Abstract:
The present disclosure pertains to a seat device for an aircraft or spacecraft with at least one photoelectric device, which is designed to provide electrical energy such that this energy can be used to charge or supply an electrical device, and/or amplify audio signals, and/or transmit data.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of and claims priority to PCT/EP2012/068978, filed Sep. 26, 2012, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/541,506, filed Sep. 30, 2011 and German Patent Application 10 2011 083 811.2, filed Sep. 30, 2011, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a seat device for an aircraft or spacecraft. 
         [0003]    Although it may be used on any seat devices in an aircraft or spacecraft, the present invention and the underlying problems are explained in detail with respect to an aircraft. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    A power supply is required nowadays for many functions in the passenger seat. Thus seats often include a so-called passenger control unit (PCU) which usually includes an amplifier for headphones and control buttons for the in-flight entertainment system (IFE). It is also becoming increasingly necessary to be able to charge electronic devices provided by the passengers (so-called passenger electronic devices (PED)) via a standardised interface during the flight. 
         [0005]    A power supply is also provided for laptops and in the IFE displays fitted in the seat backs for long-distance flights. However, such applications have relatively high power requirements, with the result that this power supply must be provided via the on-board power supply network. 
         [0006]    According to DE 10 2007 055 088 A1, an aircraft seat is known from the prior art which comprises a monitoring device which monitors status values for the seat, such as whether or not a person is present on the seat, the position of the armrest, the position of a folding table on the backrest, etc. An individual sensor module is provided for this purpose which comprises its own power supply element. However, this is not accessible for the purpose of performing the above-mentioned functions. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    One idea of the present disclosure is therefore to create a seat device for an aircraft or spacecraft which makes it possible to provide a simple power supply for the above-mentioned applications with low power consumption. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, a seat device is provided with a photoelectric device which offers at least one option to charge or supply an electrical device (with electricity), and/or amplify audio signals, and/or transmit data. 
         [0009]    One idea underlying the present invention is that the power generated by the photoelectric device is used for at least one of the functions of charging or supplying an electrical device with electricity, and/or amplifying audio signals, and/or transmitting data, the power being generated directly at the seat. 
         [0010]    One benefit of the present invention is that the incident light from the cabin illumination system, reading lights and any sunlight which might be present at certain times can be used to generate the power produced by the photoelectric device, thus dispensing with the wiring to supply the passengers&#39; own electronic devices and/or the PCU from the on-board network of the aircraft. The seat power supply is thus completely independent from the on-board network. 
         [0011]    In addition, the present invention advantageously permits a flexible and reasonably-priced power supply system with independent seats which do not require any wires or components to connect them to the on-board network. Such seats can therefore be moved and rearranged inside the aircraft cabin at will, without the need for new wiring when installing the seat. 
         [0012]    The power generated in the photoelectric device is preferably supplied to the PED with the aid of a standardised interface for charging, e.g. a USB interface. In this case the seat device comprises the standardised interface in the region of its surface, especially in the region of an armrest or seat component. 
         [0013]    Power generated in the photoelectric device can also be used to amplify audio signals, possibly by continuing to use the amplifier used previously. The amplifier may also perform the function of transmitting audio signals, for example wirelessly, in the inner part of the aircraft cabin. The power generated by the photoelectric device can preferably also be used to supply a control panel to control playback of audio signals. 
         [0014]    The power generated by the photoelectric device can also be used to supply an electrical device, especially the PCU. The power generated by the photoelectric device can also be used to transmit data. Thus, the power generated by the photoelectric device can preferably also be used to control cabin functions, especially to transmit control signals, such as, for example, the so-called pax call (cabin crew call function), to the cabin management system. 
         [0015]    Advantageous embodiments and improvements of the invention are described in the sub-claims. 
         [0016]    In accordance with a further embodiment, the photoelectric device is designed as a solar cell. This makes it possible to use reasonably-priced components to generate power, with a configuration selected according to the proposed scope of the above-mentioned functions to be performed. 
         [0017]    In accordance with a further embodiment, the photoelectric device is arranged in the uppermost region of the seat device. Thus, the photoelectric device may be arranged in the region of the headrest of the seat device in particular, such that the light emitted by the cabin illumination system and/or a reading light can be used to the optimum extent by the photoelectric device to supply power, as shade cast by the passenger or an object is minimal in this region. In addition, positioning the photoelectric device in the uppermost region of the seat device offers the advantage that this can easily be retrofitted in this position. 
         [0018]    In accordance with a further embodiment, the photoelectric device is arranged on a cover which can be connected to the seat device. In this case the above-mentioned functionality to perform charging and/or amplify audio signals is also achieved by the photoelectric device. This advantageously permits the photoelectric device or a component supplied with power by this device to be replaced quickly in the event of damage so that it can be replaced by the on-board crew during the flight. In addition, using a cover comprising the photoelectric device means that it is simple to retrofit existing seat devices in an aircraft. 
         [0019]    In accordance with a further embodiment, the seat device also comprises a rest portion, the photoelectric device being arranged in the region of the rest portion. The rest portion is preferably formed by an upper region of the rest portion of the seat device. In order to enlarge the area available for the power supply, the photoelectric device may also be arranged in the upper region of the rest portion, the power supply for components connected electrically to the photoelectric device (e.g. the PED) being reliably guaranteed. 
         [0020]    In accordance with a further embodiment, the photoelectric device is arranged on a side region of the seat device and inclined towards the seat region of the seat device. In order to enlarge the area available for the power supply, the photoelectric device may also be arranged on the side region of the seat device. In this case the design of the photoelectric device arranged in the side region of the seat device may follow the design of the seat device in this region. 
         [0021]    In accordance with a further embodiment, the photoelectric device comprises lenses to focus and amplify the incident light. In this case the lenses are preferably arranged in the region of the outer surface of the photoelectric device. In addition, the material properties of the lenses are preferably selected such that absorption of the wavelength of the incident light which causes energy to be generated in the photoelectric device during operation is minimised. As a result the wavelength available for energy generation in the photoelectric device is converted to electrical energy in the best possible manner. 
         [0022]    In accordance with a further embodiment, a large number of photoelectric devices are provided, these being located adjacent to each other. In particular, the usually elliptical region of the headrest of a seat device in an aircraft may be provided with a large number of photoelectric devices which each follow the design of the headrest in its tangential direction over a predefined width. As large as possible a surface area of the seat device can be provided with photoelectric devices by means of this configuration, thus increasing the amount of energy which can be generated. 
         [0023]    In addition, the disclosure pertains to a seat module with at least one seat device for an aircraft or spacecraft according to the present invention. 
         [0024]    In addition, the disclosure pertains to a cover for an aircraft or spacecraft with at least one photoelectric device, which is designed to provide electrical energy such that this energy can be used to charge or supply an electrical device, and/or amplify audio signals, and/or transmit data. 
         [0025]    In addition, the disclosure pertains an aircraft or spacecraft with a seat module according to the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    The invention is explained below in greater detail with the aid of embodiments and with reference to the attached figures in the drawing. 
           [0027]    The figures are as follows: 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic side view of a seat device according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic perspective view of a seat device according to a further embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic perspective view of a cover according to the invention to be connected to a seat device. 
       
    
    
       [0031]    In the figures, like reference numerals refer to like components or components with like function, unless otherwise specified. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic view from the side of a seat device  10  according to the invention, which comprises a seat region  30  and a region of a headrest  40 , which is formed at an upper end of the seat device  10 . The seat device  10  comprises a seat frame  50  in the region of its underside, this seat frame being used to connect the seat to an aircraft (not illustrated). 
         [0033]    The seat device  10  comprises an armrest  80  in the region of a transverse end of the seat region  30 , this armrest comprising a passenger control unit (PCU)  60  on its surface in the region of its free longitudinal end. The PCU  60  may for example comprise an amplifier for headphones (not illustrated) and a control panel with control buttons (not illustrated) for an in-flight entertainment system. 
         [0034]    The PCU  60  is supplied with electrical energy which is generated by a solar cell  20  by means of a power cable  70 . In this case the photoelectric device is formed by the solar cell  20 . The solar cell  20  may extend substantially along the transverse direction of the seat device  10  and is arranged at the upper end of the headrest  40 . 
         [0035]    The present seat device  10  advantageously enables the PCU  60  to be supplied with energy independently of the on-board network of the aircraft, so that the present seat device  10  does not need to be connected to this network, as would otherwise be the case. 
         [0036]    The PCU  60  may also comprise a transmitter (not illustrated) and a receiver (not illustrated). These are used to transmit the control commands received from the PCU  60 , preferably wirelessly, to an associated receiver (not illustrated), e.g. the IFE system, and for wireless reception of audio signals. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic perspective view of a seat device according to a second embodiment of the invention. This embodiment of the seat device  10  according to the invention is substantially identical to the seat device in  FIG. 1  with the result that only differences are explained below. 
         [0038]    The seat device  10  no longer contains a PCU in the region of the armrest  80 , but instead comprises an interface for the power supply  90  for an electrical device (not illustrated) in the region of the free longitudinal end of the armrest  80 , this interface being supplied with electrical energy by means of a power cable  70  from the solar cell  20 . The interface for the power supply  90  extends substantially along the thickness direction of the armrest  80 . The interface for the power supply  90  is in particular a USB interface which makes it possible to transmit electrical energy. The electrical device may be a so-called passenger electronic device (PED), e.g. an MP3 player or a smartphone, which only requires minimal power consumption for charging purposes. The proposed seat device  10  thus makes it possible to provide an independent power supply for an electrical device with low energy consumption, with the result that it is no longer necessary for this electrical energy to be supplied by the on-board network of the aircraft. 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic perspective view of a cover  100  according to the invention to be connected to a seat device (not illustrated). The cover  100  is in this case formed from a material which does not have any inherent rigidity, with the result that the cover  100  is preferably connected to a portion of the seat device by placing over this portion, the cover  100  then substantially assuming the form of the connection region with the seat device. 
         [0040]    A photoelectric device  20  is arranged in the region of the upper end of the cover  100 , this device preferably taking the form of a solar cell. The solar cell  20  extends in particular in the longitudinal direction of the cover  100 . 
         [0041]    The cover  100  also comprises an amplifier  110  in a region of the longitudinal end thereof, this amplifier being supplied via a power cable  70  with electrical energy which is generated by the solar cell  20  and supplied to the amplifier  110 . The amplifier  110  comprises a mechanical interface for connection to headphones (not illustrated) such that a passenger can hear the audio signal amplified by the amplifier  110 . In addition, the amplifier  110  may comprise a transmitter/receiver (not illustrated) which is designed to send control signals to the IFE system or the cabin management system and to receive input signals from the audio channel of the IFE system wirelessly, these signals being passed in turn to the amplifier  110 , so that it is advantageously no longer necessary to have a wired connection from the IFE system to the amplifier  110 . 
         [0042]    The cover  100  also comprises a passenger control unit (PCU)  60  with a control panel  120  in a region of its longitudinal end opposite the amplifier  110  on the same side, this control panel being supplied with electrical energy which is generated by the solar cell  20 . The PCU  60  is designed to provide control commands for operation of the amplifier  110 , so that in particular the volume of the audio signal amplified by the amplifier  110  can be adjusted by the passenger on the control panel  120  of the PCU  60 . 
         [0043]    The present cover  100  advantageously permits a wireless solution for audio playback within an IFE system (not illustrated) due to the PCU  60  being provided with a transmitter connected to the amplifier  110  described above, in which wires are not required to transmit the audio signal to the passenger, nor to supply electrical power to the PCU  60  which is otherwise usually located in the seat. In addition, when using the present cover  100 , it is advantageously no longer necessary to modify the seat, with the result that the cover  100  can easily be retrofitted to existing seats or seat modules for aircraft. 
         [0044]    Although the present invention has been described here by means of preferred embodiments, it is not limited to these embodiments, but rather may be modified in multiple ways. 
         [0045]    For example, the solar cell  20  may comprise a large number of lenses on its surface with material properties which are selected such that absorption of the wavelength of the incident light which causes energy to be generated in the photoelectric device during operation is minimised.