# US 12,214,900 B2 · Latch state detection systems, methods and devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,900 B2 - Document ID: US12214900B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/443,582 - Filed: 2021-07-27 - Published: 2023-02-02 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-07-27 - Assignees: Goodrich Corporation - Applicants: Goodrich Corporation - Inventors: Scott Harms; Dustin P Scheer; Aaron Roberts - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214900B2 ## CPC - B64D 9/003: {Devices for retaining pallets or freight containers} - H04B 1/04: Circuits - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract A latch assembly may comprise: a housing; a pawl assembly coupled to the housing, the pawl assembly configured to transition from an un-restrained state to an restrained state; and a latch state detection system comprising a transducer and a communications module, the transducer configured to convert mechanical energy from the pawl assembly reaching the restrained state to an electrical energy configured to power the communications module. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A latch assembly, comprising: a housing; a pawl assembly coupled to the housing, the pawl assembly configured to transition from an un-restrained state to a restrained state; and a latch state detection system comprising a transducer and a communications module, the transducer configured to convert mechanical energy from the pawl assembly reaching the restrained state to an electrical energy configured to power the communications module, wherein in response to receiving the electrical energy, the communications module is powered and configured to transmit a signal to a control unit of a cargo handling system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the pawl assembly comprises an inner pawl and an outer pawl. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The latch assembly of claim 2, wherein the inner pawl is configured to activate the transducer in response to the pawl assembly reaching the restrained state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric button. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises an electric generator configured to convert one of linear or rotary motion into the electrical energy. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the communications module includes a transmitter, the transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal including a unique identifier of the latch assembly. ### Claim 7 A cargo handling system, comprising: a control unit comprising one of a first transceiver or a receiver; a latch state detection system comprising: a transducer configured to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy; and a communications module in electrical communication with the transducer, the communications module including one of a transmitter or a second transceiver, the transmitter or the second transceiver configured to be powered by the transducer in response to a latch assembly reaching a fully restrained state, the transmitter or the second transceiver configured to send a wireless signal to the first transceiver or the receiver in response to being powered by the transducer wherein in response to receiving the electrical energy, the communications module is powered and configured to transmit the wireless signal to the first transceiver or the receiver. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cargo handling system of claim 7, further comprising a pawl assembly comprising an inner pawl and an outer pawl, the inner pawl comprising a notch configured to activate the transducer in response to the pawl assembly reaching the fully restrained state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The cargo handling system of claim 8, wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric button configured to compress in response to the pawl assembly reaching the fully restrained state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The cargo handling system of claim 7, wherein the transducer comprises an electric generator and a spring, the spring configured to store mechanical energy during a transition of the latch assembly from an un-restrained state to the fully restrained state and release in response to the latch assembly reaching the fully restrained state. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cargo handling system of claim 10, wherein the mechanical energy generated from the spring being released is converted to the electrical energy to power the transmitter or the second transceiver. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The cargo handling system of claim 7, further comprising the latch assembly, the latch assembly including the latch state detection system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The cargo handling system of claim 7, further comprising a tray extending longitudinally through a cargo deck, the latch assembly coupled to the tray. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The cargo handling system of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of the latch assembly. ### Claim 15 A cargo handling system, comprising: a control system comprising a main controller and a receiver; a plurality of latch assemblies configured to be disposed throughout a cargo deck, each latch assembly in the plurality of latch assemblies comprising a latch state detection system, the latch state detection system including a transmitter, the transmitter configured to transmit a unique identifier to the receiver of the control system in response to a respective latch reaching a fully restrained state wherein: each of the plurality of latch assemblies comprises a transducer configured to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy, and in response to receiving the electrical energy, the transmitter is powered and configured to transmit a signal to a control unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The cargo handling system of claim 15, wherein the main controller is configured to send an indication that the respective latch assembly is in the fully restrained state in response to receiving the unique identifier from the receiver. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The cargo handling system of claim 15, wherein the transducer is configured to power the transmitter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The cargo handling system of claim 15, wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric button. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The cargo handling system of claim 15, wherein the transducer comprises an electric generator configured to convert linear or rotational motion to the electrical energy.