AIRCRAFT FURNITURE INSTALLATION WITH A SEAT THAT CAN ASSIGN TO A SAFETY POSITION

The aircraft seat installation locks seat movements during critical flight phases based on aircraft state measurements, addressing the issue of passenger override and ensuring safety positions are maintained.

FR3149865A1Pending Publication Date: 2024-12-20SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE (FR)
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Patent Information

Application Number
FR2023006119
Authority / Receiving Office
FR · FR
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-06-15
Publication Date
2024-12-20

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing aircraft seat safety positions are not reliably locked during critical flight phases due to passengers overriding manual controls, leading to potential safety risks.

Method used

An aircraft furniture installation with a seat that can assume a safety position, equipped with a management device that receives aircraft state measurements to determine flight phases and locks or unlocks seat movements based on these phases, using a man-machine interface.

Benefits of technology

Ensures that seats remain in safety positions during take-off, landing, and taxi phases by preventing passenger override, enhancing safety and maintaining seat configurations as intended by flight attendants.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The seating system (100) comprises: - a seat (102) having one or more movable elements (202, 204, 206, 208), the seat being able to assume, in particular, a safety position; and - a human-machine interface (110) to allow a passenger seated in the seat (102) to move the seat (102). The seating system (100) further comprises a control device (114) designed to: - receive measurements on the aircraft's status; - based on the measurements received, determine a flight phase in which the aircraft is located, from among several predefined flight phases; and - depending on the determined flight phase, either block any movement of the seat from the safety position via the human-machine interface, or allow movement of the seat from the safety position via the human-machine interface. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 1
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Description

Title of the invention: AIRCRAFT FURNITURE INSTALLATION WITH A SEAT CAPABLE OF TAKING UP A POSITION OF SECURITY Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an aircraft movable installation with a seat capable of taking a safety position, an aircraft comprising such a movable installation, a method for managing a movable installation and a corresponding computer program. Technological background

[0002] A piece of furniture installation is known from the state of the art, comprising: - a seat comprising one or more mobile elements, the seat being able to take up in particular a safety position; and - a human-machine interface to allow a passenger sitting in the seat to move the seat.

[0003] The safety position of the seat before takeoff and landing is generally controlled by the flight crew seat by seat and sometimes using a visual indicator of the safety position of the seat, such as LEDs which may be broken or not very visible. However, this safety position is not generally locked, so that the passenger can use his human-machine interface to get out of this position and therefore no longer be in the safety position.

[0004] It may thus be desirable to provide an aircraft movable installation which makes it possible to overcome at least some of the aforementioned problems and constraints. Summary of the invention

[0005] An aircraft movable installation is therefore proposed comprising: - a seat comprising one or more movable elements, the seat being able to take up in particular a safety position; and - a human-machine interface to allow a passenger seated in the seat to move the seat; characterized in that it comprises a management device designed to: - receive measurements on the state of the aircraft; - from the measurements received, determine a flight phase in which the aircraft is located, among several predefined flight phases; - depending on the flight phase determined, either block any movement of the seat from the safety position via the human-machine interface, or authorize movement of the seat from the safety position via the human-machine interface. machine.

[0006] The invention may further comprise one or more of the following optional features, in any technically possible combination.

[0007] Optionally, the management device is designed, in each flight phase where any movement of the seat from the safety position via the human-machine interface is blocked, to authorize a movement of the seat into the safety position, following the reception of a corresponding request via the human-machine interface.

[0008] Also optionally, the predefined flight phases include at least one flight phase associated with blocking any movement of the seat from the safety position via the human-machine interface, among: a takeoff phase, a landing phase, and a taxi phase.

[0009] Also optionally, the predefined flight phases include at least one flight phase associated with an authorization of a movement of the seat from the safety position via the human-machine interface, among: a boarding phase, and a flight phase.

[0010] Also optionally, the measurements include at least one of: a measurement of inclination of the aircraft, a measurement of speed of the aircraft, a measurement of acceleration of the aircraft, a measurement of variation of altitude of the aircraft, a measurement of variation of atmospheric pressure around the aircraft.

[0011] Also optionally, the furniture installation further comprises one or more comfort elements, and the management device is designed to authorize the control of each comfort element regardless of the determined flight phase.

[0012] An aircraft comprising at least one movable installation according to the invention is also proposed.

[0013] There is also proposed a method for managing an aircraft movable installation comprising a seat comprising one or more mobile elements, the seat being able to take in particular a safety position, and a man-machine interface to allow a passenger seated in the seat to control the actuators to move the seat, the method being characterized in that it comprises: - reception of measurements on the state of the aircraft; - from the measurements received, a determination of a flight phase in which the aircraft is located, among several predefined flight phases; - depending on the flight phase determined, either a blocking of any movement of the seat from the safety position via the human-machine interface, or an authorization of a movement of the seat from the safety position via the human-machine interface.

[0014] Also provided is a computer program downloadable from a network communication and / or recorded on a computer-readable medium, characterized in that it comprises instructions for executing the steps of a method according to the invention, when said program is executed on a computer. Brief description of the figures

[0015] The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which: - [Fig.l] is a simplified three-dimensional view of an aircraft movable installation according to the invention, - [Fig.2] is a side view of a seat of the furniture installation of [Fig.l], and - [Fig.3] is a block diagram of a management process implemented by a management device for the furniture installation of [Fig.l]. Detailed description of the invention

[0016] With reference to [Fig.l], a movable installation 100 according to the invention will now be described. The movable installation 100 is designed to equip an aircraft cabin, in order to receive a passenger.

[0017] The furniture installation 100 firstly comprises a seat 102 where the passenger can sit.

[0018] The furniture installation 100 further comprises one or more comfort elements 104, 106, 108 for the passenger. This or these comfort elements 104, 106, 108 include for example one or more of: a lighting element 104, a heating element 106 and a cooling element 108. The comfort element or elements may further comprise a lumbar massage system.

[0019] The aircraft seat 102 further comprises a human-machine interface 110 designed to allow the passenger seated in the seat to move the seat 102.

[0020] The aircraft seat 102 further comprises a management device 114 designed to carry out the steps which will be described later with reference to [Fig. 3].

[0021] The movable installation 100 further comprises one or more sensors 116 designed to provide measurements on the state of the aircraft to the management device 114. These sensors 116 may be specific to each seat 102, or common to several seats 102. This or these sensors 116 include for example an inclinometer designed to measure a front-rear inclination of the aircraft, a speed sensor designed to measure a speed of the aircraft, an accelerometer designed to measure an acceleration of the aircraft, an altimeter designed to measure a variation over time of altitude of the aircraft, a barometer designed to measure a variation over time of atmospheric pressure around the aircraft. These sensors may be external to the movable installation, for example be part of other systems of the aircraft.

[0022] With reference to [Fig. 2], the seat 102 further comprises one or more movable elements 202, 204, 206, 208. This or these movable elements 202, 204, 206, 208 include for example one or more of: a headrest 202, a backrest 204, a seat 206 and a legrest 208. The seat 102 further comprises one or more actuators 212, 214, 216, 218 designed to move this or these movable elements 202, 204, 206, 208. This or these actuators 212, 214, 216, 218 include for example at least one of: an actuator 212 of the headrest 202 relative to the backrest 204, an actuator 214 of the backrest 204 relative to the seat 206, an actuator 216 of the seat 206 relative to a floor of the aircraft cabin and an actuator 218 of the leg rest relative to the seat 206. Thus, a movement of the seat 102 comprises a movement of at least one movable element 202, 204, 206, 208 by the control of at least one actuator 212, 214, 216, 218.In particular, the seat 102 can be placed in a safety position, in which the backrest 204 is generally raised and the leg rest 208 is folded back.

[0023] With reference to [Fig. 3], a method 300 for managing the movable installation 100 will now be described.

[0024] During a step 302, the management device 114 receives a command to move the seat 102 via the human-machine interface 110.

[0025] During a step 304, the management device 114 receives measurements on the state of the aircraft from the sensor(s) 116. The measurements include at least one of: a measurement of the inclination of the aircraft, a measurement of the speed of the aircraft, a measurement of the acceleration of the aircraft, a measurement of the variation of altitude of the aircraft, a measurement of the variation of atmospheric pressure around the aircraft. Preferably, the measurements include at least the measurement of the inclination of the aircraft, the measurement of the speed of the aircraft, and the measurement of the acceleration of the aircraft. Thus, the measurement of the variation of altitude of the aircraft and the measurement of the variation of atmospheric pressure around the aircraft are optional and can thus serve as redundancy to determine the flight phase, even in the event of failure of the inclinometer, the speed sensor and / or the accelerometer.

[0026] During a step 306, from the received measurements, the management device 114 determines a flight phase in which the aircraft is located, from among several predefined flight phases. For example, the predefined flight phases include at least one of: a takeoff phase, a landing phase, a taxi phase, a boarding phase, and a flight phase.

[0027] For example, the following table shows an example of rules for determining the flight phase from the measurements: INCLINE SPEED ACCELERATION ALTITU DE PRESSURE VARIATION FLIGHT PHASE 0 0 0 0 0 Boarding +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 Takeoff 0 +1 0 0 0 In flight -1 +1 -1 -1 -1 Landing 0 +1 +1 0 0 Taxi

[0028] The values ​​"-1", "0" and "+1" correspond respectively to ranges of values ​​for each type of measurement. For example, for inclination, "-1" corresponds to angles indicating that the aircraft is leaning forward (e.g. the range [-1°; -10°]), "0" corresponds to angles indicating that the aircraft is substantially horizontal (e.g. the range [0°; 3°]) and "+1" corresponds to angles indicating that the aircraft is leaning backward (e.g. the range [4°; 10°]). For speed, "0" corresponds to zero speed and "+1" corresponds to high speeds (e.g. the range [3; 900 km / h]). For acceleration, "-1" corresponds to deceleration (e.g., the range [-0.01; -0.55 km / s2]), "0" corresponds to zero acceleration, and "+1" corresponds to non-zero acceleration (e.g., the range [0.001 km / s2; +0.55 km / s2]).For altitude variation, "-1" corresponds to decreasing altitude, "0" corresponds to a substantially constant altitude, and "+1" corresponds to increasing altitude. For pressure variation, "-1" corresponds to increasing pressure, "0" corresponds to a substantially constant pressure, and "+1" corresponds to decreasing pressure.

[0029] During a step 308, depending on the determined flight phase, the management device either blocks any movement of the seat 102 from the safety position via the human-machine interface 110, or authorizes a movement of the seat 102 from the safety position via the human-machine interface 110.

[0030] For example, the takeoff phase, the landing phase, and the taxi phase are associated with a blocking of any movement of the seat from the safety position via the human-machine interface. In addition, the boarding phase, and the flight phase are associated with an authorization of a movement from the safety position.

[0031] Preferably, the management device 114 is designed to authorize the control of each comfort element regardless of the determined flight phase.

[0032] This is summarized in the following table: FLIGHT PHASE SEAT COMFORT ELEMENTS Boarding Authorization Authorization Takeoff Blocking Authorization In flight Authorization Authorization Landing Blocking Authorization Taxi Blocking Authorization

[0033] In conclusion, it will be noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. It will indeed appear to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the embodiments described above, in light of the teaching which has just been disclosed to them.

[0034] In the detailed presentation of the invention which is made above, the terms used must not be interpreted as limiting the invention to the embodiments set out in the present description, but must be interpreted to include all equivalents whose prediction is within the reach of those skilled in the art by applying their general knowledge to the implementation of the teaching which has just been disclosed to them.

Claims

Claims

1. Aircraft movable installation (100) comprising: - a seat (102) comprising one or more movable elements (202, 204, 206, 208), the seat being able to take in particular a safety position; and - a man-machine interface (110) to allow a passenger seated in the seat (102) to move the seat (102); characterized in that it comprises a management device (114) designed to: - receive measurements on the state of the aircraft; - from the measurements received, determine a flight phase in which the aircraft is located, among several predefined flight phases; - depending on the determined flight phase, either block any movement of the seat from the safety position via the man-machine interface, or authorize a movement of the seat from the safety position via the man-machine interface.

2. Furniture installation (100) according to claim 1, in which the management device (114) is designed, in each flight phase where any movement of the seat (102) from the safety position via the human-machine interface (110) is blocked, to authorize a movement of the seat into the safety position, following the reception of a corresponding request via the human-machine interface.

3. Movable installation (100) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the predefined flight phases include at least one flight phase associated with blocking any movement of the seat (102) from the safety position via the human-machine interface (110), among: a take-off phase, a landing phase, and a taxi phase.

4. Movable installation (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the predefined flight phases include at least one flight phase associated with an authorization of a movement of the seat (102) from the safety position via the human-machine interface (110), among: a boarding phase, and a flight phase.

5. Movable installation (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the measurements include at least one of: a measurement of inclination of the aircraft, a measurement of speed of the aircraft, a measurement of acceleration of the aircraft, a measurement of variation of altitude of the aircraft, a measurement of variation of atmospheric pressure around the aircraft.

6. Movable installation (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising one or more comfort elements (104, 106, 108), and in which the management device (114) is designed to authorize the control of each comfort element regardless of the determined flight phase.

7. Aircraft comprising at least one movable installation (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. Method (300) for managing a movable installation (100) of an aircraft comprising a seat (102) comprising one or more movable elements (202, 204, 206, 208), the seat being able to take in particular a safety position, and a human-machine interface (110) to allow a passenger seated in the seat (102) to control the actuators (212, 214, 216, 218) to move the seat (102), the method being characterized in that it comprises: - a reception of measurements on the state of the aircraft; - from the measurements received, a determination of a flight phase in which the aircraft is located, among several predefined flight phases; - depending on the flight phase determined, either a blocking of any movement of the seat from the safety position via the human-machine interface, or an authorization of a movement of the seat from the safety position via the human-machine interface.

9. Computer program downloadable from a communications network and / or recorded on a computer-readable medium, characterized in that it comprises instructions for executing the steps of a method according to claim 8, when said program is executed on a computer.

Citation Information

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