# US 12,216,828 B2 · Gesture control for overhead bins

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- Number: US 12,216,828 B2
- Document ID: US12216828B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/339,201
- Filed: 2021-06-04
- Published: 2021-12-09
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-06-05
- Assignees: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
- Applicants: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
- Inventors: Hans Huijsing
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12216828B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)}
- B64D 11/003: {Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage}
- G06F 21/31: User authentication
- G06V 40/20: Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition (recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16)
- G07C 9/00896: {specially adapted for particular uses}
- G07C 9/20: involving the use of a pass
- G07C 9/22: in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
- G07C 9/23: by means of a password
- G07C 9/28: the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
- B64D 2045/007: {Indicators or signs in the cabin, e.g. exit signs or seat numbering}
- G07C 2009/00523: {opening of different locks separately}
- G07C 2009/0092: {for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

## Abstract

A system comprises an overhead bin including a door configured to open and close an opening of the overhead bin for access to and securing of an interior space of the overhead bin. A latch mechanism operatively connects the opening of the overhead bin to the door of the overhead bin to secure the door to the opening in a closed position, and to release the door from the opening for access to the interior space. A touchless input sensor can be operatively connected to the latch mechanism and a controller can be operatively connected to the latch mechanism and the touchless input sensor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
an overhead bin including a door configured to open and close an opening of the overhead bin for access to and securing of an interior space of the overhead bin;
a latch mechanism operatively connecting the opening of the overhead bin to the door of the overhead bin to secure the door to the opening in a closed position, and to release the door from the opening for access to the interior space;
a touchless input sensor, wherein the touchless input sensor includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader and/or a near-field communication (NFC) reader;
a server; and
a controller operatively connected to the latch mechanism, the touchless input sensor, and the server, wherein the controller includes machine readable instructions configured to cause the controller to:
detect whether a signal from the server is present, wherein the signal is indicative of a phase of flight during which opening of the overhead bin is inadvisable;
ignore a touchless user input gesture in response to the presence of the signal;
allow detecting of a presence of a user input gesture in response to an absence of the signal;
detect the presence of the touchless user input gesture;
start a timer in response to the detecting of the user input gesture; and
recognize an authorization code from an RFID device and/or an NFC device, wherein the authorization code is at least one of a tag associated with a passenger ticket or a mobile application installed on a passenger device;
verify whether the overhead bin is associated with the authorization code based on at least one of a seat assignment or an additional purchase of bin space;
release the latch mechanism in response to an expiration of the timer, recognition of the authorization code, and verification of the authorization code if the touchless user input gesture was continuously detected by the touchless input sensor while the timer ran.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an output display operatively connected to the controller, wherein the machine readable instructions are configured to cause the controller to:
display an indicator of status of the timer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the overhead bin is one of a plurality of similar overhead bins, and wherein the server is configured to send signals to the respective controllers of the overhead bins to unlatch the overhead bins per row or section in an order consistent with at least one of an order of passenger boarding or an order of passenger deboarding, and to prevent unlatching of others of the overhead bins.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the controllers are configured to signal a crew member in response to the touchless user input gesture being present during the phase of flight during which opening of the overhead bin is inadvisable.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism includes an actuator connecting between the door and the opening to actively drive the door closed and open based on command signals from the controller.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the touchless input sensor includes a camera, and wherein the machine readable instructions are configured to cause the controller to recognize a gesture in image data from the camera to release the latch mechanism.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the machine readable instructions are configured to cause the controller to recognize an authorization code in the image data and to release the latch mechanism upon recognition of the authorization code.

### Claim 8

A method comprising:
releasing a latch mechanism for releasing a door from an opening of an overhead bin upon receipt of touchless input from a user by a touchless input sensor, wherein releasing the latch includes:
detecting whether a signal from the server is present, wherein the signal is indicative of a phase of flight during which opening of the overhead bin is inadvisable;
ignoring a touchless user input gesture in response to the presence of the signal;
allowing detection of the touchless user input gesture in response to an absence of the signal;
detecting a presence of the touchless user in put gesture in image data from a camera;
recognizing an authorization code in the image data, wherein the authorization code is at least one of a tag associated with a passenger ticket or a mobile application installed on a passenger device;
verifying whether the overhead bin is associated with the authorization code based on at least one of a seat assignment or an additional purchase of bin space;
starting a timer upon the detection of the presence of the touchless user input gesture;
delaying release of the latch mechanism until continuous presence of the user input gesture is detected while the timer runs; and
releasing the latch mechanism only upon expiration of the timer, recognition of the authorization code, and verification of the authorization code if the user input gesture was continuously detected by the touchless input sensor while the timer ran.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising displaying an indicator of status of the timer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the overhead bin is one of a plurality of similar overhead bins, and further comprising sending signals to respective controllers of the overhead bins to unlatch the overhead bins per row or section in an order consistent with at least one of an order of passenger boarding or an order of passenger deboarding, and to prevent unlatching of others of the overhead bins.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising signaling a crew member in response to the touchless user input gesture being present during the phase of flight during which opening of the overhead bin is inadvisable.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising touchlessly actuating the door to a closed position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising:
recognizing an authorization code from an RFID and/or NFC device; and
releasing the latch mechanism upon recognition of the authorization code.