Rotary support apparatus

A rotary support apparatus is provided that includes a rotation mechanism, a support mechanism, an object detector and a controller. The rotation mechanism is configured to rotatably support a supported body between a first position and a second position. The support mechanism is configured to support the supported body with at least a two stage support force at the first position. The object detector is configured to detect a person or an object. The controller is configured to control the support mechanism so as to switch the support force based on the results detected by the object detector.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-135943, filed on Jun. 20, 2011 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-115075, filed on May 18, 2012. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Applications No. 2011-135943 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-115075 are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The technology disclosed herein relates to a system for opening and closing a display device that is installed, for example, in an aircraft, a train, or any other movable vehicle and opens and closes between a storage position and a viewing position.

2. Background Information

In recent years, moving vehicles, and particularly aircraft, have been provided with display devices that are installed on the back side of passenger seat or above passenger seats, and that display movies or other such content and the current position or other such flight information.

A display device installed on the back side of passenger seat is an individual-use display device, whereas a display device installed above the passenger seats is a display device used by two or more passengers able to view the screen of the display device.

FIG. 1is a simplified diagram of the typical layout of display devices in an aircraft. InFIG. 1, when not in use, a display device420of the type that is installed above passenger seats410is stored at a storage position421near a ceiling440in order to allow enough space above the passenger seats410for the safety of passengers430. When in use, the device opens to its viewing position422.

A liquid crystal display is commonly used for the above-mentioned display device. Because of the viewing angle characteristics of a liquid crystal display, the viewing position422must be maintained at an angle of at least 90 degrees from the storage position421. A method in which a clutch, a brake, or another such support mechanism is installed at the driveshaft has been proposed in order to support the display device at the viewing position422even when it is subjected to vibration from the moving vehicle (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2007-161041).

Also, a method has been proposed in which a display device is closed to its storage position for the safety of passengers when a force over a threshold should be exerted due to collision by a person against the back side (that is, the opposite side from the screen) of the display device located in its viewing position (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application H5-097098).

Furthermore, a method has been proposed in which the display device is closed to its storage position in order to reduce the likelihood that a person will bump into the display device each time the proximity to an object is detected by a sensor (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2008-13063).

SUMMARY

However, with the method in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2007-161041, only vibration from the moving vehicle itself is detected, and impact against the display device is not detected. Accordingly, even though normal operation can be maintained under vibration, there is nothing to reduce the likelihood that a person will bump into the display device.

Also, with the method in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application H5-097098, if the threshold is lowered in order to take collision by a person into account, there is the risk that vibration from the moving vehicle will end up stowing away the display device. On the other hand, if the threshold is raised so that the device will not be stowed away just by vibration from the moving vehicle, the display device will end up not being stowed away even under a heavy impact caused by collision with a person.

Also, with the method in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2008-13063, the display device is sometimes stowed away even when there is no risk of collision by a person, so it ends up being unnecessarily stowed away more often.

In view of this, one object of the technology disclosed herein is to provide a rotary support apparatus with which a display device can be held in its viewing position against vibration of a moving vehicle, and impact force on a person can be reduced when the person bumps into the device.

The rotary support apparatus disclosed herein includes a rotation mechanism, a support mechanism, an object detector and a controller. The rotation mechanism is configured to rotatably support a supported body between a first position and a second position. The supported body is provided on a movable vehicle. The support mechanism is configured to support the supported body with at least a two stage support force at the first position. The object detector is disposed near the supported body. The object detector is configured to detect a person or an object. The controller is configured to control the support mechanism so as to switch the support force based on the results detected by the object detector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

1. Configuration of Rotary Support Apparatus

FIG. 2is a block diagram of the configuration of a display device opening and closing system to which the rotary support apparatus pertaining to an embodiment has been applied.FIG. 3is a side view illustrating the opening and closing of a display device.FIG. 4is a flowchart of the operation of a display device. The display device (one example of “a supported body”) shown inFIG. 3is installed above the passenger seats inside an aircraft (one example of “a moving vehicle”) as with the display device shown inFIG. 1.

The supported body is not limited to being a display device, nor is the moving vehicle limited to being an aircraft.

InFIGS. 2 and 3, a rotation mechanism110performs an opening and closing (that is, rotating) of a display device120. The rotation mechanism110is made up of a rotary shaft, a motor, and a spring. The rotary shaft is fixed to one end of the display device120, and supports the display device120. The motor imparts rotational force to the rotary shaft so that the display device120opens from its storage position121(one example of “a second position”) to its viewing position122(one example of “a first position”). The spring imparts a biasing force to the rotary shaft so that the display device120closes from its viewing position122to its storage position121. The rotational force of the motor is greater than the biasing force of the spring. The rotational force of the motor is stopped at the point when the display device120has rotated from its storage position121to its viewing position122.

The storage position121is the position at which the display device120is closest to a ceiling190, or the position at which the display device120is stowed inside the ceiling190. The viewing position122is the position at which passengers can view the screen of the display device120. The viewing position122may be at least 90 degrees away from the storage position121around the rotary shaft.

The display device120is rotated by the rotation mechanism110between the storage position121and the viewing position122. When rotating by the rotation mechanism110from the storage position121to the viewing position122, the display device120is supported by a display support mechanism130. As shown inFIG. 3, rotation of the display device120beyond the viewing position122is restricted by a blocking portion195provided to the ceiling190.

The display support mechanism130(one example of “a support mechanism”) supports the display device120at the viewing position122. A one-way clutch, a powder clutch, or the like can be used as the display support mechanism130. The display support mechanism130can support the display device120with two stages (stronger and weaker) of support force according the voltage supplied from a power supply circuit140. The stronger support force should be enough to hold the display device120so that it does not leave the viewing position122under vibration from the aircraft. This stronger support force can be set as dictated by the size and weight of the display device120, the amount of vibration from the aircraft, and so forth. Meanwhile, the weaker support force should be low enough that there will be little impact force on a person if the person should bump into the display device120.

The power supply circuit140is the power supply for the display device120. A variable voltage circuit150can switch the voltage supplied from the power supply circuit140to the display support mechanism130between at least two stages (higher and lower). The higher voltage is used to generate the stronger support force in the display support mechanism130, while the lower voltage is used to generate the weaker support force in the display support mechanism130.

An object detection sensor160(an example of an object detector) is attached near the display device120on the ceiling190. The object detection sensor160uses infrared rays to detect that an object has moved closer from the rear side of the display device120(that is, the back side of the screen). Upon detecting an object, the object detection sensor160notifies a control device180to that effect.

The object detection sensor160is not limited to infrared ray sensor, and may be a temperature sensor that detects a person's body temperature, or an image-identifying machine using a camera, for example.

The place where the object detection sensor160is attached may be near the display device120and where proximity to a person can be detected, such as on a seat.

A display position detection mechanism170(an example of a position detection mechanism) is attached to the display device120, and detects the opening and closing positions of the display device120. More specifically, when the display device120reaches the viewing position122, the display position detection mechanism170notifies the control device180to that effect. Also, when the display device120has rotated from the viewing position122toward the storage position121by at least a specific amount, the display position detection mechanism170notifies the control device180to that effect.

The control device180(one example of “a controller”) controls the supply of power to the rotation mechanism110and the display support mechanism130, and sends video to the display device120. When the control device180sends video to the display device120, the control device180opens the display device120from its storage position121toward its viewing position122by supplying power from the power supply circuit140to the rotation mechanism110. Upon acquiring from the display position detection mechanism170a notification to the effect that the display device120has reached the viewing position122, the control device180stops the supply of power from the power supply circuit140to the rotation mechanism110, and supplies power from the power supply circuit140to the display support mechanism130. Upon acquiring from the object detection sensor160a notification to the effect that an object has been detected, the control device180controls the variable voltage circuit150so as to supply the lower voltage to the display support mechanism130. On the other hand, as long as no notification is acquired from the object detection sensor160to the effect that an object has been detected, the control device180controls the variable voltage circuit150so as to supply the higher voltage to the display support mechanism130. Also, upon acquiring from the display position detection mechanism170a notification to the effect that the display device120has rotated from the viewing position122toward the storage position121by at least a specific amount, the control device180stops the supply of power to the display support mechanism130and closes the display device120under the biasing force of the spring.

The display support mechanism130exerts support force in the closing direction of the display device120, but does not exert any support force in the opening direction.

2. Operation of Rotary Support Apparatus

The operation of the rotary support apparatus will be described through reference to the flowchart inFIG. 4.

When video is started on the display device120for the passengers, a command to supply voltage to the rotation mechanism110is outputted from the control device180to the power supply circuit140. Consequently, the display device120stowed in the storage position121opens up (S1).

When the display position detection mechanism170detects that the display device120has reached the viewing position122, a command to stop the supply of voltage to the rotation mechanism110is outputted from the control device180to the power supply circuit140. Consequently, the supply of voltage from the power supply circuit140to the rotation mechanism110is cut off. At this point, the control device180reads the output of the object detection sensor160attached to the ceiling190to which the display device120is fixed, and the control device180selects the voltage value corresponding to the output of the object detection sensor160(S2). The control device180outputs a command to the variable voltage circuit150so that the selected voltage value will be supplied. Consequently, the variable voltage circuit150outputs the supplied voltage to the display support mechanism130, and the display support mechanism130supports the display device120at the viewing position122at a support force based on the supplied voltage (S3).

Next, video is provided to the passengers. After this, the control device180reads the output of the object detection sensor160and determines whether or not the object detection sensor160has detected an object near the display device120(S4). If no obstruction is detected (No in S4), the control device180outputs to the variable voltage circuit150a command to supply the higher voltage to the display support mechanism130in order to support the display device120at the viewing position122(S5).

At the command from the control device180, the higher voltage is supplied from the variable voltage circuit150to the display support mechanism130, and the stronger support force is generated at the display support mechanism130. That is, between the two stages of support forces, the stronger support force stage is selected.

On the other hand, if an obstruction is detected near the display device120(Yes in S4), the control device180outputs to the variable voltage circuit150a command to supply the lower voltage to the display support mechanism130in order to cushion the impact if the object hits the display device120(S6).

At a command from the control device180, the lower voltage is supplied from the variable voltage circuit150to the display support mechanism130, and the weaker support force is generated at the display support mechanism130. That is, between the two stages of support forces, a switch is made to the lower support force stage.

The control device180then determines whether or not the display device120has been rotated by at least a specific amount on the basis of the output of the display position detection mechanism170attached to the display device120(S7). If it has been rotated by at least the specific amount (Yes in S7), the control device180decides that a person or object has bumped into the display device120, and outputs a command to the power supply circuit140to stop the supply of voltage to the display support mechanism130. Consequently, the supply of voltage from the power supply circuit140to the display support mechanism130is cut off, and the display device120is closed to its storage position121by the biasing force of the spring of the rotation mechanism110(S8).

On the other hand, if it has not been rotated by at least the specific amount (No in S7), a command is outputted to the power supply circuit140to continue supplying voltage to the display support mechanism130. Consequently, the supply of power from the power supply circuit140to the display support mechanism130is maintained, and the voltage selected in S5or S6is supplied to the display support mechanism130.

However, the display device120does not necessarily have to be closed to its storage position121. Even if the display device120is put back in its viewing position122after the open and closed positions of the display device120have moved during impact, injury can be reduced because of the lower support force of the display device120.

3. Action and Effects

As discussed above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the rotary support apparatus comprises the display support mechanism130that supports the display device120at the viewing position122, the object detection sensor160that is attached near the display device120, the display position detection mechanism170that is fixed to the display device120, the control device180that determines the state of the display device120based on the output of the object detection sensor160and the output of the display position detection mechanism170, and the variable voltage circuit150that can vary the support force of the display support mechanism130according to the determination result of the control device180.

Therefore, by detecting a person or object near the display device120, the support force of the display device120can be lowered so that the display device120will be securely supported under vibration from the moving vehicle if no object is detected, and there will be no problem if the object bumps into the display device if an object is detected.

For example, when there is a large amount of vibration from the moving vehicle, the passengers usually do not get out of their seats very often, and pay closer attention to their surroundings. Therefore, there is less risk of accidentally bumping into the open display device, and there is no particular problem with increasing the support force of the display device.

On the other hand, when there is little vibration from the moving vehicle, the passengers get up from the seats more often and are more careless. Therefore, there is a greater likelihood of bumping into an open display device, but injury caused by collision can be reduced by reducing the support force of the display device. Also, the display device will be less susceptible to damage.

Furthermore, when the display device120has been rotated by more than the specific amount due to a force exerted from the rear on the display device120, the display device can be closed to its storage position for the sake of safety.

Other Embodiments

(A) In the above embodiment, the support force at the viewing position of the display device was switched in two stages, but the number of stages may be increased. In this case, the support force can be controlled more precisely, such as decreasing it in stages as a passenger moves closer to the display. More specifically, the object detection sensor160detects the distance between the object and the display device120, and the control device180outputs a command to the variable voltage circuit150to supply lower voltage as the distance decreases.

(B) Although not particularly touched upon in the above embodiment, the rotation mechanism110may have an arm that links the rotary shaft with the display device120. In this case, the open and closed positions of the display device120can be fine-tuned by changing the shape or length of the arm.

(C) In the above embodiment, the object detection sensor160could be attached anywhere near the display device120, but this is not the only option. The object detection sensor160may instead be attached to the display device120itself. In this case, the object detection sensor160can accurately detect the distance between the object and the display device120.

General Interpretation of Terms

The term “configured” as used herein to describe a component, section or part of a device or apparatus includes hardware and/or software that is constructed and/or programmed to carry out the desired function.