# US 2021/0276714 A1 · Overhead stowage bin with electronic control system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0276714 A1 - Document ID: US20210276714A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/136,381 - Filed: 2020-12-29 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-05 - Assignees: B/E Aerospace, Inc. - Applicants: B/E Aerospace, Inc. - Inventors: Sivakumar Dwaraganathan; Frank Hashberger; Rameshkumar Balasubramanian; Aravinda Mahabaleshwara; Rajesh Mohanam; Ashwin Srinivasa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210276714A1 ## CPC - B64D 11/003: {Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage} - E05B 47/0001: {with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof (for vehicles E05B81/04)} - E05B 47/0012: {with rotary electromotors (actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68)} - E05B 81/06: using rotary motors - E05B 2047/0067: {Monitoring} - E05B 2047/0094: {Mechanical aspects of remotely controlled locks} - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS ## Abstract A locking system for an overhead stowage bin may comprise a latch and an electromechanical actuator configured to actuate the latch. A bin controller may be electrically coupled to the electromechanical actuator. A passenger input and a master controller may be in operable communication with the bin controller. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A locking system for an overhead stowage bin, comprising: a latch; an electromechanical actuator configured to actuate the latch; a bin controller electrically coupled to the electromechanical actuator; a passenger input in operable communication with the bin controller; and a master controller in operable communication to the bin controller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The locking system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor in operable communication with the bin controller, wherein the sensor is configured to determine an amount of available space in the overhead stowage bin. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The locking system of claim 2, further comprising a display in operable communication with the bin controller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The locking system of claim 1, a first tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the bin controller, the first tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the bin controller, cause the bin controller to perform a first set of operations comprising: receiving, by the bin controller, a signal from the passenger input; determining, by the bin controller, if the locking system is in a locked state or an unlocked state; and determining, by the bin controller, whether to output an electrical signal to the electromechanical actuator based on whether the locking system is in the locked state or the unlocked state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The locking system of claim 4, wherein the first set of operations further comprises: receiving, by the bin controller, a lock command from the master controller; and determining, by the bin controller, not to output the electrical signal to the electromechanical actuator based on the lock command from the master controller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The locking system of claim 4, wherein the first set of operations further comprises outputting, by the bin controller, the electrical signal to the electromechanical actuator if the bin controller determines the locking system is in the unlocked state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The locking system of claim 4, further comprising: a flight crew input in operable communication with the master controller; and a second tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the master controller, the second tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the master controller, cause the master controller to perform a second set of operations comprising: receiving, by the master controller, a lock signal from the flight crew input; and sending, by the master controller, a lock command to the bin controller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The locking system of claim 7, further comprising a display in operable communication with the bin controller, wherein the first set of operations further comprises: receiving, by the bin controller, the lock command from the master controller; and commanding, by the bin controller, the display to output a locked message. ### Claim 9 An overhead stowage bin, comprising: a door configured for rotation about a hinge joint; a latch configured to secure the door in a closed position; an electromechanical actuator configured to actuate the latch; a bin controller electrically coupled to the electromechanical actuator; and a master controller in operable communication with the bin controller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The overhead stowage bin of claim 9, further comprising a first tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the bin controller, the first tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the bin controller, cause the bin controller to perform a first set of operations comprising: receiving, by the bin controller, a signal from a passenger input; determining, by the bin controller, if the overhead stowage bin is in a locked state or an unlocked state; and determining, by the bin controller, whether to output an electrical signal to the electromechanical actuator based on whether the overhead stowage bin is in the locked state or the unlocked state. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The overhead stowage bin of claim 10, further comprising a second tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the master controller, the second tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the master controller, cause the master controller to perform a second set of operations comprising: receiving, by the master controller, a lock signal from a flight crew input; and sending, by the master controller, a lock command to the bin controller. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The overhead stowage bin of claim 11, wherein the first set of operations further comprises determining, by the bin controller, not to output the electrical signal to the electromechanical actuator based on the lock command from the master controller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The overhead stowage bin of claim 9, further comprising a sensor in operable communication with the bin controller, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a condition within the overhead stowage bin. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The overhead stowage bin of claim 9, further comprising a display located on the door. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The overhead stowage bin of claim 14, wherein the display is configured to output at least one of a locked status or an available space status. ### Claim 16 An overhead stowage bin, comprising: a door configured for rotation about a hinge joint; an electric motor configured to rotate the door about the hinge joint; a bin controller electrically coupled to the electric motor; and a master controller in operable communication with the bin controller. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The overhead stowage bin of claim 16, further comprising a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the bin controller, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the bin controller, cause the bin controller to perform operations comprising: receiving, by the bin controller, a signal from a passenger input; determining, by the bin controller, if the overhead stowage bin is in a locked state or an unlocked state; and determining, by the bin controller, whether to output an electrical signal to the electric motor based on whether the overhead stowage bin is in the locked state or the unlocked state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The overhead stowage bin of claim 17, wherein the electric motor is configured to rotate the door about the hinge joint in response to receiving the electrical signal from the bin controller. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The overhead stowage bin of claim 18, further comprising a sensor in operable communication with the bin controller, wherein the sensor is configured to detect an object in a path of the door. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The overhead stowage bin of claim 19, wherein the instructions further comprise: receiving, by the bin controller, an output from the sensor; and determining, by the bin controller, whether to output the electrical signal to the electric motor based on the output from the sensor.