AIRCRAFT COMPRISING A MULTIPLICITY OF ANTENNA ARRANGEMENTS

Abstract

An aircraft comprising a skin, a multiplicity of antenna arrangements, each of which is arranged in a different region of a corresponding multiplicity of mutually spaced regions of the skin and comprises an antenna element that is arranged and configured to emit radio waves into a surrounding area of the aircraft, and a multiplicity of visual indicators, each of which is assigned to a different antenna arrangement of the antenna arrangements. Each of the visual indicators is arranged on the skin or on the antenna arrangement in the region of the skin in which the assigned antenna arrangement is situated in such a manner that it is visible from outside the aircraft and emits light during operation in an on state.

Claims

1. An aircraft comprising: a skin; a multiplicity of antenna arrangements, each of which is arranged in a different region of a corresponding multiplicity of mutually spaced regions of the skin and comprises an antenna element that is arranged and configured to emit radio waves into a surrounding area of the aircraft; and a multiplicity of visual indicators, each of which is assigned to a different antenna arrangement of the antenna arrangements, wherein each of the visual indicators is arranged on the skin or on the antenna arrangement in a region of the skin in which the assigned antenna arrangement is situated in such a manner that the visual indicator is visible from outside the aircraft and emits light during operation in an on state.

2. The aircraft as claimed in claim 1, in which for each of the antenna arrangements, the visual indicator assigned thereto is arranged such that when viewed perpendicularly from above from a surrounding area onto the region of the skin in which the antenna arrangement is situated, the visual indicator at least one of at least partially surrounds the antenna element of said antenna arrangement or is arranged, at least in part, above the antenna element.

3. The aircraft as claimed in claim 2, which additionally comprises at least one controller, the at least one controller being assigned to one or more of the visual indicators and being adapted to control a light emission therefrom.

4. The aircraft as claimed in claim 3, in which each of the at least one controllers is configured to switch its assigned one or more visual indicators on and off selectively.

5. The aircraft as claimed in claim 4, which additionally comprises at least one operator control, which is connected to the at least one controller and is configured to allow a user to switch the visual indicators on and off selectively.

6. The aircraft as claimed in claim 3, in which each of the at least one controllers is configured to control each visual indicator assigned to that controller according to a current operating state of the antenna arrangement to which the particular visual indicator is assigned such that the visual indicator indicates an operating state from a group of at least two different operating states of the antenna arrangement, which operating state corresponds to the current operating state, wherein each of the at least two different operating states is assigned a different predefined light emission by the visual indicator, and wherein the group of at least two different operating states comprises at least one of an operating state in which the antenna arrangement is on or active but the antenna element is not emitting any radio waves, or an operating state in which the antenna arrangement is off or inactive.

7. The aircraft as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of the visual indicators comprises at least one light element which is adapted to output selectively light of one color from a plurality of predefined colors, and the controller assigned to the particular visual indicator is configured to control the visual indicator such that the indication of different operating states out of the group of at least two different operating states comprises the at least one light element emitting light of various colors from the predefined colors.

8. The aircraft as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of the visual indicators comprises at least one light element, which is configured to output selectively light in a temporal light pattern from a plurality of predefined temporal light patterns, and the controller assigned to the particular visual indicator is configured to control the visual indicator such that the indication of different operating states out of the group of at least two different operating states comprises the at least one light element emitting light in various temporal light patterns from the predefined temporal light patterns.

9. The aircraft as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of the visual indicators comprises a multiplicity of light elements, and the controller assigned to the particular visual indicator is configured to control the visual indicator, such that the indication of different operating states out of the group of at least two different operating states comprises switching on the individual light elements of the multiplicity of light elements in different patterns.

10. The aircraft as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of the group of at least two different operating states comprises an operating state in which the antenna element of the associated antenna arrangement is emitting radio waves, or one or more fault operating states of the associated antenna arrangement.

11. The aircraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna element of at least one of the antenna arrangements is embedded in the skin.

12. The aircraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna element of at least one of the antenna arrangements is arranged on an outside of the skin, on an inside of the skin, or in an aperture in the region of the skin in which the antenna arrangement is situated.

13. The aircraft as claimed in claim 12, wherein for at least one of the antenna arrangements, the associated region of the skin comprises an aperture in which the antenna element is arranged, wherein the antenna arrangement seals the aperture and sits flush with an outer surface of the skin.

14. A method for controlling an operating procedure of an aircraft as claimed in claim 1, comprising performing the operating procedure according to a light emission by at least one of the visual indicators.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the operating procedure comprises a maintenance procedure on one of the antenna arrangements, wherein prior to performing the maintenance procedure, the location of the antenna arrangement is ascertained by means of the light emission by the visual indicator assigned to the antenna arrangement concerned, and the maintenance procedure is then performed on the antenna arrangement.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the operating procedure comprises at least one of a maintenance or deicing procedure on the aircraft or a passenger embarkation or disembarkation procedure, including ascertaining by means of the light emission by at least one of the visual indicators whether the at least one assigned antenna arrangement is in an operating state in which the antenna element of the at least one antenna arrangement is not emitting any radio waves, and the at least one of the maintenance, deicing, embarkation or disembarkation procedure is not carried out until the step of ascertaining results in a determination that the at least one assigned antenna arrangement is in an operating state in which the antenna element of the at least one antenna arrangement is not emitting any radio waves.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the operating procedure comprises a maintenance procedure on one of the antenna arrangements, wherein prior to performing the maintenance procedure, a step of ascertaining by means of the light emission by the visual indicator assigned thereto whether the antenna arrangement has a fault is performed, and the maintenance procedure is then performed on the antenna arrangement if the visual indicator indicates that the antenna arrangement has a fault.

18. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the operating procedure comprises a maintenance procedure on one of the antenna arrangements, wherein prior to performing the maintenance procedure, a fault operating state from a plurality of possible fault operating states of the assigned antenna arrangement is ascertained by means of the light emission by the visual indicator assigned thereto, and the maintenance procedure is then performed on the antenna arrangement according to the ascertained fault operating state.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The invention is described below in greater detail with reference to the

[0028] FIGURE, which shows an exemplary embodiment of the aircraft.

[0029] The FIGURE shows a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an aircraft according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] An aircraft 1 shown in the FIGURE comprises a fuselage 2 and a plurality of antenna arrangements 3 and 4, which are arranged on or in a skin 2a of the fuselage 2. Additional antenna arrangements are also visible in the FIGURE, but for reasons of clarity are not shown in detail nor given reference signs. Moreover, yet more antenna arrangements can be provided on the aircraft, for instance antenna arrangements on the sides of the fuselage 2, on the underside of the fuselage 2, on the wings, on the tail units or on the engines. All of the antenna arrangements that are not shown or not shown in detail can, however, have the same design as the antenna arrangements 3 and 4 and, in particular, can each be equipped with a visual indicator in the manner described below for the antenna arrangements 3 and 4.

[0031] Each of the two antenna arrangements 3, 4 is arranged in a corresponding region 5 of the skin 2a. The regions 5 of the different antenna arrangements 3, 4 are spaced apart from one another, i.e., the different antenna arrangements 3, 4 are spaced apart from one another.

[0032] The antenna arrangement 3 comprises an aperture (not shown separately) in the skin 2a, which is sealed by a cover 6 that sits flush with the outer surface of the skin 2a. Under the cover 6 in the region of the aperture is arranged an antenna element 7, which is adapted to emit radio waves into the surrounding area of the aircraft 1 through the cover 6, which is transparent to these radio waves. In the FIGURE, the antenna arrangement 3 is arranged on top of the fuselage 2 by way of example. As already stated, however, the antenna arrangement 3 can also be situated at any other point of the fuselage 2, for instance on a side or on the underside or on other portions of the aircraft 1, for instance on the wings, the tail units or the engines. By virtue of the cover 6 being arranged flush, or substantially flush, in the aperture in the skin 2a, the antenna arrangement 3 does not increase, or not significantly increase, the air resistance of the fuselage 2, and therefore there are no, or substantially no, increased aerodynamic loads acting on the antenna arrangement 3.

[0033] In contrast, the antenna arrangement 4 comprises as the antenna element 8, a conventional blade antenna, which is fastened externally on the fuselage 2 and protrudes outwards from the fuselage 2 into the surrounding area of the aircraft 1.

[0034] Each of the two antenna arrangements 3 and 4 is assigned a separate visual indicator 9, which surrounds the associated antenna arrangement 3 and 4 respectively and its antenna element 7 and 8 respectively in the plane defined by the surface of the skin 2a. For this purpose, each of these visual indicators 9 comprises a multiplicity of light elements in the form of multicolor LEDs 10, which are mounted on the skin 2a in an arrangement surrounding the respective antenna arrangements 3 and 4 in such a way that they can emit light into the surrounding area of the aircraft 1 and are visible to people in the surrounding area of the aircraft.

[0035] Furthermore, each of the two visual indicators 9 is connected to a controller 12 via a bus line 11. This controller 12 is adapted to control selectively each of the visual indicators 9 separately in order to switch them on and off, and, in the on state, to specify the color of the light emitted by the light elements 10. The controller 12 is in turn connected to the airborne computer 14 via a line 13.

[0036] The airborne computer 14 comprises an operator control (not shown separately), by means of which the controller 12 can be instructed by an operator selectively either to switch on or off all the visual indicators 9, or to switch on or off specifically just one required visual indicator of the visual indicators 9. The controller 12 is additionally configured to control the associated visual indicator 9 or each of the associated visual indicators 9 such that, in the on state, their light elements 10 emit a color that depends on the current operating state of the antenna arrangement 3 or 4 assigned to the visual indicator 9 concerned. This operating state is signaled by the airborne computer 14 to the controller 12 via the line 13. It must be mentioned that instead of the embodiment shown in the figure, embodiments are advantageously also possible in which the controller 12 can also be integrated in the airborne computer 14, or the function thereof provided directly by the airborne computer 14. In addition, in further advantageous embodiments, the described functions of the airborne computer 14 and of the controller 12 can also be integrated jointly in another device such as an antenna controller or an amplifier, for instance.

[0037] If the operating state is an operating state in which the antenna arrangement 3 or 4 is not faulty but is off, and thus its antenna element 7 or 8 respectively is not emitting any radio waves, the corresponding visual indicator 9 is controlled, for instance, such that its light elements 10 emit green light. If, on the other hand, the operating state is an operating state in which the antenna arrangement 3 or 4 is on, and its antenna element 7 or 8 respectively is emitting radio waves, the corresponding visual indicator 9 is controlled, for instance, such that its light elements 10 emit red light, and specifically emit a continuous light if for the antenna arrangement 3 or 4 there is no error message present in the airborne computer 14, and a flashing light if an error message for the antenna arrangement 3 or 4 is present in the airborne computer 14. It can also be provided that different flashing patterns signal different faults. If the operating state is an operating state in which an error message for the antenna arrangement 3 or 4 is present in the airborne computer 14, and the antenna arrangement 3 or 4 is off, and thus its antenna element 7 or 8 respectively is not emitting any radio waves, the corresponding visual indicator 9 is controlled, for instance, such that its light elements 10 output light in different colors and/or temporal light-output patterns, for instance different flashing patterns, according to the fault operating state corresponding to the error message. The controller 12 can also be adapted to perform the latter control automatically independently of any switch-on by a user by means of the operator control of the airborne computer 14, i.e., an error message for one of the antenna arrangements 3 or 4 received or ascertained by the airborne computer 14 initiates the switch-on of the corresponding visual indicator and the signaling of the fault operating state by the light output.

[0038] Hence in each case, people in the surrounding area of the aircraft 1 can easily identify first that it is possible to approach the antenna arrangement 3 or 4 concerned without being exposed to radio waves emitted by this antenna arrangement. This is advantageous for example when maintenance work or a deicing procedure must take place in the region of the particular antenna arrangement 3 or 4, or when, during an embarkation or disembarkation procedure, passengers must move through a region in the surrounding area of the aircraft 1 situated in the vicinity of one or more of the antenna arrangements. People who must perform such maintenance work or deicing procedures or who oversee or give clearance to a passenger embarkation or disembarkation procedure, can first, in the manner described, switch on the visual indicators 9 of all the antenna arrangements 3, 4 or just of individual antenna arrangements 3, 4, and ascertain first from the color of the emitted light that the corresponding antenna arrangements 3, 4 are off before they start the work or give clearance for passengers to embark or disembark.

[0039] Furthermore, it is immediately identifiable whether an antenna arrangement 3, 4 is working correctly or whether there is a fault, and what fault exists.

[0040] It must be mentioned that instead of the light elements in the form of multicolor LEDs, it is also possible to provide a multiplicity of light elements in the form of single-color LEDs, and each visual indicator 9 comprises LEDs of different colors. The output of different colors is then controlled by switching on the relevant LEDs systematically.

[0041] While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.