Vehicles including electronic stowage bin control systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10906458-B2
Application number	US-201715623567-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 15, 2017
Priority date	Mar 10, 2017
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

A vehicle includes an interior cabin, and a stowage bin control system. The stowage bin control system includes a plurality of stowage bin assemblies within the interior cabin. The plurality of stowage bin assemblies are configured to be selectively moved between an open position and a closed position. A master control device is separate and distinct from the plurality of stowage bin assemblies. The master control device is communicatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies through wireless connections and is configured to operate the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
an interior cabin; and
a stowage bin control system, the stowage bin control system including:
a plurality of stowage bin assemblies within the interior cabin, wherein the plurality of stowage bin assemblies are configured to be selectively moved between an open position and a closed position; and
a master control device that is separate and distinct from the plurality of stowage bin assemblies, wherein the master control device is communicatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies through wireless connections and is configured to operate the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies,
wherein the master control device is configured to automatically synchronize opening or closing of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies with lighting effects, sounds, graphics, and video.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the master control device is further configured to automatically move the plurality of stowage bin assemblies between the open position and the closed position.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies comprises a latch that is configured to selectively lock and unlock the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies, wherein the master control device is configured to automatically lock and unlock the latch.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the latch is operatively coupled to one or more latching mechanisms.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the master control device comprises a master stowage bin control unit that is in communication with the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies comprises a stowage bin control unit in communication with the master stowage bin control unit.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the master control device comprises a user interface configured to allow an individual to input commands.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the master control device is further configured to simultaneously open or close the plurality of stowage bin assemblies.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the master control device is further configured to open or close the plurality of stowage bin assemblies in an automatically synchronized and staggered fashion.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the master control device is configured to open or close the plurality of stowage bin assemblies in a wave action.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the master control device is further configured to transition the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies into a manual override mode in which a user is able to manually open and close the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies in response to reception of one or more error signals from the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies is configured to output a report signal to the master control device, wherein the report signal includes data regarding operational health or status.

13. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies comprises a proximity sensor that is configured to detect presence of an object within a detection range.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the proximity sensor is mounted to an outer surface of the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies.

15. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the proximity sensor is configured to selectively switch the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies between a locked state and an unlocked state.

16. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies comprises one or more exterior light-emitting elements, wherein the one or more exterior light-emitting elements are configured to emit light to indicate a current status of the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the one or more exterior light-emitting elements are proximate to a latch of the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies.

18. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies comprises a motion sensor that is configured to detect motion within a detection range.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the motion sensor is proximate to a latch of the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies.

20. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the motion sensor is configured to be engaged to automatically open or close the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies without an individual touching the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies.

21. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies comprises one or more interior light-emitting elements.

22. The vehicle of claim 21 , wherein the one or more interior light-emitting elements are disposed within a baggage retaining chamber of the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies.

23. The vehicle of claim 22 , wherein the one or more interior light-emitting elements are configured to illuminate the baggage retaining chamber of the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies.

24. The vehicle of claim 23 , wherein the one or more interior light-emitting elements are configured to illuminate the baggage retaining chamber when the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies is in the open position, and wherein the one or more interior light-emitting elements are deactivated when the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies is in the closed position.

25. The vehicle of claim 23 , wherein the one or more interior light-emitting elements emit light that gradually intensifies as the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies is opened, and wherein the one or more interior light-emitting elements emit light that gradually fades as the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies is closed.

26. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies comprises a bin position sensor that is configured to detect a position of the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies.

27. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies comprises a weight sensor that is configured to detect the weight of the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies.

28. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies comprises at least one touch sensor that is configured to be touched to one or more of lock, unlock, close, or open the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies.

29. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies comprises a bucket having a front panel connected to a forward end panel and an aft end panel, and wherein a baggage retaining chamber is defined, at least in part, between the front panel, the forward end panel, and the aft panel.

30. The vehicle of claim 29 , wherein the front panel comprises an arcuate panel having a curved outer surface

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Simms Richard K
• Dame Stephen G
• Cloud Mark L
• Smith Todd D

Classifications

• B60Q3/30 Primary

  for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments · CPC title

• H05B45/10

  Controlling the intensity of the light · CPC title

• B64D11/003 Primary

  Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage · CPC title

• G05B19/048

  Monitoring; Safety · CPC title

• G01D21/02

  Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass · CPC title