Seat actuation control through in-flight entertainment system
View Patent ↗Systems and methods are described for controlling seat actuation and other controls using an in-flight entertainment system of an aircraft or other vehicle. The system can include an electronic control unit configured to send commands to actuate a passenger seat based on input received via a passenger controlled device. The electronic control unit or a related peripheral component is configured to receive a flight phase notification. If the flight phase notification indicates a taxi, take-off or landing phase, the electronic control unit sends a command to disable actuation of the passenger seat. Such command could also be sent if the flight phase notification is not received for a predefined time period.
1. An in-flight entertainment system configured to control seat actuation, comprising:
an electronic control unit configured to send commands to actuate a passenger seat based on input received via a passenger controlled device;
wherein the electronic control unit is configured to receive a flight phase notification directly or through a peripheral controller;
wherein if the flight phase notification indicates a taxi, takeoff and landing phase, the electronic control unit sends a command to disable actuation of the passenger seat; and
wherein if the flight phase notification is not received for a predefined time period, the electronic control unit sends a command to disable actuation of the passenger seat.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the passenger controlled device is selected from the group consisting of a seat display unit (SDU) and a portable computing device.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the portable computing device is selected from the group consisting of a tablet PC, a laptop, a smart phone, and a smart watch.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein after receiving the flight phase notification indicating a TTOL phase, the electronic control unit sends a command to cause a passenger seat to be placed the seat in a TTOL position.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the command from the electronic control unit is delayed by a set time period following receipt of the flight phase notification.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein after receiving the flight phase notification indicating the TTOL phase, the electronic control unit sends a second command to the passenger controlled device to present a notification that the passenger seat will be placed in the TTOL position after the set time period elapses.
7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a peripheral controller communicatively coupled with the electronic control unit, and configured to drive an output discrete to the electronic control unit as a function of a flight phase.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein if the flight phase notification indicates a non-TTOL phase, the peripheral controller drives the output discrete to the electronic control unit.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein if the flight phase notification indicates the TTOL phase, the peripheral controller de-asserts the discrete to the electronic control unit.
10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the peripheral controller de-asserts the discrete to the electronic control unit if a flight phase notification is not received for a predefined time period.
11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the peripheral controller de-asserts the discrete to the electronic control unit if the peripheral controller detects a DAL D software of the peripheral controller has failed.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to receive the flight phase notification from a seat control unit.