Aerospace intelligent window system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9919787-B2
Application number	US-201313950599-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 25, 2013
Priority date	Aug 1, 2012
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

A network system for monitoring and storing data of aircraft intelligent windows or windshields to provide useable life of, provide real life performance of, and/or measure characteristics and/or properties of, the windshields forwards the data from sensors mounting the windshield to a window sensing hub having a microprocessor programed to receive and process the data to determine the performance of the windshield and formatting the data in accordance to a preset program, wherein the program includes providing data from the sensors that measures characteristics and properties of the windshield that are active during the period in which the data is taken. An aircraft central maintenance system connected to the window sensing hub receives the formatted information from the window sensing hub and unfiltered or unformatted information, wherein the unfiltered information from the windshield is acted on by the central maintenance system to provide an estimated useable life of the windshield.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A network system for monitoring and storing performance data of more than one transparency of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises one of a land vehicle, an air vehicle, a space vehicle, and a water vessel, to provide estimated useable life of selected ones of the transparencies of the vehicle and to provide real life performance of the selected ones of the transparencies, wherein the selected ones of the transparencies each comprises a transparent sheet having a sensor group co-acting with the transparent sheet to measure predetermined characteristics and/or properties of the transparent sheet of the transparency, wherein the sensor group comprises at least one sensor selected from the family of sensors comprising an arc sensor for measuring arcing of an electrically heatable member mounted on a surface of the transparent sheet, hereinafter referred to as an “arc sensor”; a heat sensor for measuring temperature of the heatable member, hereinafter referred to as a “heat sensor”; a moisture sensor for measuring moisture content on a surface of the transparent sheet, hereinafter referred to as an “moisture sensor”; an impact sensor for measuring force of impact of objects hitting one or more of the selected ones of the transparencies, hereinafter referred to as an “impact sensor”, and a sensor for identifying fractures in and/or on the transparent sheet, hereinafter referred to as an “crack sensor”, the network system comprising:
a window sensing hub comprising a microprocessor programed to receive output of selected ones of the sensor group of selected ones of the transparencies, wherein the microprocessor is programed on command to receive data from the sensor group of selected ones of the transparencies, wherein the data provides information on the performance of the property and characteristic of the sensor group of selected ones of the transparencies associated with the sensor group and formatting the received data in accordance to a preset program of the microprocessor, wherein the preset program includes at least providing data from the sensor group of the selected ones of the transparencies that measure characteristics and properties of the transparency that are active during the period in which the data taken is of interest, and
a central monitoring system connected to the microprocessor of the window sensing hub to receive the formatted information from the window sensing hub and raw sensor data, wherein the raw sensor data from the selected ones of transparencies are acted on by the central monitoring system to provide the real life performance of the selected ones of the transparencies and an estimated useable life of the selected ones of the transparencies, wherein the repair and replacement of the selected ones of the transparencies is based on (1) the real life performance of the selected ones of the transparencies and (2) the estimated useable life of the selected ones of the transparencies, wherein the estimated useable life of the transparencies is determined from the real life performance of the selected ones of the transparencies, performance history of the selected ones of the transparencies, and output from sensors of other transparencies of the vehicle, wherein the sensors of the other transparencies measure the same properties and/or characteristics as the at least one sensor of the sensor groups of the selected ones of the transparencies.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the selected ones of the transparencies of the vehicle are each aircraft windshields having glass and plastic sheets laminated together.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the selected ones of the transparencies are selected from aircraft windows, automotive windows, and windows for underwater vehicles.

4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the transparencies of the aircraft are aircraft windshields.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the window sensing hub and/or the central monitoring system is connected to a monitor, an alarm, and/or a voice activated alarm.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the selected ones of the transparencies comprise a laminated aircraft windshield and the sensors are mounted between outer surfaces of the laminated windshield and/or on periphery of the laminated windshield.

Assignees

• Ppg Ind Ohio Inc

Inventors

• Jiao Yu
• Duarte Nicolas
• Stone Monroe A

Classifications

• B64D2045/0085

  Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration · CPC title

• B64C1/1476 Primary

  Canopies; Windscreens or similar transparent elements · CPC title

• B64C1/1492

  Structure and mounting of the transparent elements in the window or windscreen · CPC title

• B64C1/1484 Primary

  Windows (B64C1/1492 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G07C5/006

  Indicating maintenance · CPC title