IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,019,691
Granted Patent B1
US 11,019,691 · App. 16/745,666 · Granted May 25, 2021

Galley insert multi-purpose LED system

Inventor: Pieter van Oostrom (Haalderen, NL)
Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
H05B45/20B60Q3/47B64D11/04G08B5/36H05B45/12H05B47/11H05B47/115B64D2203/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,019,691
App. No.
16/745,666
Granted
May 25, 2021
Kind
B1
Abstract

A galley appliance system includes an integrated light emitting diode (LED) strip to display operational data, detect certain states of the galley appliance, and alter the LED strip accordingly. The integrated LED strip illuminates the area adjacent to the galley appliance and the interior of the galley appliance when the galley appliance door is open. The LED strip provides customizable galley mood light when not otherwise occupied. Multiple appliances may be in data communication to provide galley wide mood lighting. The system may be in data communication with aircraft systems to provide environmental feedback via color coded illumination.

Claims (48)

1. A system comprising:

an appliance door having a diffusely reflective front surface to reflect light into a galley area;

a plurality of color changing light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed to illuminate the front surface;

a datalink connection to one or more other galley appliance systems; and

at least one processor in data communication with the plurality of LEDs and a memory storing processor executable code for configuring the at least one processor to:

determine that the system is currently in a state of operation;

illuminate the LEDS in a first color corresponding to the state of operation;

determine that the system is currently in a state of completion;

illuminate the LEDS in a second color corresponding to the state of completion; and

coordinate an illumination pattern with the one or more other galley appliances systems.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a light sensor in data communication with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

detect a light level via the light sensor; and

adjust a light level of the LEDs based on the detected light level.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a door sensor in data communication with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

detect when a door is opened via the door sensor; and

illuminate the LEDs in a third color corresponding to a maximum illumination level when the door is opened.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a light sensor in data communication with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

detect a light level via the light sensor; and

adjust the maximum illumination level based on the detected light level.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a datalink connection between an aircraft system and the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive a warning message via the datalink connection; and

illuminate the color changing LEDs in the first color or a specific warning color, regardless of the current state of the system.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to illuminate the color changing LEDs according to defined color codes associated with an on/off button light-ring.

7. An aircraft galley appliance comprising:

an appliance frame;

a door having a diffusely reflective front surface to reflect light into a galley area;

a plurality of color changing light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed in the appliance frame to illuminate the front surface and illuminate a work area of the appliance when the door is open;

a datalink connection to one or more other galley appliance systems; and

at least one processor in data communication with the plurality of LEDs and a memory storing processor executable code for configuring the at least one processor to:

determine that the system is currently in a state of operation;

illuminate the LEDS in a first color corresponding to the state of operation;

determine that the system is currently in a state of completion;

illuminate the LEDS in a second color corresponding to the state of completion; and

coordinate an illumination pattern with the one or more other galley appliances systems.

8. The aircraft galley apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of color changing LEDs are disposed on a bottom surface in a control panel of the appliance frame.

9. The aircraft galley apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a light sensor in data communication with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

detect a light level via the light sensor; and

adjust a light level of the LEDs based on the detected light level.

10. The aircraft galley apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a door sensor in data communication with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

detect when a door is opened via the door sensor; and

illuminate the LEDs in a third color corresponding to a maximum illumination level when the door is opened.

11. The aircraft galley apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a light sensor in data communication with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

detect a light level via the light sensor; and

adjust the maximum illumination level based on the detected light level.

12. The aircraft galley apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a datalink connection between an aircraft system and the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive a warning message via the datalink connection; and

illuminate the color changing LEDs in the first color or a specific warning color, regardless of the current state of the system.

13. The aircraft galley apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to illuminate the color changing LEDs according to defined color codes associated with an on/off button light-ring.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2020
From: VAN OOSTROM, PIETER
To: B/E AEROSPACE, INC.
Reel/Frame 051637/0326 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,195,182