Imbedded sensors for passenger seats
AssigneeSafran Seats USA LLC
InventorTyler L. Newbold
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described are passenger seat assemblies having a first seat structure (222) that includes a non-contact sensor or sensors (106a) and a second, movable or deployable passenger seat structure (226) that contains an embedded magnetic element or elements (236a). Each magnetic element interacts with the non-contact sensor such that the embedded magnetic element causes the non-contact sensor (106a) to switch between a first state and the second state, depending on the orientation of the second structure (226) with respect to the first structure (222). The sensor can detect whether the second passenger seat structure is positioned in a stowed configuration or a deployed configuration.
Claims20
A passenger seat assembly, comprising:
- a first passenger seat structure comprising a non-contact sensor having a first state and a second state;
- a second passenger seat structure movably connected with respect to the first passenger seat structure such that the second passenger seat structure has a stowed configuration with respect to the first passenger seat structure and a deployed configuration with respect to the first passenger seat structure, the second passenger seat structure comprising an embedded magnetic element that interacts with the non-contact sensor such that the embedded magnetic element causes the non-contact sensor to switch between the first state and the second state when the second passenger seat structure is transitioned between the stowed configuration and the deployed configuration.
A system for detecting a status of a passenger seat structure, the system comprising:
- a first passenger seat structure comprising a non-contact sensor having a first state and a second state;
- a second passenger seat structure movably connected with respect to the first passenger seat structure such that the second passenger seat structure has a stowed configuration with respect to the first passenger seat structure and a deployed configuration with respect to the first passenger seat structure, the second passenger seat structure comprising an embedded magnetic element that interacts with the non-contact sensor such that the embedded magnetic element causes the non-contact sensor to switch between the first state and the second state when the second passenger seat structure is transitioned between the stowed configuration and the deployed configuration;
- and
- a controller comprising a processor and non-volatile memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to:
- receive a signal from the non-contact sensor indicative of whether the non-contact sensor is in the first state or the second state;
- and
- determine, based on the signal, whether the second passenger seat structure is stowed or deployed.
A method of detecting whether a passenger seat structure is stowed or deployed, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a controller, a signal from a non-contact sensor connected with a first passenger seat structure, wherein the signal is indicative of a proximity of a magnetic element embedded in a second passenger seat structure movably connected with respect to the first passenger seat structure;
- and
- determining, based on the signal, whether the second passenger seat structure is deployed or stowed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.