Virtual Window Display System for Aircraft Cabin

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Solution Overview

Problem

Long-haul flights often confine passengers without window views, leading to anxiety and a lack of spaciousness, as current in-flight entertainment systems fail to replicate the calming effect of an external view.

Innovation Solution

A system using personal electronic devices (PEDs) to generate a virtual window by accessing live exterior imagery or terrain data, edited based on passenger mood and profile, and displayed on aircraft surfaces, allowing for a simulated panoramic view.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If passengers are seated in large aircraft without window access, then seating capacity is improved, but passenger sense of spaciousness and relaxation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseating capacityVSAvoidpassenger anxiety and lack of spaciousness

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual window display that copies the visual appearance of an external window view using graphical user interface elements, camera feeds, and rendered imagery. This virtual copy provides the psychological benefit of a window view without requiring physical window infrastructure, thereby maintaining seating capacity while improving passenger well-being.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional flat IFE screens to three-dimensional virtual window displays that can be projected onto surfaces or displayed on transparent displays. This dimensional enhancement creates a more immersive experience that better simulates the sensation of looking out a real window, addressing the spaciousness problem more effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional IFE displays are used, then entertainment content is provided, but the calming effect of an external view is not replicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveentertainment content deliveryVSAvoidanxiety and restlessness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple functions into the virtual window display system: it can show external camera feeds when available, display rendered terrain and sky imagery, provide entertainment content, and adjust based on passenger mood detection. This multi-functional system replaces the single-function entertainment display while adding the therapeutic benefit of simulated external views.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates mood detection capabilities that provide feedback about passenger emotional state, then automatically adjust the virtual window display content accordingly. For example, detecting anxiety may trigger calmer imagery or nature scenes, creating a closed-loop system that actively responds to and mitigates passenger distress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If virtual window displays are implemented on all aircraft surfaces, then passenger experience is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger anxiety mitigationVSAvoiddisplay system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements virtual window displays on a selective basis rather than uniformly across all aircraft surfaces. Different cabin zones (window seats, aisle seats, bulkhead areas) can have different display configurations based on their specific needs and infrastructure capabilities, allowing phased implementation and cost management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the existing IFE infrastructure, aircraft cameras, and onboard computing resources as intermediaries to deliver the virtual window experience. By leveraging existing components rather than requiring entirely new hardware systems, the patent reduces overall system complexity and implementation cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If personalized imagery is provided based on passenger profile, then passenger satisfaction is improved, but data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersonalized content deliveryVSAvoidcomputational energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary processing of passenger profile data and preferences before the flight, pre-configuring the virtual window display parameters. During the flight, the system mainly executes pre-planned imagery sequences and makes minor adjustments based on mood detection, significantly reducing real-time computational energy requirements compared to processing all decisions during the flight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9864559B2Virtual window display system

Publication Date: 2018.01.09 PANASONIC AVIONICS CORP

AI summary

A method and system are provided for generating imagery of a virtual window within an aircraft cabin. The method may be implemented using computer executable instructions, loaded onto a personal entertainment device (PED) for configuring the PED to link to an aircraft inflight entertainment system (IFE) and access imagery, such as imagery from at least one camera directed to an environment outside of the aircraft. The imagery is displayed on a surface visible to the passenger, and formatted to simulate an aircraft window.