Aircraft galley insert with RFID tag for data logging, configuring and commissioning

A data transfer system is disclosed for a galley insert used in an aircraft, which includes an electronic interface having an integrated antenna configured to utilize a wireless communication protocol to add data relating to insert status into a message reported to a maintenance engineer by way of a wireless reader.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The subject invention is directed to a galley insert, and more particularly, to an oven insert for use in an aircraft galley that employs an RFID tag for data logging, as well as for configuring and commissioning the insert upon installation on the aircraft.

2. Description of Related Art

Hot meals on board passenger aircraft are typically prepared in oven inserts installed in the galleys of the aircraft. These oven inserts can use steam, convection or induction for cooking meals. Currently, ovens installed in the galley of an aircraft include an RFID tag or chip that stores static historical data programmed during production or repair, which can be reported to a maintenance engineer when the chip is activated by an RFID scanner or reader.

However, current RFID tags are not configured to store log data, such as usage logs and error logs, which would be useful to maintenance engineers. It would be beneficial therefore, to replace the current RFID tags used in galley inserts with a data transfer system that can log usage and error data and report that data to maintenance engineers by way of current RFID readers or scanners.

It would also be beneficial to provide a data transfer system for galley inserts that can be used to configure and commission the insert upon installation in an aircraft, through a secure wireless interface.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject invention is directed to a new and useful data transfer system for a galley insert used in an aircraft. The system includes an electronic interface having an integrated antenna configured to utilize a wireless communication protocol to add data relating to insert status into a message reported to a maintenance engineer by way of a wireless reader or scanner.

It is envisioned that data transfer system of the subject invention would be particularly useful when deployed in an oven insert. However those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the data transfer system of the subject invention can be utilized in a variety of different aircraft galley inserts used in food and beverage preparation, including for example, water heaters, beverage chillers, espresso machines and other similar appliances.

Preferably, the electronic interface is configured as a Human Machine Interface (HMI) or more generally as control electronics. The antenna of the data transfer system is embedded in a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), and the PCB is located in a housing portion of the galley insert, for example, in a front upper housing portion of the insert. The wireless communication protocol is a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) protocol, for example, a Near-Field Communication (NFC) protocol, which is essentially a specialized subset or branch of the RFID protocol. It is envisioned that the data added to the message is at least one of usage log data and error log data.

In addition, the antenna is configured to communicate with a Personal Electronic Device (PED), which is adapted to download aircraft configuration information from a database to commission the insert upon installation in the aircraft and/or to update oven configuration information such as settings or the like after installation. The PED can also be adapted and configured to send error reports to facilitate oven maintenance and/or repair. The antenna is also configured to support communication between the over insert and an RFID reader during production and/or maintenance.

These and other features of the galley insert of the subject invention will become more readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art to which the subject invention appertains from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the following brief description of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or elements of the subject invention, there is illustrated inFIG.1an aircraft galley insert in the form of an oven10for use in an aircraft, which employs the new and useful data transfer system of the subject invention. The data transfer system of the subject invention includes an electronic interface20. The electronic interface20can be in the form of a Human Machine Interface (HMI) or more generally as an electronic control module.

The electronic interface20includes an integrated antenna30embedded in a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)40, which is best seen inFIG.2. Alternatively, antenna30could be comprised of separate components that are installed on the PCB40. As shown inFIG.1, the PCB40is located in a front housing portion50of the oven insert10. However, those skilled the art will readily appreciate that the PCB40could be located elsewhere in the oven insert10.

The antenna30is configured to utilize a wireless communication protocol to add dynamic log data relating to insert status into a message reported to a maintenance engineer by way of a handheld or otherwise portable wireless reader or scanner60, as illustrated schematically inFIG.3.

It is envisioned that the dynamic log data added to the message could consist of oven usage data and/or error data. More particularly, the HMI would compose a tag message that would include usage log data and/or error log data. Examples of oven usage log data includes, but is not limited to, time in use, a number of cooking cycles, a number of operating hours and frequency of activation. Examples of error log data includes, but is not limited to, over temperature occurrences, over current occurrences, motor over speed occurrences and power loss occurrences.

The wireless communication protocol utilized by the electronic interface20to send log data through the embedded antenna30is a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) protocol, and in particular, a Near-Field Communication (NFC) protocol. Thus, the antenna30functions as a normally passive, RFID tag by way of the HMI.

RFID is the process by which items are uniquely identified using radio waves, and NFC is a specialized subset within the family of RFID technology. Specifically, NFC is a branch of High-Frequency RFID, and both operate at the 13.56 MHz frequency. NFC is designed to be a secure form of data exchange, and an RFID or NFC device is capable of being both a reader and a tag.

RFID tags or transponders are small devices that utilize low-power radio waves to receive, store, and transmit data to nearby readers. They can be passive or active devices. Here, the device is active. An RFID reader or scanner (e.g., the handheld reader60) is a radio frequency transmitter and receiver that can read and write information to an RFID tag. RFID readers can be fixed or portable. Here, the reader60is preferably a handheld portable device.

In accordance with the subject invention, the antenna30of PCB40is configured to communicate with a Personal Electronic Device (PED), such as a properly enabled smartphone or tablet70, as illustrated inFIG.3. In so doing, the PED70can securely download aircraft specific configuration information from a central database that could be used to commission the oven insert10upon installation in a particular aircraft type.

In use, the oven insert10would be placed into a commissioning state, where it would await configuration settings. This could be done manually or it could occur automatically. In this state, the NFC would be activated and the configuration information would be securely downloaded to the PED70from a remote centralized database or from a database located on the aircraft itself. The PED70would then make a wireless connection with the oven insert10by way of the antenna30to securely configure the oven insert10to the specific aircraft. Once the oven insert10has been configured, a status LED on the front panel of the insert oven could be illuminated to provide authentication for security purposes.

This data transfer system could also be used as a way of updating oven configuration information such as settings or the like after installation in the galley of the aircraft. The antenna30could also be configured to support communication between the over insert and an RFID reader during production and/or maintenance. The PED70can also be adapted or otherwise programmed to send error reports to a maintenance engineer or to a central repair shop to facilitate or otherwise schedule oven maintenance and/or repair.

While the subject disclosure has been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure.

For example, while the data transfer system of the subject invention is shown and described with respect to an oven insert, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the data transfer system of the subject invention can be utilized in a variety of different aircraft galley inserts used in food and beverage preparation, including for example, water heaters, beverage chillers, espresso machines and other similar appliances.