Ejection mode verification system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11560232-B2
Application number	US-202017104930-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2020
Priority date	Nov 25, 2020
Publication date	Jan 24, 2023
Grant date	Jan 24, 2023

Abstract

A system for ejection mode verification may comprise: a first ejection seat; a second ejection seat; an ejection mode selector; and a controller configured to: compare a desired ejection mode with a selected ejection mode; and command an indicator to turn “ON” or “OFF” in response to comparing the desired ejection mode with the selected ejection mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for ejection mode verification, the system comprising:
a first ejection seat;
a second ejection seat; and
a controller configured to:
compare a desired ejection mode with a selected ejection mode;
command an indicator to turn “ON” or “OFF” in response to comparing the desired ejection mode with the selected ejection mode;
command the indicator to provide a first indication that the desired ejection mode does not match the selected ejection mode in response to the desired ejection mode not matching the selected ejection mode; and
command the indicator to provide a second indication that the desired ejection mode matches the selected ejection mode in response to the desired ejection mode matching the selected ejection mode.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a user detection system configured to determine whether the second ejection seat is empty, whether the second ejection seat has a pilot, or whether the second ejection seat has a non-pilot.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is in operable communication with a user detection system and the indicator.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an ejection mode selector configured to select an ejection mode for an ejection system.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the selected ejection mode is determined from the ejection mode selector, and wherein the desired ejection mode is determined from a user detection system.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the indicator provides the first indication in response to the selected ejection mode being a single pilot ejection mode and the second ejection seat having either a pilot or a non-pilot, and wherein the indicator provides the second indication in response to the selected ejection mode being the single pilot ejection mode and the second ejection seat is empty.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive the desired ejection mode from a user detection system.

8. An ejection mode verification system, comprising:
an indicator;
a user detection system, the user detection system configured to determine whether an ejection seat is empty, whether the ejection seat has a pilot, or whether the ejection seat has a non-pilot; and
a controller in operable communication with the indicator and the user detection system, the controller operable to:
receive, via the user detection system, a desired ejection mode for an aircraft based on data received from the user detection system;
receive, via an ejection mode selector, a selected ejection mode for the aircraft;
compare the desired ejection mode to the selected ejection mode; and
command the indicator to turn “ON” or “OFF” in response to comparing the desired ejection mode with the selected ejection mode.

9. The ejection mode verification system of claim 8 , wherein the user detection system comprises an electronic port configured to communicate with an electronic device.

10. The ejection mode verification system of claim 9 , wherein the user detection system is configured to determine whether a user is the pilot or the non-pilot in response to the electronic port communicating with the electronic device.

11. The ejection mode verification system of claim 8 , wherein the user detection system includes a connector for at least one of a helmet, a harness, a communication device, or an oxygen device.

12. The ejection mode verification system of claim 11 , wherein the user detection system is configured to determine whether a user is the pilot or the non-pilot in response to analyzing a connector portion of the connector.

13. The ejection mode verification system of claim 8 , wherein the user detection system comprises a microphone configured to detect a voice of a user.

14. The ejection mode verification system of claim 8 , wherein the user detection system includes an image sensor.

15. An article of manufacture including a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving, via the processor, a desired ejection mode of an ejection system from potential ejection modes, the potential ejection modes including a single pilot mode, a dual pilot mode, and a dual occupant/single pilot mode, the ejection system having a first pilot in a first ejection seat and a second ejection seat that is empty, has a second pilot therein, or has a non-pilot therein;
receiving, via the processor, a selected ejection mode of the ejection system from the potential ejection modes;
comparing, via the processor, the selected ejection mode with the desired ejection mode; and
commanding, via the processor, an indicator to be “OFF” or “ON” in response to comparing the selected ejection mode with the desired ejection mode.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 15 , the operations further comprising:
commanding, via the processor, the indicator to indicate the desired ejection mode does not match the selected ejection mode in response to the desired ejection mode not matching the selected ejection mode; and
commanding, via the processor, the indicator to indicate the desired ejection mode matches the selected ejection mode in response to the desired ejection mode matching the selected ejection mode.

Assignees

• Ami Ind Inc

Inventors

• Holstine Steven
• Likes Tristan
• Hampton John

Classifications

• B64D25/10 Primary

  Ejector seats · CPC title

• G05B19/0428

  Safety, monitoring (G05B19/0423 takes precedence) · CPC title