Aircraft Window Shade Assembly with Independent Opaque and Translucent Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional window shades for aircraft windows are difficult to install and maintain, and they often expose surfaces to the cabin, making sanitation challenging. Additionally, most systems only offer a single shade element, either opaque or translucent, lacking independent control.
Innovation Solution
An electric aircraft window shade system featuring a frame that mounts on the aircraft's inner wall, a cassette with a motor-driven belt system, and a bezel with a lens to cover the window opening. The system includes both opaque and translucent shade elements that can be independently controlled using a motor controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional manually operated window shades are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the system exposes surfaces to the cabin making sanitation challenging and lacks independent control of multiple shade elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the shade elements and their operational surfaces from the cabin environment by mounting them on the outer surface of the aircraft window. The motorized system is positioned outside the cabin, allowing shades to be operated and sanitized without exposing internal mechanisms to the cabin atmosphere, thus resolving the sanitation difficulty while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary motorized drive system with belts and pulleys that connects the control mechanism to the shade elements. This intermediary system allows automated operation of multiple shade elements (including both opaque and translucent shades) without requiring manual intervention, thereby improving ease of operation and sanitation while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing
2Ease of operation
If electrically controlled window shades are used, then automated operation is achieved, but the system becomes difficult to install and maintain with complex accordion/bellows type structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the window shading system into multiple independent shade elements (opaque and translucent shades) that can be individually controlled by separate motors. Each shade element operates independently through its own motorized drive system, simplifying the overall control architecture and reducing system complexity compared to integrated accordion-type systems while maintaining automated operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by positioning the motorized drive system on the outer surface of the window rather than inside the cabin. This inversion simplifies installation and maintenance by allowing access to motors and belts from the exterior, eliminating the need for complex internal routing and reducing overall system complexity while preserving automated operation capabilities
3Device complexity
If single shade element systems are used, then the structure is simple, but the system lacks independent control of multiple shade elements reducing passenger comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic shading system with multiple independently controllable shade elements (opaque and translucent shades) that can be adjusted separately according to different lighting and privacy requirements. Each shade element responds dynamically to control signals from its dedicated motor, providing versatile light management capabilities while maintaining relatively simple system architecture through modular design
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system simplifies installation and maintenance by allowing direct retrofitting onto existing mounts, and it facilitates easy sanitization due to the bezel's design. The independent control of both shade elements enhances passenger comfort by allowing customizable light management.
Implementation Method 1
a motor to drive the shade element between the raised position and lowered position
Implementation Method 2
a first belt disposed in the first side of the cassette, the shade element coupled to the first belt, and the motor is operable to raise and lower the shade element by driving the first belt
Data Source
AI summary
An electrically operated window shade system includes a frame that is mounted on the outer side of the inner wall of an aircraft cabin. A cassette is mounted in the frame and includes one or more motors and drive systems and one or two shade elements that are moved between raised and lowered positions under electric control. A user can operate the electric controls to adjust the amount of light coming through the window, as desired.