Passenger seat entertainment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019359334-A1
Application number	US-201716348479-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 11, 2017
Priority date	Nov 10, 2016
Publication date	Nov 28, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A passenger seat, such as an aircraft passenger seat, includes a seat base and an entertainment system. The seat base includes a cushioning member and a cover covering the cushioning member. The entertainment system is positioned between the cushioning member and the cover and is removably connected to the cushioning member. The entertainment system is configured to determine a force caused by a passenger's legs in at least two locations on an upper surface of the seat base when used.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1 . A passenger seat comprising:
a seat base, the seat base comprising:
a cushioning member; and
a cover covering the cushioning member; and
an entertainment system positioned between the cushioning member and the cover, the entertainment system comprising:
a first sensor at a first location; and
a second sensor at a second location,
wherein the entertainment system is positioned such that the first sensor and the second sensor are aligned with a passenger's legs when used, and
wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are configured to detect a force applied by the passenger's legs on the entertainment system when used.

2 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the cushioning member comprises a forward edge and an aft edge, wherein a distance between the first sensor and the second sensor is a spacing distance, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are positioned at an edge distance from the forward edge, and wherein the edge distance is less than the spacing distance.

3 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor and the second sensor each comprise at least one of a piezoelectric textile sensor, a force sensor resistor, a strain gauge sensor, an accelerometer, or a foam sensor.

4 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the entertainment system further comprises a base comprising:
a first side edge; a second side edge; an upper surface; and a lower surface, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are secured on the upper surface of the base between the first side edge and the second side edge.

5 . The passenger seat of claim 4 , wherein the base further comprises:
a center section between the first side edge and the second side edge; a first flexible section between the center section and the first side edge; and a second flexible section between the center section and the second side edge, wherein the first flexible section and the second flexible section comprise a first fabric material, wherein the center section comprises a second fabric material different from the first fabric material, wherein the first fabric material is more elastic than the second fabric material, and wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are secured on the center section.

6 . The passenger seat of claim 4 , wherein the entertainment system further comprises a controller secured to the base, wherein the controller is configured to:
communicate with the first sensor and the second sensor to receive sensed force data; and communicate the sensed force data with an In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) device such that the IFE device runs an application based on the sensed force data.

7 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the outer surface comprises a first indicator corresponding with the first sensor and a second indicator corresponding with the second sensor.

8 . An entertainment system for a passenger seat comprising:
a base comprising:
a first side edge;
a second side edge;
an upper surface; and
a lower surface;
a first sensor secured to the upper surface of the base between the first side edge and the second side edge; and a second sensor secured to the upper surface of the base between the first sensor and the second side edge, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are each configured to detect a force applied to the entertainment system, and wherein the base is configured to be positioned between a cushioning member and a cover of a base of a passenger seat.

9 . The entertainment system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a controller secured to the base, wherein the controller is configured to:
communicate with the first sensor and the second sensor to receive sensed force data; and
communicate the sensed force data with an In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) device.

10 . The entertainment system of claim 8 , wherein the base further comprises:
a center section between the first side edge and the second side edge; a first flexible section between the center section and the first side edge; and a second flexible section between the center section and the second side edge, wherein the first flexible section and the second flexible section comprise a first fabric material, wherein the center section comprises a second fabric material different from the first fabric material, wherein the first fabric material is more elastic than the second fabric material, and wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are secured on the center section.

11 . The entertainment system of claim 10 , wherein the first fabric material comprises knitted nylon, and wherein the second fabric material comprises woven nylon.

12 . The entertainment system of claim 8 , further comprising a base cushion fastener on the lower surface of the base and a cover fastener on the upper surface of the base.

13 . The entertainment system of claim 8 , wherein a distance between the first sensor and the second sensor is from about 170 mm to about 210 mm.

14 . The entertainment system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a first connector on the lower surface of the base and adjacent to the first side edge; and a second connector on the lower surface of the base and adjacent to the second side edge, wherein the first connector and the second connector are configured to removably connect the entertainment system to the cushioning member.

15 . A passenger seat comprising:
a seat base, the seat base comprising:
a cushioning member; and
a cover covering the cushioning member; and
an entertainment system positioned between the cushioning member and the cover and removably connected to the cushioning member, wherein the entertainment system is configured to determine a force caused by a passenger's legs in at least two locations on an upper surface of the seat base when used.

16 . The passenger seat of claim 15 , wherein the entertainment system comprises:
a first sensor at a first location; and a second sensor at a second location, wherein the entertainment system is positioned such that the first sensor and the second sensor are aligned with a passenger's legs when used, and wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are configured to detect the force caused by the passenger's legs when used.

17 . The passenger seat of claim 16 , wherein the entertainment system further comprises a base comprising:
a first side edge; a second side edge; an upper surface; and a lower surface, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are secured on the upper surface of the base between the first side edge and the second side edge.

18 . The passenger seat of claim 17 , wherein the base further comprises:
a center section between the first side edge and the second side edge; a first flexible section between the center section and the first side edge; and a second flexible section between the center section and the second side edge, wherein the first flexible section and the second flexible section comprise a first fabric material, wherein the center section comprises a second fabric material different from the first fabric material, wherein the first fabric material is more elastic than the second fabric material, and wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are secured on the center section.

19 . The passenger seat of claim 15 , wherein the entertainment system comprises at least one force sensor, and wherein the at l

Assignees

• Safran Seats Usa Llc

Inventors

• Riedel Lukas
• Iacoviello Domenico
• Erkelens Emma
• Wisse Emma
• Randles David
• Kersten Max

Classifications

• A47C7/72

  Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like · CPC title

• B64D11/0015 Primary

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