INTEGRATED AIRCRAFT PASSENGER ENTERTAINMENT DEVICE, AIRCRAFT PASSENGER SEAT AND AIRCRAFT
20210300563 · 2021-09-30
Inventors
- Andreas Maurmaier (Shenzhen, CN)
- Alejandro Morales-Anton (Shenzhen, CN)
- Yiwen Mai (Shenzhen, CN)
- Yuxin Luo (Shenzhen, CN)
Cpc classification
B64D11/00152
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B64D11/00153
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Y02T50/40
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
B64D11/0636
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B64D11/00155
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
G09F9/301
PHYSICS
B64D11/0638
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B64D11/00151
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B64D11/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
An aircraft passenger entertainment device for an aircraft passenger seat is disclosed having a cover member attached to the seat so as to serve as a functional accessory for providing additional functions other than a seating function to the seat; a display screen movably attached to at least one surface of the cover member; and a controller embedded on a surface or inside of the cover member and in communication with the display screen. The cover member is attachable and detachable to a rear facing surface of a backrest of the seat above a passenger knee level.
Claims
1. An aircraft passenger entertainment device for being integrated in an aircraft passenger seat, comprising: a cover member which is attached to the seat so as to serve as a functional accessory for providing additional functions other than a seating function to the seat; a display screen, which is movably attached to at least one surface of the cover member; and a controller, which is embedded on a surface or inside of the cover member and is in communication with the display screen; and, wherein the cover member is attachable and detachable to a rear facing surface of a backrest of the seat above a passenger knee level.
2. The aircraft passenger entertainment device according to claim 1, wherein the display screen is a flexible OLED display screen.
3. The aircraft passenger entertainment device according to claim 1, wherein the cover member includes: a standard portion having a fixed shape, to which the display screen and the controller is installed so as to constitute a main part of the aircraft passenger entertainment device together with the standard portion; and a customizable portion, of which a shape is capable of being adaptively changed so that the customizable portion and the standard portion can constitute the functional accessory together.
4. The aircraft passenger entertainment device according to claim 2, further comprising a connection mechanism which fixes the display screen to the cover member, wherein the connection mechanism is configured to allow a change of angle and/or position of the display screen with respect to the cover member.
5. The aircraft passenger entertainment device according to claim 4, wherein the connection mechanism is a hinge device which allows the display screen to pivot with respect to the cover member.
6. The aircraft passenger entertainment device according to claim 4, wherein the connection mechanism is a magnetic connector, a clamping element or an adhesive agent being arranged to allow the display screen to change its curvature by its own flexibility.
7. The aircraft passenger entertainment device according to claim 2, further includes an adjustment device for adjusting the curvature of the display screen by changing a distance between two opposite edges of the display screen.
8. The aircraft passenger entertainment device according to claim 7, wherein the adjustment device further includes a control element arranged on the cover member, which enables passengers to control the adjustment device by operating the control element so as to adjust the curvature of the display screen.
9. The aircraft passenger entertainment device according to claim 2, wherein the display screen is a touch-sensitive OLED display screen.
10. The aircraft passenger entertainment device according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is embodied as a shell plate of a literature pocket attached to the upper part of the backrest of the seat, and wherein the display screen is arranged on a side of the shell plate of the literature pocket facing passengers in a rear row.
11. The aircraft passenger entertainment device according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is embodied as a conventional foldable tray table attached to the backrest of the seat, and wherein the display screen is arranged on a first surface of the foldable tray table facing the passenger behind the seat in a folded position; or is arranged on a second surface of the foldable tray table opposite to the first surface; or is arranged on both the first surface and the second surface.
12. The aircraft passenger entertainment device according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft passenger entertainment device obtains data via a wireless network system.
13. The aircraft passenger entertainment device according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft passenger entertainment device is independently powered via a power source of the seat.
14. The aircraft passenger entertainment device according to claim 1, further comprising an interface accessory which allows an external electronic device to perform data transmission with the aircraft passenger entertainment device, wherein the interface accessory is integrated in the cover member and located outside an HIC area.
15. The aircraft passenger entertainment device according to claim 14, wherein the interface accessory includes a USB interface and an audio interface.
16. The aircraft passenger entertainment device according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft passenger entertainment device is capable of being used as a keyboard of the external electronic device.
17. The aircraft passenger entertainment device according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft passenger entertainment device is installed to the seat via standard electrical connectors and standard mechanical connectors.
18. An aircraft passenger seat comprising: a seat body, which includes a seat portion and a backrest; and at least one functional accessory, which is attached to the seat body to provide additional functions other than a seating function to the seat; and wherein the at least one functional accessory includes the aircraft passenger entertainment device according to claim 1.
19. An aircraft equipped with one or more aircraft passenger entertainment device(s) according to claim 1.
20. The aircraft according to claim 19, further provided with: a wireless network system, which is capable of providing data for the aircraft passenger entertainment device(s); and a seat power supply system, which includes seat power source provided on each aircraft passenger seat to enable independent powering of the aircraft passenger entertainment device installed on the aircraft passenger seat.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] Features and advantages of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure will become easier to be understood through the following description in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
[0036]
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[0041]
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[0046]
[0047] In all the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0048] The present disclosure is further described in detail hereinafter in conjunction with the drawings and the exemplary embodiments. The following detailed description of the present disclosure is merely exemplary and is by no means intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or usage.
[0049] The terms first, second, third, etc. will be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, but these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be restricted by these terms. These terms may be used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms do not imply a sequence or order unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or section discussed below may also be referred to as a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the indication of the exemplary configurations.
[0050] In description of the present disclosure, it should be understood that an orientation or a position relation indicated by terms “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “rear” or the like is described based on an orientation or a position relation shown in the drawings, and is only used for describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that a device or element related to the terms has a specific orientation or is constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the terms should be not construed as a limitation to the present disclosure.
[0051]
[0052] An improved seat is provided according to the present disclosure. In particular, the seat improves the entertainment functions of the seat by ensuring that the legroom is expanded, which is only possible by means of an integrated passenger entertainment device.
[0053]
[0054] As shown in
[0055] The pocket-shaped portion can be used for receiving, for example, newspapers and aircraft safety cards, that is, can be used as the literature pocket. The shell plate 118 herein is a typical embodiment of the cover member described above. Besides, a foldable tray table 122 is provided in an area of the rear facing surface of the backrest 116 below the shell plate 118. The foldable tray table 122 is movable between a folded position and an expanded position. In the folded position, the foldable tray table 122 extends substantially parallel to the rear facing surface of the backrest 116, and in the expanded position, the foldable tray table 122 defines a substantially horizontal plane.
[0056] As shown in
[0057] Here, as shown in
[0058] As shown in
[0059] In consideration of the variation in the inclination of backrest or the difference in body stature or size of the passengers, the passenger entertainment device of the present application allows passenger to adjust viewing angle as needed by changing the overall inclination angle of the display screen 120 with respect to the shell plate 118 and/or changing the shape and position of the display screen by means of the own flexibility of the display screen, which greatly improves the adjustability of the passenger entertainment device and improve the comfortable sensation of the passenger using the passenger entertainment device. In addition, the connection mechanism of the present application will enable to optimize the viewing angle without compromising the dimension of other structures of the seat, for example, the volume of the literature pocket, the thickness of backrest and the like. In this regard, it is conceivable that the type and arrangement position of the connection mechanism are not limited to the above-mentioned hinge device. For example, as a simplified method, the flexible OLED display screen 120 may be installed to the shell plate 118 by means of a magnetic connector, a clamping element or an adhesive agent, which further simplifies the installation and removal process. In addition, the connection mechanism is not necessarily arranged on the upper edge of the display screen 120, as long as the installation position of the connection mechanism is convenient for the user to adjust the display screen to a desired angle during the ride.
[0060] Further, an adjustment device capable of automatically adjusting the angle and curvature of the screen according to the needs of passengers may be provided between the display screen 120 and the shell plate 118 to facilitate the adjustment of the angle and curvature of the screen by the passengers. As shown in
[0061] The adjustment device shown in
[0062] Apparently, in addition to the above-mentioned methods, any other feasible adjustment device may be adopted. In short, the adjustment device according to the technical solution of the present disclosure can assist passengers to flexibly adjust the angle and curvature of the display screen, which makes the adjustment of the display screen more flexible, thus improving the customer's experience. In addition, the adjustment device of the present application will enable to optimize the viewing angle without compromising the dimension of other structures of the seat, for example, the volume of the literature pocket, the thickness of backrest and the like. Furthermore, such adjustment device has the characteristics of small size, light weight, and concealment, and does not affect the size, weight, and aesthetics of the passenger entertainment device.
[0063]
[0064] The passenger entertainment device according to the present disclosure further includes an interface accessory 130 which is integrated at an appropriate position in the shell plate 118 and is configured to allow external electronic devices (such as a passenger's mobile phone, a laptop computer, and the like) to perform data and/or power transmission with the passenger entertainment device. As shown in
[0065] Here, the passenger entertainment device may communicate with external electronic devices via a wireless connection (for example, Bluetooth) in addition to the interface accessory 130 described above. In a case that the passenger entertainment device communicates with an external electronic device such as a passenger's laptop, tablet and the like via a wired connection (such as a USB interface or other electronic communication element) or a wireless connection, the passenger entertainment device may further be used as an auxiliary device of the external electronic device, for example, as a keyboard, which further makes the passenger entertainment device of the present disclosure possess higher application versatility.
[0066] As shown in
[0067] Besides, as shown in
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[0069] The integrated passenger entertainment device according to the present disclosure has significant advantages when applied to the seat of a vehicle. The advantages include, but are not limited to: i) compared with the existing passenger entertainment device for a seat, the integrated passenger entertainment device is very thin and light, which is conducive to saving space and weight; ii), the integrated passenger entertainment device is directly integrated into the existing functional accessories, which can be integrated into the seat without adjusting the seat, and the electronic and mechanical interfaces and connectors used thereon are all universal or standard interfaces and connectors, which further ensures that the integrated passenger entertainment device can be quickly and cost-effectively integrated into the existing seats and ensures the quick and cost-effective retrofitting of the existing seats, so the integrated passenger entertainment device according to the present disclosure is a highly adaptable and easy-to-maintain passenger entertainment device; iii), the screen of the integrated passenger entertainment device is a flexible OLED screen, and as mentioned above, the angle and curvature of the flexible OLED screen can be arbitrarily adjusted so as to meet different requirements on the viewing angles of various passengers, the flexible OLED screen can be powered independently by the seat power source, and the data is provided through WiFi such that passengers can freely choose their favorite content in a wider range, thus in terms of either the viewing method or the viewing content, the integrated passenger entertainment device according to the present disclosure has greater optionality and can adequately meet the customized requirements of passengers; iv), the flexible OLED screen itself has low power consumption, and such integrated design can save development and manufacturing costs, thus the passenger entertainment device is cost-saving; and v), the safety of the seat is ensured by providing the flexible display screen and by arranging the connectors and the interface accessories outside the HIC area.
[0070] Apparently, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to those illustrated herein, and those skilled in the art can make any modification according to the concept of the present disclosure. For example, based on the embodiments shown above, as a more preferred embodiment, a modular integrated passenger entertainment device as shown in
[0071] As an example,
[0072] For example,
[0073] This modular integrated passenger entertainment device will further highlight the advantages of the present disclosure. In a case that the integrated passenger entertainment device is applied to different styles and models of seats, only adjustment to the customizable portion of the integrated passenger entertainment device is necessary, while modification to the existing seat may be minimum or even zero. This configuration makes it possible to use as many consistent parts as possible when producing this integrated passenger entertainment device. Therefore, the passenger entertainment device according to the present disclosure is convenient for mass production, especially when replacing the existing seat accessories, and is helpful for reducing development work, thus can not only improve production efficiency, but also help to save production costs.
[0074] In summary, although the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is conceivable that the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments or examples described and illustrated in detail herein, and various changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope defined by the appended claims.