IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,332,250
Granted Patent B2
US 11,332,250 · App. 16/669,747 · Granted May 17, 2022

Integrated aircraft galley and appliance operating system

Inventors: William J. Godecker (Irvine, CA); Nicolaas Van Zwieten (Ravenswaaij, NL); Michael Kemery (Seattle, WA); Eid-Beng Goh (Seattle, WA)
Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
B64D11/00155B64D11/0015B64D11/00153B64D11/04G06F3/1431B64D2045/0085G06F3/0488G06F3/04817Y02T50/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,332,250
App. No.
16/669,747
Granted
May 17, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for communicating between passenger seats and an aircraft galley. The system may include a control unit including a display area for interfacing with a crew member. The system may include a plurality of devices, each positioned at a respective passenger seat. The control unit may be adapted to display on the display area data related to a particular order, including a location of an associated passenger seat. The control unit may be further adapted to transmit to a particular device associated with the order notifications concerning a status of the particular order.

Claims (26)

1. A system for communicating between passenger seats and an aircraft galley, comprising:

a control unit including a touch screen display area for interfacing with a crew member;

a plurality of devices, each positioned at a respective passenger seat, wherein the control unit is in wireless communication with the plurality of devices; and

a plurality of appliances;

wherein the control unit is configured to receive operational signals from a plurality of appliances and to present, upon the touch screen display area of the control unit, operational information regarding at least one of the plurality of appliances;

wherein the control unit is further configured to control operation of one or more of the plurality of appliances;

wherein the control unit is further configured to simultaneously control operation of at least two appliances of the plurality of appliances;

wherein the at least two appliances are at least two ovens, at least two beverage brewing machines, at least two toasters, at least two chillers, or at least two trash compactors; and

wherein simultaneously controlling operation comprises issuing commands to each appliance of the at least two appliances to effect a same setting for each of the at least two appliances.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to display on the touch screen display area data related to a particular order, including a location of an associated passenger seat from which the particular order originated, and wherein the control unit is further adapted to transmit to a particular device of the plurality of devices associated with the order notifications concerning a status of the particular order.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of devices is a plurality of personal display screens, wherein a particular personal display screen of the plurality of personal display screens is configured to indicate that the particular order is in progress and that a credit card has been charged, wherein the particular order is a particular food or beverage order.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to communicate with a crew handheld device.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein communication with the crew handheld device is wireless.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of devices is a plurality of personal display screens.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication bus further provides a communication connection between the control unit and a lighting system of the aircraft galley.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is remotely located from the plurality of appliances.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to:

receive, via a first control of a plurality of appliance controls, an indication of an operating parameter setting for at least one appliance of the plurality of appliances; and

cause adjustment of the at least one appliance according to the operating parameter setting.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to display diagnostic information comprising an error code corresponding to a first appliance of the plurality of appliances.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to display diagnostic information representing an operating status.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to access, from each appliance of the plurality of appliances, status information.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to communicate, to a maintenance communication system, a portion of operational information including at least one of diagnostic information and maintenance information.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is positioned in the galley.

15. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a communication bus providing a communication connection between the control unit and each of the plurality of devices.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the communication bus further provides a communication connection between the control unit and the plurality of appliances.

Continuity (7)
Continuation 16520980 · Jul 24, 2019
Continuation 15977941 · May 11, 2018
Continuation 15397633 · Jan 3, 2017
Continuation 15219241 · Jul 25, 2016
Continuation 13848210 · Mar 21, 2013
Provisional Application 61614730 · Mar 23, 2012
Related Publication 20200062402A1 · Feb 27, 2020