Inductive power transmission in aircraft seats

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017101187-A1
Application number	US-201515128221-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 7, 2015
Priority date	Apr 7, 2014
Publication date	Apr 13, 2017
Grant date	—

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; a component comprising an outer surface positioned proximate to the passenger seat; and an inductive wireless power unit comprising a coil assembly, wherein the coil assembly is positioned within the component; wherein a portion of the outer surface of the component covers the coil assembly; and wherein 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 a shell surrounding the passenger seat, a headrest, an arm rest, and 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 inductive wireless power unit are configured so that the coil assembly charges a personal electronic device having a second coil assembly positioned at a distance of 9 mm-35 mm from the coil assembly.

8 . 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; 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 within the passenger seat back.

9 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein the inductive wireless power unit further comprises a printed circuit board positioned within the passenger seat back.

10 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein the portion of the outer shroud covering the coil assembly is formed of non-metallic materials.

11 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein the portion of the outer shroud covering the coil assembly is integrally formed with a remainder of the outer shroud.

12 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein the portion of the outer shroud covering the coil assembly is coupled to a remainder of the outer shroud.

13 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein the coil assembly is positioned behind an upper literature pocket.

14 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein the coil assembly is positioned behind a lower literature pocket.

15 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein the coil assembly is positioned behind a stowage location for a tray table.

16 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 15 , 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.

17 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 16 , wherein the tray table comprises an electronic reader.

18 . An aircraft passenger seat assembly comprising:
a tray table comprising 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 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.

19 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 18 , wherein the inductive wireless power unit further comprises a printed circuit board positioned within the aircraft passenger seat assembly.

20 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 18 , wherein the portion of the outer shroud covering the coil assembly is formed of non-metallic materials.

21 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 18 , 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 18 , 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 18 , wherein the wires are routed through a hollow core located within one of the arms.

24 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 18 , wherein the wires are routed along an outer surface of one of the arms.

Assignees

• Zodiac Seats Us Llc
• Zodiac Seat Shells Us 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