A panelling part for a cabin of a means of transportation is proposed, which includes at least one display unit and at least one control unit, which are produced by printing and equipping at least one film, which is applied to a panelling element. The control unit can communicate wirelessly with an external electronics unit, so that the panelling part only requires a power terminal to implement electronic functions. Functions can be retrofitted easily by replacing the at least one film.

A system and method. The system may include a monitor implemented as a virtual window, a camera, and a pivot motor. The pivot motor may be configured to change an orientation of a field of view of the camera relative to a vehicle based on a position of a passenger.

Method, system and apparatus are provided for smart window activation to prevent laser disturbance. The apparatus may include a window formed of smart glass capable of being activated in discrete sections to be impenetrable to laser light and having a smart glass activation system. A sensor arrangement may detect laser light impacting on the window and may provide data as to the position of the impact on the window. A computer-implemented window protection system may receive input regarding detecting a laser beam impacting a window from the sensor arrangement, determine the position of the laser beam impact on the window and determine a section of the window in which the smart glass is to be activated, and control activation of the smart glass in the section of the window to make the section impenetrable to laser light by instructing the smart glass activation system.

A system for displaying an external environment of an aircraft inside the aircraft comprises optical couplers distributed across an outer surface of a fuselage and configured to capture light from the external environment of the aircraft; optical waveguides transmit the captured light from the optical couplers through the fuselage; at least one display arranged on the inside of the fuselage; and at least one of: a processing unit configured to receive the captured light, to reconstruct a digital live image by combining optical information contained in the captured light across the respective optical couplers, and to display the digital live image on the at least one display; and an optical beam expander configured to receive the captured light, to expand the captured light into a light beam carrying a visual live image of the external environment, and to project the visual live image on the at least one display.

A balloon system, preferably including a balloon and a payload. A balloon, preferably including a plurality of gores, a plurality of load members, and an apex fitting. A method of balloon system operation, preferably including deflating a balloon, and optionally including operating the balloon system in flight and/or landing the balloon system.

An aircraft suite may include a passenger compartment disposed on a main deck of an aircraft. The passenger compartment may be partitioned from a main passenger cabin of the main deck by at least one bulkhead. The passenger compartment may include an aircraft seat and a hatch set within an opening in a floor of the passenger compartment. The aircraft suite may include a lower lobe rest compartment integrated in a cargo deck below the main deck. The lower lobe rest compartment may be proximate to the passenger compartment. The lower lobe rest compartment may include a passenger rest compartment and a device proximate to the hatch. The device may be configured to assist a passenger to at least one of descend into the lower lobe rest compartment from the passenger compartment, or ascend into the passenger compartment from the lower lobe rest compartment, via the hatch.

An electro-optic element includes first and second spaced-apart transparent substrates defining respective opposite, aligned first and second edges, a first bus including a first electrode disposed along an inner surface of the first substrate adjacent the first edge and a second electrode disposed along an inner surface of the second substrate adjacent the first edge, and a second bus including a first electrode disposed along an inner surface of the first substrate adjacent the second edge and a second electrode disposed along an inner surface of the second substrate adjacent the second edge. The first bus and second bus are spaced apart along widths of the first and second substrates between the respective first and second edges. An electro-optic medium is disposed between the first and second transparent substrates, including between the first and second electrodes of the first bus and the second bus, respectively.

An example of operating a display system of a lavatory of a vehicle is provided. The method includes: (i) receiving, at a controller, information indicating that the lavatory is in use; (ii) in response to receiving the information, operating, by the controller, the display system in a first state while the lavatory is in use; (iii) determining, by the controller, that the lavatory is no longer in use; and (iv) in response to determining that the lavatory is no longer in use, operating, by the controller, the display system in a second state.

A bi-directional entry vestibule for a passenger aircraft provides passenger access to overhead rest cabins and lower-lobe rest cabins (e.g., on a lower cargo deck) via separate enclosed chambers incorporating ascending and descending staircases respectively. The ascent and descent chambers may be accessed from the main passenger cabin via access doors (one door or separate doors); the ascending and descending access doors may be on opposing sides of the aircraft (e.g., accessible from port-side and starboard-side aisles) or adjacent to each other and accessible via the same aisle. The ascent chamber may include a further transitional space transitioning into an overhead corridor-based cabin, the transitional space including a crew station comprising a fold-down jump seat, communications equipment, and emergency supply storage.

A system may include a vestibule disposed in a passenger cabin of an aircraft, the vestibule including a staircase for accessing a passenger rest cabin, the passenger rest cabin implemented above or below the passenger cabin of the aircraft. The system may also include a plurality of passenger rest compartments implemented in the passenger rest cabin, each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments including a bed and a passenger service unit (PSU).