Modular Extended Display Assembly for Aircraft Seats

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing passenger cabin entertainment and media systems in commercial aircraft are bulky, inflexible, and often inadequate for various seating configurations, while also requiring access to safety and flight information in environments without ground-based communication.

Innovation Solution

A modular extended display assembly for passenger seats, comprising a primary display and a secondary display, which can be configured to align, offset, and angle relative to each other, integrated within privacy enclosures, and connected to a central computing system for simultaneous media display and information dissemination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional entertainment and media assemblies are used, then structural strength and safety are ensured, but the assemblies become bulky and inflexible for various seating configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to seating configurationsVSAvoidbulk of display assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The display assembly is divided into a primary display device and a secondary display device that can be independently positioned and configured. This segmentation allows each display to be optimized for specific functions and seating arrangements, enabling the system to adapt to various cabin layouts without requiring a bulky monolithic structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The secondary display is positioned at an offset and angled relative to the primary display, utilizing three-dimensional space more efficiently. This spatial arrangement allows both displays to serve different viewing angles and purposes simultaneously, increasing adaptability to various seating configurations while minimizing the overall volume occupied by the display assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a single large display is used, then entertainment quality is improved, but the system cannot simultaneously provide safety information and adapt to different seating arrangements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-functionality for safety and entertainmentVSAvoidcomplexity of display configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dual-display system is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: the primary display handles entertainment content while the secondary display provides safety information and flight updates. This multi-functionality allows a single display assembly to replace multiple separate systems, reducing overall device complexity while increasing versatility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the display system are assigned different functional qualities - the primary display is optimized for entertainment with larger screen real estate, while the secondary display is positioned and sized for safety information visibility. This local differentiation allows each component to excel at its specific function without compromising the other, enabling simultaneous provision of entertainment and safety information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If display devices are mounted to withstand physical shock, then safety is ensured, but the assemblies become heavier and more bulky

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewithstand physical shockVSAvoidweight of display assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The display assembly is segmented into multiple independently mounted display devices rather than a single large monolithic display. This allows each display to be individually secured with appropriate shock-resistant mounting, distributing the structural requirements across multiple smaller components rather than requiring one excessively robust and heavy mounting system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3873803B1Extended display integration for passenger seats
Publication Date: 2025.02.12 ZODIAC SEATS US LLC
  • EP3873803B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3873803B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3873803B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Described are extended display devices for a passenger compartment including a first display device and a second display device, the first display device positioned in an outer frame to face a passenger seat and the a second display connected with and positioned laterally relative to the first display, wherein the first and second displays are configured to simultaneously display information from two different sources. One or both display devices can be attached modularly within a void through the outer frame and within an insert that matches the inner boundary of the outer frame and matches the exterior boundary of the display device.