Low Voltage DC Distribution System for Charging Passenger Devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016134138-A1
Application number	US-201514886701-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 19, 2015
Priority date	Nov 7, 2014
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A low voltage DC distribution system to provide power to power or charge passenger electronic devices. Cable assemblies pass high voltage power down in daisy chain fashion to various seat groups. Connector elements contain current limiting circuitry which provides low voltage power for distribution to seat electronic components via small gauge wire. Compared to previous systems, embodiments may have a marked reduction in installed weight, encroachment on passenger space, easier installation and reduced impact on seat structures.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A power distribution system, comprising:
a plurality of passenger seats each having associated with it at least one electrical component requiring a supply of power; at least one cable assembly, configured to receive power from a power source, and including a input connector and an output connector that are connected by a connecting cable; wherein the cable assembly is configured to transmit an amount of high voltage power; wherein at least one of the input connector and the output connector includes current limiting circuitry configured to convert the high voltage power to an amount of low voltage power; and wherein the cable assembly is configured to transmit the low voltage power to at least one of the electrical components.

2 . The power distribution system of claim 1 wherein the cable assembly supplies the low voltage power to a seat group hub which distributes the lower low voltage power to at least one of the electrical components.

3 . The power distribution system of claim 2 wherein the cable assembly is connected to the seat group hub via small gauge wire.

4 . The power distribution system of claim 2 wherein the seat group hub is connected to the electrical components via small gauge wire.

5 . The power distribution system of claim 2 wherein each of the input connector and output connector supplies the low voltage power to a seat group hub which distributes the low voltage power to a plurality of electrical components.

6 . The power distribution system of claim 1 wherein a plurality of cable assemblies are connected in daisy chain fashion to supply power to a plurality of seat groups.

7 . The power distribution system of claim 1 wherein the electrical components are consumer outlets.

8 . The power distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the power source is a generator on a commercial aircraft.

9 . The power distribution system of claim 1 wherein the low voltage power is 28VDC.

10 . A method of distributing power, comprising the steps of:
providing at least one cable assembly, wherein each cable assembly includes an input connector and an output connector that are connected by a connecting cable, and wherein at least one of the input connector and output connector includes current limiting circuitry; supplying from a power source to the cable assembly an amount of high voltage power; supplying from the input connector and output connector that have current limiting circuitry an amount of low voltage power to a plurality of electrical components associated with passenger seating.

11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the step of supplying low voltage power includes supplying the low voltage power to at least one seat group hub which distributes the lower voltage power to a plurality of electrical components.

12 . The power distribution system of claim 11 wherein the cable assembly is connected to the seat group hub via small gauge wire.

13 . The power distribution system of claim 11 wherein the seat group hub is connected to the electrical components via small gauge wire.

14 . The power distribution system of claim 10 wherein a plurality of cable assemblies are connected in a daisy chain fashion to supply power to a plurality of seat groups.

15 . The power distribution system of claim 14 wherein the electrical components are consumer outlets.

16 . The power distribution system of claim 10 , wherein the power source is a generator on a commercial aircraft.

17 . The method of claim 1 wherein the current limiting circuitry includes at least one of a fuse, resistor and a circuit breaker.

18 . A power distribution system, comprising:
a plurality of seats arranged in successive rows, each seat having associated with it at least one in-seat electrical component; a seat-to-seat cable running perpendicular to the rows of seats and being disposed within a cable raceway; the seat-to-seat cable having a plurality of current limiting devices located along the length of the seat-to-seat cable and being disposed within the cable raceway; the in-seat electrical components being electrically connected to respective current limiting devices via local cabling; wherein the local cabling is of a smaller gauge than a gauge of the seat-to-seat cable.

19 . The power distributions system of claim 18 , wherein the gauge of the seat-to-seat cable is sufficient to carry a maximum current.

20 . The power distribution system of claim 19 , wherein the gauge of the local cabling is less than that sufficient to carry the maximum current.

Assignees

• Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corp

Inventors

• Jouper Jeffrey A
• Lamb John S

Classifications

• H02J2105/32

  for aircrafts · CPC title

• B60R16/023

  for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems · CPC title

• B64D11/0624

  Arrangements of electrical connectors, e.g. for earphone, internet or electric supply · CPC title

• H02J7/0027 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02J4/00 Primary

  Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as AC or DC; Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks combining AC and DC sections or sub-networks (arrangements using intermediate DC-AC-DC conversion H02J1/002; arrangements using high-voltage DC [HVDC] links H02J3/36) · CPC title