Patent ID: 12201737

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of various embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show various embodiments by way of illustration. While these various embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step may include a singular embodiment or step. Also, any reference to attached, fixed, connected, or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full or any other possible attachment option. Additionally, any reference to without contact (or similar phrases) may also include reduced contact or minimal contact. It should also be understood that unless specifically stated otherwise, references to “a,” “an” or “the” may include one or more than one and that reference to an item in the singular may also include the item in the plural. Further, all ranges may include upper and lower values and all ranges and ratio limits disclosed herein may be combined.

In various embodiments, ultraviolet C (UV-C) light (i.e., 200-280 nm wavelength light) has promise to work in unoccupied spaces such as an interior of a cabin or a cockpit of an aircraft for efficient disinfection of the interior. The UV-C light will kill certain viruses and bacteria on and around the interior surfaces. UV-C light may be more efficient, faster, and/or more cost-effective relative to typical sanitization systems for aircrafts. In various embodiments, in some respects, UV-C light may be harmful to humans when exposed for long durations. In various embodiments, a sanitization system for an aircraft may include UV-C lamps, or like disposed in a cabin, or cockpit, of an aircraft, the UV-C lamps being configured to operate when no passengers/crew are on the aircraft (i.e., after deboarding of an airplane). In this regard, the interior of the aircraft may be sanitized in an efficient manner without potential harmful effects for humans.

In various embodiments, a sanitization system as disclosed herein may comprise a first electrical system and a second electrical system independent from the first electrical system (e.g., at least electrically isolated from one another). In various embodiments, the first electrical system may be configured to operate during flight of the aircraft. For example, the first electrical system may include a power source disposed on the aircraft that is in electrical communication with aircraft lights and any other electrical components on the aircraft. The second electrical system may comprise an electrical port configured to couple to an external power source (e.g., a power source disposed on a ground service cart or the like). The electrical port may be in electrical communication with UVC lights disposed throughout the aircraft as described further herein. In this regard, the sanitization system may be configured to only operate when the aircraft is on-ground and furthermore may be configured to reduce the potential of the sanitization system being operated when passengers or crew remain on the aircraft. Thus, sanitizations systems as disclosed herein may avoid accidental switching on in flight and provide improved safety relative to typical aircraft sanitization systems, in accordance with various embodiments.

With reference toFIGS.1A and1B, a cabin51of an aircraft50is shown, according to various embodiments. The aircraft50may be any aircraft such as an airplane, a helicopter, or any other aircraft. The aircraft50may include various lighting systems10that emit visible light to the cabin51. Pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria, may remain on surfaces of the cabin51, and these remaining pathogens may result in indirect contact transmission to other people (e.g., subsequent passengers). For example, the cabin51may include overhead bins52, passenger seats54for supporting passengers, handles56, lavatory surfaces, and other structures/surfaces upon which active pathogens may temporarily reside. As will be discussed further below, in order to reduce the transmission/transfer of pathogens between passengers, one or more of the lighting systems10may emit disinfecting electromagnetic radiation output into the visible light in order to facilitate disinfection of the cabin51(e.g., between flights when the aircraft50is empty). The lighting systems10may be broken down into different addressable lighting regions that could be used on an aircraft. For example, the regions on an aircraft may include sidewall lighting, cross-bin lighting, over wing exit lighting, ceiling lighting, direct lighting, flex lights, reading lights, dome lights, lavatory lights, mirror lights, cockpit lights, cargo lights, etc. The regional breakdown of the lighting system allows lighting control over broad areas of the aircraft. In various embodiments, a lighting system10may be disposed in/incorporated by a passenger service unit (PSU) for a row of seats. As such, a lighting system10could be provided for each row of an aircraft, as well as for each section of different sections of a given row of an aircraft.

Referring now toFIG.2a schematic view of a sanitization system100for an aircraft cabin, is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, the sanitization system100comprises an aircraft101and a ground service cart151. Although illustrated as a ground service cart151, any external power source is within the scope of this disclosure (including a stationary external power source). For example, an external battery being coupled to an electrical port112of the aircraft101would be within the scope of this disclosure. In various embodiments, the aircraft101includes a first electrical system110and a second electrical system120. In various embodiments, the second electrical system120is independent from the first electrical system110(e.g., at least electrically-isolated from one another). In various embodiments, the first electrical system110may comprise an electrical port112, UV-C light(s)114and sensor(s)116. In various embodiments, the second electrical system120includes a power source122, cabin lights124and/or any other electrical component of the aircraft101configured to operate during flight of the aircraft101. In various embodiments, the power source122is not in electrical communication with UV-C light(s)114. In various embodiments, the UV-C light(s)114may be disposed throughout the cabin as illustrated inFIG.1. For example, the UVC light(s)114may be disposed above rows of seats in a PSU, external to a PSU, or the like. The UV-C light(s)114may be disposed along the walkway. In various embodiments, the UV-C lights114may be disposed in the lavatory or the cockpit. The present disclosure is not limited in this regard. Thus, UV-C light(s)114may be disposed anywhere throughout the interior of the aircraft101where it may be desirable to have sanitization, in accordance with various embodiments.

In various embodiments, the sanitization system100comprises a control system150. In various embodiments, the control system150includes a controller154and a memory156(e.g., a database or any appropriate data structure; hereafter “memory156” also may be referred to as “database156”). The controller154may 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 (e.g., controller154may utilize one or more processors of any appropriate type/configuration, may utilize any appropriate processing architecture, or both). In various embodiments, the controller154may further include any non-transitory memory known in the art. The memory156may store instructions usable by the logic device to perform operations. Any appropriate computer-readable type/configuration may be utilized as the memory156, any appropriate data storage architecture may be utilized by the memory156, or both.

The database156may be integral to the control system150or may be located remote from the control system150. The controller154may communicate with the database156via any wired or wireless protocol (e.g., using any appropriate communication link). In that regard, the controller154may access data stored in the database156. In various embodiments, the controller154may be integrated into computer systems onboard an aircraft. Furthermore, any number of conventional techniques for electronics configuration, signal processing and/or control, data processing and the like may be employed. Also, the processes, functions, and instructions may can include software routines in conjunction with processors, etc.

System program instructions and/or controller instructions may be loaded onto a non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the controller154to perform various operations. The term “non-transitory” is to be understood to remove only propagating transitory signals per se from the claim scope and does not relinquish rights to all standard computer-readable media that are not only propagating transitory signals per se. Stated another way, the meaning of the term “non-transitory computer-readable medium” and “non-transitory computer-readable storage medium” should be construed to exclude only those types of transitory computer-readable media which were found in In Re Nuijten to fall outside the scope of patentable subject matter under 35 U.S.C. § 101.

The instructions stored on the memory156of the controller154may be configured to perform various operations. The schematic flow chart diagram ofFIG.3includes a controller method300that the processor of the controller154may perform, in accordance with various embodiments. Generally, the controller154is operably (e.g., electrically or wirelessly through a network) coupled to the UV-C light(s)114as described further herein.

In various embodiments, the control system150further comprises a display device158. In various embodiments, the display device158may be configured to provide inputs into the control system150for operation of the sanitization system100. For example, the display device158may be used to set a duration for sanitization, set a wavelength of the UV-C light(s)114, display a status of UV-C light(s)114(i.e., whether a UV-C light is operable or not), or the like. Although controller154, memory156and display device158are illustrated as being components of the ground service cart151, the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. For example, the controller154, the memory156, and the display device158may be components of the aircraft101, in accordance with various embodiments.

In various embodiments, the control system150further comprises a power source152. The power source152is disposed on the ground service cart151. In various embodiments, the power source152is external to the aircraft101. The power source152may be any power source, such as a battery, an electrical grid, or the like.

In various embodiments, the sanitization system100includes an electrical cable105coupled to the ground service cart151. The electrical cable105is in electrical communication with the power source152. In various embodiments, the electrical cable105is in electrical communication with the controller154, the memory156, and the display device158. In various embodiments, the electrical cable105is configured to removably couple to the electrical port112via a plug, or the like. In this regard, in response to coupling the electrical cable105of the ground service cart151to the electrical port112, the power source152becomes in electrical communication with the UV-C light(s)114of the first electrical system110of the sanitization system100.

In various embodiments, sensor(s)116disposed on aircraft101may be utilized to reduce the potential of the sanitization system100being operated with personnel being within the aircraft cabin (e.g., cabin51fromFIG.1). For example, sensor(s)116may comprise motion detection sensors, such as passive infrared sensors, microwave motion sensors, dual tech motion sensors, or the like. In various embodiments, the sensor(s)116may be configured to determine whether an aircraft engine is off (i.e., an existing sensor of an aircraft engine may be electrically coupled to the ground service cart151and data from the sensor116may be utilized to verify the engine is off). In this regard, the sanitization system100may attempt to verify the aircraft101is empty, in accordance with various embodiments.

In various embodiments, the control system150is in operable communication with each UV-C light of the UVC light(s)114and sensor(s)116. In various embodiments, each UV-C light in the UV-C light(s)114may comprise excimer lamp(s), light emitting diodes (LEDs), or the like. Each UV-C light114disclosed herein is configured to emit UV-C radiation. “UV-C” radiation, as disclosed herein, refers to radiation with wavelengths between 200 and 280 nms. In various embodiments, UV-C radiation may be safe for human exposure/consumption up to a certain dosage levels. However, extensive sanitization dosage levels post-flight may not be safe for human consumption. In this regard, the sanitization system100disclosed herein may provide various protections to reduce the potential for human consumption of output from UV-C light(s)114, such as by utilizing sensor(s)116and/or by having the power source152of the sanitization system100being disposed external to the aircraft101.

Referring now toFIG.3, a flow chart for a method300of operation for control system150fromFIG.2is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, the method300comprises receiving, via a processor (e.g., controller154fromFIG.2) and through a sensor (e.g., sensor(s)116fromFIG.2), an occupation status of an aircraft (step302). In various embodiments, an occupation status may be empty or occupied. In various embodiments, the sensor may be configured to detect motion, determine whether an aircraft engine is off, or the like.

In various embodiments, the method300further comprises determining, via the processor, whether an aircraft cabin (e.g., cabin51fromFIG.1) should be empty (e.g., based upon identification of a condition that has been associated with an “empty” occupation status) (step304). In this regard, the processor may receive the sensor data from step302and utilize the sensor data to determine whether the cabin should be empty based upon this sensor data. For example, for a motion sensor, if no motion is detected, the processor may associate this with the cabin being empty and if motion is detected, the processor may associate this with the cabin being occupied.

In various embodiments, the method300further comprises commanding, via the processor, a plurality of UV-C lights (e.g., UV-C lights114fromFIG.2of lighting system10fromFIGS.1A-B) to emit UV-C radiation for a predetermined period of time (step306). In various embodiments, the predetermined period of time may be determined based on an amount of time to sanitize a cabin (e.g., cabin51fromFIG.1). In various embodiments the period of time may be between 5 and 20 minutes, or approximately 10 minutes.

Referring now toFIG.4, a perspective view of a ground service cart151in use in a sanitization system100for an aircraft101is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, the electrical cable105is removably coupled to the electrical port112prior to operation of the sanitization system100via a plug106. In various embodiments, the plug106may be three-pronged, two pronged or the like. In various embodiments, the electrical port112may comprise a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) receptacle, or any other electrical receptacle.

In various embodiments, the sanitization system100disclosed herein may provide an efficient and cost effective way of cleaning an aircraft (e.g., aircraft50fromFIG.1A-B) relative to typical sanitization systems. In various embodiments, a sanitization system100disclosed herein may reduce the risk of infectious diseases spread due to certain virus or bacterial and provide better protection to passengers and crew members. In various embodiments, by having integral/built in UV-C lights114fromFIG.2of a lighting system10fromFIG.1, a cabin (e.g., cabin51fromFIGS.1A-B) may be efficiently cleaned while the cabin is empty, maintaining safety of crew and passengers during sanitization.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” is used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. Different cross-hatching is used throughout the figures to denote different parts but not necessarily to denote the same or different materials.

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided herein. In the detailed description herein, references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “various embodiments,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure in alternative embodiments.

Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

Finally, it should be understood that any of the above described concepts can be used alone or in combination with any or all of the other above described concepts. Although various embodiments have been disclosed and described, one of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, the description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the principles described or illustrated herein to any precise form. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.