Passenger rest compartments for remote aircraft spaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10891504-B2
Application number	US-201816126952-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2018
Priority date	Jun 13, 2014
Publication date	Jan 12, 2021
Grant date	Jan 12, 2021

Abstract

A system may include a vestibule disposed in a passenger cabin of an aircraft, the vestibule including a staircase for accessing a passenger rest cabin, the passenger rest cabin implemented above or below the passenger cabin of the aircraft. The system may also include a plurality of passenger rest compartments implemented in the passenger rest cabin, each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments including a bed and a passenger service unit (PSU).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a vestibule disposed in a passenger cabin of an aircraft, the vestibule including at least one staircase for accessing at least one passenger rest cabin, each of the at least one passenger rest cabin implemented above or below the passenger cabin of the aircraft;
at least one external view camera configured to capture images outside of the aircraft; and
a plurality of passenger rest compartments implemented in the at least one passenger rest cabin, each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments including a bed and a passenger service unit (PSU),
wherein each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments further includes a display, wherein for each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments the display is configured to be a virtual window configured to mimic an aircraft window and to present at least a portion of the images outside of the aircraft.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one staircase comprises a staircase, wherein the at least one passenger rest cabin comprises a passenger rest cabin, wherein the vestibule includes the staircase for accessing the passenger rest cabin above the passenger cabin of the aircraft.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the passenger rest cabin includes a central corridor, wherein some of the plurality of passenger rest compartments are implemented on a first side of the central corridor and other of the plurality of passenger rest compartments are implemented on a second side of the central corridor.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one staircase comprises a staircase, wherein the at least one passenger rest cabin comprises a passenger rest cabin, wherein the vestibule includes the staircase for accessing the passenger rest cabin below the passenger cabin of the aircraft.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments further includes a wall, wherein for each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments the PSU is implemented in or on the wall.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein for each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments the PSU includes a microphone, a speaker, temperature controls, at least one charging outlet, and a crew call button and is configured to allow two-way audio communication between an occupant of a given passenger rest compartment and crew in another part of the aircraft.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein for each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments the PSU includes a microphone and a speaker and is configured to allow two-way audio communication between an occupant of a given passenger rest compartment and crew in another part of the aircraft.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein for each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments the display is configured to present in-flight entertainment to an occupant of a given passenger rest compartment.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments further includes a wall, wherein for each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments the display is implemented in or on the wall.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein for each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments the display is positionable such that the display is configured to be moved from a first position in or on the wall to a second position extended away from the wall.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein for each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments the display is further positionable such that the display is configured to tilt to face an occupant of a given passenger rest compartment.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments further includes at least one sensor configured to detect a position of an occupant's head, wherein for each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments the display is configured to be the virtual window configured to mimic the aircraft window and to present at least the portion of the images outside of the aircraft based on a detected or predetermined default position of the occupant's head.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments further includes a ceiling positioned above the bed, wherein for each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments the display is implemented in or on the ceiling.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one ventilated stowage compartment configured to stow footwear, each of the at least one ventilated stowage compartment implemented in or in proximity to one of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments further includes a stowable table positionable to be in a stowed position or a deployed position over the bed.

16. A system, comprising:
a vestibule disposed in a passenger cabin of an aircraft, the vestibule including a first staircase and a second staircase, the first staircase for accessing a first passenger rest cabin, the second staircase for accessing a second passenger rest cabin, the first passenger rest cabin implemented above the passenger cabin of the aircraft, the second passenger rest cabin implemented below the passenger cabin of the aircraft;
at least one external view camera configured to capture images outside of the aircraft; and
a plurality of passenger rest compartments implemented in the first passenger rest cabin and the second passenger rest cabin, each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments including a bed and a passenger service unit (PSU),
wherein each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments further includes a display, wherein for each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments the display is configured to be a virtual window configured to mimic an aircraft window and to present at least a portion of the images outside of the aircraft.

17. An aircraft system, comprising:
a vestibule disposed in a passenger cabin of an aircraft, the vestibule including a staircase for accessing a passenger rest cabin implemented above the passenger cabin of the aircraft;
at least one external view camera configured to capture images outside of the aircraft; and
a plurality of passenger rest compartments implemented in the passenger rest cabin, each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments including a bed, a display, and a passenger service unit (PSU), wherein each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments further includes a display, wherein for each of the plurality of the passenger rest compartments the display is configured to be a virtual window configured to mimic an aircraft window and to present at least a portion of the images outside of the aircraft,
wherein the passenger rest cabin includes a central corridor and graspable handles spaced along the central corridor, wherein some of the plurality of passenger rest compartments are implemented on a first side of the central corridor and other of the plurality of passenger rest compartments are implemented on a second side of the central corridor.

Assignees

• Rockwell Collins Inc

Inventors

• Brauer R Klaus

Classifications

• B64D11/0015 Primary

  Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television · CPC title

• H04N23/611

  where the recognised objects include parts of the human body · CPC title

• H04N23/63

  by using electronic viewfinders · CPC title

• H04N23/57

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title

• H04N23/54

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · CPC title