Contactless Optical Transmission for Passenger Seat Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing passenger seat designs face challenges in maintaining reliable light transmission between movable seat elements, leading to potential material fatigue and operational issues due to mechanical stress on electrical cables and light-guiding fibers.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a contactless optical transmission unit using optical waveguides and a collimator unit, with a light emission unit on one seat element and a light collecting unit on the other, allowing for flexible light guidance and stress reduction, and includes a beam expansion element for improved visibility, particularly in side views.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical cables or light-guiding fibers are used to transmit light between movable seat elements, then light transmission is achieved, but mechanical stress and material fatigue occur due to relative movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical connections (electrical cables and light-guiding fibers) with a contactless optical transmission system using optical waveguides. The light transmission unit transmits light signals between seat elements without physical contact, eliminating mechanical stress and material fatigue associated with traditional cable-based systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical waveguides as an intermediary medium to transmit light signals between the first and second seat elements. The waveguide acts as a mediator that carries optical information without requiring direct mechanical connection, thus avoiding the wear and fatigue problems of traditional cable systems.
2Reliability
If contactless optical transmission is implemented, then mechanical stress is reduced, but alignment precision is required between light entry and exit elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a collimator unit that can dynamically adjust and adapt to different relative positions of the seat elements. The collimator ensures that light beams remain properly directed even when the relative alignment between seat elements changes during movement, reducing the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical transmission unit is designed to accommodate variations in alignment parameters through the collimator mechanism. By changing optical parameters (such as beam convergence and direction) dynamically, the system maintains reliable light transmission even with moderate manufacturing tolerances.
3Loss of information
If discrete areas of light transmission are used to indicate relative position, then position display is achieved, but light transmission is interrupted in non-transmission areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the presence or absence of light transmission (analogous to color/optical state changes) in discrete areas to encode position information. Different relative positions of seat elements correspond to different patterns of light transmission interruption, allowing position display through optical state variations rather than continuous transmission.
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
This solution enhances the operational reliability of light transmission, simplifies maintenance, and provides a cost-effective, reliable light supply for passenger seats, reducing the risk of material fatigue and mechanical stress, while allowing for easy adjustment and control of light signals.
Implementation Method 1
an optical waveguide, in particular a cylindrical body made of a translucent material whose optical refractive index is greater than the optical refractive index of a material directly surrounding the cylindrical body
Implementation Method 2
a collimator unit, which is intended to generate a parallel light beam from a substantially point-shaped light source
Implementation Method 3
the light exit element is formed by a beam expansion element, which causes the light beam to expand in a direction perpendicular to the light guidance path
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a passenger seat, which comprises a first seat element (20, 22, 32, 34; 76, 78, 80) and at least one second seat element (20, 22, 32, 34; 76, 78, 80) that are movable relative to each other, and which can be stood on a base (14; 84) of a transport means and has at least one optical transmission unit (42; 88) having a light input element (48; 92), at least one light output element (50; 94) and at least one light guide path (52; 90) that runs from the light input element (48; 92) to the light output element (50; 94) and along which light is conducted. The optical transmission unit (42; 88) is provided for contact-free transmission of light in at least one operating state at at least one location of the light guide path (52; 90) that differs from a location of a light input into the light input element (48; 92) and from a location of light output from the light output element (50; 94).