Patent Description:
Existing lighting system can illuminate the galley work area but may not be adjustable to specific appliance locations, and existing appliance lighting systems can illuminate the interior of the applicant but do not provide any feedback about the appliance. Appliance display lights are disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

In one aspect, there is provided a system as defined by claim <NUM>.

In a further aspect, the LED strip provides customizable galley mood light when not otherwise occupied. Multiple appliances may be in data communication to provide galley wide mood lighting. The system may be in data communication with aircraft systems to provide environmental feedback via color coded illumination.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and should not restrict the scope of the claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles.

The numerous advantages of the embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which:.

Broadly, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a galley appliance system with an integrated light emitting diode (LED) strip to display operational data, detect certain states of the galley appliance, and alter the LED strip accordingly. The integrated LED strip illuminates the area adjacent to the galley appliance and the interior of the galley appliance when the galley appliance door is open and provides customizable galley mood light when not otherwise occupied. Multiple appliances may be in data communication to provide galley wide mood lighting. The system may be in data communication with aircraft systems to provide environmental feedback via color coded illumination.

Referring to <FIG>, a block diagram of a system <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The system <NUM>, embodied in an aircraft galley appliance, includes a processor <NUM>, memory <NUM> connected to the processor <NUM> for embodying processor executable code, and a plurality of color changing light emitting diodes (LEDs) <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is configured to receive state data corresponding to the system; for example, where the system is embodied in an oven, the processor <NUM> may receive data indicating that a heating cycle has begun, that a cooking cycle has ended, that the oven has experienced a fault, that some flight attendant input is necessary, etc. Each unique system state is associated with a color code reproducible on the plurality of color changing LEDs <NUM>.

In at least one embodiment, the processor <NUM> is in data communication with one or more internal sensors <NUM>, such as a door sensor, light sensor, and / or proximity sensor incorporated into the galley appliance. The processor <NUM> may apply overriding illumination states to the plurality of color changing LEDs <NUM> based on the state of the internal sensors <NUM>; for example, when a door sensor indicates the appliance door is open, the color changing LEDs <NUM> may be illuminated with white light to illuminate the interior of the galley appliance regardless of the current state of the system. Alternatively, or in addition, when a light sensor detects a low light state in the galley, the luminosity of the color changing LEDs <NUM> may be reduced for all states. Alternatively, or in addition, the color changing LEDs <NUM> may remain off until a proximity sensor detects the presence of a flight attendant.

In at least one embodiment, the processor <NUM> is in data communication with one or more external sensors <NUM>. For example, rather than a light sensor internal to the galley appliance, the processor <NUM> may receive light level data from an external source. Alternatively, or in addition, the processor <NUM> may be in data communication with other galley appliances, also embodying a system <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure, and utilizing sensors from one or more of those other galley appliances. In addition, the processor <NUM> may activate the color changing LEDs <NUM> to produce simple mood lighting when not otherwise in use. Multiple galley appliances may operate in concert via data communication to produce mood lighting of a similar color and luminosity.

In at least one embodiment, the processor <NUM> is in data communication with avionics systems <NUM> aboard the aircraft. In the event of warning state, the processor <NUM> may apply an appropriate warning state color to the color changing LEDs <NUM>, regardless of the state of the system <NUM>; for example, when the captain has indicated that all crew should be seated.

Referring to <FIG>, a perspective view of an appliance <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The appliance <NUM> includes a plurality of color changing LEDs <NUM> disposed in the frame of the appliance <NUM>, in proximity to a door <NUM>. The color changing LEDs <NUM> are disposed to illuminate a front surface of the door <NUM> which provides a large, easily visible area where light may be diffusely reflected. Furthermore, disposition proximal to the door <NUM> allow the color changing LEDs <NUM> to illuminate the immediate work area and the interior of the appliance <NUM> when the door <NUM> is open.

Referring to <FIG>, a side view of an appliance <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The appliance <NUM> includes a plurality of color changing LEDs <NUM> disposed in an upper control panel <NUM> of the appliance <NUM>. The disposition of the color changing LEDs <NUM>, close to the work area and oriented downward with no obstructions, prevents any shadows from interfering with the crew and directs light generally downward.

Referring to <FIG>, a detail, partial view of an appliance according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The appliance <NUM> includes a plurality of color changing LEDs <NUM> disposed in the frame of the appliance <NUM>, in proximity to a door <NUM>. The disposition of the color changing LEDs <NUM>, in a bottom surface of an upper control panel, generally directs light from the color changing LEDs <NUM> downward toward the work area and interior of the appliance when the door <NUM> is open. Such disposition may prevent light from the color changing LEDs <NUM> from interfering with crew members in other parts of the galley.

Referring to <FIG>, perspective views of an appliance <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. In at least one embodiment, color changing LEDs disposed in the appliance are oriented to illuminate a door of the appliance <NUM> when closed and the interior of the appliance <NUM> when open. The color changing LEDs also illuminate the immediate work area. The color of the color changing LEDs may be defined by the operating state of the appliance <NUM>; for example, the color changing LEDs may flash green <NUM> when the appliance <NUM> has a "ready" status, blue <NUM> when the appliance <NUM> is a busy status, amber <NUM> when the appliance <NUM> has a "fault" status, etc..

In at least one embodiment, the color changing LEDs may follow the on / off button light-ring colors operational modes (blue, amber, green etc.). It may be appreciated that any combination of colors is contemplated.

Referring to <FIG>, a perspective, environmental view of an appliance <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The appliance <NUM> may include door sensors for identifying when the door <NUM> is open. Color changing LEDs <NUM> disposed in a bottom surface of an upper control panel may be illuminated in a white color at full luminosity when the door sensor detects that the door <NUM> is open, illuminating the interior of the appliance <NUM> and the galley work area <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a perspective, environmental view of an appliance <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. In at least one embodiment, the appliance is an oven; color changing LEDs <NUM> in a light strip clearly indicate the status of the oven (stand-by, cooking, ready, off) which the flight attendant may notice from a distance, which is preferable to support the flight attendant. In at least one embodiment, where the galley includes a plurality of ovens, the flight attendant may observe the state of all the ovens at any time.

When opening the door <NUM>, the color changing LEDs <NUM> automatically change to white / bright light, providing good visibility of the galley work deck and better light inside the oven for inspection, meals check, or cleaning purposes. When not being utilized for operational purposes, the color changing LEDs <NUM> are useful for back lighting or mood lighting between the frame and oven door <NUM>.

In at least one embodiment, the color changing LEDs further comprise an LCD overlay configured to produce written messages that may be projected by the color changing LEDs as backlights. Such written messages may comprise color coded, detailed feedback; advertisements; operating instructions for the appliance; emergency messages received from remote avionics systems; etc..

Claim 1:
An aircraft galley appliance system comprising:
an appliance frame;
an appliance door (<NUM>) having a diffusely reflective front surface to reflect light into a galley area;
a plurality of color changing light emitting diodes, LEDs, (<NUM>) disposed in a front surface of the appliance frame to illuminate the front surface;
a datalink for connection, in use, between an aircraft system and to one or more other galley appliance systems; and
at least one processor (<NUM>) in data communication with the plurality of LEDs; and
a memory storing processor executable code for configuring the at least one processor to:
determine that the system is currently in a state of operation;
illuminate the LEDs in a first color corresponding to the state of operation;
determine that the system is currently in a state of completion;
illuminate the LEDs in a second color corresponding to the state of completion;
receive a warning message via the datalink connection;
in response to receiving the warning message, illuminate the LEDs in the first color or a specific warning color, regardless of the current state of the system; and
coordinate an illumination pattern with the one or more other galley appliance systems.