Inductive power transmission in aircraft seats

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10329019-B2
Application number	US-201515128221-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 7, 2015
Priority date	Apr 7, 2014
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

Described are aircraft passenger seat assemblies with a passenger seat, a component with an outer surface attached the passenger seat. An inductive wireless power unit with a coil assembly is included with the aircraft passenger seat assembly, and the coil assembly is positioned within the component. A portion of the outer surface of the component covers the coil assembly. Wires connecting the coil assembly to a power supply are hidden from view within the aircraft passenger seat assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aircraft passenger seat assembly comprising:
a passenger seat comprising a cutout;
a component comprising an outer surface positioned proximate to the passenger seat such that the component is positioned within the cutout; and
an inductive wireless power unit comprising a coil assembly, wherein the coil assembly is positioned within the component, wherein:
the coil assembly is configured to charge a personal electronic device when the personal electronic device is positioned adjacent to the component;
a portion of the outer surface of the component covers the coil assembly; and
wires connecting the coil assembly to a power supply are hidden from view within the aircraft passenger seat assembly.

2. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the component is at least one of (i) a portion of a shell surrounding the passenger seat, (ii) a portion of a headrest, (iii) a portion of the passenger seat adjacent to an upper literature pocket, (iv) a portion of the passenger seat adjacent to a lower literature pocket, (v) a portion of a tray table, (vi) a portion of an arm rest, and (vii) a portion of a cocktail tray.

3. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inductive wireless power unit further comprises a printed circuit board positioned within the passenger seat.

4. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the outer surface covering the coil assembly is formed of non-metallic materials.

5. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the outer surface covering the coil assembly is integrally formed with a remainder of the outer surface.

6. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the outer surface covering the coil assembly is coupled to a remainder of the outer surface.

7. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the personal electronic device comprises a second coil assembly positioned at a distance of 9 mm-35 mm from the coil assembly during charging.

8. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the component comprises a portion of the passenger seat such that the coil assembly is positioned behind a stowage location for a tray table.

9. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein a second coil assembly is positioned within the tray table in a location that is within close proximity of the coil assembly when the tray table is in a stowed position.

10. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 9 , wherein the tray table comprises an electronic reader.

11. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coil assembly is positioned such that the personal electronic device charges while in an acceptable viewing position.

12. An aircraft passenger seat assembly comprising;
a passenger seat back comprising an outer shroud; and
an inductive wireless power unit comprising a coil assembly, wherein the coil assembly is positioned within the passenger seat back to charge a personal electronic device, wherein:
the coil assembly is positioned such that the personal electronic device charges while in an acceptable viewing position;
a portion of the outer shroud covers the coil assembly; and
wires connecting the coil assembly to a power supply are hidden from view within the passenger seat back.

13. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 12 , wherein the inductive wireless power unit further comprises a printed circuit board positioned within the passenger seat back.

14. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 12 , wherein the portion of the outer shroud covering the coil assembly is formed of non-metallic materials.

15. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 12 , wherein the portion of the outer shroud covering the coil assembly is integrally formed with a remainder of the outer shroud.

16. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 12 , wherein the portion of the outer shroud covering the coil assembly is coupled to a remainder of the outer shroud.

17. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 12 , wherein the coil assembly is positioned within the passenger seat back adjacent to an upper literature pocket such that the personal electronic device charges when positioned in the upper literature pocket.

18. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 12 , wherein the coil assembly is positioned within the passenger seat back adjacent to a lower literature pocket such that the personal electronic device charges when positioned in the lower literature pocket.

19. An aircraft passenger seat assembly comprising:
a tray table comprising a cutout, an outer shroud, and tray table arms pivotally coupled to the aircraft passenger seat assembly; and
an inductive wireless power unit comprising a coil assembly, wherein the coil assembly is positioned within the cutout of the tray table;
wherein a portion of the outer shroud covers the coil assembly; and
wherein wires connecting the coil assembly to a power supply are hidden from view along at least one of the tray table arms.

20. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 19 , wherein the coil assembly is positioned such that a personal electronic device charges while in an acceptable viewing position.

21. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 19 , wherein the portion of the outer shroud covering the coil assembly is integrally formed with a remainder of the outer shroud.

22. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 19 , wherein the portion of the outer shroud covering the coil assembly is coupled to a remainder of the outer shroud.

23. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 19 , wherein the wires are routed through a hollow core located within one of the tray table arms.

24. The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 19 , wherein the wires are routed along an outer surface of one of the tray table arms.

25. An aircraft passenger seat assembly comprising:
a passenger seat comprising a cutout;
an inductive wireless power unit comprising a coil assembly, wherein the coil assembly is positioned within the cutout;
wherein the passenger seat is configured to receive and hold a personal electronic device adjacent to the cutout at an acceptable viewing position for a person seated behind the passenger seat; and
wherein the cutout is configured to position the coil assembly in close proximity to a coil assembly of the personal electronic device such that the personal electronic device charges while in the acceptable viewing position.

26. An aircraft passenger seat assembly comprising:
a tray table comprising a pivot location;
an inductive wireless power unit comprising a coil assembly, wherein the coil assembly is located within the pivot location of the tray table;
wherein the coil assembly is configured to be positioned in close proximity to a coil assembly of a personal electronic device to charge the personal electronic device.

Assignees

• Safran Seats Usa Llc

Inventors

• Noske Mark E
• Parker C Michael

Classifications

• B60N3/004 Primary

  of foldable trays mounted on the back-rest · CPC title

• H02J50/12

  of the resonant type · CPC title

• H02J2105/32

  for aircrafts · CPC title

• H02J7/65

  against overtemperature · CPC title

• H02J7/61

  against overcharge · CPC title