Variable Resistance Video Arm for Aircraft Entertainment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional video arms for on-board entertainment screens in aircraft rely on consistent friction, making it difficult for passengers to deploy and stow the screens efficiently, as they require more force to stow than to deploy, which can lead to free falling and potential injury.
Innovation Solution
A video arm with a hinge joint that provides variable resistance depending on the direction and position of the screen's movement, featuring a low torque zone for easy deployment and increased resistance for safe stowing, allowing for different torque values and zones to manage the screen's motion effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional friction-based video arm is used, then the video arm can be kept in deployed position, but it requires excessive force to stow and may cause free falling
Solution Approach 1:
The video arm employs a spring mechanism that provides dynamic, variable resistance throughout the stowage range of motion. The spring force increases as the video arm approaches the stowed position, naturally preventing free-falling while requiring manageable force during deployment and stowage operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the resistance parameter dynamically based on position. The spring mechanism ensures that resistance is lower during the initial phases of movement and increases near the stowed position, providing both ease of operation and safety without requiring excessive force at any point.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If high friction is used to prevent free falling, then safety is improved, but deployment and stowage become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism provides dynamically adjusted resistance that adapts to the video arm's position. During deployment and early stowage, the spring offers minimal resistance for ease of operation. As the video arm approaches the stowed position, the spring force increases to prevent free-falling, thus maintaining safety without compromising operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism acts as a cushioning element that engages before the video arm can free-fall. It provides progressive resistance that increases as the video arm approaches the stowed position, preventing the harmful free-falling effect while allowing smooth operation throughout the movement range.
3Device complexity
If consistent friction resistance is applied, then the video arm structure is simple, but it cannot provide variable resistance for different movement phases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism introduces dynamic variability into the resistance profile without significantly complicating the overall structure. The spring naturally provides different force levels at different positions, enabling the video arm to offer low resistance during deployment/early stowage and high resistance near the stowed position, thus achieving adaptability with minimal added complexity.
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 easier deployment and safer stowing of on-board entertainment screens by varying resistance, preventing free falling and reducing the effort required for deployment while ensuring secure stowing, thus enhancing user safety and operational convenience.
Implementation Method 1
Video arms traditionally rely on friction to control the video arm motion and to keep the video arm in the deployed position
Implementation Method 2
A video arm with a hinge joint that provides variable resistance depending on the direction and position of the screen's movement, featuring a low torque zone for easy deployment and increased resistance for safe stowing
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is generally related to video assemblies and more particularly video assemblies for on-board entertainment systems. The video assembly may include a video arm coupled with a video monitor. The video assembly may be manually moveable by a user between a stowed position and a deployed position. The video arm may include a friction torque device. The video arm may provide variable resistance depending on a direction of movement of the video assembly. In some embodiments, the video arm may provide less resistance to a user when the user moves the video assembly toward the deployed position compared to the resistance provided to a user when the user moves the video assembly away from the deployed position. Further, the video arm may provide for a low torque zone where the resistance provided to a user is reduced when the user moves the video assembly through low torque zone.