Fixed Screen Seat Display Unit Tilting Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
In-vehicle entertainment systems, particularly in passenger aircraft, face challenges with manually tiltable seat display units that can pinch passengers, are aesthetically unpleasing, and require complex electric components or significant computational power, leading to maintenance issues and potential damage to touch screens.
Innovation Solution
A seat display system where the touch screen or display unit is fixed to the seat back, allowing the display unit to automatically tilt with the seat, eliminating the need for manual tilting and enabling independent replacement of the screen without replacing the entire unit, thus reducing weight and improving aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the display unit is manually tiltable, then the passenger can adjust the viewing angle, but the display unit can pinch passenger fingers and is hard to make secure for force-impact testing
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the display functionality into two separate components: a fixed display screen attached to the seat back and a movable SDU (seat display unit) that projects images onto the screen. This segmentation allows the screen to remain secure and fixed while the SDU provides adjustable viewing angles through automatic tilting, eliminating finger pinching hazards and improving force-impact test compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
A fixed screen acts as an intermediary between the SDU and the passenger. The SDU projects images onto this fixed screen, which then displays the content to the passenger. This intermediary approach allows the display unit to be fixed and secure while still providing adjustable viewing angles through the projection mechanism, resolving the contradiction between adjustability and safety.
2Ease of operation
If electrically driven components are used to tilt the display automatically, then manual tilting is eliminated, but the complexity and number of components increase resulting in additional weight and higher maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The SDU is designed to tilt automatically with the seat back through a mechanical coupling mechanism that requires no additional electrical components. As the seat back reclines or uprights, the SDU tilts accordingly through the natural movement of the seat structure, providing automatic adjustment without motors, sensors, or complex control systems, thereby reducing weight and maintenance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat back structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, enables reclining motion, and simultaneously drives the tilting of the SDU through mechanical coupling. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate electrical tilting mechanisms, reducing component complexity while achieving automatic display adjustment.
3Weight of moving object
If the display unit is fixed to the seat back, then weight is reduced and aesthetics are improved, but the viewing angle must be adjusted by tilting the entire display unit
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the display into a fixed screen and a movable SDU. The fixed screen reduces weight and improves aesthetics by being securely attached to the seat back, while the SDU handles viewing angle adjustment through automatic tilting with the seat back, resolving the contradiction between fixed installation and viewing angle flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed screen serves as an intermediary that remains stationary and aesthetically pleasing, while the SDU projects images onto it at varying angles. This allows the display system to maintain a fixed, lightweight appearance while still providing viewing angle adjustment through the projection mechanism's automatic tilting capability.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the touch screen is integrated into the display unit, then the display functions as a complete unit, but the entire unit must be replaced when the touch screen is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the touch screen functionality from the SDU housing. The touch screen is integrated into the fixed screen attached to the seat back, while the SDU serves as a separate projection device. This segmentation allows the touch screen to be independently replaced without replacing the entire SDU, improving ease of repair while maintaining system stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch screen is extracted from the movable SDU and placed in the fixed screen component. This extraction allows the touch screen to be independently accessed and replaced without disturbing the SDU or its housing, significantly improving repairability while the SDU remains a stable, separate unit.
5Ease of operation
If significant computational power is used to manipulate the image for seat recline, then the fixed display can account for seat angle, but delays or lag time in video may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed screen acts as a passive intermediary that physically tilts with the seat back, eliminating the need for complex real-time image manipulation. The SDU projects images onto this tilting screen, and the screen's physical orientation adjusts with the seat angle through mechanical coupling. This approach provides seat angle compensation without computational delays or lag, as the adjustment is achieved through simple mechanical motion rather than complex real-time processing.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
AI summary
Display systems for a vehicle are contemplated that comprise a seat display unit coupled with a display screen, where the display screen is affixed to a seat back and the seat display unit is disposed within the seat back. The display screen is fixed to the seat back such that its relative position with the seat back remains constant when the seat back is reclined. The seat display unit is coupled to the seat back, such that the seat display unit automatically tilts or pivots when the seat back is reclined, and while the display screen does not move relative to the seat back.