavatory three-dimensional spaces. In this way, virtually all surfaces visible to passengers in the aircraft cabin can become "smart surfaces," i.e., surfaces with blended transitions between various cabin components create the impression of a uniform display. Multifunctional electronics can flexibly adapt to single or double-curved component surfaces, thereby maximizing the surface area turned to smart surfaces while adhering to cabin functions such as air conditioning outputs, passenger supply units (PSUs), or turbulence processors (grip rails).

[0025] According to some embodiments of aircraft cabin components, the first and / or second printed electronics layers may include one or more of the following: temperature sensors, light intensity sensors, humidity sensors, moisture sensors, pressure sensors, smoke detection sensors, chemical sensors, contact sensors, speakers, antennas, RFID modules, optical fidelity modules, memory elements, energy harvesting elements, photovoltaic cells, biosensors, and energy storage devices. For example, sensors for temperature, light intensity, humidity / moisture, pressure, smoke detection, air quality, air / oxygen mixture, or airflow velocity can allow for spatially resolved in-situ detection of important cabin parameters. Integrated circuits for electronic controllers, such as those for speakers or microphones, can be directly integrated into the aircraft cabin components, thus avoiding the need for extensive wiring. Touchscreens can be directly integrated into the IFE of passenger seats and / or the system panels for crew and flight attendants. Advantageously, wireless access point (WAP) antennas can be integrated into the aircraft cabin components to deliver local Wi-Fi access points to passengers. Integrated RFID modules can track the lifecycle of components during industrial and service phases. Optical fidelity modules can advantageously provide passengers with wireless communication capabilities using visible light. Memory elements can store media and / or track the use of tactile components on surfaces for maintenance, repair, cleaning, and / or replacement purposes. Energy storage devices can be advantageously used to separate the power usage of aircraft cabin components and separately integrated electronics from other cabin electrical structures. Integrated biosensors can provide onboard medical points, which can be located in specific areas of the cabin in case of health problems among passengers or crew. These biosensors can track human biorhythms, such as heart rate and electrochemical levels (e.g., glucose levels).

[0026] According to some embodiments of an aircraft cabin component, the aircraft cabin component may further include a third printed electronics layer deposited on a surface of the component opposite to at least one parameterized surface. In some embodiments, the first printed electronics layer may include a speaker and the third printed electronics layer may include a microphone. According to some embodiments, a second flexible carrier substrate may be disposed between the component and the third printed electronics layer, the material of the second flexible carrier substrate exhibiting strong chemical affinity to the material of the component.

[0027] At least one of an aircraft cabin component having a first printed electronics layer including a speaker and a third printed electronics layer including a microphone can be used in an aircraft cabin component assembly. The aircraft cabin component assembly may further include an active noise cancellation controller coupled to the speaker and microphone of the at least one aircraft cabin component. The active noise cancellation controller is configured to receive noise recorded by the microphone and output a noise suppression signal that destructively interferes with the noise recorded by the microphone to the speaker. In this way, the aircraft cabin component can become a noise recorder on the fuselage side, while the passenger side becomes a full-audio screen. Due to the flexible audio AMOLED foil embedded inside the aircraft cabin and the microphone foil embedded externally, the aircraft cabin component can perform active noise cancellation (ANR) algorithms to suppress noise within the aircraft cabin. This advantageously allows for the implementation of on-site mechanisms for reducing unwanted environmental noise, such as from mechanical vibrations of the engine or fuselage and airfoil structure.

[0028] According to some embodiments of the method, the flexible carrier substrate may include connector tabs through which the printed electronics layer and / or another printed electronics layer can be electrically connected between each other and / or electrically connected to an electronic controller outside the aircraft cabin component. Advantageously, this allows interconnection between multiple aircraft cabin components "behind the scenes" (i.e., not visible to passengers), thus improving the aesthetic appearance of the OLED display facing the aircraft cabin interior. Additionally, advantageously, necessary processing operations for specific aircraft cabin components can be performed to a certain extent within a processor embedded in the cabin component. This reduces the extensive wiring and complex signaling between the electronics in the cabin component and the external controller. Attached Figure Description

[0029] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments depicted in the accompanying drawings.

[0030] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention and many anticipated advantages of the invention will be readily understood as they will become apparent from the following detailed description. Elements in the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. In the drawings, similar reference numerals denote similar or functionally similar parts unless otherwise stated.

[0031] Figure 1 A cross-section of a stack of layers, as used in aircraft cabin components according to some embodiments of the invention, is schematically shown.

[0032] Figure 2 A cross-section of a stack of layers, as used in an aircraft cabin component according to another embodiment of the invention, is schematically shown.

[0033] Figure 3 An aircraft cabin component assembly having two connected aircraft cabin components is schematically shown according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0034] Figure 4 An aircraft having a cabin is schematically shown, in which at least one aircraft cabin component and / or aircraft cabin component assembly is installed according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing aircraft cabin components according to some other embodiments of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0036] Although specific embodiments have been shown and described herein, those skilled in the art will understand that various alternative and / or equivalent implementations may be used instead of the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the invention. Generally, this application is intended to cover any modifications or changes to the specific embodiments discussed herein.

[0037] Figure 1A cross-section through a stack of layers, such as those used for aircraft cabin component 20, is schematically shown. Within the meaning of this disclosure, an aircraft cabin component is any cabin module with a large surface area visible to passengers within the aircraft cabin. Such aircraft cabin components may include upper and lower liner panels, ceiling panels, sidewalls, passenger compartment walls, louvers, coat racks and overhead luggage compartments, passenger seats, floor panels, stowaway tables, backrests, headrests, lavatory doors, cabin vertical space elements, galleys, cockpit doors, etc. Specifically, within the meaning of this disclosure, an aircraft cabin component is a cabin portion having a component surface intended to face the interior of the aircraft cabin. Such aircraft cabin components have at least partially (i.e., sectionally) flat, consistent, horizontal, or uniform surfaces on which flexible, multi-functional OLED display components can be mounted.

[0038] Figure 1 and Figure 2 Component 21, as a flat portion, is schematically shown. However, it is apparent that component 21 need not necessarily be flat, but may also have an arcuate or curved surface. Component 21 generally has a certain thickness and has a first main surface generally oriented toward the interior C of the aircraft cabin, and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface, generally facing away from the interior of the aircraft cabin and toward the exterior E of the aircraft cabin. Without loss of generality, the first main surface... Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the exemplary illustration, the first primary surface is shown facing upwards, while the second primary surface is shown facing downwards. However, it should be understood that the first and second primary surfaces can be oriented in any direction depending on the position and orientation of the aircraft cabin components within the aircraft cabin. Component 21 can be manufactured, for example, from prepreg and a honeycomb core or injection-molded plastic.

[0039] The main surface of component 21 is, in particular, a parametric surface, i.e., a surface with a smoothly varying curvature at all points on the surface. Such parametric surfaces have a flat, curved, or arcuate outer boundary plane to which the multifunctional electronic component 10b can be flexibly adhered. The multifunctional electronic component 10b comprises a stack of different layers with different functions. All layers possess appropriate flexibility that allows the electronic component 10b to closely conform to the curvature of the parametric surface.

[0040] Although the multifunctional electronic component 10b is shown to adhere only to a portion of the parameterized surface of component 21, the electronic component 10b can extend substantially across the entire surface of component 21, especially once the aircraft cabin component 20 is mounted on the aircraft (e.g., as...). Figure 4Any surface portion visible from inside the aircraft cabin in the aircraft shown in aircraft A).

[0041] Aircraft cabin component 20 can be configured, for example, as a lining panel to form the lining of the passenger cabin of a passenger aircraft. For example, such a lining panel can be customized as a wall panel, floor panel, or, for example, a ceiling panel to separate the interior space of the cabin from the structural parts and infrastructure of the aircraft. In other variations, aircraft cabin component 20 can be customized as a cover for coat racks or similar loading spaces. In the following, the term "aircraft cabin component" can generally refer to any lining or covering element commonly known from the interior design of an aircraft cabin, i.e., a component that can serve as a basic paneling function for functional or decorative purposes and further provides additional structural or functional advantages. Additionally, aircraft cabin components can (in whole or in part) include coat racks, cabin doors, compartment partition modules, curtains, baggage compartment doors, galley sidewalls, or sidewalls of lavatory three-dimensional spaces.

[0042] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a multifunctional electronic component typically includes a printed electronics layer 12 and an OLED component 10a formed thereon. The stack of the printed electronics layer 12 and the OLED component 10a can be placed on a flexible carrier substrate 11. Another printed electronics layer 19a can be placed on top of the OLED component 10a. The OLED component 10a typically includes an OLED substrate 13, an organic TFT array layer 14, and an OLED front panel 18, which includes an organic light-emitting layer 15, a cathode layer 16, and a protective encapsulation layer 17. When providing another printed electronics layer 19a, an additional protective cover 19b can be placed on top of the printed electronics layer 19a to encapsulate and shield the printed electronics layer 19a. The electronics layer 19a and the protective cover 19b can be, in particular, transparent to ensure the visibility of the underlying OLED component 10a.

[0043] The flexible multifunctional electronic component 10b includes multiple different layers, particularly a first printed electronics layer 12, and an OLED component 10a deposited on the first printed electronics layer 12. In some examples, the first printed electronics layer 12 can be deposited directly on the surface of the component 21. In this case, the first printed electronics layer 12 can be directly printed onto the component 21 of the aircraft cabin component 20, for example, by inkjet printing or transfer printing.

[0044] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2In the variant explicitly shown, printed electronic product layers 12 and 22 are first printed onto the corresponding flexible carrier substrate 11 or 22a. Thus, the entire layer stack can be initially accumulated on the carrier substrate 12. The final multi-functional electronic product assembly can then be shipped to a system integrator, who attaches the multi-functional electronic product assembly to component 21 via the carrier substrate 12.

[0045] Specifically, the first printed electronic layer 12 can be supported by a flexible carrier substrate 11 disposed on a parameterized surface of component 21. The material of the flexible carrier substrate 11 can be selected according to the material of the component, such that the carrier substrate 11 exhibits strong chemical affinity to the material of component 21. Strong chemical affinity can be ensured by selecting materials with different chemical compositions that are easy to polymerize or bond and form stable bonding regions at their contact surfaces.

[0046] The printing process used for the printed electronic layer 12 can be used to create electrical devices on the substrate. The printing process employed can use common printing equipment suitable for defining patterns on materials, such as screen printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing, offset printing, and inkjet printing. Electrically functional electronic or optical inks can be deposited on the substrate to create active or passive devices, such as thin-film transistors, capacitors, coils, or resistors.

[0047] Electronic components printed in layer 12 may include organic or plastic electronic components, wherein one or more inks are composed of carbon-based compounds that can be deposited by solution-based, vacuum-based, or other processes. Electronic components may also include organic semiconductors, inorganic semiconductors, metallic conductors, nanoparticles, or nanotubes.

[0048] Almost all industrial printing methods can be used to fabricate the flexible printed electronic layer 12. Similar to conventional printing, ink layers can be applied one on top of the other for printing electronics. One of the most important benefits of printing is low-cost mass production. Furthermore, printing on flexible substrates allows electronics to be placed on curved surfaces.

[0049] The functions of the electronic components in the printed electronics layer 12 can be diverse and can be implemented as desired for the specific capabilities of the multifunctional electronic component 10b: the first printed electronics layer 12 may include, for example, temperature sensors, light intensity sensors, humidity sensors, moisture sensors, pressure sensors, smoke detection sensors, chemical sensors, contact sensors, speakers, antennas, RFID modules, optical fidelity modules, memory elements, energy harvesting elements, photovoltaic cells, biosensors and / or energy storage devices.

[0050] Similarly, the functions of the electronic components in the other printed electronics layers 19a and 22 can be equally diverse and implemented as desired for the specific capabilities of the aircraft components: the second printed electronics layer 19a and / or the third printed electronics layer 22 may also include, for example, temperature sensors, light intensity sensors, humidity sensors, moisture sensors, pressure sensors, smoke detection sensors, chemical sensors, contact sensors, speakers, antennas, RFID modules, optical fidelity modules, memory elements, energy harvesting elements, photovoltaic cells, biosensors and / or energy storage devices.

[0051] The decision of which electronic components to integrate into the first printed electronics layer 12, the second printed electronics layer 19a, and / or the third printed electronics layer 22 can depend on the desired functionality. For example, sensors that may require direct access to the surrounding environment can be placed in the second printed electronics layer 19a, and this access is not impeded by the presence of the OLED component 10a. In other examples, various electronic components that do not necessarily require direct access to the surrounding environment, such as processors, batteries, or antennas, can be placed in the first printed electronics layer 12. Other electronic components used outside the aircraft cabin (such as microphones) can be placed in the third printed electronics layer 22.

[0052] The printing processes used for printing electronic layers 19a and 22 can be applied to create electrical devices on the substrate. The printing processes employed for this purpose can utilize common printing equipment suitable for defining patterns on materials, such as screen printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing, offset printing, and inkjet printing. Electrically functional electronic or optical inks can be deposited on the substrate to create active or passive devices, such as thin-film transistors, capacitors, coils, or resistors.

[0053] Electronic components printed in layers 19a and 22 may include organic or plastic electronic components, wherein one or more inks are composed of carbon-based compounds that can be deposited by solution-based, vacuum-based, or other processes. Electronic components may also include organic semiconductors, inorganic semiconductors, metallic conductors, nanoparticles, or nanotubes.

[0054] Almost all industrial printing methods can be used to prepare the flexible printed electronic product layers 19a and 22. Similar to conventional printing, ink layers can be applied one on top of the other for the printed electronics. One of the most important benefits of printing is low-cost mass production.

[0055] The OLED component 10a can be deposited on the printed electronics layer 12, particularly by inkjet printing or transfer printing processes similar to those used for the printed electronics layer 12 itself. The OLED component 10a may include an OLED substrate 13 deposited on the printed electronics layer 12, an organic TFT array layer 14 deposited on the OLED substrate 13, and an OLED front panel 18 deposited on the organic TFT array layer 14. The OLED front panel 18 may consist of an organic light-emitting layer 15, a cathode layer 16 deposited on the organic light-emitting layer 15, and an encapsulation layer 17 deposited on the cathode layer 16.

[0056] The material used for the OLED substrate 13 may be selected from polyethylene groups, but may also include glass, plastic, or other suitable materials or combinations thereof with the required flexibility. The OLED substrate 13 may be, for example, opaque, reflective translucent, or transparent. It should be understood that the OLED component 10a may have different functional components, such as an anode, a cathode, and one or more organic layers disposed between the anode and cathode. When an appropriate voltage is applied to the OLED front panel 18, positive and negative charges combine in the organic light-emitting layer 15 to emit light. The characteristics of this light, including brightness and color, depend at least in part on the applied voltage and the characteristics of the organic light-emitting layer 15. The encapsulation layer 17 may form an environmental barrier to reduce exposure of the OLED component 10a to environmental elements (e.g., air, oxygen, water, oil, radiation, and other elements) that negatively affect the OLED component 10a. In some variations, the encapsulation layer 17 may also protect the OLED electronic components from direct environmental contact and impact. The encapsulation layer 17 may include glass, plastic, other suitable materials, or combinations thereof with the required flexibility.

[0057] OLED displays can be classified as bottom-emitting or top-emitting. In a bottom-emitting OLED display, the OLED emits light toward a substrate, and the light passes through the substrate. Bottom-emitting may require a transparent or translucent substrate, as well as a bottom electrode, so that the emitted light can pass through both layers. Top-emitting OLED displays include OLEDs that emit light in the opposite direction to the substrate. The substrate of a top-emitting OLED display can be opaque, reflective, translucent, or transparent. Since component 21 itself is typically opaque, OLED component 10a can preferably be configured as a top-emitting OLED display with a transparent encapsulation layer 17.

[0058] With the organic TFT array layer 14, the OLED component 10a can be configured as an active-matrix OLED display (AMOLED). An AMOLED display consists of an active matrix of OLED pixels in an organic light-emitting layer 15, which generate light by emitting light when electrically activated. The organic light-emitting layer 15 is deposited or integrated onto the organic TFT array layer 14, which is controlled as a series of switches to control the current flowing to each individual pixel. Typically, this continuous current is controlled by at least two TFTs at each pixel (to trigger light emission), one TFT for starting and stopping the charging of the storage capacitor, and the second for providing a voltage source at the level required to generate a constant current to the pixel, thus eliminating the need for the very high current required for operation of a passive-matrix OLED.

[0059] Organic TFT array layer 14 forms the TFT backplane of the AMOLED display. Compared with traditional OLED displays, AMOLED displays do not require expensive backlights and generally have higher energy efficiency.

[0060] A second printed electronics layer 19a (similar to the first printed electronics layer 12) can be formed on top of the OLED component 10a. The second printed electronics layer 19a can be formed by a printing technique similar to that of the first printed electronics layer 12, and can be protected by a protective capping layer 19b deposited on the second printed electronics layer 19a.

[0061] like Figure 2 As shown in the example, a third printed electronics layer 22 (similar to the first printed electronics layer 12) can be deposited on a second main surface of component 21 opposite to the first main surface. The third printed electronics layer 22 can be formed using a printing technique similar to that of the first printed electronics layer 12 and can be protected by a protective capping layer 23 deposited on the third printed electronics layer 22. The third printed electronics layer 22 can be supported by a flexible carrier substrate 22a disposed on the second main surface of component 21. The material of the flexible carrier substrate 22a can be selected according to the material of the component, such that the carrier substrate 22a exhibits strong chemical affinity to the material of component 21.

[0062] By providing separate printed electronics layers 12, 19a, and / or 22, different functions can be integrated integrally into different layers of the multifunctional electronics component or aircraft cabin component 20. For example, the first printed electronics layer 12 may include printed circuitry for use as a speaker, and the third printed electronics layer 22 may include printed circuitry for use as a microphone. This would enable the aircraft cabin component 20 to function as a full-screen display with the added benefit of reducing unwanted environmental noise, such as that from engine and mechanical vibrations.

[0063] like Figure 3 As schematically shown, the active noise cancellation controller 50 can be connected to the speakers and microphones of one or more aircraft cabin components 20a, 20b. The active noise cancellation controller 50 can, for example, be integrated into a general-purpose electronic controller 40 that controls the operation of various electronic components of the aircraft cabin components 20a, 20b. Furthermore, the general-purpose electronic controller 40 can provide synchronized control of the operation of adjacent aircraft cabin components 20a, 20b.

[0064] Typically, the arrangement of the active noise cancellation controller 50 and / or the electronic product controller 40 can be selected based on the desired functionality. For example, as... Figure 3 As shown, the active noise cancellation controller 50 and / or the electronic control unit 40 can be embedded in one or more of the aircraft cabin components 20a, 20b. In this case, the active noise cancellation controller 50 and / or the electronic control unit 40 can be arranged in one of the printed electronics layers 12, 19a or 22, and can be connected to the remaining electronic components and / or OLED assembly 10a via interconnections formed on connector tabs on the substrate.

[0065] Microphones can be printed as a microphone matrix on plastic foil within electronics layer 22. This electronics layer 22 will be mounted on the external cabin side, rather than on the passenger side as with electronics layers 12 and 19a. These microphones can record external noise. A speaker layer can be printed on one or both of electronics layers 12 and 19a. The external noise recorded by each microphone will be sent to an active noise cancellation controller 50, which will then be configured to output a noise suppression signal that destructively interferes with the noise recorded by the microphone to the speaker. For example, the noise suppression signal might resemble noise recorded at 180° out of phase. This signal conversion will be performed by the active noise cancellation controller 50. The result will be a significant reduction in external noise within the cabin, thereby helping to reduce acoustic fatigue for crew and passengers.

[0066] The connectivity of electronic product layers 12, 19a and / or 22 and OLED component 10a can be ensured by connector tabs 24a and 24b connected to the edges of these layers. Connector tabs 24a and 24b can preferably be connected to the back, i.e., the second main surface of the component, to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the OLED display in the passenger-visible portion within the aircraft cabin.

[0067] Connector contacts 24a and 24b may be pre-formed into the shape of carrier substrate 11 and / or 22a. For example, carrier substrate 11 and / or 22a may be stamped from a larger sheet of material, so that connector contacts 24a and 24b are integrally formed with carrier substrate 11 and / or 22a.

[0068] Figure 4 The diagram schematically illustrates aircraft A, which is equipped with what appears to be a combination of... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The aircraft cabin shown and explained includes one or more aircraft cabin components 20, 20a, 20b. Additionally or alternatively, the aircraft A may include an aircraft cabin component assembly 30 having two or more interconnected aircraft cabin components 20a, 20b, such as in combination. Figure 3 As shown and explained.

[0069] Figure 5 A flowchart is shown, schematically illustrating the process for manufacturing aircraft cabin components, particularly such as... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The method M shown and explained is for the aircraft cabin component 20. Method M can be performed to manufacture components for an aircraft (e.g., in conjunction with...). Figure 4 Explanation and demonstration of passenger aircraft A) aircraft cabin components 20 or Figure 3 30. Aircraft cabin component assembly.

[0070] In the first stage M1, the electronic product layer 12 is printed on the flexible carrier substrate 11, and then in the second stage M2, the OLED component 10a can be printed on the flexible carrier substrate. In the third stage M3, the flexible carrier substrate 11 is deposited on a parameterized surface of the component 21, such that the flexible carrier substrate 11 adheres to at least one parameterized surface of the component 21 and closely matches the curvature of the parameterized surface. The material of the flexible carrier substrate 11 can be selected in such a way that the chemical affinity between the flexible carrier substrate 11 and the material of the component ensures a strong adhesion between the two.

[0071] Advantageously, the printing process can involve inkjet printing or transfer printing. These printing methods are used to produce electrical devices on a variety of substrates and typically use common printing equipment suitable for defining patterns on materials at low cost, such as screen printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing, offset printing, and inkjet printing.

[0072] Electrically functional electronic or optical inks are deposited on a substrate to create active or passive devices, such as thin-film transistors, capacitors, coils, or resistors. Printed electronics can involve organic or plastic electronic materials, where one or more ink materials consist of or contain carbon-based compounds and can be deposited using solution-based, vacuum-based, or other processes. Printed electronics can also utilize any solution-based material, including organic semiconductors, inorganic semiconductors, metallic conductors, nanoparticles, or nanotubes.

[0073] Printing on a flexible substrate, such as a flexible carrier substrate 11, allows the electronic product layer 12 to be placed on a curved surface.

[0074] In the optional fourth stage M4, another electronic layer 22 can be printed on the surface of the component opposite to the parameterized surface. This other printed electronic layer 22 and the first printed electronic layer can then be electrically interconnected via connector tabs of the flexible carrier substrate 11. Furthermore, an electronic controller 40 located outside the aircraft cabin components or as one of the printed electronic layers 12 and 22 can be interconnected with the remaining electronic components via connector tabs 24a and 24b, respectively. Connector tabs 24a and 24b can be used to connect electronic modules in various aircraft cabin components 20a and 20b to the electronic controller 40. Connector tabs 24a and 24b can be pre-formed into the shape of the carrier substrate 11 and / or 22a. For example, the carrier substrate 11 and / or 22a can be stamped from a larger sheet of material, such that the connector tabs 24a and 24b are integrally formed with the carrier substrate 11 and / or 22a.

[0075] like Figure 3 As shown, the electronics controller 40 may be used, for example, to control the OLED displays and electronic components in each of the printed electronics layers, or may further include an active noise cancellation controller 50, which may be used to control the speakers and microphones implemented in the respective electronics layers 12, 22, in order to provide an active noise cancellation mechanism in the aircraft cabin.

[0076] The use and manufacture of aircraft cabin components in aircraft, as described above and explained, opens up new possibilities for a variety of media and lighting scenarios, thereby enhancing the passenger experience and simplifying maintenance tasks throughout the aircraft's lifecycle.

[0077] By using aircraft cabin components according to the invention in the aircraft cabin, the conventional cabin lighting system can be eliminated, while safety lighting / signs and passenger reading lights can be retained. Since additional cables, brackets, or other lighting fixtures are no longer required, the associated workload at both the aircraft section and final assembly line levels can be advantageously reduced. Specifically at the section level, integrator-side turnaround time may be particularly improved.

[0078] This invention minimizes disruption to current industrial setups used for cabin component manufacturing. A further advantage lies in reducing development time required for industrialization by utilizing established technologies at the implementation level.

[0079] Airlines can completely differentiate themselves from competitors and offer a unique customer cabin experience, directly impacting customer loyalty. This provides airlines with unique opportunities for advertising, marketing, and emotional influence, thereby increasing ancillary revenue through advertising. Airlines can present current information about their destination city / region / country, letting passengers know what they shouldn't miss during their journey. This advertising can be executed in partnership with public / private entities, opening up new revenue streams for airlines.

[0080] This invention opens up potential new business areas for aircraft manufacturers by enabling maintenance guides / videos to be provided to airline technicians, preferably via a password-protected haptic area on an OLED display that covers a touch-sensitive sensor area.

[0081] In the foregoing detailed description, various features have been combined in one or more examples for the purpose of simplifying this disclosure. It should be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. It is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents. Many other examples will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing specification.

[0082] The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and its various embodiments with various modifications suitable for the intended particular use. Many other examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.

[0083] List of reference numerals

[0084] A aircraft

[0085] M method

[0086] M1 Method Steps

[0087] M2 Method Steps

[0088] M3 Method Steps

[0089] M4 Method Steps

[0090] 10a OLED module

[0091] 10b Multifunctional Electronic Product Components

[0092] 11 Flexible carrier substrate

[0093] 12 Printed Electronics Layer

[0094] 13 OLED substrate

[0095] 14 OTFT array layers

[0096] 15 OLED layers

[0097] 16 Cathode Layer

[0098] 17 Encapsulation layer

[0099] 18 Front panel stacking

[0100] 19a Printed Electronics Layer

[0101] 19b Protective cap

[0102] 20. Aircraft cabin components

[0103] 20a Aircraft cabin components

[0104] 20b Aircraft cabin components

[0105] 21 Components

[0106] 22a Flexible carrier substrate

[0107] 22 Printed Electronics Layer

[0108] 23 Protective capping layer

[0109] 24a connector tab

[0110] 24b connector tab

[0111] 30. Aircraft cabin component assemblies

[0112] 40 Electronic product controllers

[0113] 50 Active Noise Cancellation Controller

Claims

1. An aircraft cabin component (20; 20a, 20b) for use in the cabin of an aircraft (A), said aircraft cabin component (20; 20a, 20b) comprising: Component (21), the component having at least one parameterized surface; A flexible multifunctional electronic product assembly (10b) is attached to at least one parametric surface of the component and closely matches the curvature of the at least one parametric surface. The flexible multifunctional electronic product assembly (10b) includes a first printed electronic product layer (12) and an OLED component (10a) deposited on the first printed electronic product layer (12). A second printed electronic layer (22) is deposited on the surface of the component (21) opposite to the at least one parameterized surface; A first flexible carrier substrate (22a) is disposed between the component (21) and the second printed electronics layer (22), and the material of the first flexible carrier substrate (22a) exhibits strong chemical affinity to the material of the component (21). One of the first printed electronics layer (12) and the second printed electronics layer (22) includes a speaker, and the other of the first printed electronics layer and the second printed electronics layer includes a microphone.

2. The aircraft cabin component (20; 20a, 20b) according to claim 1, wherein, The OLED component (10a) includes an OLED substrate (13) deposited on the first printed electronics layer (12), an organic TFT array layer (14) deposited on the OLED substrate (13), and an OLED front panel (18) deposited on the organic TFT array layer (14).

3. The aircraft cabin component (20; 20a, 20b) according to claim 2, wherein, The OLED front panel (18) includes an organic light-emitting layer (15), a cathode layer (16) deposited on the organic light-emitting layer (15), and an encapsulation layer (17) deposited on the cathode layer (16).

4. The aircraft cabin component (20; 20a, 20b) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: A third printed electronics layer (19a) is deposited on the flexible OLED component (10a).

5. The aircraft cabin component (20; 20a, 20b) according to claim 4, further comprising: A protective capping layer (19b) is deposited on the third printed electronics layer (19a).

6. The aircraft cabin component (20; 20a, 20b) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: A second flexible carrier substrate (11) is disposed between at least one parameterized surface of the component (21) and the first printed electronic layer (12) of the flexible multifunctional electronic product assembly (10b). The material of the second flexible carrier substrate (11) exhibits strong chemical affinity to the material of the component (21). The materials of the second flexible carrier substrate (11) and the component (21) have different chemical compositions, making the materials easy to polymerize or bond and form a stable bonding region at their contact surfaces.

7. The aircraft cabin component (20; 20a, 20b) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The component (21) is one of the following: lining panel, ceiling panel, floor panel, coat rack, cabin door, compartment partition module, curtain, luggage compartment door, kitchen side wall or lavatory three-dimensional space side wall.

8. The aircraft cabin component (20; 20a, 20b) according to claim 4, wherein, The first printed electronics layer (12) and / or the third printed electronics layer (19a) include one or more of the following: temperature sensor, light intensity sensor, humidity sensor, moisture sensor, pressure sensor, smoke detection sensor, chemical sensor, contact sensor, speaker, antenna, RFID module, optical fidelity module, memory element, energy harvesting element, photovoltaic cell, biosensor and energy storage device.

9. The aircraft cabin component (20; 20a, 20b) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The materials of the first flexible carrier substrate (22a) and the component (21) have different chemical compositions, making the materials easy to polymerize or bond and form a stable bonding region at their contact surfaces.

10. An aircraft cabin component assembly (30), comprising: At least one aircraft cabin component (20; 20a, 20b) according to any one of claims 1 to 9. as well as An active noise cancellation controller (50) is connected to the speaker and microphone of at least one of the aircraft cabin components (20; 20a, 20b), and the active noise cancellation controller (50) is configured to receive noise recorded by the microphone and output a noise suppression signal that destructively interferes with the noise recorded by the microphone to the speaker.

11. An aircraft (A) comprising an aircraft cabin equipped with at least one aircraft cabin component (20; 20a, 20b) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and / or an aircraft cabin component assembly (30) according to claim 10.

12. A method (M) for manufacturing aircraft cabin components (20; 20a, 20b), the method (M) comprising: A first electronic product layer (12) is printed on a first flexible carrier substrate. OLED components (10a) are printed on the first electronic product layer (12). The first flexible carrier substrate is deposited on the parametric surface of the component (21) such that the first flexible carrier substrate adheres to at least one parametric surface of the component (21) and closely matches the curvature of the parametric surface. A second electronic layer (22) is printed on the surface of the component (21) opposite to the at least one parameterized surface; and A second flexible carrier substrate is disposed between the component (21) and the printed second electronic product layer (22), wherein the material of the second flexible carrier substrate exhibits strong chemical affinity to the material of the component (21); One of the printed first electronic product layer (12) and the printed second electronic product layer (22) includes a speaker, and the other of the printed first electronic product layer and the printed second electronic product layer includes a microphone.

13. The method (M) according to claim 12, wherein, The first flexible carrier substrate includes connector tabs (24a, 24b), and the printed first electronic product layer (12) and the printed second electronic product layer (22) are electrically connected to each other and / or electrically connected to an electronic product controller (40) outside the aircraft cabin component (20; 20a, 20b) via the connector tabs.

14. The method (M) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein, Printing at least one of the first electronic product layer (12), the OLED component (10a), and the second electronic product layer (22) includes inkjet printing or transfer printing.

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