SPECIFICATIONA method of and arrangement for carrying out passenger-related and/or air-steward-related functions in an aircraftThe invention relates to a method of and to an arrangement for carrying out passenger-related and/ or air-steward related information, supply, monitoring, entertainment, intercommunication and management functions.
In known arrangements of this kind, the passenger-related and the air-steward-related functions are carried out by separate installations or systems which are independent of one another and have their own cabling. The various installations/systems involved include:- a loud-speaker or public address system- a passenger paging system- informatory signs- cabin lighting- a passenger oxygen system and many others.
In this respect, the relevant cabling or wiring system and components are predominantly determined by the equipment which is initially required in the aircraft and, for reasons of weight, only the wiring required for this particular equipment is laid.
In this respect it is disadvantageous that, upon later conversion, extensive cabling work and additional components are always necessary. Such work arises when, for example, seat spacings are to be changed, one class is to be extended or reduced and the corresponding systems have to be adapted.
Accordingly, the object of the invention is to provide a method and an arrangement for carrying out passenger-related and/or air steward related functions of the kind mentioned in the introduction in such a way that the relevant wiring system and the connected components are, in principle, usable, after installation thereof in the aircraft, for all conceivable forms of conversion without later changing of the cabling by making possible the initation of performance of all conceivable functions.
This object is achieved in that the signals necessary for carrying out these functions are prepared digitally and transmitted by way of a data bus system.
The data bus system for transmission of relevant signals in digital form includes at least one processing and interface unit and a multiplicity of locally distributed decoder/encoder units which form respective interfaces to elements or devices which initiate or carry out the passenger-related or respectively air-steward-related functions.
The main advantage achieved therewith is that installation and cabling work upon conversion is practically no longer necessary, so that the costs of a cabin conversion or refit are considerably lowered. In other words, the simplicity of the programming used is such that it allows the arrangement to be changed by the operator of the aircraft himself according to the requirements thereof.
The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:Figure 1 is a general diagram of an exemplified embodiment of an arrangement in accordance with the invention;Figure 2 shows a decoder/encoder unit, with interface, for passenger-related systems;Figure 3 shows a decoder/encoder unit, with interfaces, for air-steward-related systems;Figure 4 shows a seat-related decoder/encoder unit with interfaces;Figure 5 is a schematic view showing an exemplified embodiment of bus wiring installed in an aircraft.
Figure 1 is a general diagram of an arrangement in accordance with the invention comprising a processing and interface unit which is connected to bidirectional date loops 2, 3, 4 and thence to freely addressable decoder/encoder units DEU. Moreover, it contains interfaces to cockpit systems 5, to cockpit-side display/release 5 and to entertainment system component 7.
Decoderiencoder units (DEU) 8a to 8n of passenger-related systems are connected to the data loop 2. The data loop 3 is connected to decoder/encoder units 9a to 9n by way of which air-steward-related systems are connected. The data loop 4 is connected to decoder/encoder units 10a to 10n which lead to seat-related systems.
A control and display apparatus 11 as well as a central programming and test control apparatus 12 are also connected to the processing and interface unit 1. The programming and test control unit 12 is for the input or call-up of information regarding cabin division and/or seat arrangement and the various passenger-related or air-steward-related functions resulting therefrom as well as for fault or error recognition. Moreover, a data input and output 13 is provided.
The passenger-related systems, which communicate by way of the DEU's 8a to 8n with the processing and interface unit 1 include:(a) a loud-speaker or public address system(b) a passenger paging system(c) informatory signs(d) cabin lighting(e) a passenger oxygen system(f) a reading lamp system.
The air-steward-related systems which are in operative communication by way of the DEU's 9a to 9n include:(g) an air-steward intercommunication system(h) an air-steward paging system(i) an evacuation indication(j) a cabin warning and display system(k) a cabin management system.
The seat-related passenger system, which comprise(I) a passenger entertainment system(m) a passenger terminal system(n) a passenger telephone system(o) a passenger monitoring system are conducted by way of the DEU's 10a to 10n.
If, for example, a loud-speaker announcement from the cockpit is to be communicated to every one, then this is signalled by way of the interface 6 to the processing and interface unit 1, which converts the signal appropriately and passes it in digital form to the data loop 2, so that the loudspeakers receive the appropriate low-frequency signal, after is has been decoded in the DEU's 8a to 8n, adapted in an installation-location-dependent manner and amplified.Volumes and frequency-response control for the load-speaker system is provided in such a way that the sound reproduction is adapted automatically to the local acoustic conditions of the cabin cabin and to the instantaneous aircraft-configuration-dependent conditions, in which respect the cabin-acoustic conditions are present in digitally stored form and the configuration- dependent conditions are supplied by appropriate sensors.
If only a specific group of passengers is to be addressed (for example the First Class), then, by virtue of the free addressing facility, only the relevant DEU's are activated which belong to the said group or class.
In this respect, a considerable advantage of the present arrangement is that, upon changes in cabin division, the system functions of the programme initiation which ought to be correlated accordingly can be adapted to the new factors without any cable change or addition of components (for example, amplifiers), which would be the case if, for example, a single class compartment is to be converted into two different class compartments.
With the other systems, whether passenger-related, air-steward-related or seat-related, the cycle functions similarly, in which respect the same advantages exist with respect to the possibility of programmable system changes. These changes can be effected by the aircraft manufacturer as well as the user.
Instead of the arrangement shown by way of example in Figure 1, more than one processing and interface unit can be present. Also, instead of the three bidirectional data loops, other alternating arrangements may conceivably be connected to data buses -bidirectional or unidirectional -which satisfy the transmission requirements of the said systems in their entirety and sequence.ln this respect both electrical conductors (symmetrical or unsymmetrical) and photoconductors can be used as the connection elements.
Figure 2 shows a decoder/encoder unit 8a, with interfaces, for passenger-related systems. In the exemplary arrangement two passenger supply and information units 14a and 14b incorporating signal transmitters and receivers are supplied from eachDEU. In addition, three fluorescent strip lamps 15a, 15b, 15c are controlled by each DEU which lamps are mounted in the passenger compartment.
Figure 3 shows a decoder/encoder unit 9a for airsteward- related systems which has interfaces to an interphone control unit 16, to zone calling lights 17, to an evacuation indication 18 and to a cabin warning and display 19. A general fault announcement appears on the control and display unit 11.
The exact address-related fault display is effected in each case by the programming and test control unit 12 shown in Figure 1.
Figure 4 shows a seat-related decoder/encoder unit 10a having interfaces to seat-related systems 20 for entertainment, i.e. for listening to music/ speech programmes according to choice, and also for connection of a terminal for personal usage for input, output and display of information, in accordance with the offer of the operator, either from the processing and interface unit 1 or by way of existing systems, and additionally for connect on of passenger-monitoring devices, such as seat occupancy display and state of the seat equipmentFigure 5 shows an exemplified embodiment of bus wiring for the connection of the passenger-related DEU's 8a to 8n. The DEU's are installed on the frames 21a to 21n as close together as required, in this case on every second frame. In addition, DEU's are present in the galley regions 22a and 22b and in the washroom regions 23a and 23b.
As a result of this arrangement the components of the passenger-related system can be connected to the respective DEU's supply by way of short pre-made-up cable lines.
The data loop is connected to the processing and exchange unit 1 which is located in the electronics compartment or region. The DEU's are generally coupled to the data loops in such a way that prejudicial effects do not arise through a fault in theDEU's nor at their analogue side and any failure is restricted to those systems which are attached to the relevant defective or pulled-out DEU and which are then no longer fed with data.