Abstract:
The present invention provides methods for positioning at least one component, in particular a seat, in or on an aircraft or spacecraft comprising the following steps: controlling at least one light source of the aircraft or spacecraft to display at least one desired position of at least one component; and positioning the at least one component in the at least one desired position displayed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/286,502, filed Dec. 15, 2009 and German Patent Application No. 10 2009 054 698.7, filed Dec. 15, 2009, the entire disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a method for positioning at least one component, in particular a seat, in or on an aircraft or spacecraft, and to an aircraft or spacecraft. 
         [0003]    Although they can be applied to any aircraft or spacecraft and components, the present invention and the problem on which it is based will be described in further 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 the 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 the seats using locking means to lock the seats in different positions along the rails. It is necessary to be able to position the seats in a flexible manner in order to be able to meet different customer requirements. 
         [0005]    In the above-described case, the fact that the position of each seat must be transferred by hand from a customer-specific mounting layout to the cabin and marked therein has proved problematic. This is comparatively labour-intensive and prone to error. The incorrect positioning of a seat can have the result that a plurality of further seats must also be repositioned, which results in a considerable additional cost. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]    An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved method and/or an improved aircraft or spacecraft in which the above-mentioned drawbacks are at least reduced. 
         [0007]    This object is achieved according to the invention by a method with the features of claim  1  and/or by an aircraft or spacecraft with the features of claim  10 . 
         [0008]    Accordingly, a method is provided for positioning at least one component, in particular a seat, in or on an aircraft or spacecraft, comprising the following steps: controlling at least one light source of the aircraft or spacecraft to display at least one desired position of at least one component; and positioning the at least one component in the at least one desired position displayed. 
         [0009]    An aircraft or spacecraft is also provided which comprises the following: at least one light source; and a control device which is set up to control the light source to display at least one desired position for positioning at least one component, in particular a seat. 
         [0010]    The present invention is based on the idea that in many cases a plurality of light sources are already present in a passenger aircraft in particular and these can be used in particular for positioning, for example, seats in such a way that one of the plurality of light sources is switched on and the seat is then positioned either in direct proximity to the light source itself or in the region of a reflection point which generates the light source on another object. In this way, the costly transfer, described at the outset, of customer-specific mounting layouts is omitted, including the process of marking by hand. A method of this type is also less prone to error because it is automated. 
         [0011]    Advantageous embodiments and improvements of the invention can be found in the subclaims. 
         [0012]    According to a preferred development of the method according to the invention, the light source is switched from a standard mode, in which it carries out passenger-related functions, into a positioning mode, in which it displays the desired position, for the positioning procedure. The light source is therefore assigned a dual function, as a result of which no additional components are necessary to display the desired position of the seats. ‘Passenger-related functions’ are understood to mean the provision of reading lights or on-board entertainment and the display of escape routes or any other safety-related information, for example. 
         [0013]    According to a preferred development of the method according to the invention, the light source is formed by at least one LED (Light Emitting Diode) of an escape route lighting system which comprises a plurality of LEDs arranged in a substantially linear manner and is arranged on the floor of a cabin portion of the aircraft or spacecraft. Escape route lighting systems of this type are located in direct proximity to the possible desired positions and for this reason may make a simple display possible. 
         [0014]    According to a preferred development of the method according to the invention, the light source is formed by at least one LED of a reading lamp of a plurality of reading lamps, preferably arranged in a substantially linear manner, which are arranged in the overhead region of a cabin portion of the aircraft or spacecraft. The LED generates for example a reflection on the cabin floor, which reflection represents the desired position. 
         [0015]    According to a preferred development of the method according to the invention, the light source is formed by at least one laser device of a plurality of laser devices arranged in the aircraft or spacecraft. The laser light sources advantageously make very exact marking possible. 
         [0016]    According to a preferred development of the method according to the invention, the component is locked in the displayed desired position after the positioning procedure. This completes the mounting procedure. 
         [0017]    According to a preferred development of the method according to the invention, the desired position is read out by a memory. On the one hand, it is possible to form the memory as a memory card, for example as a compact flash card, which contains the desired positions of the components in accordance with customer requirements and is connected to a control device of the light source prior to the positioning procedure. On the other hand, the control device may itself comprise the memory. The desired positions in accordance with customer requirements are then installed on the memory of the control device via a cable or wirelessly, for example by a portable computer. 
         [0018]    According to a preferred development of the method according to the invention, the light source is switched from the standard mode into the positioning mode by a terminal, for example a touch panel, which is also used to display and input passenger-related information. According to this development, the touch panel, which is typically already present in the aircraft, is assigned a dual function, whereby additional components can be saved. A touch panel is conventionally used to display passenger calls (PAX calls), control the lighting and control the on-board entertainment, for example to control the safety video. 
         [0019]    According to a preferred development of the method according to the invention, after the at least one component has been positioned an actual position thereof is compared with the desired position. Any difference between these can be displayed to an operator. This information can, for example, also be displayed on the above-mentioned touch panel. 
         [0020]    According to a preferred development of the method according to the invention, an actual position of the component is determined by means of an electromagnetic measuring process and/or by means of a scanning process. In the present case, ‘scanning process’ is understood in particular to mean that the distance is measured between the contour of a test object (for example, a cabin floor region) which comprises the component, the actual position of which is to be determined, and the scanning sensor. The measurement may, in particular, be made by means of electromagnetic waves which are reflected by the test object. 
         [0021]    According to a preferred development of the method according to the invention, an elevation profile of the test object is determined during the scanning process. As a result of this, seats in a cabin portion can be easily detected, since the height thereof varies comparatively greatly. 
         [0022]    According to a preferred development of the method according to the invention, an actual position of the component is determined by means of at least one camera and an image recognition process. The camera is preferably also set up for monitoring of a cabin region of the aircraft or spacecraft, for example by the pilots or flight attendants. Accordingly, the camera takes on a dual function, whereby components can be saved. 
         [0023]    According to a preferred development of the method according to the invention, the light source is switched from the positioning mode back into the standard mode after the positioning procedure. 
         [0024]    According to a preferred development of the aircraft or spacecraft according to the invention, the control device is set up to switch the light source between a standard mode in which it carries out passenger-related functions and a positioning mode in which it displays the desired position. 
         [0025]    According to a preferred development of the aircraft or spacecraft according to the invention, the light source is formed as at least one LED of an escape route lighting system which comprises a plurality of LEDs arranged in a substantially linear manner and is arranged on the floor of a cabin portion of the aircraft or spacecraft. 
         [0026]    According to a preferred development of the aircraft or spacecraft according to the invention, the light source is formed as at least one LED of a reading lamp of a plurality of reading lamps preferably arranged in a substantially linear manner which is arranged in the overhead region of a cabin portion of the aircraft or spacecraft. 
         [0027]    According to a preferred development of the aircraft or spacecraft according to the invention, a measuring unit is provided together with a sensor which is set up to measure the actual position of the component and also a management unit which is set up to compare the actual position and the desired position with one another and to generate a warning signal for an operator if the difference between the actual position and the desired position exceeds a threshold value. 
         [0028]    A method for determining an actual position of a component in an aircraft or spacecraft is also provided, an elevation profile of a cabin region comprising the component being determined. 
         [0029]    The described advantages and developments of the method apply analogously to the aircraft or spacecraft. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0030]    In the following, the invention is described in further detail on the basis of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: 
           [0031]      FIG. 1  shows a detail of an aircraft according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  shows a view A from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  shows a portion of a cabin from  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  shows an elevation profile according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0035]    In the figures, like reference numerals denote like or functionally equivalent components. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  shows schematically a detail of an aircraft according to one embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 2  shows a view A from  FIG. 1 . 
         [0037]    The cabin portion  2  shown comprises a plurality of seats  4  for passengers, which seats are initially positioned on rails  6  in the longitudinal direction X of the aircraft for mounting purposes and are subsequently locked. In addition, it is pointed out that the seats  4  in  FIGS. 1 and 2  can of course be rows of multiple seats, in particular rows of three seats. 
         [0038]    The floor  8  of the cabin portion  2  bears the rails  6  and also comprises an escape route lighting system  10  in the form of a lighting strip. For the sake of clarity, in  FIG. 1  the escape route lighting system  10  is shown swung out from the plane of the floor  8 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the escape route lighting system  10  delimits a, for example, central aisle  12  of the cabin portion  2 . The escape route lighting system  10  comprises a plurality of LEDs  14 ,  14 ′ which are arranged in a substantially linear manner one behind the other in the X direction and guide passengers fleeing the cabin in an emergency. The escape route lighting system  10  is connected in terms of signalling to a schematically shown control unit  16 , the precise function of which is described in further detail below. 
         [0039]    Preferably, a schematically shown sensor  18  is also provided in the region of the floor  8 , which sensor can together with a measuring unit  24  measure the actual position of each seat  4  in the X direction, in particular by electromagnetic means, by cooperating with test objects attached to the seats  4  in each case. For example, the sensor  18  can be formed using a plurality of members  19  (shown in a partial section in  FIG. 2 ) arranged one behind the other in the X direction, the inductance of which members varies depending on whether or not a seat  4  is arranged above them. In this way, the X position of the seats  4  can easily be measured. The measuring unit  24  is a component of the control device  16  and is connected in terms of signalling to both the control device and the sensor  18 . 
         [0040]    Other measuring processes are of course also conceivable, for example a scanning process or image recognition process, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  shows the cabin portion  2  from  FIG. 1 . Sensors  42  are arranged at uniform intervals in the X direction in a supply duct  40  in the region of overhead luggage compartments  35  of the cabin portion  2 . The sensors  42  are set up to detect an elevation profile  44  of a cabin region  50  beneath the supply duct  1 . The elevation profile  44  describes the contour of the seats  4  and is shown in  FIG. 4 . The elevation profile  44  results for example from the fact that the backrest  46  of each seat  4  is at a smaller distance from the sensor  42 , arranged overhead in each case, than the seat surface  48  of each seat  4 . 
         [0042]    The sensors  42  can each be formed as ultrasonic transmitters/receivers, infrared transmitters/receivers and/or laser transmitters/receivers, for example. 
         [0043]    In the case of the embodiment according to FIGS.  3  and  4 —i.e. when the above-described scanning process is selected instead of the electromagnetic measuring process—the sensors  42  are connected in a manner not shown in further detail to the measuring unit  24 , which determines the actual position of the seats  4  on the basis of the detected elevation profile. 
         [0044]    Alternatively, one or more cameras can also be used as sensors  42 . The images supplied by the cameras  42  are evaluated by the measuring unit  24  by means of an image recognition process, in order to determine the actual position of the seats  4  in each case. A camera  42 , for example a webcam, additionally has the advantage that it can be assigned a dual function, as in addition to the mentioned detection of the actual position of the seats  4 , it can also be used for monitoring of the cabin region  50  by the pilots or flight attendants, for example in order to be able to intervene quickly in emergencies. 
         [0045]    Returning now to  FIG. 1 , a control unit  20  is shown here as a component of the control device  16  which is connected in terms of signalling to the escape route lighting system  10  and is set up to switch all the LEDs  14 ,  14 ′ off together in a standard mode and to switch each LED  14 ,  14 ′ on or off independently of the other LEDs  14 ,  14 ′ in each case in a positioning mode or to switch all the LEDs  14 ,  14 ′ on together in an emergency mode. In the positioning mode, only the LEDs  14 ′ which correspond to the desired positions of the seats  4  to be positioned are switched on. A marking  22 , which for purposes of positioning in the X direction is made to correspond to the LED  14 ′ which is switched on in each case, can be applied to each seat  4  by displacing the seat  4 ′ along the rails  6 . The seat  4  can subsequently be firmly locked on the rails  6 . 
         [0046]    The control device  16  further comprises a management unit  26  which is connected in terms of signalling to the control unit  20  and the measuring unit  24 . The management unit  26  is typically further connected in terms of signalling to a plurality of cabin systems, for example the aircraft conditioning system or the on-board entertainment system, and controls these. The management unit  26  can therefore be a cabin management system which is also referred to as a cabin information and data system (CIDS). 
         [0047]    The management unit  26  is set up to compare the actual position of each seat  4  with the desired position and to generate a warning signal if the difference between a desired position and an actual position exceeds a predetermined threshold value. This evaluation is preferably carried out after the positioning of each seat  4 . 
         [0048]    In particular, the management unit  26  is connected in terms of signalling to a terminal  28 , for example in the form of a touch screen. On the one hand, the touch screen  28  makes it possible for desired variables, for example the desired cabin temperature or the desired cabin lighting, to be input by the cabin staff. On the other hand, the touch screen  28  displays various items of information, for example the actual temperature or the actual cabin lighting. On the touch screen  28  the LEDs  14 ,  14 ′ can further be switched between the standard mode and the positioning mode by means of the control unit  20 . In addition, the touch screen  28  can be set up to show graphically a cabin layout, where it displays the previously positioned seats  4  and the wrongly positioned seats  4 , and thus to indentify in particular those seats for which a warning signal has been generated by the management unit  26 . 
         [0049]    The control device  16  further comprises a memory  30  on which customer-specific desired positions of the seats  4  are stored. The memory  30  is preferably formed as a compact flash card and is connected to the management unit  26  only for purposes of positioning the seats  4  and is later removed therefrom. However, it is not absolutely necessary to remove the memory  30 , which can also remain in the control device  16 . 
         [0050]    After the seats  4  have been positioned and optionally an evaluation has been carried out by the management unit  26 , the control device  20 , together with the LEDs  14 ,  14 ′, is switched back into the standard mode, preferably by means of the touch screen  28 . 
         [0051]    In addition or as an alternative to the escape route lighting system  10 , a reading lighting system  32  comprising a plurality of reading lamps  34  arranged one behind the other substantially in the X direction can also be provided in the region of the overhead luggage compartments  35 . The reading lamps  34  may comprise a plurality of LEDs  36 ,  36 ′, each of these LEDs  36 ,  36 ′ being adapted to cast a comparatively small cone of light  37 ,  37 ′ onto a seat  4  to be positioned or onto the floor  8 . 
         [0052]    The control device  16  according to this additional or alternative configuration comprises a control unit  38  which is connected in terms of signalling to the reading lighting system  32  and the management unit  26 . The control device  38  is set up in such a way that it controls in a standard mode the LEDs  36 ,  36 ′ of a reading lamp in accordance with the lighting requirements of each passenger, i.e. light on/off/dimmed, for example. A positioning mode is further provided in which only specific LEDs  37 ′ are switched to produce the above-mentioned cone of light  37 ′ as a function of desired positions of the seats  4  to be mounted. For positioning in the X direction, for example the marking  22  of a respective seat  4  may be made to correspond to a respective cone of light  37 ′. The control unit  38  receives the desired positions in the manner described above for the control unit  20 . 
         [0053]    Mini-projectors or lasers which are set up to display the desired positions on a respective seat  4  or on the floor  8  can also be used instead of reading lamps  34 . 
         [0054]    The developments and embodiments of the method described in the present case can be applied analogously to the aircraft or spacecraft and vice versa. 
         [0055]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not limited thereto and may be modified in various ways. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS  
       [0056]      2  cabin portion 
         [0057]      4  seat 
         [0058]      6  rail 
         [0059]      8  floor 
         [0060]      10  escape route lighting system 
         [0061]      12  aisle 
         [0062]      14  LED 
         [0063]      14 ′ LED 
         [0064]      16  control device 
         [0065]      18  sensor 
         [0066]      20  control unit 
         [0067]      22  marking 
         [0068]      24  measuring unit 
         [0069]      26  management unit 
         [0070]      28  touch screen 
         [0071]      30  memory 
         [0072]      32  reading lighting system 
         [0073]      34  reading lamps 
         [0074]      35  overhead luggage compartments 
         [0075]      36  LED 
         [0076]      36 ′ LED 
         [0077]      37  cone of light 
         [0078]      37 ′ cone of light 
         [0079]      38  control unit 
         [0080]      40  supply duct 
         [0081]      42  sensor 
         [0082]      44  elevation profile 
         [0083]      46  backrest 
         [0084]      48  seat surface 
         [0085]      50  cabin region 
         [0086]    X longitudinal direction