IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,311,083
Granted Patent B2
US 12,311,083 · App. 17/703,186 · Granted May 27, 2025

Systems and methods for managing and predicting power usage for ultraviolet lamps within an environment

Inventors: Jamie J. Childress (Mercer Island, WA); Kevin S. Callahan (Shoreline, WA); Teresa A. King (Bothell, WA)
Assignee: The Boeing Company
A61L9/20B64D11/00A61L2202/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,311,083
App. No.
17/703,186
Granted
May 27, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power management system and method for a vehicle includes a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) light sub-systems within an internal cabin of the vehicle. A power management control unit is in communication with the plurality of UV light sub-systems. The power management control unit is configured to adaptively control power supplied to the plurality of UV light sub-systems based on power usage data. The power supplied to the plurality of UV light sub-systems changes. The power usage data includes information regarding adaptable power requirements for the plurality of UV light sub-systems.

Claims (42)

1. A power management system for a vehicle, the power management system comprising:

a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) light sub-systems within an internal cabin of the vehicle; and

a power management control unit in communication with the plurality of UV light sub-systems,

wherein the power management control unit is configured to adaptively control power supplied to the plurality of UV light sub-systems based on power usage data, and wherein the power usage data includes: information regarding adaptable power requirements for the plurality of UV light sub-systems, and a prioritized list for powering essential and nonessential sub-systems.

2. The power management system of claim 1 , wherein the power management control unit is configured to provide a different amount of power to at least two of the plurality of UV light sub-systems at a given time.

3. The power management system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of UV light sub-systems are within a plurality of different areas of the internal cabin, and wherein the plurality of different areas comprise one or more of a lavatory, a galley, a passenger area, or a control area.

4. The power management system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more powered sub-systems that differ from the UV light sub-systems.

5. The power management system of claim 4 , wherein the power management control unit is also in communication with the one or more powered sub-systems, and wherein the power management control unit also adaptively controls power supplied to the one or more powered sub-systems.

6. The power management system of claim 1 , wherein the power management control unit adaptively controls the power supplied to the plurality of UV light sub-systems by one or both of reducing the power supplied to a first one of the plurality of UV light sub-systems or increasing the power supplied to a second one of the plurality of UV light sub-systems.

7. The power management system of claim 1 , further comprising a data bus in communication with the power management control unit, wherein the power management control unit receives the power usage data from the data bus.

8. The power management system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more presence sensors within one or more of the plurality of areas, wherein the power management control unit is in communication with the one or more presence sensors, and wherein the power management control unit adaptively controls the power supplied to the plurality of UV light sub-systems based on the power usage data and one or more presence signals received from the one or more presence sensors.

9. The power management system of claim 1 , further comprising a predictive power usage control unit in communication with the power management control unit, wherein the predictive power usage control unit receives power management data from the power management control unit, and wherein the predictive power usage control unit is configured to refine the power usage data based on the power management data.

10. The power management system of claim 9 , wherein the predictive power usage control unit is remote from the vehicle.

11. The power management system of claim 1 , wherein the prioritized list changes over time.

12. The power management system of claim 1 , wherein the prioritized list is predetermined and fixed.

13. A power management method for a vehicle, the power management method comprising:

communicatively coupling a power management control unit with a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) light sub-systems within an internal cabin of the vehicle; and

adaptively controlling, by the power management control unit, power supplied to the plurality of UV light sub-systems based on power usage data, wherein the power usage data includes: information regarding adaptable power requirements for the plurality of UV light sub-systems, and a prioritized list for powering essential and nonessential sub-systems.

14. The power management method of claim 13 , wherein said adaptively controlling comprises providing a different amount of power to at least two of the plurality of UV light sub-systems at a given time.

15. The power management method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of UV light sub-systems are within a plurality of different areas of the internal cabin, and wherein the plurality of different areas comprise one or more of a lavatory, a galley, a passenger area, or a control area.

16. The power management method of claim 13 , further comprising:

communicatively coupling the power management control unit with one or more powered sub-systems that differ from the UV light sub-systems; and

adaptively controlling, by the power management control unit, power supplied to the one or more powered sub-systems.

17. The power management method of claim 13 , wherein said adaptively controlling comprises one or both of reducing the power supplied to a first one of the plurality of UV light sub-systems or increasing the power supplied to a second one of the plurality of UV light sub-systems.

18. The power management method of claim 13 , further comprising:

communicatively coupling a data bus with the power management control unit; and

receiving, by the power management control unit, the power usage data from the data bus.

19. The power management method of claim 13 , further comprising:

communicatively coupling the power management control unit with one or more presence sensors within one or more of the plurality of areas; and

adaptively controlling the power supplied to the plurality of UV light sub-systems based on the power usage data and one or more presence signals received from the one or more presence sensors.

20. The power management method of claim 13 , further comprising:

communicatively coupling the power management control unit with a predictive power usage control unit;

receiving, by the predictive power usage control unit, power management data from the power management control unit; and

refining, by the predictive power usage control unit, the power usage data based on the power management data.

21. A power management system for an aircraft, the power management system comprising:

a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) light sub-systems within an internal cabin of the aircraft;

one or more powered sub-systems that differ from the UV light sub-systems; and

a power management control unit in communication with the plurality of UV light sub-systems and the one or more powered sub-systems,

wherein the power management control unit is configured to adaptively control power supplied to the plurality of UV light sub-systems and the one or more powered sub-systems based on power usage data, wherein the power supplied to one or both of the plurality of UV light sub-systems or the one or more powered sub-systems changes, wherein the power usage data includes: (a) information regarding adaptable power requirements for the plurality of UV light sub-systems, and (b) a prioritized list for powering essential and nonessential sub-systems, wherein the power management control unit is configured to provide a different amount of power to at least two of the plurality of UV light sub-systems at a given time, and wherein the power management control unit adaptively controls the power supplied to the plurality of UV light sub-systems by one or both of reducing the power supplied to a first one of the plurality of UV light sub-systems or increasing the power supplied to a second one of the plurality of UV light sub-systems.

22. A power management system for a vehicle, the power management system comprising:

a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) light sub-systems within an internal cabin of the vehicle, wherein the UV light sub-systems are configured to be provided power based on power usage data, wherein the power usage data includes: information regarding adaptable power requirements for the plurality of UV light sub-systems, and a prioritized list for powering essential and nonessential sub-systems; and

a predictive power usage control unit configured to receive power management data, wherein the predictive power usage control unit is further configured to refine the power usage data based on the power management data.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2022
From: CHILDRESS, JAMIE J.; CALLAHAN, KEVIN S.; KING, TERESA A.
To: THE BOEING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 059497/0166 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63186839 · May 11, 2021
Related Publication 20220362434A1 · Nov 17, 2022
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