Login| Sign Up| Help| Contact|

Patent Searching and Data


Title:
SEAT DEVICE COMPRISING IMPROVED AUDIO DEVICE FOR USE IN AN AIRCRAFT OR SPACECRAFT
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2013/045293
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The present invention creates a seat device of an aircraft or spacecraft, comprising a seat (10) which comprises a headrest (50); a loudspeaker device which comprises at least one pair of loudspeakers (20, 30) which are spaced apart from one another and located in the region of the headrest (50).

Inventors:
RIEDEL CHRISTIAN (DE)
MAHN STEFAN (DE)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2012/068106
Publication Date:
April 04, 2013
Filing Date:
September 14, 2012
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH (DE)
RIEDEL CHRISTIAN (DE)
MAHN STEFAN (DE)
International Classes:
B64D11/00; B64D11/06; H04R5/02
Foreign References:
US20090154713A12009-06-18
US20110081038A12011-04-07
DE102005058826A12007-06-14
US6744898B12004-06-01
JPH05345549A1993-12-27
EP2213503A12010-08-04
DE102008024217A12009-12-03
DE102006031010A12008-01-10
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
PECKMANN, Ralf (München, DE)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

1 . Seat device of an aircraft or spacecraft, comprising: a seat (10) which comprises a headrest (50); a loudspeaker device which comprises at least one pair of loudspeakers (20, 30) which are spaced apart from one another and located in the region of the headrest (50).

2. Seat device according to Claim 1 ,

characterised in that

the pair of loudspeakers (20, 30) is located at the sides of the passenger's head (40) and inclined towards the passenger's head (40) in such a way that the pair of loudspeakers (20, 30) transmits signals towards a region in which the passenger's head (40) is intended to be positioned.

3. Seat device according to Claim 1 or 2,

characterised in that

the seat device comprises a control device which is designed to control the pair of loudspeakers (20, 30) such that the signals emitted by the loudspeakers are audible in a listening region (140) in which the passenger's head (40) is intended to be positioned.

4. Seat device according to Claim 3,

characterised in that

the control device is designed to control the pair of loudspeakers (20, 30) so as to create a suppression region (150) adjacent to the listening region (140), the signals emitted by the pair of loudspeakers (20, 30) not being audible in this suppression region.

5. Seat device according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

the loudspeaker device can be connected to the headrest (50) of the seat (10) by means of a cover (100).

6. Seat device according to at least one of Claims 1 to 4,

characterised in that

the loudspeaker device is designed as an integral part of the seat (10).

7. Seat device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that

a second seat (60) is also provided which is located adjacent to the seat (10), a second pair of loudspeakers (70, 80) being located on the second seat (60) at the sides of the passenger's head (40) and inclined towards the passenger's head (40) in such a way that the second pair of loudspeakers (70, 80) transmits signals towards the region in which the passenger's head (40) is intended to be positioned.

8. Seat device according to Claim 7,

characterised in that

the second pair of loudspeakers (70, 80) can be connected in the region of the headrest of the second seat (60) by means of a cover (100).

9. Seat device according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

audio signals are provided to the pair of loudspeakers (20, 30) by an electronic device (65) which is supplied by the passenger.

10. Seat device according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterised in that

a detection unit for detecting whether a seat position is occupied is provided and interrupts the production of the listening region (140) as soon as the detection unit detects that the seat is not occupied.

1 1 . Cover of an aircraft or spacecraft, comprising:

a loudspeaker device which comprises at least one pair of loudspeakers (1 10, 120) which are spaced apart from one another and located in the region of a headrest (50) which can be connected to the cover.

12. Cover according to Claim 1 1 ,

characterised in that

the pair of loudspeakers (1 10, 120) is located at the sides of the passenger's head (40) and inclined towards the passenger's head (40) in such a way that the pair of loudspeakers (1 10, 120) transmits signals towards a region in which the passenger's head (40) is intended to be positioned.

13. Cover according to Claim 1 1 or 12,

characterised in that

the cover (100) comprises a control device which is designed to control the pair of loudspeakers (1 10, 120) such that the signals emitted by the loudspeakers are audible in a listening region (140) in which the passenger's head (40) is intended to be positioned.

14. Cover according to Claim 13,

characterised in that

the control device is designed to control the pair of loudspeakers (1 10, 120) so as to create a suppression region (150) adjacent to the listening region (140), the signals emitted by the pair of loudspeakers (20, 30) not being audible in this suppression region.

15. Aircraft or spacecraft comprising a seat device according to at least one of Claims 1 to 10 and/or a cover according to at least one of Claims 1 1 to 14.

Description:
Seat device comprising improved audio device for use in an aircraft or spacecraft

The present invention relates to a seat device comprising an improved audio device for an aircraft or spacecraft.

Although it may be applied to any seat devices in an aircraft or spacecraft, the present invention and the underlying problems are described in detail with respect to an aircraft.

If a passenger wants to listen to music or the sound on a video film provided by a so-called in-flight entertainment system (IFE), for example, he merely has the option to connect and wear headphones. This can become very uncomfortable over time, especially on long flights, as the headphones usually used for the IFE system are not particularly comfortable to wear.

However, the passenger is unable to use headphones which he has brought with him, as the headphone sockets in an aircraft have a special standard. This is due to the fact that headphones brought by the passenger have very different impedance values, which means that the headphones either issue sounds which are too quiet or even much too loud. For this reason, standardised headphones are often distributed by the cabin crew. However, when these are used multiple times, this leads to corresponding expense to clean and service the headphones.

If single-use headphones are used instead, this leads to a considerable quantity of waste.

In the prior art, DE 10 2008 024 217 A1 describes a system for contact-free data and energy transmission between two components which is configured to produce an alternating voltage at the signal output on a transmitter by means of frequency modulation from an electrical voltage applied to the voltage input, and to subsequently demodulate accordingly at the receiver side. However, the use of such a system is restricted to cases in which there are small distances between the transmitter and the receiver, and also requires the use of headphones with the transmitter to convert the received signals into a sound signal for the passenger. Also in the prior art, DE 10 2006 031 010 A1 describes a method and a device for transmitting data which is configured such that both the transmitter and the receiver communicate with each other at an operating frequency in excess of 30 GHz, so as to reduce the radiation intensity experienced by a passenger. However, this system also requires the use of headphones with the receiver to convert the received signals into a sound signal for the passenger.

The object of the present invention is therefore to create a seat device for an aircraft or spacecraft which provides a passenger with audio signals without these audio signals being perceptible to adjacent passengers. In addition, the use of the headphones required in previous cases should not be necessary.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the seat device having the features of Claim 1 , and a cover having the features of Claim 1 1 .

Accordingly a seat device is provided which comprises a seat and a pair of loudspeakers which are arranged and controlled so as to create a listening region in the direction of the passenger, whilst the audio signals are suppressed at each side adjacent to the listening region by interference.

The concept underlying the present invention is that different acoustic regions can selectively be created using interference from superposed signals and the amplification and suppression of superposed signals in these acoustic regions can advantageously be used to provide audio signals in a locally restricted listening region. This region preferably corresponds to at least the region in which the passenger's head is intended to be positioned. The listening region preferably also extends in the direction of the adjacent seat in the passenger's direction of vision, with the result that the listening region substantially covers the entire region between the two associated headrests.

One advantage of the present invention is that the passenger is able to hear audio signals from the IFE system or from an entertainment device which he has brought with him at his seat, whilst adjacent passengers cannot hear these audio signals and thus each passenger can hear the selected music channel or the audio signals from a video film without any disruptive influences, despite the small distance from the adjacent passenger's seat (especially at the sides). The formation of the respectively adjacent listening and suppression regions in the passenger's head region, which have very different acoustic properties, advantageously means that it is no longer necessary to use headphones to provide individual audio signals for each passenger, as was always the case previously.

At the same time, passenger comfort is increased by eliminating headphones and the time- consuming process of issuing and collecting headphones is no longer necessary. The costs of manufacturing headphones can also be saved.

In addition, the present invention advantageously permits the desired audio signals to be transmitted wirelessly from a transmitter to the loudspeaker device, and this is particularly convenient for the passenger if he receives the desired audio signals from his own entertainment device which may, for example, be attached to the seat in front.

Advantageous embodiments and improvements of the invention are described in the subclaims.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pair of loudspeakers is positioned at the sides of a passenger's head and inclined towards the passenger's head in such a way that the pair of loudspeakers transmits signals towards a region in which the passenger's head is intended to be positioned, in this case particularly in the rear region of the seat. In an equivalent alternative, the pair of loudspeakers may transmit signals towards a region in which the passenger's head is intended to be positioned, i.e. in the region in front of the headrest.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the seat device comprises a control device which is designed to control the pair of loudspeakers such that the signals emitted by the loudspeakers are audible in a listening region in which the passenger's head is intended to be positioned. The present seat device can thus produce a listening region in which the signals emitted by the pair of loudspeakers are amplified by interference such that the signals issued by the pair of loudspeakers only need to be provided with a low transmission power.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the control device is designed to control the pair of loudspeakers so as to create, adjacent to the listening region, a suppression region in which the signals emitted by the pair of loudspeakers are not audible. The suppression region is particularly advantageous in an aircraft situation as other passengers sitting at the sides of the passenger thus cannot hear the signals emitted by the pair of loudspeakers, with the result that each passenger can receive the individual audio signals he wishes to hear from different entertainment systems or music channels, without the people in the adjacent seats being able to hear these signals. The transition region between the listening region and the suppression region is also not sudden, but steady. It is not necessary for all signals to be suppressed in the suppression region; on the contrary, it is entirely sufficient if there are particular differences in volume compared with the listening region such that a person is able to hear only the louder sound source.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the loudspeaker device can be connected to the seat headrest by means of a cover. This makes it possible to retrofit an existing seat device with a loudspeaker device as described here at little expense.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the loudspeaker device is designed as an integral part of the seat. In this case, when refitting an aircraft, the present seat device can already be equipped with the improved audio device, with which it is also no longer necessary to use the headphones which were previously required.

According to a further preferred embodiment, a second seat is also provided which is located next to the seat, a second pair of loudspeakers being arranged on the second seat at the side of the passenger's head and inclined in the direction of the passenger's head in such a way that the second pair of loudspeakers transmits signals towards the region in which the passenger's head is intended to be positioned. This configuration makes it possible to create an audio device with surround sound with which the passenger can obtain an improved sound experience.

According to a further preferred embodiment, a detection unit for detecting whether a seat is occupied is provided and interrupts the creation of the listening region as soon as the detection unit detects that the seat is not occupied. In an equivalent alternative, the creation of the listening region is interrupted if the detection unit detects that the second seat in the seat device is unoccupied. This interruption is intended to prevent the creation of the listening region if the seat position is unoccupied, as in this case the reproduction characteristics of the audio signals transmitted by the loudspeaker device are different from those when the seat position is occupied.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the second seat comprises a second control device which is designed to control the second pair of loudspeakers such that the signals emitted by these loudspeakers are audible in a second listening region in which the passenger's head is intended to be positioned.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the second pair of loudspeakers can be connected in the region of the headrest of the second seat by means of a cover. The present loudspeaker device can thus also be retrofitted to the second seat.

According to a further preferred embodiment, audio signals are provided to the pair of loudspeakers by an electronic device which is supplied by the passenger. In an even more preferable scenario, audio signals are provided to the pair and/or second pair of loudspeakers wirelessly by the electronic device. Wiring of the aircraft seat can thus be advantageously omitted. In addition, the passengers can watch their own multimedia content during the flight on the mobile entertainment devices which have now become widespread. The electronic device provided by the passenger can be positioned on the seat.

A cover for an aircraft or spacecraft is also claimed, comprising a loudspeaker device which comprises at least one pair of loudspeakers which are spaced apart from one another and located in the region of a headrest which can be connected to the cover. The cover has substantially the same benefits as the seat device described above. In addition, an existing seat device can be retrofitted with the present cover with minimal financial and technical expenditure.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the pair of loudspeakers is positioned at the sides of a passenger's head and inclined towards the passenger's head in such a way that the pair of loudspeakers transmits signals towards a region in which the passenger's head is intended to be positioned.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the cover comprises a control device which is designed to control the pair of loudspeakers such that the signals emitted by the loudspeakers are audible in a listening region in which the passenger's head is intended to be positioned.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the control device is designed to control the pair of loudspeakers so as to create a suppression region adjacent to the listening region, the signals emitted by the pair of loudspeakers not being audible in this suppression region.

In addition, an aircraft or spacecraft comprising a seat device and/or cover according to the present invention is claimed.

The invention is described below in greater detail with the aid of embodiments and with reference to the attached figures of the drawings.

The figures show:

Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view of the resulting separate acoustic regions when using two loudspeakers in a cover according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 a plan view of a seat device comprising a pair of loudspeakers according to the present invention; and

Fig. 3 a plan view of a further seat device for implementing a loudspeaker device for surround sound with wireless transmission of the additional audio signals according to the present invention.

In the figures, the same reference numerals refer to the same components or components with the same function, unless otherwise specified.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of resulting separate acoustic regions when using two loudspeakers 1 10, 120 which are in this case each arranged in the region of a longitudinal end on one side of a cover 100, which is intended for use on a seat (not illustrated) of a present seat device (not illustrated).

The cover 100 is in this case formed from a material which is substantially without inherent rigidity, with the result that the cover 100 is preferably connected to a portion of the seat device by being placed over this portion, the cover 100 then substantially assuming the form of the connection region, in this case specifically the headrest, with the seat. The cover 100 comprises a device for holding an entertainment device (not illustrated), which is preferably a passenger's personal device, which in this case is preferably a so- called commercial off-the-shelf device (COTS device), i.e. a commercially available device.

In this case the loudspeakers 1 10, 120 are arranged along one side of the cover 100, spaced apart from one another so as to create, starting from the loudspeakers 1 10, 120, a listening region 140 having a pre-defined width and a pre-defined length, and a suppression region 150, adjacent on each side of the listening region 140, the listening region being located in a region in which the passenger's head is intended to be positioned. Both the listening region 140 and the suppression region 150 each extend in the direction of a passenger (not illustrated) sitting at a distance from the loudspeakers 1 10, 120. The emission properties of the two loudspeakers 1 10, 120 are in each case selected such that the listening region 140 extends sufficiently far substantially in the longitudinal direction towards the passenger to ensure that the passenger's head is fully in the listening region 140, but the listening region 140 ends within the seat region, so that a passenger sitting behind the passenger cannot discern the listening region 140. The suppression region 150 in each case extends over a sufficient width to ensure that a person sitting at the side of the passenger also cannot discern the listening region 140.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a seat device comprising a pair of loudspeakers according to the present invention. The seat device comprises a first seat 10 having a headrest 50. A loudspeaker device is provided which comprises at least one pair of loudspeakers 20, 30 which are spaced apart from one another and located in the region of the headrest 50. The loudspeaker device is connected to the headrest 50 of the seat 10 by means of a cover (not illustrated). In an equivalent alternative, the loudspeaker device is designed as an integral part of the seat 10.

An electronic (entertainment) device 65 which the passenger has himself provided is located in the region of the rear of the seat 10. In an equivalent alternative, the IFE system may also provide the audio signals for transmission to the passenger.

The cover comprises a control device (not illustrated) which is designed to control the pair of loudspeakers 20, 30 such that the signals emitted by the loudspeakers are audible in a listening region 140 in which the passenger's head 40 is intended to be positioned. In this case the passenger, and thus his head 40, is located in the rear region of the seat 10, as the passenger has taken up his position on a second seat 60. The control device is also designed to control the pair of loudspeakers 20, 30 so as to create a suppression region (not illustrated) adjacent to the listening region 140, the signals emitted by the pair of loudspeakers 20, 30 not being audible in this suppression region.

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of a further seat device for implementing a loudspeaker device for surround sound with wireless transmission of the additional audio signals for the surround sound according to the present invention. The seat device comprises a first seat 10 having a headrest 50. A loudspeaker device is provided which comprises at least one pair of loudspeakers 20, 30 which are spaced apart from one another and located in the region of the headrest 50. The loudspeaker device is connected to the headrest 50 of the seat 10 by means of a cover (not illustrated). In an equivalent alternative, the loudspeaker device is again designed as an integral part of the seat 10.

The cover comprises a control device (not illustrated) which is designed to control the pair of loudspeakers 20, 30 such that the signals emitted by the loudspeakers are audible in a listening region 140 in which the passenger's head 40 is intended to be positioned. In this case the passenger, and thus his head 40, is located in the rear region of the seat 10, as the passenger has taken up his position on a second seat 60. The control device is also designed to control the pair of loudspeakers 20, 30 so as to create a suppression region (not illustrated) adjacent to the listening region 140, the signals emitted by the pair of loudspeakers 20, 30 not being audible in this suppression region.

In addition, a second loudspeaker device is provided on the second seat 60 and comprises a pair of loudspeakers 70, 80 which are spaced apart from one another and located in the region of the headrest of the second seat 60. The second loudspeaker device is connected to the headrest 50 of the second seat 60 by means of a second cover (not illustrated). In an equivalent alternative, the second loudspeaker device is again designed as an integral part of the second seat 60. The second control device is also arranged such that it is able to receive additional audio signals for implementing a surround sound system for the passenger and transmit these towards the passenger via the second loudspeakers 70, 80. The additional audio signals may preferably be such that it is possible for stereo sound to be output via the second loudspeakers 70, 80. The additional audio signals are preferably transmitted wirelessly to the second control device. Although the present invention has been described herein by means of preferred embodiments, it is not limited to these embodiments, but may be modified in multiple ways.

For example, a detection unit for detecting whether the seat is occupied may be provided. If the detection unit detects that the seat suddenly becomes unoccupied during the reproduction of audio signals, the detection unit instructs the transmitter of the audio signals to interrupt transmission of the audio signals until the detection unit once again detects that the seat is occupied.

List of reference numerals

10 Seat

20, 30 Loudspeaker

40 Head

50 Headrest

60 Second seat

65 Entertainment device

70, 80 Second loudspeaker

90 Second listening region

100 Cover

1 10, 120 Loudspeaker

130 Device for holding an entertainment device

140 Listening region

150 Suppression region