Rail Vehicle Headrest Wireless Communication Unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

The speed and reliability of information transmission about defective rail vehicle seats to maintenance personnel are not optimal, hindering efficient maintenance operations.

Innovation Solution

A headrest for rail vehicle seats equipped with a first wireless communication unit, such as an RFID or NFC chip, fixed to a side wall, allowing for quick and reliable identification and communication of seat status, facilitating maintenance operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a wireless communication unit is mounted on the headrest, then the speed and reliability of information transmission about defective seats is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation transmission reliabilityVSAvoidheadrest device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless communication unit is integrated into the headrest structure, allowing the headrest to serve both its original support function and the additional function of information transmission. This multi-functionality approach improves reliability by ensuring the communication unit is permanently attached while avoiding separate additional devices that would increase complexity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The wireless communication unit is embedded within the headrest structure, with the communication unit nested inside the headrest housing. This nesting approach allows the communication functionality to be contained within the existing headrest boundaries, improving reliability through integrated mounting while minimizing increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If regular inspection of seats is performed, then user comfort and safety are improved, but the time and resources required for maintenance increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat safety and comfortVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless communication unit continuously monitors and transmits information about the seat condition before defects become critical. This preliminary detection allows maintenance to be scheduled proactively rather than reactively, improving seat safety and comfort while reducing the time lost to emergency repairs and frequent inspections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The communication unit provides continuous feedback about seat status to maintenance personnel, enabling them to prioritize inspections and maintenance tasks based on actual condition data. This feedback mechanism improves reliability by ensuring problematic seats are addressed promptly while reducing unnecessary inspections of functioning seats, thereby optimizing maintenance time allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

Enables rapid and reliable identification and maintenance of rail vehicle seats, improving the speed and reliability of information transmission, thus enhancing maintenance efficiency and comfort for users.

Implementation Method 1

a first wireless communication unit (16), such as an RFID or NFC chip

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3495228B1Headrest for a rail vehicle seat
Publication Date: 2022.02.02 SPEEDINNOV
  • EP3495228B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3495228B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3495228B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a headrest (12) for a railway vehicle seat (10), the headrest (12) comprising: - a structure (14) comprising a front wall (30) intended to come into contact with a user's head and two side walls (32) arranged on either side of the front wall (30), and - at least one first wireless communication unit (16), the first wireless communication unit (16) being fixed on one of the side walls (32) of the structure (14).