Exterior aircraft display system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9324248-B2
Application number	US-201414522945-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2014
Priority date	Sep 4, 2012
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

Abstract

A method and apparatus for displaying information is presented. The information is sent from a number of sources to a display unit. The information is displayed through pixels located in the display unit. Heat is transferred in the display unit through a conductive path.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
pixels;
a protective layer associated with the pixels, wherein the protective layer is substantially transparent in areas over the pixels; and wherein the protective layer has a surface having a texture that causes a desired airflow over the protective layer; and
a conductive path in the protective layer that transfers heat, wherein the pixels, the protective layer, and the conductive path form a display unit for an aircraft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the conductive path conducts signals selected from at least one of power signals or data signals.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:
a number of circuits associated with the protective layer and connected to the conductive path.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the conductive path provides the signals to at least one of the pixels or the number of circuits.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the protective layer is selected from one of a flexible layer and a rigid layer.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the number of circuits and the pixels are encapsulated within the protective layer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the protective layer has an opaque area in addition to the areas over the pixels that are substantially transparent.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the opaque area includes at least one of an image, a color, text, or an applique.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pixels perform at least one of receiving signals and transmitting the signals.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display unit is located in a location selected from an exterior of the aircraft, an interior of the aircraft, a fuselage, a wing, a winglet, a horizontal stabilizer, a vertical stabilizer, an engine housing, a passenger cabin, a cockpit, and a galley.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pixels are comprised of at least one of a light emitting element, a light-emitting diode, an organic light-emitting diode, a plasma cell, a quantum dot, a liquid crystal cell, a radio frequency transmitter, an infrared transmitter, or an ultraviolet light transmitter.

12. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the number of circuits is selected from at least one of circuits, integrated circuit chips, a radio frequency emitter, a light meter, a thermometer, a memory, a processor unit, or a video controller.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display unit in operation receives information from at least one of a navigation source, an advertisement database, or a media library.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the information is selected from at least one of a logo, a trademark, an advertisement, a tail number, safety information, flight information, baggage claim information, ground crew information, gate information, a direction blinker, a navigation light, or warning information, and wherein the information is selected based on a phase of flight of the aircraft.

15. A method for displaying information, the method comprising:
sending the information from a number of sources to a display unit; wherein the display unit comprises a protective layer that has a surface having a texture that causes a desired airflow over the protective layer;
displaying the information through pixels located in the display unit; and
transferring heat in the display unit through a conductive path.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein transferring the heat in the display unit through the conductive path comprises:
performing at least one of cooling or heating the pixels in the display unit.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein sending the information from the number of sources to the display unit comprises:
sending the information from the number of sources in data signals to the display unit through the conductive path.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
sending power signals to the display unit through the conductive path.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the display unit includes circuits connected to the conductive path and further comprising:
sending at least one of data signals or power signals to the circuits through the conductive path.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the protective layer is selected from one of a flexible layer and a rigid layer.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Garrettson Brook W

Classifications

• B64D45/00 Primary

  Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• G09F21/08 Primary

  the advertising matter being arranged on the aircraft · CPC title

• B64D47/02

  Arrangements or adaptations of signal or lighting devices · CPC title