Abstract:
An arrangement for transmitting data and/or power between a chassis and a seat that is movably disposed on said chassis by means of a guide rail. Several primary iron half-cores that support at least one primary winding are arranged in a fixed manner within the guide rail while at least one secondary iron half-core comprising at least one secondary winding is placed on the seat. The primary half-cores are disposed within the guide rail in such a way that at least one primary and one secondary iron half-core are positioned relative to each other so as to transmit data and/or power.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/286,496, filed Dec. 15, 2009 and German Patent Application No. 10 2009 054 700.2, filed Dec. 125, 2009, the entire disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a system, to an aircraft or spacecraft, and to a method for measuring a current position of a second vehicle part relative to a first vehicle part. 
         [0003]    Although they can be applied to any vehicles, the present invention and the problem on which it is based will be described in greater detail in relation to seats for passengers in an aircraft. 
         [0004]    According to a solution known internally to the applicant, seats for passengers are mounted on a rail system in the cabin of an aircraft. The rails of the rail system usually comprise a 2.54 cm grid in the longitudinal direction of the cabin, which grid can be brought into engagement with locking means of the seats so as to lock the seats in different positions along the rails. It is necessary to be able to position the seats in this flexible manner in order to be able to meet different customer requirements. 
         [0005]    However, a change in the position of the seats—for example as a result of a change in the number of rows of seats based on a customer&#39;s requirements—requires a change in the position of various means which are associated with a respective seat at the same time. Examples of means of this type include a seat number display, a reading lighting system and a pax call button. 
         [0006]    At present, the position of the means which are associated with the seats is usually changed entirely manually, and this is time-consuming and expensive. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The object of the present invention is to overcome or at least reduce the above-mentioned drawbacks. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, a system, in particular for an aircraft or spacecraft, comprising the following is provided: a first vehicle part, which comprises one or more primary windings; a second vehicle part, which comprises one or more secondary windings for a magnetic interaction with the one or more primary windings and can be arranged in various positions relative to the first vehicle part; an energy supply device, which is set up so as to charge the one or more primary windings with a voltage or current in a first mode of the system; a measuring means, which is set up so as to measure a resulting current flowing through the one or more primary windings or a resulting voltage at the one or more primary windings; and an evaluation means, which determines a current position of the second vehicle part relative to the first vehicle part as a function of the resulting current or voltage. 
         [0009]    Furthermore, an aircraft or spacecraft comprising the system according to the invention is provided. 
         [0010]    Furthermore, a method for measuring a current position of a second vehicle part relative to a first vehicle part, in particular for an aircraft or spacecraft, comprising the following steps is provided: arranging the second vehicle part, which comprises one or more secondary windings, adjacent to the first vehicle part, which comprises one or more primary windings, in such a way that at least one secondary winding magnetically interacts with at least one primary winding; charging the one or more primary windings with a voltage or current; measuring a resulting current flowing through the one or more primary windings or a resulting voltage at the one or more primary windings; and determining the current position of the second vehicle part relative to the first vehicle part as a function of the resulting current or voltage. 
         [0011]    The idea behind the invention is to provide automatic measurement of the position of the second vehicle part relative to the first vehicle part. Thus, for example, in the aircraft described at the outset the position of a seat relative to the cabin floor or the rail system can be detected automatically. This makes it possible for example to display the seat number at the new current position of the seat automatically. For this purpose, a plurality of seat number displays in the form of LCD screens may for example be arranged along the cabin at small intervals. The seat number display closest to the new current position of the seat can then be switched to display the seat number of the seat. 
         [0012]    The system according to the invention, the aircraft or spacecraft according to the invention and/or the method according to the invention further provide the basis for checking whether the current position of a seat also corresponds to the target position thereof, for example after assembling the seats mentioned at the outset on the rail system. 
         [0013]    Accordingly, the system according to the invention, the aircraft or spacecraft according to the invention and/or the method according to the invention are suitable for reducing manual work and thus costs. 
         [0014]    Advantageous developments of the invention are provided in the dependent claims. 
         [0015]    In a preferred development of the system according to the invention, the second vehicle part comprises a load which in a second mode of the system is connected to the one or more secondary windings, the energy supply device or a further energy supply device being set up so as to supply energy to the one or more primary windings so as to supply the load with energy by means of the one or more primary secondary windings. Accordingly, the primary and secondary windings take on a dual function. On the one hand, they make it possible to measure the current position of the second vehicle part. On the other hand, they provide transmission of energy. Overall, this can lead to a saving on components. 
         [0016]    In a further preferred development of the system according to the invention, the evaluation means supplies the current position of the second vehicle part to an energy management means, which is set up so as to control the energy supply device or the further energy supply device in such a way that it only supplies energy to one or more primary windings which overlap at least in part with the secondary winding or windings. Energy can only be transmitted efficiently in places where the primary and secondary windings overlap completely or in part. Supplying energy to primary windings which do not interact with any of the secondary windings would lead to unnecessary magnetic radiation, which is prevented by this development. 
         [0017]    In a further preferred development of the system according to the invention, the second vehicle part comprises a data input and/or data output device, which in the second and/or a third mode of the system is connected to the one or more secondary windings. Preferably, the one or more primary windings are connected to a computer means, the computer means being set up so as to supply data to the data input and/or data output device by means of the one or more primary and secondary windings and/or to receive data from the data input and/or data output device by means of the one or more primary and secondary windings. The data transmission by means of the primary and secondary windings can thus be provided in addition or as an alternative to the above-mentioned transmission of energy. The primary and secondary windings thus take on a dual or triple function, and this can lead to a saving on components. 
         [0018]    Naturally, the evaluation means can also supply the current position of the second vehicle part to a data management means, which is set up so as to control the computer means in such a way that it only supplies the data to one or more primary windings which overlap with the secondary winding or windings. In this way, reliable, energy-efficient data transmission can be provided. 
         [0019]    In a further preferred development of the system according to the invention, the measuring means is set up so as to measure the resulting current or voltage individually at each of the plurality of primary windings. In this way, it can be established in a simple manner which of the primary windings is magnetically affected by one or more of the secondary windings. 
         [0020]    In a further preferred development of the system according to the invention, the evaluation means is set up so as to determine, as a function of the resulting current or voltage, the extent to which a primary winding overlaps with a secondary winding. Preferably, the evaluation means takes this overlap into account in the determination of the current position of the second vehicle part. This makes the determination of the current position more precise. 
         [0021]    In a further preferred development of the system according to the invention, the evaluation means supplies the current position of the second vehicle part to a comparison means. This comparison means preferably compares the current position with a target position, and outputs an error message if the current position is different from the target position. The error message can subsequently be used to correct the current position of the second vehicle part. 
         [0022]    In a further preferred development of the aircraft or spacecraft according to the invention, the computer means is formed as a cabin management system and/or in-flight entertainment system of the aircraft or spacecraft. In the present context, a “cabin management system” should be understood to mean a system which controls virtually all of the devices in the cabin, for example an air-conditioning system, a cabin illumination system or the processing of pax calls. A cabin management system by the applicant is also known as a “CIDS” (cabin intercommunication data system). In-flight entertainment systems are used to supply entertainment programmes, for example films or computer games, to the passengers. 
         [0023]    By connecting the cabin management system and/or the in-flight entertainment system according to this development to the data input and/or data output device of the second vehicle part, cabin-related functions, in particular pax calls, can be controlled by means of the data input and/or data output device, for example, or for example films can be displayed on said device. 
         [0024]    In a further preferred development of the aircraft or spacecraft according to the invention, the evaluation means supplies the current position of the second vehicle part to a cabin management system of the aircraft or spacecraft. The cabin management system subsequently activates passenger-related devices which are associated with the current position. In the present context, “activation” preferably means that the device is switched on or off. For example, a seat number display in the region of the new current position of the seat is typically switched on. However, in the present context, “activation” preferably also means that the passenger can start to operate the device. For example, a reading lighting system at the old current position is permanently switched off, whilst a reading lighting system at the new current position is connected, in such a way that the passenger can switch it on and off. 
         [0025]    In a further preferred development of the aircraft or spacecraft according to the invention, the passenger-related devices are formed as passenger service units. Preferably, for example, more passenger service units (PSUs) than seats are provided. For example, the cabin management system subsequently activates the passenger service units which are closest to the new current position of a respective seat. This makes it unnecessary to reposition passenger service units. In the present context, a “passenger service unit” should be understood to mean a module which performs a number of passenger-related functions, for example providing reading light and acoustic and/or visual information. 
         [0026]    In a further preferred development of the aircraft or spacecraft according to the invention, the comparison means is a component of a cabin management system of the aircraft or spacecraft. For example, in this way an error message which is generated by the comparison means can be displayed in a simple manner by a display means, for example by means of a flight attendant data input and output device (flight attendant panel) which a cabin management system already has as standard. 
         [0027]    In a further preferred development of the aircraft or spacecraft according to the invention, the first vehicle part is formed as a seat and the second vehicle part is formed as a seat rail or a cabin floor of the aircraft or spacecraft. 
         [0028]    In a further preferred development of the method according to the invention, energy and/or data are transmitted to a load or a data input and/or data output device of the second vehicle part by means of the one or more primary and secondary windings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]    The invention is explained in greater detail in the following by way of embodiments, with reference to the appended figures of the drawings, in which: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  shows schematically a system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a rail system from  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  shows different measurement values for the primary windings P 1 , P 2  and P 3  from  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    In the figures, like or functionally equivalent components are denoted by like reference numerals, unless stated otherwise. 
         [0034]    In  FIG. 1 , electrical lines are shown as solid lines. Intersections of the electrical lines are shown as solid circles. 
         [0035]      FIG. 1  shows a system  1  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system  1  is a component of an aircraft  2  (not shown in greater detail). 
         [0036]    The system  1  comprises a rail system  3 , which is arranged for example in the region of the cabin floor of the aircraft  2 . The rail system  3  comprises a plurality of primary windings P 1  to PN, which are arranged at regular intervals from one another along the longitudinal axis X of the aircraft  2 . This is also shown in  FIG. 2 , which is a perspective view of the rail system  3  from  FIG. 1 . 
         [0037]    As can be seen from  FIG. 2 , the rail system  3  comprises for example two rails  4 . The rails  4  are each provided with a grid  5  for cooperating with locking means (not shown in greater detail) of seats  6  of the aircraft  2 , only one seat  6  being shown by way of example in  FIG. 1 . The grids  5  together with the locking means of the seats  6  make it possible to position said seats flexibly along the longitudinal axis X. 
         [0038]    The seats  6  comprise secondary windings S 1 -SM. For example, secondary windings S 1 , S 2  and S 3  can be assigned to a seat  6 . For simplicity, however, only one secondary winding S 1  is assigned to the seat  6  in the present embodiment. The seat  6  is rigidly connected to the secondary winding S 1 . That is to say, when the seat  6  is moved along the grid  5  for repositioning thereof, the secondary winding S 1  moves therewith. 
         [0039]    The seat  6  further comprises a data input and output device in the form of a touchscreen  7 . The touchscreen  7  is connected to an in-flight entertainment system  8  of the aircraft  2 . Films for example can thus be displayed and also searched for on the touchscreen  7 , for example by pressing on the touchscreen  7 . 
         [0040]    The seat  6  further comprises a data input and output device in the form of a pax button  11 . The pax button  11  is connected to a cabin management system  12 . 
         [0041]    The pax button  11  and the touchscreen  7  are further connected to an energy supply device  13 . The touchscreen  7  and the pax button  11  represent electrical energy loads. 
         [0042]    A plurality of passenger supply units  15 ,  15 ′ are arranged above the seat  6 , for example in a supply duct  14  of the aircraft  2 . The passenger service units  15 ,  15 ′ are connected to the cabin management system  12  so as to be controlled. 
         [0043]    Each of the primary windings P 1 -PN is connected to a measuring means  16 . The measuring means  16  is in turn connected to an evaluation means  17 . The primary windings P 1 -PN are further connected to the energy supply device  13 , which is set up so as to apply an alternating voltage thereto. 
         [0044]    The measuring means  16  and the evaluation means  17  can together form a control unit  21 , which is connected to the cabin management system  12 . Alternatively, the evaluation unit  17  and/or the measuring means  16  can also be components of the cabin management system  12 , for example. 
         [0045]    Following on from the above substantially constructional description of the system  1  or aircraft  2 , in the following the operation thereof will be explained in greater detail. 
         [0046]    To measure a current position of the seat  6 , the energy supply device  13  charges each of the primary windings P 1 -PN with a defined voltage. Because the secondary winding S 1  overlaps in part with the primary windings P 1  and P 3  and the secondary winding S 1  overlaps completely with the primary winding P 2 , the primary windings P 1 , P 2  and P 3  have a different impedance from the exposed primary windings, for example P 4  and P 5 . This in turn leads to the current flow through the primary windings P 1 , P 2  and P 3  differing from that through the exposed primary windings, for example P 4  and P 5 . The resulting currents I 1 , I 2  and I 3  for the respective primary windings P 1 , P 2  and P 3  are shown schematically in  FIG. 3 . The diagrams below the primary windings P 1 , P 2  and P 3  show the current strengths  1  through the primary windings P 1 , P 2  and P 3  for a position X of the secondary element S 1  relative to the respective primary windings P 1 , P 2  and P 3 . 
         [0047]    The measuring means  16  measures the resulting currents I 1  to IN. By means of the currents I 1  to IN, the evaluation means  17  determines the position X of the secondary windings S 1  and thus of the seat  6  relative to the primary windings P 1 -PN and thus relative to the rail system  3 . In particular, the evaluation means  17  should be set up so as to recognise that when the current is between a first threshold IS 1  and a second threshold  1 S 2 , there is a complete overlap between a secondary winding S 1 -SM and a primary winding P 1 -PN, as is illustrated by way of example for the primary winding P 2  in  FIG. 3 . Further, the evaluation means  17  should be set up so as to establish, as a function of the resulting current I, to what extent a primary winding overlaps with a secondary winding, as is shown in  FIG. 3  for the primary windings P 1  and P 3 . By means of the currents I 1 , I 2  and I 3 , the evaluation means  17  accordingly determines the exact position of the seat  6  along the longitudinal axis X relative to the rail system  3 . 
         [0048]    The evaluation means  17  preferably passes the current position of the seats  6  on to the cabin management system  12 , which subsequently activates the passenger service units  15  which are assigned to the current position of a respective seat  6 . In the present embodiment, this is the passenger service unit  15 ′, since this is easiest to access for a passenger sitting on the seat  6 . Once a passenger service unit  15 ′ has been activated, it can be operated by the passenger; for example, after the activation, reading lamps thereof can be switched on and off. Further, the seat number of the seat  6 , which is determined by the cabin management system  12  on the basis of the current positions of all of the seats  6  in the cabin, can be displayed on a screen (not shown) of the passenger service unit  15 ′. 
         [0049]    The current position of the seat  6  is determined, as described above, in a first mode of the system  1 . 
         [0050]    In a second mode of the system  2 , the energy supply device  13  supplies energy for operating the touchscreen  7  and the pax button  11  by means of the primary windings P 1 , P 2  and P 3  and the secondary winding S 1 . In this case, an energy management means  18  connected to the energy supply device  13  is set up so as to control the energy supply device  13  in such a way that it only provides energy to the primary windings P 1 , P 2  and P 3 , and not to the exposed, that is to say non-overlapped, primary windings, for example the primary windings P 4  and P 5 . For this purpose, the energy management unit  18  may be in a data connection with the measuring means  16  and/or the evaluation means  17 . 
         [0051]    Preferably, however, the energy from the energy supply device  13  is only provided to the primary winding P 2 , since this winding overlaps completely with the secondary winding S 1 , and highly efficient energy transfer can therefore be provided. The energy management means  18  is set up so as to control the energy supply device  13  accordingly. 
         [0052]    In the second mode or in a third mode of the system  1 , entertainment data from the in-flight entertainment system  8  may be supplied to the touchscreen  7  by means of the primary windings P 1 , P 2  and P 3  and the secondary winding S 1 . The in-flight entertainment system  8  can be connected to a data management means  19 , which is set up so as to control the in-flight entertainment system  8  in such a way that data are only provided to the primary windings P 1 , P 2  and P 3 , and not to the exposed primary windings, for example the primary windings P 4  and P 5 . 
         [0053]    In the second, the third or a fourth mode of the system  1 , the cabin management system  12  can exchange data with the pax button  11  by means of the primary windings P 1 , P 2  and P 3  and the secondary winding S 1 . The cabin management system  12  can be connected to a data management means  20 , which is set up so as to control the cabin management system  12  in such a way that data are only provided to the primary windings P 1 , P 2  and P 3 , and not to the exposed primary windings, for example the primary windings P 4  and P 5 . 
         [0054]    The data management means  19  and  20  are connected to the measuring means  16  and/or the evaluation means  17 , in a manner corresponding to the energy management means  18 . 
         [0055]    In the present context, the cabin management system  12  and the in-flight entertainment system  8  represent specific embodiments of a computer means. 
         [0056]    A comparison means  22  of the system  1 , which means may be a component of the cabin management system  12 , is set up, for example in a fifth mode of the system  1 , to compare the current position of the seat  6  with a target position thereof and to output an error message if the current position is different from the target position. Within the cabin management system  12 , the comparison means  22  may be connected to a screen  23  for displaying the error message. The cabin management system  12  may further comprise a memory  24 , in which the target positions of the seats  6 , with which the comparison means  22  compares the current positions of the seats  6 , are stored. 
         [0057]    Although the present invention has been described in the above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not limited thereto but can be modified in a variety of ways. In particular, “a” or “one” does not exclude a plurality. Further, the developments and embodiments described above for the system according to the invention or the aircraft or spacecraft according to the invention are applicable analogously to the method according to the invention, and vice versa. 
         [0058]    Of course, the measuring means  16  can also work the other way around: it can also measure a resulting voltage. In this case, the energy supply device  13  supplies the primary windings P 1 -PN with a predetermined current. 
         [0059]    In the following, preferred embodiments are explained: 
       Embodiment 1 
     A System 
       [0000]    
       
           1  system 
           2  aircraft 
           3  rail system 
           4  rail 
           5  grid 
           6  seat 
           7  touchscreen 
           8  in-flight entertainment system 
           11  pax button 
           12  cabin management system 
           13  energy supply device 
           14  supply duct 
           15  passenger service unit 
           15 ′ passenger service unit 
           16  measuring means 
           17  evaluation means 
           18  energy management means 
           19  data management means 
           20  data management means 
           21  control unit 
           22  comparison means 
           23  screen 
           24  memory 
         I current 
         X longitudinal direction 
         IS 1  threshold 
         IS 2  threshold 
         P 1 -PN primary windings
 
S 1 -SM secondary windings
 
I 1 -IN current