Piece of furniture with an electronic switching element for an airliner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9391608-B2
Application number	US-201213261869-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2012
Priority date	Nov 14, 2011
Publication date	Jul 12, 2016
Grant date	Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

Piece of furniture comprising an electronic switching element for controlling a cabin function for an airliner, wherein the piece of furniture has a structural layer with a cover layer arranged above the structural layer, wherein the electronic switching element is configured as a capacitive switching element and is arranged underneath the cover layer inside and/or underneath the structural layer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A piece of furniture, comprising:
a cover layer;
an intermediate layer;
a structural layer,
wherein the cover layer is above the structural layer, and
wherein the intermediate layer is positioned between the structural layer and the cover layer;
an electronic switching element,
wherein the electronic switching element is a capacitive switching element,
wherein the capacitive switching element is underneath the cover layer, and
wherein the capacitive switching element is either:
(i) underneath the structural layer;
(ii) inside the structural layer; or
(iii) underneath the structural layer and inside the structural layer; and

a light,
wherein the light is above the capacitive switching element and underneath the cover layer,
wherein the light is below at least a portion of the structural layer,
wherein the at least a portion of the structural layer above the light comprises one or more recesses such that at least a portion of emitted light emitted from the light passes through the one or more recesses to above the at least a portion of the structural layer without passing through material of the at least a portion of the structural layer,
wherein a groove having a first geometrical shape is milled through the intermediate layer,
wherein the intermediate layer comprises a window element having a second geometrical shape that is the same as the first geometrical shape,
wherein the window element is formed within the groove, fitted into the groove, or inserted into the groove,
wherein the window element is at least partly transparent to visible light, and
wherein the window element is arranged above the one or more recesses of the structural layer.

2. The piece of furniture according to claim 1 ,
wherein the capacitive switching element controls a function, and
wherein the function is a function of the piece of furniture or a function of a device proximate the piece of furniture.

3. The piece of furniture according to claim 1 ,
wherein the capacitive switching element is inside the structural layer.

4. The piece of furniture according to claim 1 ,
wherein the capacitive switching element is underneath the structural layer.

5. The piece of furniture according to claim 1 ,
wherein the intermediate layer is a wooden veneer.

6. The piece of furniture according to claim 1 ,
wherein the capacitive switching element controls a function,
wherein the function is a function of the piece of furniture or a function of a device proximate the piece of furniture, and
wherein the one or more recesses have a geometric shape that provides an indication of the function controlled by the electronic switching element.

7. The piece of furniture according to claim 1 ,
wherein the capacitive switching element controls a function,
wherein the function is a function of the piece of furniture or a function of a device proximate the piece of furniture, and
wherein the window element has a geometric shape that provides an indication of the function controlled by the electronic switching element.

8. The piece of furniture according to claim 1 ,
wherein the cover layer is a hardened resin and/or varnish.

9. The piece of furniture according to claim 1 ,
wherein the window element is a hardened resin and/or varnish.

10. The piece of furniture according to claim 1 ,
wherein the light is switched on or off by actuating the capacitive switching element.

11. The piece of furniture according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a display,
wherein the function the capacitive switching element controls is represented on the display.

12. The piece of furniture according to claim 11 ,
wherein the capacitive switching element is configured such that a translatory actuation movement controls a slide control.

13. The piece of furniture according to claim 1 ,
wherein the capacitive switching element comprises a plurality of capacitive switches and/or sensor regions.

14. The piece of furniture according to claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more electronic components, cabling, and/or a cable guide,
wherein the one or more electronic components, cabling, and/or the cable guide is integrated into the piece of furniture or integrated into a structural part of the piece of furniture.

15. The piece of furniture according to claim 1 ,
wherein the intermediate layer is below the cover layer and above the structural layer.

16. The piece of furniture according to claim 1 ,
wherein the at least a portion of emitted light emitted from the light that passes through the one or more recesses to above the at least a portion of the structural layer passes through the window element and through the cover layer to above the cover layer.

17. The piece of furniture according to claim 1 ,
wherein the light is underneath the at least a portion of the structural layer,
wherein the at least a portion of the structural layer is directly above the light, and
wherein at least a second portion of emitted light emitted from the light is shielded by the at least a portion of the structural layer directly above the light such that the at least a second portion of emitted light emitted from the light does not pass through the one or more recesses to above the at least a portion of the structural layer.

18. A method of controlling a cabin function in an airliner, comprising:
providing a piece of furniture in an airliner, wherein the piece of furniture comprises:
a cover layer;
an intermediate layer;
a structural layer,
wherein the cover layer is above the structural layer, and
wherein the intermediate layer is positioned between the structural layer and the cover layer;
an electronic switching element,
wherein the electronic switching element is a capacitive switching element,
wherein the capacitive switching element is underneath the cover layer, and
wherein the capacitive switching element is either:
(i) underneath the structural layer;
(ii) inside the structural layer; or
(iii) underneath the structural layer and inside the structural layer; and
a light,
wherein the light is above the capacitive switching element and underneath the cover layer,
wherein the light is below at least a portion of the structural layer,
wherein the at least a portion of the structural layer above the light comprises one or more recesses such that at least a portion of emitted light emitted from the light passes through the one or more recesses to above the at least a portion of the structural layer without passing through material of the at least a portion of the structural layer,
wherein a groove having a first geometrical shape is milled through the intermediate layer,
wherein the intermediate layer comprises a window element having a second geometrical shape that is the same as the first geometrical shape,
wherein the window element is formed within the groove, fitted into the groove, or inserted into the groove,
wherein the window element is at least partly transparent to visible light, and
wherein the window element is arranged above the one or more recesses of the structural layer; and
triggering the electronic switching element.

19. An airliner, comprising:
a piece of furniture positioned in the airliner, wherein the piece of furniture comprises:
a cover layer;
an intermediate layer;
a structural layer,
wherein the cover layer is above the structural layer, and
wherein the intermediate layer is positioned between the structural layer and the cover layer;
an electronic

Assignees

• Lufthansa Technik Ag

Inventors

• Wende Gerko
• Muirhead Andrew

Classifications

• H03K17/962 Primary

  Capacitive touch switches · CPC title

• H01H9/04

  Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings · CPC title

• B64D11/00

  Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• H03K2217/96079

  using a single or more light guides · CPC title

• H03K2217/960755

  Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches · CPC title