Patent Publication Number: US-2022227491-A1

Title: Systems and methods of determining a capacity of storage bins

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Application Ser. No. 63/138,965, filed Jan. 19, 2021, and entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF DETERMINING A CAPACITY OF STORAGE BINS, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The field relates generally to overhead storage bin assemblies and, more specifically, to systems and methods of determining and displaying a used capacity within overhead storage bins. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Modern day flights are typically booked to full capacity, which makes overhead storage space a desired but limited commodity. As such, it may be difficult for later-boarding passengers to find sufficient or conveniently located overhead storage space for their carryon luggage. For example, the overhead storage space may be at full capacity before all the carryon luggage has been stowed, which causes frustration for the passengers and delay in the boarding process. In some instances, available overhead space may be located several rows away from a passenger&#39;s seat, which may cause delays in embarking and disembarking from the aircraft. Additional delay may also be a result of the time it takes to individually inspect storage bins to identify remaining overhead storage space. 
     This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     One aspect is a system for use in determining a capacity of a storage bin. The system includes a plurality of sensors positioned within the storage bin. Each sensor is configured to determine a used capacity within a portion of the storage bin, and generate a voltage output based on the determined used capacity, wherein the plurality of sensors is configured to generate an aggregate voltage output based on the voltage output of each sensor. A controller is in communication with the plurality of sensors. The controller is configured to receive the aggregate voltage output from the plurality of sensors, determine a minimum voltage output and a maximum voltage output of the plurality of sensors, and determine a total used capacity of the storage bin as a function of the aggregate voltage output, the minimum voltage output, and the maximum voltage output. 
     Another aspect is a vehicle including a passenger cabin, a plurality of storage bins coupled within the passenger cabin, and a plurality of sensors positioned within each storage bin. Each sensor is configured to determine a used capacity within a portion of the storage bin, and generate a voltage output based on the determined used capacity, wherein the plurality of sensors is configured to generate an aggregate voltage output based on the voltage output of each sensor. A controller is in communication with the plurality of sensors. The controller is configured to receive the aggregate voltage output from the plurality of sensors, determine a minimum voltage output and a maximum voltage output of the plurality of sensors, and determine a total used capacity of the storage bin as a function of the aggregate voltage output, the minimum voltage output, and the maximum voltage output. 
     Yet another aspect is a method of determining a capacity of a storage bin. The method includes determining, with one of a plurality of sensors within the storage bin, a used capacity within a portion of the storage bin. Each sensor is configured to generate a voltage output based on the determined used capacity, and the plurality of sensors is configured to generate an aggregate voltage output based on the voltage output of each sensor. The method also includes receiving the aggregate voltage output from the plurality of sensors, determining a minimum voltage output and a maximum voltage output of the plurality of sensors, and determining a total used capacity of the storage bin as a function of the aggregate voltage output, the minimum voltage output, and the maximum voltage output. 
     Various refinements exist of the features noted in relation to the above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure. Further features may also be incorporated in the above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. For instance, various features discussed below in relation to any of the illustrated embodiments of the present disclosure may be incorporated into any of the above-described aspects of the present disclosure, alone or in any combination. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an internal view of an example aircraft. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an example system for determining a capacity within a storage bin. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a storage bin that may be used in the aircraft shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic interior view of the storage bin shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic interior view of the storage bin shown in  FIG. 3 , the bin having luggage stored therein. 
         FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating an example method of determining a capacity within a storage bin. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Examples described below include systems and methods of determining and displaying a used capacity within overhead storage bins. More specifically, the system described herein includes a plurality of sensors within each storage bin for determining a used capacity within each storage bin. The system uses an algorithm that correlates voltage readings received from the sensors into available space. The voltage readings may be aggregated to determine a total used capacity within each storage bin, and an indication of the total used capacity may be provided to either the passengers or flight crew of an aircraft via a display. As such, the passengers or flight crew are able to quickly determine the location of available overhead storage space when boarding the aircraft. 
     As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and preceded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly recited. Furthermore, references to “example”, “example implementation” or “one implementation” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional implementations that also incorporate the recited features. 
       FIG. 1  is an internal view of an example aircraft  100  (i.e., a vehicle). In the example implementation, aircraft  100  includes a passenger cabin  102  and a plurality of overhead storage bins  104  coupled within passenger cabin  102 . Passenger cabin  102  also includes a seating area  106  and an aisle  108  extending along passenger cabin  102  for providing access to the plurality of overhead storage bins  104  and seating area  106 . The plurality of overhead storage bins  104  are selectively positioned between an open position and a closed position for receiving and stowing one or more objects (e.g., luggage) therein. While described in the context of a passenger aircraft, application of the systems and methods described herein is not limited to passenger aircraft. For example, the systems and methods described herein may be implemented with any cargo-carrying vehicle such as, but not limited to, buses and trains. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an example system  110  for determining a capacity within storage bins  104 . System  110  includes a plurality of sensors  112  (e.g.  112 - 1  through  112 - 12 ) positioned within each storage bin  104 . Sensors  112  may be any device capable of determining a used capacity within at least a portion of storage bin  104 . Accordingly, the plurality of sensors  112  may be arranged to enable a total used capacity of storage bin  104  to be determined. In the example embodiment, sensors  112  are time-of-flight camera sensors configured to emit a light signal, and determine the distance of an obstruction from the respective sensor  112  based on a time it takes for a return signal, derived from the emitted light signal, to be received at sensor  112 . Alternative sensors  112  include, but are not limited to, pressure and/or resistive force sensors. 
     In operation, sensors  112  generate a voltage output based on an analysis of the return signal. As will be explained in more detail below, the voltage output generated by a respective sensor  112  is variable based on a distance between the respective sensor  112  and the obstruction (e.g., an opposing side wall of storage bin  104  or a piece of luggage), and the voltage outputs of the plurality of sensors  112  within a respective storage bin  104  may be used to determine a total used capacity therein. 
     System  110  further includes a display device  114  configured to display the total used capacity, such as to the passengers or flight crew of aircraft  100 . In one embodiment, at least one display device  116  is associated with each storage bin  104 , and the respective display device  114  displays the total used capacity of its associated storage bin  104 . In the example embodiment, display devices  116  are light-emitting diode (LED) indicators including a plurality of LEDs (not shown) that may be selectively activated for displaying one of a plurality of capacity indicators for the associated storage bin  104 . For example, the capacity indicators may be defined by different colors that each correspond to a determined capacity level, or defined by a number of LEDs activated based on the determined capacity level. 
     Alternatively, or in addition to coupling a display device  116  to each storage bin  104 , a display device  118  may be a distinct device that is positioned remotely from the plurality of storage bins  104 . More specifically, display device  118  may receive and display the total used capacity of each storage bin  104  within aircraft  100 . For example, display device  118  may be at an entryway of passenger cabin  102  such that passengers can view potentially available overhead storage space as they are boarding aircraft  100 , may be a flight attendant panel, or may be a passenger&#39;s mobile device having an application downloaded thereon. 
     System  110  further includes an activation device  120  configured to control the operational status of system  110  (i.e., sensors  112  and display devices  114 ). Activation device  120  enables system  110  to be activated only when appropriate, such as during boarding of aircraft  100 . Accordingly, in one embodiment, activation device  120  monitors an operational status of one or more components of aircraft  100  that may be linked to an appropriate activation time. For example, activation device  120  may be a sensor that monitors the opening and closing of a respective storage bin  104 , a weight-on-wheels sensor, a sensor that monitors the opening and closing of a cabin door, or may monitor a power generation state of aircraft  100  (i.e., system  110  activated when ground or APU power is provided). Alternatively, system  110  may be activated and deactivated manually. Accordingly, selectively activating system  110  facilitates preserving energy. 
     A controller  122  is in communication with sensors  112 , display devices  114 , and activation device  120 . Controller  122  includes a memory  124  and a processor  126 , including hardware and software, coupled to memory  124  for executing programmed instructions. Processor  126  may include one or more processing units (e.g., in a multi-core configuration) and/or include a cryptographic accelerator (not shown). Controller  122  is programmable to perform one or more operations described herein by programming memory  124  and/or processor  126 . For example, processor  126  may be programmed by encoding an operation as executable instructions and providing the executable instructions in memory  124 . 
     Processor  126  may include, but is not limited to, a general purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processor, an open media application platform (OMAP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic circuit (PLC), and/or any other circuit or processor capable of executing the functions described herein. The methods described herein may be encoded as executable instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium including, without limitation, a storage device and/or a memory device. Such instructions, when executed by processor  126 , cause processor  126  to perform at least a portion of the functions described herein. The above examples are for example purposes only, and thus are not intended to limit in any way the definition and/or meaning of the term processor. 
     Memory  124  is one or more devices that enable information such as executable instructions and/or other data to be stored and retrieved. Memory  124  may include one or more computer-readable media, such as, without limitation, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), a solid state disk, and/or a hard disk. Memory  124  may be configured to store, without limitation, executable instructions, operating systems, applications, resources, installation scripts and/or any other type of data suitable for use with the methods and systems described herein. 
     Instructions for operating systems and applications are located in a functional form on non-transitory memory  124  for execution by processor  126  to perform one or more of the processes described herein. These instructions in the different implementations may be embodied on different physical or tangible computer-readable media, such as memory  124  or another memory, such as a computer-readable media (not shown), which may include, without limitation, a flash drive and/or thumb drive. Further, instructions may be located in a functional form on non-transitory computer-readable media, which may include, without limitation, smart-media (SM) memory, compact flash (CF) memory, secure digital (SD) memory, memory stick (MS) memory, multimedia card (MMC) memory, embedded-multimedia card (e-MMC), and micro-drive memory. The computer-readable media may be selectively insertable and/or removable from controller  122  to permit access and/or execution by processor  126 . In an alternative implementation, the computer-readable media is not removable. 
       FIGS. 3-5  illustrate sensors  112  positioned within storage bin  104 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , storage bin  104  includes an interior  128  and an opening  130  that provides access to interior  128 . Interior  128  is defined by a plurality of side walls  132 , and sensors  112  are coupled to one or more of side walls  132  and arranged in an array across side walls  132 . In the example embodiment, each sensor  112  emits a signal  134  therefrom, and receives a return signal  136  derived from the bounce back of signal  134  from an obstruction such as an opposing side wall  132  or luggage  138  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) positioned within interior  128 . Accordingly, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , signals  134  from sensors  112  define a two-dimensional sensing grid  140  across interior  128  of storage bin  104 . In an alternative embodiment, sensors  112  are coupled only to one side wall  132 , such as a top side wall  132  of storage bin  104  to define the two-dimensional sensing grid  140  from the vertically-aligned signals  134  emitted therefrom. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a first sensor  142  of the plurality of sensors  112  is provided with ground power  144  (e.g., 5 VDC), and the plurality of sensors  112  ( 1 - 12 ) are electrically coupled to each other in series. Accordingly, a bias signal may be cascaded across the plurality of sensors  112  to enable an aggregate voltage output  146  to be generated and output by the array of sensors  112 . In one embodiment, aggregate voltage output  146  is a single output signal transmitted in analog from a last sensor  148  of those coupled in series in the array. As such, the complexity and computing power required to analyze aggregate voltage output  146  is reduced. As used herein, analog refers to a continuous, not discrete, voltage value. In an alternative embodiment, each sensor  112  provides its own digital output signal for analysis, such as to an I 2 C multiplexer and Arduino board. As used herein, digital refers to a discrete, not continuous, voltage value. 
     When powered, each sensor  112  generates a voltage output that is variable within a range defined by a minimum voltage output and a maximum voltage output. Variation in the voltage output is dependent on the sensed distance between a respective sensor  112  and an object. For example, sensors  112  may be calibrated to generate the minimum voltage output when storage bin  104  is empty and the space within the field of view of each sensor  112  is unobstructed (e.g., when the sensed distance is determined to be at a threshold level). Alternatively, the voltage output generated by each sensor  112  increases when luggage  137 ,  138  is positioned within storage bin  104  to obstruct the field of view of at least one sensor  112  (i.e., the voltage output increases up to the maximum voltage output as the sensed distance decreases). For example, the maximum voltage output is generated when luggage  137 ,  138  is sized to reduce the sensed distance to less than a threshold level. 
     In operation, controller  122  receives aggregate voltage output  146  from the plurality of sensors  112 . Controller  122  also determines a total minimum voltage output and a total maximum voltage output of the plurality of sensors  112 , and determines a total used capacity of the storage bin as a function of aggregate voltage output  146 , the total minimum voltage output, and the total maximum voltage output. The total maximum and minimum voltage outputs are determined as a function of the number of sensors  112  within system  110 . 
     In one embodiment, system  110  includes twelve sensors  112  each having a minimum voltage output of about 0.6 Volts (V) and a maximum voltage output of about 3.6 V, such that the total minimum voltage output of the plurality of sensors  112  is about 7.2 V and the total maximum voltage output is about 43.2 V. Referring to  FIG. 5 , luggage  137 ,  138  are positioned within interior  128  of storage bin  104 . Luggage  137  is sized to obstruct the field of view of some, but not all, of the plurality of sensors  112  in the array. Similarly, luggage  138  is sized to obstruct the field of view of some, but not all, of the plurality of sensors  112  in the array. As illustrated in the example shown in  FIG. 5 , each sensor  112  generates its own respective voltage output based on the sensed distance between a respective sensor  112  and an object (e.g., side wall  132 , or luggage  137 ,  138 ), as described above. The fullness or the used capacity of storage bin  104  may be determined in accordance with the following equation: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       
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     which enables the used capacity of storage bin  104  illustrated in  FIG. 5  to be calculated as follows: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
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     As described above, display devices  114  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) display one of a plurality of capacity indicators for the associated storage bin  104 , wherein the distinct capacity indicators correspond to a determined capacity level within storage bin  104 . In the example embodiment, a plurality of capacity threshold ranges may be defined by and/or stored within controller  122 . In operation, controller  122  determines the total used capacity of storage bin  104 , compares the determined total used capacity to the capacity threshold ranges, and controls operation of an associated display device  114  based on the comparison. An example capacity threshold scheme may include capacity threshold ranges such as a &lt;50% used capacity range, a 50-90% used capacity range, and a &gt;90% used capacity range. A distinct capacity indicator may correspond to each threshold range (e.g., a green indicator light for the &lt;50% used capacity range, a yellow indicator light for the 50-90% used capacity range, and a red indicator light for the &gt;90% used capacity range). Accordingly, displaying the distinct capacity indicator enables passengers and the flight crew to quickly and easily determine the location of available overhead storage space. 
       FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating an example method  200  of determining a capacity within a storage bin. The method  200  includes determining  202 , with one of a plurality of sensors within the storage bin, a used capacity within a portion of the storage bin. Each sensor is configured to generate ( 202 A) a voltage output based on the determined used capacity, and the plurality of sensors is configured to generate  202 B an aggregate voltage output based on the voltage output of each sensor. The method  200  also includes receiving  204  the aggregate voltage output from the plurality of sensors, determining  206  a minimum voltage output and a maximum voltage output of the plurality of sensors, and determining  208  a total used capacity of the storage bin as a function of the aggregate voltage output, the minimum voltage output, and the maximum voltage output. The method  200  also includes comparing  210  the total used capacity to a plurality of capacity threshold ranges that are each associated with a respective capacity indicator, and displaying  212 , based on the comparison, the respective capacity indicator associated with one of the plurality of capacity threshold ranges. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose various implementations, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various implementations, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the disclosure is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art after reading this specification. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.