Systems and methods for controlling a waste flap leading into a waste container within a lavatory of an aircraft
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorDarren Carl McIntosh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle includes an internal cabin, a lavatory within the internal cabin, and a system within the lavatory. The system includes a waste flap. A motor is operatively coupled to the waste flap. The motor is configured to move the waste flap between an open position and a closed position. A sensor is configured to detect motion within a detection zone. An image emitter is configured to project one or more images into the detection zone. A control unit is configured to operate the motor to open the waste flap when the sensor detects the motion within the detection zone.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a waste flap configured to be moved between an open position and a closed position, wherein a path to a waste container is open when the waste flap is in the open position, and wherein the path to the waste container is closed when the waste flap is in the closed position;
- a motor operatively coupled to the waste flap, wherein the motor is configured to move the waste flap between the open position and the closed position;
- a sensor configured to detect motion within a detection zone;
- an image emitter configured to project one or more images into the detection zone;
- and
- a control unit configured to operate the motor to move the waste flap from the closed position to the open position in response to the sensor detecting the motion within the detection zone.
A vehicle comprising:
- an internal cabin;
- a lavatory within the internal cabin;
- and
- a system within the lavatory, the system comprising:
- a waste flap configured to be moved between an open position and a closed position, wherein a path to a waste container is open when the waste flap is in the open position, and wherein the path to the waste container is closed when the waste flap is in the closed position;
- a motor operatively coupled to the waste flap, wherein the motor is configured to move the waste flap between the open position and the closed position;
- a sensor configured to detect motion within a detection zone;
- an image emitter configured to project one or more images into the detection zone;
- and
- a control unit configured to operate the motor to move the waste flap from the closed position to the open position in response to the sensor detecting the motion within the detection zone.
A method comprising:
- detecting, by a sensor, motion within a detection zone;
- emitting, by an image emitter, one or more images into the detection zone;
- and
- moving, by a motor, a waste flap between an open position and a closed position, wherein a path to a waste container is open when the waste flap is in the open position, wherein the path to the waste container is closed when the waste flap is in the closed position, and wherein said moving comprises operating, by a control unit, the motor to move the waste flap from the closed position to the open position in response to the sensor detecting the motion within the detection zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.