Aircraft Seat Shared Control Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft seats with complex electromechanical systems face issues of excessive electrical connections, which lead to space constraints and potential malfunctions, while existing solutions either burden the seat with many cables or risk malfunctioning when a central processing unit fails.
Innovation Solution
The control unit for nodes is integrated into the keyboard, and the screen control unit is placed within the screen, both connected via a multiplexed network, reducing electrical links and incorporating redundancy to ensure passenger comfort during unit malfunctions, with power sources and switches housed in a single pack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a control unit is placed beneath the seat to control multiple nodes, then the seat structure is simplified, but the number of cables increases and occupies excessive space under the seat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the control system into multiple distributed control units, each responsible for specific nodes, rather than using a single centralized control unit. This segmentation reduces the number of cables needed at any one location while maintaining comprehensive control capability across the seat system.
Solution Approach 2:
The control units are distributed across different spatial locations within the seat structure rather than concentrated in one place. This spatial distribution changes the dimensional arrangement of control elements, allowing cables to be routed more efficiently and reducing overall cable quantity.
2Quantity of substance
If a centralized control unit is used for multiple seats, then wiring is lightened, but the entire group of seats becomes vulnerable to single-point failures
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into multiple independent control units distributed across different seats and nodes. This segmentation creates redundancy so that a failure in one control unit does not affect the entire system, thereby improving reliability while maintaining efficient wiring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes from a centralized control architecture to a distributed control architecture. This parameter change in system topology provides fault tolerance while maintaining wiring efficiency through standardized communication protocols between distributed units.
3Reliability
If each seat has a central processing unit connected by CAN network, then malfunction risks are reduced, but the number of cables under each seat remains great
Solution Approach 1:
Each seat's control unit is further segmented into distributed control elements that can be integrated into existing seat components like keyboards and screens. This reduces the need for separate dedicated cabling while maintaining the reliability benefits of distributed control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The control units are merged with existing seat components such as keyboards and display units. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate control unit cabling, reducing overall cable quantity while preserving the distributed control architecture's fault tolerance capabilities.
4Quantity of substance
If control units are integrated into existing components like keyboards and screens, then the number of electrical connections is minimized, but component complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Control units are merged with existing seat components such as keyboards and screens. This integration reduces the total number of electrical connections by eliminating separate control unit interfaces, while the complexity is managed through modular design and standardized communication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated control units are designed to perform multiple functions within each component they are embedded in. For example, a control unit integrated into a keyboard can handle both input processing and node control, reducing the need for separate dedicated control circuits and minimizing overall electrical connections.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention essentially concerns an aircraft seat (1), comprising control units (17.2, 22.2, 27), at least one node (11-15) to execute a particular action or function, and a display (22.1) for viewing video data. Said node (11-15) and said display (22.1) are capable of being actuated by the control units (17.2, 22.2, 27). A keyboard (17.1) for transmitting a command signal addressed to the control units (17.2, 22.2, 27) is connected to said control units (17.2, 22.2, 27). The control units are shared between the display (22.1), the keyboard (17.1) and the node (11-15).