A method determines the position of an actuating device of an element of an aircraft seat. The actuating device includes a calculating unit, an actuator movably mounted on an output shaft for actuating the element, the output shaft being connected to an angular position encoder so a position (X) of the actuator on the output shaft corresponds to a single angular position () of the encoder. The method includes a preliminary submethod of automatically calibrating the actuating device including: placing the actuator at a predetermined position (Xref) corresponding to an expected angle value (att) of the encoder; measuring an initial positioning angle value (ini) of the encoder when the actuator shaft is in the predetermined position (Xref); comparing the initial positioning angle value (ini) and the expected angle value (att) calculating the angular offset of the encoder signal, with dcal=(iniatt) [MODULO 360], decal being between 0 and 359.

An aircraft passenger seat comprises a seat back and a seat pan, the seat pan being pivotally connected at or around a forward end thereof to a seat frame at a first pivot point, and at or around a rearward end thereof to a lower end of the seat back at a second pivot point. The seat back has an extension extending beyond the second pivot point and engaging a guide track in or connected to the seat frame, and a reclining actuator for driving the extension along the guide track so as to adjust the reclining of the seat.

An aircraft passenger seat has a seat back including a lower portion pivotably mounted to a seat bottom and an upper portion rotatably coupled to the lower portion. The upper portion may rotate in a forward direction relative to the lower portion during articulation of the seat. An inner diaphragm may be positioned between a headrest and a set of side frame members of the upper portion and is rotatably coupled to the upper portion and lower portion to provide support for an upper back and shoulders of a seated passenger. An actuating assembly may coordinate articulation of the lower portion, the upper portion, and the inner diaphragm to permit articulation of the seat between an upright taxi takeoff and landing (TTOL) position and a reclined position and to enable the seated passenger to achieve more ergonomic postures.

An aircraft seat (10) comprising: a seat base (12) having a base support surface (22); an outer backrest (14) mounted to and extending upwardly from the seat base (12); an inner backrest (16) mounted to the outer backrest (14) and/or the seat base (12), the inner backrest (16) having a torso support surface (20) extending between a top end (26) and a bottom end (28) of the inner backrest (16) and being displaceable between a first position and a second position, wherein: when the inner backrest (16) is in the first position: the top end (26) of the inner backrest (16) is located adjacent to the outer backrest (14) and the bottom end (28) of the inner backrest (16) is located adjacent to the base support surface (22) of the seat base (12); and when the inner backrest (16) is in the second position: the top end (26) of the inner backrest (16) is located adjacent to the outer backrest (14) and the bottom end (28) of the inner backrest (16) is located adjacent to the base support surface (22) of the seat base (12), the top end (26) of the inner backrest (16) is located closer to the seat base (12) than when the inner backrest (16) is in the first position, and the bottom end (28) of the inner backrest (16) is located further away from the outer backrest (14) than when the inner backrest (16) is in the first position.

A aircraft passenger seating arrangement comprises a seat (1), a secondary surface (4) spaced to one side of the seat (1), in a direction substantially parallel to the width of the seat; and an infill surface (3) deployable into a space between the seat (1) and the secondary surface (4) so as to form a substantially continuous sleeping surface along the secondary surface (4), the infill surface (3) and the width of the seat (1).

A method of automatic positioning a seat in an apparatus comprising two cameras located on either side of the seat, each one in a position able to acquire images of a face of a user seated on the seat. The seat comprises at least one motor, each motor acting on a position of the seat along a predefined axis. The method comprises: for each camera: obtaining a position of a predefined image zone in which at least one eye of a user of the apparatus should be located; acquiring an image of a user seated on the seat; detecting at least one eye of the seated user in the image acquired; and obtaining a relative position between each eye detected and the predefined zone. By using each relative position obtained, at least one motor is actuated until each predefined zone contains at least one eye of the seated user.

A system and method for retention of flight deck preferences operates to control a comprehensive combination of aircraft systems and system configurations enabling a pilot to seamlessly retain and recall the desired preferences based on a plurality of mission related factors. With system control of flight deck physical settings including seat position and shape, display illumination and color and internal and external lighting configurations, the system allows a pilot to save time, effort, and minimize errors of system set up and configuration. With a short entry, or short-range sensing, of the pilot ID, the pilot commands the system and method for retention of flight deck preferences to configure each of the plurality of aircraft systems according to the recalled pilot preference.

The present invention relates to an aircraft seat comprising: a guide rail (26); a rack (34); an actuator (30) provided with a gear (31); at least one connection portion (35) providing a mechanical connection between the guide rail (26) and the rack (34),
characterized in that the connection portion (35) included a zone (36) of mechanical weakness and in that a first bearing element (37) and a second bearing element (38) are disposed on either side of the rack (34), such that, if the deformation of the seat generates a movement of the gear (31), said gear (31) or the corresponding shaft (32) comes into abutment against one of the bearing elements (37, 38) and in this way deforms the connection portion (35) along the zone (36) of mechanical weakness.

There is disclosed a seating system for use in a means of transportation, allowing passenger seats to recline without intruding into the seating space of the passengers sitting in the row behind. Each seat is supported on an elevated base and is movably carried by a support member which is attached to the base. Each seat comprises a seat bottom and a reversibly reclinable seat back. The seat back is slidably connected to one or more fixed, rearward-sloped tracks which guide the seat back as the support member is operated by an actuator and the seat is moved forward or rearward by the support member. The seat back is disposed frontward and outside of the rear passenger space in any position of the seat back. The elevated base can provide a storage compartment, allowing to eliminate overhead storage bins. A fixed, privacy panel can be arranged behind the seat back.

An aircraft seat with tilt-shift functionality includes a backrest frame pivotably mounted to the seat frame, the backrest frame having rollers set into its upright end that translate through slots in the seat frame and lateral slots in its forward end capable of accepting sliders attached to the seatpan. When a passenger leans backward in the seat, tilting the backrest frame backward and downward, a shift linkage below the backrest frame translates the backward tilt to a forward shift of the seatpan forward to enhance the comfort of the passenger. The aircraft seat may further be capable of longitudinal and lateral translation as well as a full 360-degree swivel.