Patent Description:
Certain aircraft may include ejection systems designed to eject a member of the flight crew from the aircraft in certain situations. These ejection systems typically include an ejection seat in which the member of the flight crew is located during flight. The ejection seat may have various adjustable settings which are desirable to adjust based on parameters and preferences of the ejection seat and/or flight crew member. For example, the ejection seat may have settings related to timing of ejection, deployment of parachutes, adjustments to dimensions (e.g., lumbar support, seat height, headrest position), or the like. Currently, these settings are manually input during a pre-flight check. However, this is a time-consuming process as each setting is adjusted manually and separate from many other settings. <CIT> describes a device for the adjustment of an ejection seat. <CIT> describes a programmable ejection seat.

Disclosed herein and defined in claim <NUM> is a system for automatic adjustment of an ejection system for an aircraft.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the image data includes an image of a face of the user, and the controller is further configured to determine the identifier of the user by running a facial recognition algorithm.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the image data includes an image of a retina of the user, and the controller is further configured to determine the identifier of the user by analyzing the image of the retina of the user.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the sensor includes an electronic port configured to be electrically coupled to an electronic device and the user data includes data received from the electronic device via the electronic port.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the user data includes an identifier of the user and the controller is further configured to: retrieve specific settings of the user by accessing a database based on the identifier; and adjust the at least one of the adjustable settings based on the specific settings of the user retrieved from the database.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the user data includes specific settings of the user and the controller is further configured to adjust the at least one of the adjustable settings based on the specific settings received from the electronic device.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, at least one of: the ejection system includes a seat electronic sequencer and the plurality of the adjustable settings include at least one of a parachute deployment timing, a drogue deployment timing, or a thrust angle alignment; the ejection system includes a seat electronic position controller and the plurality of the adjustable settings include at least one of a seat height, a lumbar support, a headrest position, a rail angle, or an actuator position; or the ejection system includes an interseat electronic sequencer and the plurality of the adjustable settings include an interseat timing.

Also disclosed and defined in claim <NUM> is a method for automatic adjustment of an ejection system for an aircraft.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, detecting the image data includes detecting an image of a face of the user, and determining the identifier of the user includes determining the identifier of the user by running a facial recognition algorithm.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, detecting the image data includes detecting an image of a retina of the user, and determining the identifier of the user includes determining the identifier of the user by analyzing the image of the retina of the user.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, detecting the user data includes receiving, at an electronic port, the user data from an electronic device.

Any of the foregoing embodiments may further include receiving, at the electronic port, an identifier of the user; retrieving, by the controller, specific settings of the user by accessing a database based on the identifier; and adjusting, by the controller, the at least one of the adjustable settings based on the specific settings of the user retrieved from the database.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the user data includes specific settings of the user, and adjusting the at least one of the adjustable settings includes adjusting the at least one of the adjustable settings based on the specific settings received from the electronic device.

A more complete understanding of the present disclosure, however, may best be obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the figures representing embodiments falling within the scope of the claims, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical changes and adaptations in design and construction may be made in accordance with the claims. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not limitation.

Referring now to <FIG>, an aircraft <NUM> may include a fuselage <NUM>. The fuselage <NUM> may define or include a cockpit <NUM> in which one or more member of a flight crew may be located. The fuselage <NUM> may further define or include a second cockpit <NUM> in which one or more member of a flight crew may be located. In various embodiments, the cockpit <NUM> may include one or more ejection systems to facilitate ejection of one or more member of the flight crew. In that regard, the first cockpit <NUM> may include a hatch or canopy <NUM> that separates from or moves relative to the first cockpit <NUM> to allow the member or members of the flight crew in the first cockpit <NUM> to eject from the fuselage <NUM>. The second cockpit <NUM> may further include a hatch or canopy <NUM> that separates from or moves relative to the second cockpit <NUM> to allow the member or members of the flight crew in the second cockpit <NUM> to eject from the fuselage <NUM>. The aircraft <NUM> may be a passenger aircraft, a cargo aircraft, a military aircraft, or the like.

Referring now to <FIG>, an exemplary ejection system <NUM> may be included in the cockpit <NUM>. In particular, the ejection system <NUM> may include a seat <NUM> on which a user <NUM> may sit or otherwise rest. According to the invention, the ejection system <NUM> includes a helmet <NUM> which may be supported on a head of the user <NUM>. The seat <NUM> may include various components of the ejection system <NUM> such as a main parachute <NUM> and a drogue <NUM>. The seat <NUM> may further include a catapult or rocket that ejects the seat <NUM> and any occupant thereof from the cockpit <NUM>. The drogue <NUM> may be a parachute that initially deploys after ejection of the seat <NUM> and may reduce a velocity of the seat <NUM> as it travels towards a ground surface. The main parachute <NUM> may deploy after the drogue <NUM> and may provide further reduction of the velocity of at least one of the seat <NUM> or the user <NUM> as it travels towards the ground surface.

Referring now to <FIG>, <FIG>, a system <NUM> automatically adjusts features of the ejection system <NUM> based on passive detected data. "Passive detected data" may refer to any data that is detected by a sensor without an action performed by the user <NUM>. For example, if a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader detects a RFID tag located on the user <NUM> as the user enters the cockpit <NUM>, the data detected by the RFID reader (i.e., any data transferred to the RFID reader from the RFID tag) may be referred to as "passive detected data.

The system <NUM> includes a controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may include one or more logic devices such as one or more of a central processing unit (CPU), an accelerated processing unit (APU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or the like. In various embodiments, the controller <NUM> may further include any non-transitory memory known in the art. The memory may store instructions usable by the logic device to perform operations.

The system <NUM> further includes a database or remote memory <NUM>. The database <NUM> may be located on a same aircraft as the system <NUM> or may be located remote from the system <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may communicate with the database <NUM> via any wired or wireless protocol. In that regard, the controller <NUM> accesses data stored in the database <NUM>. The database <NUM> stores identifiers associated with users of the system <NUM> and stores specific settings for various components of the ejection system <NUM> that are associated with each of the user identifiers. For example, a first user identifier may be associated with a first set of settings for the ejection system <NUM> and a second user identifier may be associated with a second set of settings for the ejection system <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may access the specific settings for each user identifier by comparing the user identifier to the database <NUM>.

The system <NUM> further includes one or more sensors. The sensor includes an image sensor. For example, the sensor may include any one or more of a first image sensor <NUM>, a second image sensor <NUM>, or an electronic port <NUM>. Each of the sensors may communicate with the controller <NUM>.

According to the invention, the first image sensor <NUM> is located on the helmet <NUM> and may detect data corresponding to a face of the user <NUM>. The first image sensor <NUM> may include a camera, light detector, infrared detector, or any other image sensor capable of detecting image data corresponding to any wavelength of light. The image sensor <NUM> may be designed to detect image data corresponding to a biometric feature of the user. For example, the image sensor <NUM> may be configured to detect a retina scan of the user. As another example, the image sensor <NUM> may be configured to detect a face of the user. The controller <NUM> may receive the detected retinal scan or facial scan of the user and may perform a facial recognition algorithm or a retinal recognition algorithm to identify the user. That is, the controller <NUM> may determine a specific identifier of the user based on the detected facial scan or retinal scan. The controller <NUM> may retrieve the specific settings associated with the specific identifier of the user from the database <NUM> using the determined specific identifier of the user. As will be discussed further below, the controller <NUM> may adjust adjustable settings of the ejection system <NUM> to have the specific settings associated with the user identifier.

The second image sensor <NUM> may be located on another portion of the ejection system <NUM> away from the helmet <NUM> and may include a camera, light detector, infrared detector, or any other image sensor capable of detecting image data corresponding to any wavelength of light. For example, the second image sensor <NUM> may be located on the canopy <NUM> of the first cockpit <NUM>. As another example, the second image sensor <NUM> may be located at an entrance location of the aircraft <NUM> of <FIG> or the first cockpit <NUM>. The second image sensor <NUM> may detect a facial scan of the user <NUM> or a retinal scan of the user <NUM> in a similar manner as discussed above with reference to the first image sensor <NUM>. In that regard, the controller <NUM> may determine an identifier of the user <NUM> based on the image data, may retrieve the specific settings associated with the user identifier from the database <NUM>, and adjust the adjustable settings of the ejection system <NUM> based on the specific settings.

The electronic port <NUM> may be designed to communicate with at least one of a first electronic device <NUM> or a second electronic device <NUM> via a wireless protocol. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may be a portable computing device and may include a mobile telephone, a tablet, a laptop, or the like. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may include, for example, a RFID tag, a key fob, a near field communication (NFC) transmitter, or the like. For example, the electronic port <NUM> and at least one of the first electronic device <NUM> or the second electronic device <NUM> may communicate via a wireless protocol such as an <NUM>. 11a/b/g/n/ac signal (e.g., Wi-Fi), a wireless communications protocol using short wavelength UHF radio waves and defined at least in part by IEEE <NUM>. <NUM> (e.g., the BLUETOOTH protocol maintained by Bluetooth Special Interest Group), a wireless communications protocol defined at least in part by IEEE <NUM>. <NUM> (e.g., the ZigBee protocol maintained by the ZigBee alliance), a cellular protocol, an infrared protocol, an optical protocol, a RFID protocol, a NFC protocol, or any other protocol capable of wireless transmissions.

The electronic port <NUM> may automatically communicate with at least one of the first electronic device <NUM> or the second electronic device <NUM> in response to the first electronic device <NUM> or the second electronic device <NUM> being located within range of the electronic port <NUM>. In response to initiation of these communications (or in response to another action after such communications are established), the electronic port may be provided with information from the first electronic device <NUM> or the second electronic device <NUM>. The information may include an identifier of the user <NUM>, other data related to the user <NUM> (in which case the controller <NUM> may determine the identifier based on the other data), or specific settings of the user related to the ejection system <NUM>.

In response to receiving a specific user identifier or determining the specific user identifier based on the received data at the electronic port <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may access specific user settings from the database <NUM> related to the user <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may adjust the adjustable settings of the ejection system based on the retrieved or received specific settings of the user.

The controller <NUM> may directly control the various settings of the ejection system <NUM> or may provide instructions to components of the ejection system <NUM> and those components may adjust the settings. For example, the ejection system <NUM> may include a seat electronic sequencer <NUM>, a seat electronic position controller <NUM>, an interseat electronic sequencer <NUM>, and the like. Each of the seat electronic sequencer <NUM>, the seat electronic position controller <NUM>, and the interseat electronic sequencer <NUM> may include one or more logic devices such as one or more of a central processing unit (CPU), an accelerated processing unit (APU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). In various embodiments, these elements may further include any non-transitory memory known in the art. The seat electronic sequencer <NUM>, the seat electronic position controller <NUM>, and the interseat electronic sequencer <NUM> may be coupled to the controller <NUM> and may receive the specific settings from the controller <NUM> or may receive instructions regarding adjustments of components of the ejection system <NUM> from the controller <NUM>.

The seat electronic sequencer <NUM> may make adjustments to components of the ejection system <NUM> that alter a sequence or timing of ejection events such as settings associated with the drogue <NUM>, the main parachute <NUM>, and a thrust angle of the seat <NUM> during ejection. For example, the seat electronic sequencer <NUM> may set a parachute deployment timing corresponding to a delay between ejection and deployment of the main parachute <NUM>. The seat electronic sequencer <NUM> may further set a drogue deployment timing corresponding to a delay between ejection and deployment of the drogue <NUM>. The seat electronic sequencer <NUM> may further adjust the angle of the seat <NUM> relative to the fuselage <NUM> of <FIG> during ejection of the seat <NUM> from the cockpit <NUM>.

The seat electronic position controller <NUM> may make adjustments to components of the ejection system <NUM> that affect a position of a user within the system <NUM> such as positions of various elements of the seat <NUM>. For example, the seat electronic position controller <NUM> may adjust a position of a headrest <NUM> (e.g., in any two or more directions corresponding to a front of an aircraft, a rear of an aircraft, closer to a floor surface <NUM>, farther from the floor surface <NUM>, towards a starboard side, and towards a port side). The seat electronic position controller <NUM> may further control a seat height actuator <NUM> to adjust a seat height <NUM> of the seat <NUM> (e.g., to increase or decrease the seat height <NUM>). The seat electronic position controller <NUM> may further adjust a rail angle <NUM> corresponding to an angle between seat rails <NUM> and the floor surface <NUM>. The seat electronic position controller <NUM> may further adjust a lumbar support <NUM> to extend closer to or farther from a surface <NUM> of a backrest <NUM>.

The interseat electronic sequencer <NUM> may make adjustments to components of the ejection system <NUM> that affect an interseat timing between components. For example, the interseat electronic sequencer <NUM> may adjust a timing or delay between ejection of the seat <NUM> and separation of at least one of a hatch or canopy (e.g., the hatch or canopy <NUM>, <NUM> of <FIG>) from the respective fuselage, or adjust a delay between ejection of two or more cockpits (e.g., between the first cockpit <NUM> and the second cockpit <NUM> of <FIG>). For example, it may be desirable for a different timing to be used for a heavier user relative to a lighter user. The interseat electronic sequencer <NUM> may select an order of ejection between two or more cockpits based on the specific settings of two or more users. As another example, it may be desirable for a different timing to be used for a heavier user relative to a lighter user. In that regard, the interseat electronic sequencer <NUM> may select a timing for a user to eject relative to separation of a hatch or canopy from a fuselage based on the specific settings of the user.

As alluded to above, the various adjustable settings of the ejection system <NUM> may vary based on at least one of physical characteristics of a user or user preferences. In that regard, the specific settings of the user stored in the database <NUM> or retrieved from the electronic device <NUM> or <NUM> may include at least one of physical characteristics of the user or user preferences. The controller <NUM> or one or more of the seat electronic sequencer <NUM>, the seat electronic position controller <NUM>, or the interseat electronic sequencer <NUM> may select values for the various adjustable settings based on the one or more of the physical characteristics of the user or the user preferences. For example, the physical characteristics may include at least one of a weight of the user, a gender of the user, a sitting height of the user (e.g., a length of at least one of a torso or a head of the user), a location of a center of gravity of the user relative to other parts of the body of the user, a reach of the user (e.g., corresponding to at least one of an arm length or a leg length of the user), or the like. In various embodiments, the specific settings of the user stored in the database <NUM> or retrieved from the electronic device <NUM> or <NUM> may include specific values of the adjustable settings instead of, or in addition to, the physical characteristics or the user preferences.

Referring now to <FIG>, a flowchart illustrates a method <NUM> for automatic adjustment of an ejection system based on user data detected by a sensor (which may include an electronic port). The method <NUM> is performed by components of a system similar to the system <NUM> of <FIG>, <FIG>. The method <NUM> may begin in block <NUM> where a sensor of the system detects user data corresponding to a user of an ejection system. The user input may include biometric data (e.g., a fingerprint or retina scan detected by an image sensor) or electronic data detected by an electronic port from an electronic device (e.g., a portable electronic device). The user data may be passive detected data detected without action from a user (besides potentially bringing an electronic device within range of the sensor).

In block <NUM>, a controller of the system determines an identifier of the user based on the user data. For example, the controller may compare the biometric data to stored biometric data, or may analyze the biometric data, to determine a user identifier associated with the user. As another example, the controller may receive the user identifier from the portable computing device.

In block <NUM>, the controller retrieves specific settings of the user corresponding to settings of an ejection system from a database using the user identifier. For example, the controller may access the database and compare the user identifier to user identifiers stored in the database, and may retrieve the specific settings associated with the user identifier.

In block <NUM>, the controller adjusts at least one of a plurality of adjustable settings (e.g., those described above with reference to the seat electronic sequencer, the seat electronic position controller, and the interseat electronic sequencer) based on the specific settings retrieved from the database.

Referring now to <FIG>, a flowchart illustrates a method <NUM> for automatic adjustment of an ejection system based on detected data. The method <NUM> is performed by components of a system similar to the system <NUM> of <FIG>, <FIG>. The method <NUM> may begin in block <NUM> where a sensor (e.g., a wireless electronic port) of the system may detect user data from an electronic device via an electronic port.

In block <NUM>, a controller of the system may determine specific settings of the user corresponding to settings of an ejection system based on the user data detected from the electronic device. For example, the data received from the electronic device may include the specific settings. As another example, the received data may include a user identifier and the controller may retrieve the specific settings from a database based on the user identifier.

In block <NUM>, the controller may adjust at least one of a plurality of adjustable settings (e.g., those described above with reference to the seat electronic sequencer, the seat electronic position controller, and the interseat electronic sequencer) based on the specific settings received from the electronic device or retrieved from the database.

Benefits and other advantages have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, and any elements that may cause any benefit or advantage to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosure.

Claim 1:
A system for automatic adjustment of an ejection system (<NUM>) for an aircraft, the system comprising:
the ejection system (<NUM>) having a plurality of adjustable settings;
a helmet (<NUM>);
an image sensor (<NUM>) located on the helmet (<NUM>) and configured to detect user data corresponding to a user of the ejection system, wherein the image sensor is configured to detect image data corresponding to the user and wherein the image data is the user data; and
a controller (<NUM>) coupled to the ejection system and to the image sensor and configured to:
determine an identifier of the user of the system based on the user data;
retrieve specific settings of the user by accessing a database based on the identifier; and
adjust at least one of the plurality of the adjustable settings of the ejection system based on the specific settings of the user retrieved from the database.