Aircraft furniture installation with a seat capable of adopting a safety position

Abstract

The invention relates to a furniture installation (100) which comprises: - a seat (102) comprising one or more movable elements (202, 204, 206, 208), wherein the seat can adopt in particular a safety position; and - a human-machine interface (110) for allowing a passenger seated in the seat (102) to move the seat (102). The furniture installation (100) further comprises a management device (114) designed to: - receive measurements relating to the state of the aircraft; - on the basis of the received measurements, determine a current flight phase of the aircraft, from a plurality of predefined flight phases; and - according to the flight phase determined, either block any movement of the seat out of the safety position by means of the human-machine interface, or allow the seat to be moved out of the safety position by means of the human-machine interface.

Description

Description TITLE: AIRCRAFT FURNITURE INSTALLATION WITH A SEAT CAPABLE OF TAKING UP A SAFETY POSITION 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] Known from the state of the art is a furniture installation 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.

[0003] The seat's safe position before takeoff and landing is usually checked by flight attendants on a seat-by-seat basis and sometimes using a visual seat safe position indicator, such as LEDs that may be broken or not readily visible. However, this safe position is not usually locked, so the passenger can use their human-machine interface to exit this position and therefore no longer be in the safe position.

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

[0005] Furthermore, documents US 2020 / 339266 A1, EP 3 606 827 B1 and GB 2 496 452 A describe different ways of moving passenger seats. Summary of the invention

[0006] There is therefore proposed an aircraft movable installation comprising: a seat comprising one or more movable elements, the seat being able in particular to take a safety position; and a human-machine interface to allow a passenger seated in the seat to move the seat, for example to control actuators to move this or these movable elements; 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, from 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.

[0007] The invention may further comprise one or more of the following optional features, in any technically possible combination.

[0008] 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 movement of the seat into the safety position, following receipt of a corresponding request via the human-machine interface.

[0009] 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.

[0010] 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 an in-flight phase (for example, a cruising phase).

[0011] Also optionally, the measurements include at least one of: an aircraft tilt measurement, an aircraft speed measurement, an aircraft acceleration measurement, an aircraft altitude variation measurement, a measurement of atmospheric pressure variation around the aircraft.

[0012] 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.

[0013] an aircraft comprising at least one movable installation according to the invention is also proposed.

[0014] There is also proposed a method for managing an aircraft movable installation comprising a seat comprising one or more movable elements, the seat being able to take in particular a safety position, and a human-machine interface to allow a passenger seated in the seat to move the seat, for example to control actuators to move this or these movable elements, 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.

[0015] There is also provided a computer program downloadable from a communication network 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

[0016] 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: Figure 1 is a simplified three-dimensional view of an aircraft furniture installation according to the invention, Figure 2 is a side view of a seat of the furniture installation of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a block diagram of a management method implemented by a device for managing the furniture installation of Figure 1. Detailed description of the invention

[0017] With reference to Figure 1, a furniture installation 100 according to the invention will now be described. The furniture installation 100 is designed to equip an aircraft cabin, in order to accommodate a passenger.

[0018] The furniture installation 100 firstly comprises a seat 102 where the passenger can sit.

[0019] 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.

[0020] The aircraft seat 102 further includes a human-machine interface 110 configured to allow the passenger seated in the seat to move the seat 102.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] With reference to Figure 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 by relative to the seat 206, an actuator 216 of the seat 206 relative to a surface 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.

[0024] With reference to FIG. 3, a method 300 for managing the movable installation 100 will now be described.

[0025] During a step 302, the management device 114 receives a command to move the seat 102 via the human-machine interface 110.

[0026] 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 in altitude of the aircraft, a measurement of the variation in atmospheric pressure around the aircraft. Preferably, the measurements include at least the aircraft tilt measurement, the aircraft speed measurement, and the aircraft acceleration measurement. Thus, the aircraft altitude variation measurement and the atmospheric pressure variation measurement 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.

[0027] 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 an in-flight phase.

[0028] For example, the following table shows an example of rules for determining the flight phase from measurements:

[0029] The values ​​"-1", "0" and "+1" correspond respectively to ranges of values ​​for each type of measurement. For example, for bank, "-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 approximately 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 / s 2]), “0” corresponds to zero acceleration and “+1” corresponds to non-zero acceleration (e.g. the range [0.001 km / s 2 ; +0.55 km / s 2 ]). For altitude variation, "-1" corresponds to a decreasing altitude, "0" corresponds to a substantially constant altitude and "+1" corresponds to an increasing altitude. For pressure variation, "-1" corresponds to an increasing pressure, "0" corresponds to a substantially constant pressure and "+1" corresponds to a decreasing pressure.

[0030] 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 movement of the seat 102 from the safety position via the human-machine interface 110.

[0031] 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.

[0032] Preferably, the management device 114 is designed to authorize the control of each comfort element regardless of the determined flight phase.

[0033] This is summarized in the following table:

[0034] 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.

[0035] In the detailed presentation of the invention given above, the terms used should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to the embodiments set forth in this description, but should be interpreted to include all equivalents the prediction of which is within the reach of those skilled in the art by applying their general knowledge to the implementation of the information just 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 human-machine interface (110) to allow a passenger seated in the seat (102) to move the seat (102); characterized in that the movable installation (100) comprises a management device (114) designed to: receive measurements on the state of the aircraft, these measurements including 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 in altitude of the aircraft, a measurement of variation in atmospheric pressure around 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.; [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 to move the seat (102) from the safety position via the human-machine interface (110), among: a boarding phase, and an in-flight phase. [5] Movable installation (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, 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. [6] Aircraft comprising at least one movable installation (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5. [7] 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 move the seat (102), the method being characterized in that it comprises: receiving measurements on the state of the aircraft, these measurements including 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 in altitude of the aircraft, a measurement of variation in atmospheric pressure around the aircraft; from the received measurements, determining 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.; [8] 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.

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