SOUND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A SEAT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a passenger seat (10), in particular for an aircraft cabin, comprising: - a headrest (11), - a backrest (12), - a seat (13), and - at least one loudspeaker (18) intended to broadcast a sound signal to a passenger, - said passenger seat (10) further comprising: - at least one means (20) for detecting a presence of the passenger or a part of the passenger's body, and - a control unit (24) configured to selectively control an activation or a deactivation of the loudspeaker (18) and / or a modification of a characteristic of a sound signal broadcast by the loudspeaker (18) as a function of at least one item of information from among: - information relating to a presence of the passenger or a part of the passenger's body determined using the detection means (20), or - information on the state of the aircraft cabin or the aircraft. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: SOUND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A SEAT

[0001] The present invention relates to a sound control system for a seat. The invention finds a particularly advantageous, but not exclusive, application with airplane seats but can also be implemented with the seats of other means of transport, in particular cars or boats.

[0002] Generally, an airplane passenger uses a headset to listen to multimedia content (music or films) offered by an IFE (In-Flight Entertainment) type system. However, wearing an audio headset for a significant duration of flight, particularly during an ultra-long-haul flight, becomes disturbing for the passenger. Indeed, after a few hours on the head, a headset begins to become heavy and oppressive for the passenger.

[0003] There are headphone-free audio systems for vehicle seats that offer a good level of sound quality and good intelligibility of film dialogue. However, in certain living situations, these systems are likely to generate potentially significant noise that may disturb other passengers. In particular, it has been observed that when the passenger is not in a seated position or the passenger's head is not in contact with the headrest, neighboring passengers can hear more of the sound generated by the speakers integrated in the headrest of the seat. This is due to the fact that the passenger's body, in particular his head, absorbs some of the sound broadcast by the speakers when seated, and this sound-absorbing effect disappears when the passenger leaves his seat.

[0004] Document GB1918524.8 describes a system for activating a noise cancellation mode when the passenger falls asleep. This document does not, however, teach specific control of the speakers depending on a general state of the cabin.

[0005] The invention aims to effectively remedy the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a passenger seat, in particular for an aircraft cabin, comprising: - a headrest, - a backrest, - a seat, and - at least one loudspeaker intended to broadcast an audible signal to a passenger, - said passenger seat further comprising: - at least one means of detecting the presence of the passenger or a part of the passenger's body, and - a control unit configured to selectively control an activation or a deactivation of the loudspeaker and / or a modification of a characteristic of a sound signal broadcast by the loudspeaker as a function of at least one piece of information from among: - information relating to a presence of the passenger or of a part of the passenger's body determined using the detection means, or - information on the status of the aircraft cabin or the aircraft.

[0006] The invention thus makes it possible to effectively adapt, depending on the presence or absence of the passenger or the state of the aircraft cabin or the aircraft, the activation of the loudspeakers and / or a characteristic of the sound signal of a headset-free solution, in particular the sound volume, in order to avoid disturbing neighboring passengers. The invention also makes it possible to adapt an activation of the loudspeakers and / or a characteristic depending on the living situation of the aircraft or the cabin, in particular to ensure that the messages from the flight crew, in particular the safety messages, are properly received by all the passengers of the aircraft.

[0007] According to one implementation of the invention, the modified characteristic of the sound signal is a volume of the sound signal and / or one or more frequencies of the sound signal.

[0008] According to an implementation of the invention, the control unit is configured to further control a message display, for example on a screen of a multimedia system, indicating that a deactivation of the loudspeaker and / or a modification of a characteristic of the sound signal generated by the loudspeaker has been controlled by the control unit.

[0009] According to one implementation of the invention, the control unit is configured in such a way that when it detects that the passenger leaves his seat or that the passenger's head moves away or moves relative to the headrest, said control unit is able to command a deactivation of the loudspeaker, or a reduction in the volume of the loudspeaker.

[0010] According to one implementation of the invention, the detection means is chosen from: a camera, a detection sensor, in particular of the inductive, capacitive, piezoelectric, infrared type, or a detection sheet, in particular of the inductive, capacitive, piezoelectric, infrared type.

[0011] According to one implementation of the invention, said seat comprises a plurality of detection means whose output signals are intended to be correlated by the control unit to confirm the information relating to the presence of the passenger or a part of the passenger's body.

[0012] According to one implementation of the invention, the detection means or means are arranged inside at least one element of the seat among: the headrest, the seat, the backrest, an armrest, or a seat belt buckle.

[0013] According to one implementation of the invention, at least one detection means, in particular a camera, is placed in a shell, or in the aircraft cabin near the seat.

[0014] According to one implementation of the invention, at least one loudspeaker is integrated into the headrest.

[0015] According to one implementation of the invention, at least one loudspeaker is integrated into a side wing of the headrest and / or into a central portion of the headrest.

[0016] According to one implementation of the invention, at least one loudspeaker is integrated into the seat, the backrest, or an armrest, or into a privacy shell of the seat.

[0017] According to one implementation of the invention, the control unit is configured to control a sound adjustment of the speaker(s) to an optimal sound volume in the event that an announcement from the flight crew, in particular a safety announcement, is to be made via the seat speaker(s).

[0018] According to one implementation of the invention, the control unit is configured to control muting of the seat speaker(s) in the event that an announcement from the flight crew, in particular a safety announcement, must be made via a speaker in the aircraft cabin.

[0019] According to one implementation of the invention, the control unit is configured to decrease a sound volume of the headrest speaker(s) and / or display a message advising the passenger to switch to headset use when a noise level of the cabin or a region of the cabin exceeds a predetermined threshold.

[0020] The present invention will be better understood and other characteristics and advantages will become apparent upon reading the detailed description which follows, comprising embodiments given for illustrative purposes with reference to the appended figures, presented as non-limiting examples, which may serve to complete the understanding of the present invention and the description of its embodiment and, where appropriate, contribute to its definition, in which:

[0021] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a view of a seat according to the invention comprising high- speakers as well as sensors for the presence of a passenger or a part of the passenger's body;

[0022] [Fig.2a][Fig.2b] Figures 2a and 2b are perspective views of a headrest with integrated loudspeakers according to the invention respectively in the open position and in the folded position;

[0023] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a schematic representation illustrating the sound control of the seat speakers depending on whether or not the passenger is on a seat;

[0024] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a schematic representation illustrating the sound control of the seat speakers depending on the presence of the passenger's head near a seat headrest;

[0025] [Fig.5a] [Fig.5b] [Fig.5c] Figures 5a to 5c are diagrams illustrating the selection of a speaker sound setting depending on different situations detected from the inputs taken into account by the control unit;

[0026] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a diagram illustrating an embodiment implementing a noise level detection system in the cabin or in an area of ​​the cabin.

[0027] It should be noted that, in the figures, the structural and / or functional elements common to the different embodiments may have the same references. Thus, unless otherwise stated, such elements have identical structural, dimensional and material properties.

[0028] [Fig.l] shows a passenger seat 10 intended to be installed in an aircraft cabin. This seat 10 comprises a headrest 11, a backrest 12, and a seat 13. As can be seen in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the headrest 11 may comprise a central portion 15 and two lateral wings 16 arranged on either side of the central portion 15 and articulated around an axis of rotation X, via a hinge, relative to the central portion 15.

[0029] At least one loudspeaker 18 intended to broadcast audio content may be integrated into the headrest 11. By "integrated" is meant the fact that the loudspeaker 18 may be fixed directly or indirectly by means of a housing to a structural element of the headrest 11. It is possible to integrate one or more loudspeakers 18 into a lateral wing 16 of the headrest 11.

[0030] A lateral wing 16 of the headrest 11 may be movable in rotation between an open position in which the lateral wings 16 are situated substantially in the same plane as the central portion 15, that is to say that a lateral wing 16 forms an angle of less than 10 degrees relative to the plane in which the central portion 15 extends (see [Fig.2a]), and a folded position in which a lateral wing 16 forms a non-zero angle, in particular between 60 degrees and 80 degrees, relative to the plane in which the central portion 15 extends (see [Fig.2b]).

[0031] Thus, by moving the side wings 16 from the open position to the folded position, the user will be able to bring the speakers 18 closer to his ears in order to improve the sound reproduction of the system.

[0032] Alternatively or in addition, one or more loudspeakers 18 may be integrated into the central portion 15 of the headrest 11. It is also possible to envisage the integration of one or more loudspeakers 18 in other parts of the seat 10, such as the seat 13, the backrest 12, or an armrest 14, or in a privacy shell of the seat 10 or in the cabin near the seat 10.

[0033] As illustrated by [Fig.l], the seat 10 further comprises at least one means 20 for detecting the presence of a passenger or a part of the body of the passenger. The detection means 20 is chosen from: a camera, a detection sensor, in particular of the inductive, capacitive, piezoelectric, infrared type, or a detection sheet, in particular of the inductive, capacitive, piezoelectric, infrared type. The detection sheet is a two-dimensional component comprising a plurality of elementary detectors.

[0034] The detection means 20 may be arranged inside at least one element of the seat 10 among: the headrest 11, the seat 13, the backrest 12. The detection means 20 may be arranged behind a protective cover or behind a layer of foam of the headrest 11, the backrest 12, or the seat 13.

[0035] In the case where the detection means 20 is arranged inside the headrest 11, the detection means 20 may be arranged in particular inside a lateral wing 16 of the headrest 11 or a central portion 15 of the headrest 11.

[0036] Alternatively, the detection means 20 may be arranged inside a seat belt buckle 21 or an armrest 14 so as to detect the presence of a hand, an arm, or a finger of the passenger.

[0037] In the case of a camera, the latter may be placed in the aircraft cabin near seat 10. The camera may be configured to detect the passenger or only the passenger's head.

[0038] A control unit 24 is capable of selectively controlling an activation or a deactivation of the loudspeaker 18 and / or a modification of a characteristic of a sound signal generated by the loudspeaker 18 as a function of information from among: information I_pres relating to a presence of the passenger or of a part of the passenger's body determined using the detection means 20 or information I_ac on the state of the aircraft or of the cabin.

[0039] According to certain embodiments, a plurality of detection means 20 may be used, the output signals of which are intended to be correlated by the control unit 24 to confirm the information I_pres relating to a presence or absence of the passenger or a part of the passenger's body. The multiple detectors may be of the same type or of different types.

[0040] Advantageously, the modified characteristic of the sound signal is a volume of the sound signal. Alternatively or additionally, it would however be possible to modify one or more frequencies of the sound signal.

[0041] The control unit 24 may be configured to further control a message display, for example on a screen 25 of a multimedia system (or IFE system for "Inflight Entertainment System" in English) following deactivation of the loudspeaker 18 and / or a modification of a characteristic of the sound signal generated by the loudspeaker 18.

[0042] In the embodiment illustrated by [Fig.3], the control unit 24 is configured in such a way that when it detects, in a living situation SI, that the passenger 26 is sitting on the seat 10 and that his head 27 is located near the headrest 11, the control unit 24 authorizes activation of the loudspeaker 18 at an optimal sound volume. The passenger 26 will thus be able to adjust the sound volume to the desired level.

[0043] When the control unit 24 detects that the passenger 26 is sitting on his seat but moves his head 27 away from the headrest 11 (situation S2) or that the passenger 26 leaves his seat 10 (situation S3), said control unit 24 commands a deactivation of the loudspeakers 18, or a reduction in the volume of the loudspeakers 18. Alternatively, the control unit 24 may also vary one or more frequencies of the sound signal from the loudspeakers in a frequency band inaudible to neighboring passengers. Alternatively, the control unit 24 may also command an automatic switch from use without headphones via the loudspeaker 18 to normal use with headphones.

[0044] When the control unit 24 detects that the passenger 26 returns to sit on his seat 10 or that the head of the passenger 27 returns close to the headrest 11, the control unit 24 automatically reactivates, without action by the passenger, the loudspeakers 18 or increases the sound to the level previously set by the passenger. Thus, the implementation of the method is completely transparent for the passenger.

[0045] According to a simplified implementation, the control unit 24 only detects the presence or absence of the passenger on his seat 10 and triggers the aforementioned control actions of the loudspeakers as a function of this.

[0046] [Fig. 4] illustrates the detection zone ZI in which it is considered that the head 27 of the passenger is close to the headrest 11. This detection zone ZI may have a width L of between 5 and 20 cm measured relative to a support face of the headrest 11. A detection zone ZI may be adjusted according to a configuration of the headrest 11 and the speaker(s) 18.

[0047] When the passenger's head 27 leaves the zone Z1 and enters the zone Z2, the control unit 24 detects that the passenger moves his head 27 away from the headrest 11. The control unit 24 then commands a deactivation of the speakers 18, or a reduction in the sound volume of the speakers 18 in order to avoid disturbing the neighboring passengers.

[0048] The detection zone ZI may be implemented with a headrest 11 provided with side wings 16 or without side wings.

[0049] Figures 5a to 5c illustrate different situations that can be detected by the control unit 24 as a function of system input as well as a selection of a sound setting of the speakers 18 of the headrest 11. The settings may be preselected. For example, five preselected settings (AE settings) may be provided, described in more detail below.

[0050] In the implementation of [Fig.5a], the control unit 24 takes into account an in formation I_pres relating to a presence of the passenger 26 via the signals received by the detection means 20 as well as information I_s relating to a state of the seat 10. The state of the seat 10 is defined by the position of the seat 10 which may be in the sitting position 13 or in the bed position as well as by the position of the lateral wings 16 of the headrest 11. For this purpose, position sensors may be installed at the level of the actuators of the seat 10 and at the level of the hinges of the lateral wings 16.

[0051] In the case where the system detects, in a situation SI, that the passenger 26 is seated on the seat 10 with his head resting against the headrest 11 and that the side wings 16 are in the folded position, the control unit 24 will be able to select a first setting A of the loudspeakers 18 at an optimal sound volume (sound level at 100%), notably located around 60 dB. This sound volume is configurable by a tuning parameter.

[0052] In the case where the system detects, in a situation S2, that the passenger 26 no longer has his head resting against the headrest 11, the control unit 24 will be able to select a second setting B of the loudspeakers 18 at a sound volume lower than the optimal sound volume, for example at a sound volume of the order of 50%. This sound volume is configurable by a tuning parameter.

[0053] In the case where the system detects, in a situation S3, that the passenger 26 is lying in the seat 10 in bed position, the control unit 24 will be able to select a third setting C of the loudspeakers 18 at a sound volume lower than the optimal sound volume but higher than the sound volume of the setting B, for example at a sound volume of the order of 70%. This sound volume is configurable by a tuning parameter.

[0054] In the case where the system detects, in a situation S4, that the passenger 26 is seated on the seat 10 while the side wings 16 are in the open position, the control unit 24 will also be able to select the third setting C.

[0055] In the implementation of [Fig.5b], the control unit 24 takes into account information I_pres relating to the presence of the passenger 26 or of a part of his body, in particular the head, via the signals received by the detection means 20 as well as information I_ac relating to a state of the aircraft or the cabin. This information I_ac relating to a state of the aircraft or the cabin may in particular consist of information relating to a boarding phase of the aircraft, information relating to a flight phase of the aircraft, or information relating to a night mode of the cabin.

[0056] The control unit 24 will thus be able to select a setting of the loudspeakers 18 as a function of a combination of the information I_pres relating to the presence of the passenger 26 and the information I_ac relating to a state of the aircraft or the cabin. The information I_ac relating to the state of the aircraft or the cabin is managed by the flight crew who will be able to modify its state.

[0057] In the case where the system detects, in a situation S5, that the aircraft is in a boarding phase and that the passenger 26 is seated on his seat 10, the control unit 24 will be able to select the second setting B of the loudspeakers 18.

[0058] In the case where the system detects, in a situation S6, that the aircraft is in a flight phase and that the passenger 26 is seated on his seat 10, the control unit 24 will be able to select the first setting A of the loudspeakers 18.

[0059] In the implementation of [Fig.5c], the control unit 24 takes into account information I_pres relating to the presence of the passenger 26 or of a part of his body via the signals received by the detection means 20 as well as information I_ac relating to a state of the aircraft or the cabin. The information I_ac relating to a state of the aircraft or the cabin may in particular consist of information relating to a boarding phase of the aircraft, information relating to a flight phase of the aircraft, information relating to a night mode of the cabin, information relating to the broadcasting of a safety message via the loudspeakers 18 of the seat 10, or information relating to the broadcasting of a safety message via the loudspeakers 18 of the cabin.

[0060] In the case where the control unit 24 detects, in a situation S7, that the aircraft is in a boarding phase, the control unit 24 will be able to select the second setting B of the loudspeakers 18.

[0061] In the case where the system detects, in a situation S8, that the aircraft is in a flight phase, the control unit 24 will be able to select the first setting A of the loudspeakers 18.

[0062] In the event that, in a situation S9, an announcement by the flight crew, in particular a safety announcement, is to be made via the loudspeakers 18 of the seat 10, the control unit 24 also selects the first setting A of the loudspeakers 18 for the broadcasting of the announcement. The broadcasting of the flight crew announcement is carried out at an optimal sound volume regardless of the position of the passenger 26 relative to the seat 10.

[0063] In the case where, in a situation S10, the control unit 24 detects that the cabin indicates that the cabin is in night mode, the control unit 24 selects the third setting C so as to limit the sound level to 70% of the volume. This makes it possible to reduce the overall noise of the cabin. This sound level is configurable by a tuning setting.

[0064] In the case where, in a situation SI 1, an announcement from the on-board personnel, in particular a safety announcement, must be made, via loudspeakers 18 in the cabin, the control unit 24 commands a muting of the loudspeakers 18 of the headrest 11 (setting D: sound level at 0%), regardless of the position of the passenger 26 relative to the seat 10.

[0065] It should be noted that, apart from the broadcasting of messages from the flight crew for which the sound levels of the loudspeakers 18 are imposed, the sound levels of the different AD settings constitute maximum sound levels, the passenger being able to set a sound level lower than the maximum sound level by default.

[0066] In the implementation of [Fig.6], a noise management system is provided for the entire aircraft cabin or for specific regions of the cabin covering several seats 10.

[0067] In this case, a noise level detector N_b is used, for example a microphone, connected to an input of the control unit 24. When the control unit 24 detects, in a situation S12, that the noise level N_b of the cabin or of a region of the cabin exceeds a predetermined threshold, the sound level of the loudspeakers 18 of the headrest 11 (of all the seats 10 of the cabin or of the seats 10 located in the detection region) is reduced and / or a message is displayed to advise the passenger 26 to switch to use with a headset (see setting E).

[0068] Of course, the various features, variants and / or embodiments of the present invention may be combined with each other in various combinations to the extent that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

[0069] Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and provided solely by way of example. It encompasses various modifications, alternative forms and other variants that may be envisaged by those skilled in the art within the framework of the present invention and in particular all combinations of the different operating modes described above, which may be taken separately or in association.

Claims

Claims

1. Passenger seat (10), in particular for an aircraft cabin, comprising: - a headrest (11), - a backrest (12), - a seat (13), and - at least one loudspeaker (18) intended to broadcast a sound signal to a passenger (26), characterized in that said passenger seat (10) further comprises: - at least one means (20) for detecting a presence of the passenger (26) or a part of the passenger's body (26), and - a control unit (24) configured to selectively control an activation or a deactivation of the loudspeaker (18) and / or a modification of a characteristic of a sound signal broadcast by the loudspeaker (18) as a function of at least one item of information from among: - information relating to a presence of the passenger (26) or a part of the passenger's body (26) determined using the detection means (20), or - information on the state of the aircraft cabin or the plane,- the control unit (24) being configured in such a way that when it detects that the passenger (26) leaves his seat (10) or that the passenger's head (26) moves away or moves relative to the headrest (11), said control unit (24) is able to command a deactivation of the loudspeaker (18), or a reduction in the volume of the loudspeaker (18), and - when the control unit (24) detects that the passenger (26) returns to sit on his seat (10) or that the passenger's head (27) returns close to the headrest (11), the control unit (24) is configured to automatically reactivate, without action by the passenger, the loudspeaker (18) or increase the sound to a level previously set by the passenger.,

2. Seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the modified characteristic of the sound signal is a volume of the sound signal and / or one or more frequencies of the sound signal.

3. Seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control unit (24) is configured to further control a message display, for example on a screen (25) of a multimedia system, indicating that a deactivation of the loudspeaker (18) and / or a modification of a characteristic of the sound signal generated by the loudspeaker (18) has been commanded by the control unit (24).

4. Seat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the detection means (20) is chosen from: a camera, a detection sensor, in particular of the inductive, capacitive, piezoelectric, infrared type, or a detection sheet, in particular of the inductive, capacitive, piezoelectric, infrared type.

5. Seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of detection means (20) whose output signals are intended to be correlated by the control unit (24) to confirm the information relating to the presence of the passenger (26) or of a part of the body of the passenger (26).

6. Seat according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the detection means (20) are arranged inside at least one element of the seat (10) among: the headrest (11), the seat (13), the backrest (12), an armrest (14), or a seat belt buckle (21).

7. Seat according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one detection means (20), in particular a camera, is arranged in a shell, or in the aircraft cabin near the seat (10).

8. Seat according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one loudspeaker (18) is integrated in the headrest (11).

9. Seat according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one loudspeaker (18) is integrated in a lateral wing (16) of the headrest (11) and / or in a central portion (15) of the headrest (11).

10. Seat according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one loudspeaker (18) is integrated into the seat (13), the backrest (12), or an armrest (14), or into a privacy shell of the seat (10).

11. Seat according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the control unit (24) is configured to control a sound adjustment of the speaker(s) (18) to an optimal sound volume in the event that an announcement by the flight personnel, in particular a safety announcement, is to be made via the speaker(s) (18) of the seat (10).

12. Seat according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the control unit (24) is configured to control a muting of the speaker(s) (18) of the seat (10) in the event that a announcement by the flight crew, especially a safety announcement, must be made via a loudspeaker (18) in the aircraft cabin.

13. Seat according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the control unit (24) is configured to decrease a sound volume of the speaker(s) (18) of the headrest (11) and / or display a message advising the passenger (26) to switch to use with headphones when a noise level (N_b) of the cabin or a region of the cabin exceeds a predetermined threshold.

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