IP Library Granted Patent US 9,296,333
Granted Patent B2
US 9,296,333 · App. 13/893,625 · Granted Mar 29, 2016

Lighting device of an aircraft, system, passenger service unit, method of operating a lighting device

Inventors: Wolfgang Rittner (Ahrensbok, DE); Mark Niedostatek (Wenzendorf, DE); Rüdiger Meckes (Berkenthin, DE); Günter Boomgarden (Scharbeutz, DE)
Assignee: Zodiac Aerotechnics
B60Q3/0286B60Q3/0296B64D11/00B64D11/0015G06F3/00B64D2011/0053
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,296,333
App. No.
13/893,625
Granted
Mar 29, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Described are lighting devices of passenger aircraft. Also described are methods of operating the devices as well as lighting systems and passenger service units.

Claims (29)

1. A lighting device for at least one passenger of an aircraft, comprising:

means for providing a light projection of an operator surface on a user-defined suitable body within an aircraft, wherein:

the operator surface is adapted for generating touch signals; and

the operator surface is performed by;

a beam forming module for adjusting the light beam geometrical properties and

a light forming module for adjusting the light optical properties;

wherein:

the light projection is formed as a continuous adaptable light projection, wherein:

a first sensor unit provides size and position information of the suitable body for a continuous adaption of the operator surface on the body;

a second sensor unit detects the generated touch signals corresponding to the position on the operator surface being touched; and

the generated information and the generated touch signals are transmitted to an operator system for achieving an operating response.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the continuous adaptable light projection is initiated by an activation signal and/or a starter signal.

3. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the operator surface comprises a continuous adaptable illumination pattern.

4. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the operator surface comprises a virtual touch panel.

5. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the continuous adaptable light projection is formed as a projection of a holographic film.

6. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the suitable body is formed by a passenger's hand.

7. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the continuous adaptable light projection includes the operating of service unit devices and/or a cabin attended call.

8. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein a physical touch panel adjoins the virtual touch panel and is configured to generate a touch signal corresponding to the position being touched on the virtual touch panel.

9. A system of a lighting device according to claim 1 and an external unit wherein the operator system is remotely controllable by the external unit.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein the operator system is adapted to communicate wirelessly with the external unit wherein a transmission technology between the operator system and the external unit is selected from the group of technologies consisting of Wifi, RFID, IR and Bluetooth technology.

11. A passenger service unit comprising a lighting device according to claim 1 .

12. A method of operating a lighting device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a light projection of an operator surface on a suitable user-defined body within an aircraft, wherein the operator surface is adapted for generating touch signals;

performing the operator surface by a beam forming module for adjusting the light beam geometrical properties and by a light forming module for adjusting the light optical properties; wherein:

the light projection is formed as a continuous adaptable light projection, wherein

a first sensor unit provides size and position information of the suitable body for a continuous adaption of the operator surface on the body;

a second sensor unit detects the generated touch signals corresponding to the position on the operator surface being touched; and wherein

the generated information and the generated touch signals are transmitted to an operator system for achieving an operating response.

13. A software code means storable in an operator system and adapted to control operation of a lighting device in the operator system according to a method as claimed in claim 12 .

Assignments (5)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE NAME OF RECEIVING PARTY, SAFRAN AEROTECHNICS SAS; PLEASE REMOVE 'SAS' FROM THE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 055556 FRAME 0867. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SAFRAN AEROTECHNICS. Recorded May 25, 2022
From: ZODIAC AEROTECHNICS
To: SAFRAN AEROTECHNICS
Reel/Frame 060177/0282 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 26, 2021
From: ZODIAC AEROTECHNICS
To: SAFRAN AEROTECHNICS SAS
Reel/Frame 055556/0867 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2015
From: RITTNER, WOLFGANG; NIEDOSTATEK, MARK; MECKES, RÜDIGER; BOOMGARDEN, GÜNTER
To: ZODIAC AEROTECHNICS
Reel/Frame 037321/0468 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 4, 2014
From: RITTNER, WOLFGANG; NIEDOSTATEK, MARK; MECKES, RUDIGER; BOOMGARDEN, GUNTER
To: INTERTECHNIQUE
Reel/Frame 033685/0811 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 22, 2014
From: INTERTECHNIQUE
To: ZODIAC AEROTECHNICS
Reel/Frame 033593/0266 →
Continuity (1)
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