Abstract:
A configuration comprising a plurality of individual seat apparatuses which output operation signals from operation switches for flight attendant call and for reading, the first and the second lights for flight attendant call and for reading, first distributors for outputting light control information which corresponds to an operation signal from each of said operation switches, first and second driving apparatuses that drive said first and second lights and second distributors for distributing light signals for flight attendant call or for reading to the driving apparatuses in response to the light control information from said first distributors.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an airborne passenger service system (hereinafter referred to merely as “system”).  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    In a system adopted for a large aircraft or the like, conventionally information about equipments, including information with respect to seat equipment installed in individual seat sides, is integrally controlled by a central controller of the fuselage side through software.  
           [0005]    Operation switches for flight attendant call lights and individual reading lights are provided in the seat equipment.  
           [0006]    These lights are, respectively, installed in a proper location within the fuselage separated from the control switches.  
           [0007]    For example, in cases where an operation switch for reading is operated by a passenger, the operational information is transmitted once to the central controller via wires.  
           [0008]    The central controller reads out seat position information and information of turning on or off the reading light included in this operational information. In the central controller, a necessary process is carried out based on the read information. Then, an instruction signal is transmitted from the central controller via the wires in order to turn on or off the above light.  
           [0009]    In this manner, the operational information needs to be transmitted once to the central controller and, therefore, a considerable amount of time is spent until the light is turned on after the operation switch is operated. Though described in detail below, according to a calculation result by the present inventors, for example, 0.40 seconds are spent.  
           [0010]    Here, the central controller needs to process not only information for the control of the turning on and off of the reading lights but also has to process other information. Therefore, even if operational information from an operation switch is inputted, sometimes the operational information cannot be responded to immediately. In such a case, additional time is spent before software processing is carried out for the operational information so that an instruction signal for turning on is sent to the reading light and this reading light is actually turned on.  
           [0011]    Accordingly, from the point of view of the passenger, the response time becomes long since the operation switch for flight attendant call or for reading is operated before the corresponding light is turned. As a result, there are some cases the passenger feels that the operation of the operation switch has not been conveyed.  
           [0012]    Therefore, there is room for the improvement of the quality of service by increasing the operational touch of these switches.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    Accordingly it is a main object of the present invention to provide a system which can offer a better attendant service for passengers by improving an operational feeling of the switches for flight attendant call and for reading.  
           [0014]    Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the description below.  
           [0015]    A system according to the present invention, comprises a plurality of individual seat apparatuses which comprise operation switches for, at least, flight attendant call and reading and which respectively output operational signals for each of the operation switches, a first light installed in a proper location within an aircraft for flight attendant call, a second light installed in a proper location within the aircraft for reading, a first distributor which is connected to each of said individual seat apparatuses and which outputs operation control information corresponding to an operational signal from each of said operation switches, a first driving apparatus for driving said first light, a second driving apparatus for driving said second light and a second distributor which is connected to said first distributor and which distributes a light signal to said first driving apparatus when said operation control information from said first distributor is for flight attendant call and distributes a light signal to said second driving apparatus when said operation control information is for reading.  
           [0016]    In the above description, the signal with respect to the operation of an operation switch for flight attendant call or for reading is directly sent to said two driving apparatuses via said two distributors without passing through the fuselage side central controller. Thus, the time required to turn on or off the lights after the operation of the operation switches, can be shortened. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    These and other objects as well as advantages of the invention will become clear by the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of seat wires in the system of FIG. 1;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a seat wire pattern diagram in the system of FIG. 3; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of seat wires in the system of FIG. 3. 
     
    
       [0023]    In all of these figures, like components are indicated by the same numerals.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]    A system according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.  
         [0025]    The present system comprises seat equipment  100 , audio/video transmitting equipment  200  and a fuselage side central controller  300 .  
         [0026]    The seat equipment  100  is provided with individual seat apparatuses  10 , first distributors  15 , second distributors  16  and light apparatuses  17 .  
         [0027]    Each individual seat apparatus  10  includes a passenger control unit  11 , a seat electronics  12 , a liquid crystal display (LCD)  13  and a headset  14 .  
         [0028]    The passenger control unit  11  is provided with operation switches for flight attendant call and for reading, an audio/video selection switch and a channel selection switch.  
         [0029]    The seat electronics  12  is connected to the passenger control unit  11  to detect an operational signal from each of the operation switches of the passenger control unit  11  and to transmit the operational signal to the first distributor  15  together with a seat identification signal from the passenger control unit  11 .  
         [0030]    The seat electronics  12  is also arranged for some number of individual seat apparatuses  10  which are in line along the lateral direction with respect to the fuselage axis direction of the aircraft and is connected to the first distributor  15 .  
         [0031]    The first distributor  15  receives operational signals from the seat electronics  12  and, in cases where those operational signals relate to a music request or to a video request, these signals are, together, conveyed to the audio/video transmitting equipment  200  via a cable  29 .  
         [0032]    In the case that those operational signals relate to turning on and off of the lights for flight attendant call or for reading, the first distributor  15  also extracts those operational signals and then outputs light control information to the second distributor  16 .  
         [0033]    There are a plurality of block units each of which is composed of a predetermined number of individual seat apparatuses  10  arranged in the fuselage axis direction.  
         [0034]    Each first distributor  15  is arranged for each of said block units and is connected in series to each other with respect to the audio/video transmitting equipment  200  via the cable  29 .  
         [0035]    The second distributor  16  distributes each of the light signals for flight attendant call and for reading to the light apparatus  17  in accordance with light control information from the first distributor  15 .  
         [0036]    The light apparatus  17  is provided with first and second driving apparatuses  18 ,  20 , a flight attendant call light  19  and an individual reading light  21 .  
         [0037]    These driving apparatuses  18 ,  20  each drives the corresponding lights  19 ,  21  in accordance with the light signals from the second distributor  16 .  
         [0038]    The audio/video transmitting equipment  200  is provided with a distributor/coupler  22 , a central controller  23 , a CD reproduction apparatus  24 , a programmable video service control unit  25 , a video modulation apparatus  26  and a video cassette player  27 . A remote control apparatus  28  is attached to the audio/video transmitting equipment  200 .  
         [0039]    The central controller  23  receives an operational signal from an individual seat apparatus  10  together with the seat identification signal via the first distributor  15  and the distributor/coupler  22  and transmits the signals to the fuselage side central controller  300 .  
         [0040]    The first distributor  15  of the seat equipment  100  and the distributor/coupler  22  of the audio/video transmitting equipment  200  are connected via the cable  29  to each other.  
         [0041]    The controller  300  and the second distributor  16  are not connected. Instead of that, the first distributor  15  and the second distributor  16  are directly connected. Thereby, light control information is outputted to the second distributor  16  from the first distributor  15 .  
         [0042]    The seat electronics  12  are arranged in the lower part of a seat.  
         [0043]    The passenger control unit  11  is mounted on the arm rest of the seat.  
         [0044]    The headset  14  is connected to a headset jack in the passenger control unit  11 .  
         [0045]    The liquid crystal display  13  is provided on the backside  10 A of a front seat and is connected to the seat electronics  12  via a power supply/signal transfer cable (which is not shown.)  
         [0046]    In operation, a flight attendant call switch of the passenger control unit  11  is operated by a passenger. An operational signal thereof passes through the seat electronics  12  from the passenger control unit  11  and is transmitted to the first distributor  15  together with the seat identification signal of the individual seat apparatus  10 .  
         [0047]    In the first distributor  15  operational signals with respect to the turning on or off of the lights for flight attendant call or for reading are extracted from among the operational signals sent from the seat electronics  12  of the individual seat apparatuses  10  in accordance with the operation of the passenger. Light control information corresponding to the extraction is directly inputted to the second distributor  16 . The second distributor  16  responds the input of the light control information and outputs the light signal to the first driving apparatus  18 . The first driving apparatus  18  is driven by the light signal from the second distributor  16 . Thereby, the flight attendant call light  19 , corresponding to the seat, is turned on or off.  
         [0048]    When the switch for the individual reading light  21  is operated by the passenger, the individual reading light  21  corresponding to the seat of the passenger is turned on or off in the same manner as above.  
         [0049]    No operational signals concerning both the flight attendant call light  19  and the individual reading light  21  are sent to the fuselage side central controller  23 .  
         [0050]    Accordingly, it is not necessary to wait for the light control information to be sent to the second distributor  16  from the central controller  23  and that operational signal is directly outputted to the second distributor  16  from the first distributor  15 .  
         [0051]    Thereby, the time is shortened before a desired light is actually turned on or off, after the operation of the turning on or off of those lights  19 ,  21 . As a result, the operational feeling of the switches for turning on or off those lights  19 ,  20  is improved.  
         [0052]    Signal transmission from the first distributor  15  to the central controller  23  and signal transmission from the central controller  23  to the second distributor  16  become unnecessary. Thereby, software management becomes simplified.  
         [0053]    The flight attendant call lights  19  are provided so as to be used in common by several seats while the individual reading lights  21  are provided for individual seats.  
         [0054]    The above description relates to the operation for flight attendant call and for reading. Other operations are described in the following.  
         [0055]    Through the selection operation of audio/video or a channel in the passenger control unit  11 , transmission of the desired music or video image to the audio/video transmitting equipment  200  is requested.  
         [0056]    When a passenger desires to listen to music, an operation of requesting music is carried out in the passenger control unit  11 . A selection of music is also carried out. In addition, a selection of stereo or monaural is also carried out. Such a request signal is detected by the seat electronics  12  and is given to the central controller  23  via the first distributor  15 , the cable  29  and the distributor/coupler  22 , respectively. Thereby, a CD reproduction apparatus  24  is driven by the central controller  23 .  
         [0057]    The central controller  23  acquires seat information, through data processing done together with the fuselage side central controller  300 , of which individual seat apparatus  10  has made a request. Then, an audio signal reproduced by the drive control of the CD reproduction apparatus  24  is outputted, from the seat electronics  12  corresponding to the seat information via the return path, to the headset  14 .  
         [0058]    When a passenger desires to see a video program, an operation of requesting a video image is carried out in the passenger control unit  11 . Furthermore, a program selection operation is carried out. In addition, a selection operation of stereo or monaural or a selection operation from among multiple languages are also carried out.  
         [0059]    Such a request signal is detected by the seat electronics  12  and is given to the control unit  25  via the first distributor  15 , the cable  29  and the distributor/coupler  22 .  
         [0060]    Thereby, the video modulation apparatus  26  and the video cassette player  27  are driven by the control unit  25 .  
         [0061]    The central controller  23  acquires seat information, through data processing done together with the fuselage side central controller  300 , of which the individual seat apparatus  10  has made a request. Then, a video signal and an audio signal reproduced through the drive control by video cassette player  27  are conveyed to the seat electronics  12  which correspond to the seat information via the return path.  
         [0062]    Thereby, a video image is displayed on the liquid crystal display  13  and, at the same time, an audio is outputted from the attached earphone.  
         [0063]    In this manner, a passenger service of video-on-demand is offered.  
         [0064]    Next, the above-described first embodiment and a conventional case are compared with respect to the period of time after the flight attendant call switch or individual reading light switch in the passenger control unit  11  is operated by a passenger and before the operation of the turning on or off of the flight attendant call light  19  or the individual reading light  21  is actually implemented.  
         [0065]    (1) Conventional Case  
         [0066]    Seat electronics data are formed of 4 bytes. One byte is 8 bits and the start bit and the stop bit are 1 bit each. Accordingly, data for one seat are 4×10 bits=40 bits. Those data are transmitted from the seat electronics  12  to the first distributor  15 .  
         [0067]    The bit number of data transmitted from one unit of seat electronics  12  is 40 bits. 16 units of seat electronics  12  are assumed to be connected to one first distributor  15 , the total bit number becomes 40×16=640 bits.  
         [0068]    The transmission speed from the seat electronics  12  to the first distributor  15  is assumed to be 9600 bps. As a result, the period of time required to transmit data from the seat electronics  12  to the first distributor  15  becomes 640/9600         0.07 sec.  
         [0069]    Then, the period of time required to transmit data to the central controller  23  via the cable  29  from the first distributor  15  is 40 bits for the distributor data. This becomes 320 bits when the address is “8,” which is divided by the transmission speed 9600 bps so as to gain 0.03 sec.  
         [0070]    In addition, 0.2 sec is required between the central controller  23  and the fuselage side central controller  300 . 0.1 sec is required from the fuselage side central controller  300  to the second distributor  16 .  
         [0071]    As a result of the above, the total required time is 0.07+0.03+0.2+0.1=0.40 (sec).  
         [0072]    (2) Case of the First Embodiment  
         [0073]    The total bit number from the seat electronics  12  to the first distributor  15  is 640 bits, which is the same as the above. The period of time required for that transmission is 0.07 sec. Then, as for the data transmission from the first distributor  15  to the second distributor  16 , which is directly carried out, the distribution data are 40 bits. That becomes 320 bits when the address is assumed to be 8 and, therefore, the period of time becomes 0.03 sec. As a result, the total required time is 0.07+0.03=0.10 (sec).  
         [0074]    That is to say, in the case of the first embodiment, the required time is shortened to ¼ of that of the prior art. In addition, the data contents are restricted to one port of the first distributor  15  so that the operation time becomes shorter.  
         [0075]    Next, a system according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS.  3  to  5 .  
         [0076]    The individual seat apparatus  10  in the system of the second embodiment is provided with a built-in type passenger operation apparatus  40 . This operation apparatus  40  is formed by integrating a passenger control unit  11 , a liquid crystal display  13  and seat electronics  12 .  
         [0077]    The seat electronics  12  are provided with a headset jack  40   a , to which a headset  14  is connectable.  
         [0078]    The liquid crystal display  13  is formed as a touch panel type.  
         [0079]    The touch operation signal of the liquid crystal display  13  is processed by the passenger control unit  11 . The result of this process is displayed on the liquid crystal display  13 .  
         [0080]    The liquid crystal display  13  comprises, in its touch panel, an audio/video selection switch, a channel selection switch, an attendant call switch and a reading light switch.  
         [0081]    A separation unit  41  is arranged for the individual seat apparatus  10 . Each separation unit  41  for respective individual seat apparatuses  10  are connected to each other in series and is connected to the first distributor  15 .  
         [0082]    The cable  29  includes an alternating current power supply system so that the first distributor  15  also distributes the alternating current power supply system.  
         [0083]    The direct current power supply unit  42  is provided by being distributed from the first distributor  15  and is arranged for the separation unit  41 . A direct current power source is supplied to each individual seat apparatus  10  from the direct current power supply unit  42 .  
         [0084]    A power supply/signal cable  32  is wired between the separation unit  41 , the direct current power supply unit  42  and the seat electronics  12 . The power supply/signal cable  32  has a simple wiring form.  
         [0085]    The operation apparatus  40  and the headset  14  of the individual seat apparatus  10  are equipped in a back side  10 A of a front seat.  
         [0086]    Next, the operation is described.  
         [0087]    The passenger control unit  11  carries out an audio/video selection operation or a channel selection operation. Thereby, transmission of the desired music is requested for the audio/video transmitting equipment  200  or transmission of the desired video image is requested.  
         [0088]    A passenger who desires to listen to music carries out a music request operation or music selection operation and, in addition, stereo/monaural operation on the touch panel of the liquid crystal display  13  which is in the back side part  10 A of the front seat for the corresponding individual seat apparatus  10 .  
         [0089]    Such request signals are detected by the passenger control unit  11  so as to be given to the central controller  23  via the seat electronics  12 , the separation unit  41 , the first distributor  15 , the cable  29  and the distributor/coupler  22 . Thereby, the CD reproduction apparatus  24  is driven.  
         [0090]    A passenger who wishes to see a video program carries out a video request operation, a program selection operation, a stereo/monaural selection operation and a multiple language selection operation on the touch panel of the liquid crystal display  13  in the back side part  10 A of the front seat for the corresponding individual seat apparatus  10 .  
         [0091]    Such request signals are detected by the passenger control unit  11  and are given to the control unit  25  via the seat electronics  12 , the separation unit  41 , the first distributor  15 , the cable  29  and the distributor/coupler  22 .  
         [0092]    This control unit  25  drives the video modulation apparatus  26  and the video cassette player  27 .  
         [0093]    The central controller  23  acquires seat information, through data processing done together with the fuselage side central controller  300 , of which the individual seat apparatus  10  has made a request. Then, the video signal and the audio signal reproduced through the drive control by the video cassette player  27  are conveyed to the seat electronics  12  which correspond to the seat information via the return path so as to be displayed as a video on the liquid crystal display  13  and to be outputted as an audio from the attached earphone.  
         [0094]    Thereby, a passenger service of video-on-demand is offered.  
         [0095]    A passenger who calls a flight attendant or who reads operates a switch for a flight attendant call or for reading on the touch panel of the liquid crystal display  13 .  
         [0096]    The direct current power supply unit  42  converts the alternating current power received from the first distributor  15  into direct current power. Thereby, a direct current power source is supplied to a personal computer or to a game device and, as a result, a variety of passenger services are offered.  
         [0097]    As described above, a touch panel of an individual seat apparatus  10 , a liquid crystal display  13  and a headset  14  are arranged in the back side part  10 A of the front seat so that a passenger control unit  11  and seat electronics  12  are made to be a built-in type passenger operation apparatus  40  in a block unit which is arranged in the front seat.  
         [0098]    Thereby, no wires are provided to join front seats to seats in back. The wire length becomes shorter in the individual seat apparatus  10 . The wires are collected together. As a result, the entire wiring form is simplified.  
         [0099]    As a result, the space around a seat can be broadened so as to relieve the crowded feeling of the passenger. Passenger comfort is also improved.  
         [0100]    In addition, the working environment for the first wiring construction or the maintenance is improved. Labor costs are also reduced.  
         [0101]    While there has been described what is at present considered to be preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.