System for indicating an alignment status of a passenger bridge
OwnerNeil Huttoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for providing a human sensable indication to an occupant of an aircraft that it is safe to open a door of the aircraft. An indication generator is provided for receiving a control signal in dependence upon a passenger bridge being correctly aligned with the door of the aircraft. More particularly, the passenger bridge is aligned with the door of the aircraft in one of a semi-automated and a fully-automated manner. The indication generator is also for providing the human sensable indication in dependence upon receiving the control signal.
Claims36
An apparatus for indicating an alignment status of a passenger bridge relative to an aircraft having a door, the passenger bridge including a passenger bridge alignment mechanism for guiding the passenger bridge to a position for aligning a cabin end of the passenger bridge to the door of the aircraft, the apparatus comprising:
- a controller for providing a control signal in dependence upon the passenger bridge being in a predetermined aligned relationship with the door of the aircraft;
- and,
- an indication generator in operative communication with the controller for receiving the control signal from the controller and for providing an indication in dependence thereon.
A method of indicating an alignment status of a passenger bridge relative to an aircraft comprising the steps of:
- guiding the passenger bridge to a position for aligning a cabin end of the passenger bridge to a door of the aircraft using a passenger bridge alignment mechanism of the passenger bridge;
- detecting alignment of the cabin end of the passenger bridge relative to the door of the aircraft and providing a control signal in dependence thereon;
- and,
- providing a predetermined indication to an occupant of the aircraft in dependence upon the control signal.
A method of indicating an alignment status of a passenger bridge relative to an aircraft, the passenger bridge including a passenger bridge alignment mechanism for guiding the passenger bridge to a position for aligning a cabin end of the passenger bridge to a door of the aircraft, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a control signal indicative of alignment of a cabin end of the passenger bridge relative to the door of the aircraft;
- and,
- automatically providing a predetermined human sensable indication to an occupant of the aircraft in dependence upon the control signal.
An apparatus for being attached to a passenger bridge equipped with a passenger bridge alignment mechanism, the apparatus for indicating an alignment status of a cabin end of the passenger bridge relative to a door of an aircraft, the apparatus comprising:
- a sensor disposed on the passenger bridge for sensing an aligned relationship between a floor surface of the door of the aircraft and a floor surface of the cabin end of the passenger bridge and for providing a signal in dependence thereon;
- a controller in operative communication with the sensor for receiving the signal therefrom and for providing a second signal in dependence thereon;
- and,
- an indication generator in operative communication with the controller for receiving the second signal from the controller and for providing an indication in dependence thereon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.