U.S. patent application number 13/119827 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-15 for sealable apparatus with data- and energy transmission through electromagnetic induction.
This patent application is currently assigned to AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH. Invention is credited to Andreas Baatz.
Application Number | 20110220527 13/119827 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41821057 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110220527 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Baatz; Andreas |
September 15, 2011 |
SEALABLE APPARATUS WITH DATA- AND ENERGY TRANSMISSION THROUGH
ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION
Abstract
The invention relates to the transmission of data and energy to
sealed elements of sealable apparatus. To do so, the invention
proposes the use of two antennas for electromagnetic induction. The
non-cabled transmission of data and energy makes possible a random
allocation of sealed elements into a plurality of receiving
apparatus.
Inventors: |
Baatz; Andreas; (Sauensiek,
DE) |
Assignee: |
AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
Hamburg
DE
|
Family ID: |
41821057 |
Appl. No.: |
13/119827 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
August 18, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP09/60642 |
371 Date: |
May 31, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/459.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 5/0081 20130101;
H04B 5/0031 20130101; B64D 11/04 20130101; H04B 5/0037 20130101;
F25D 23/021 20130101; F25D 29/005 20130101; H04B 5/00 20130101;
F25D 2400/36 20130101; F25D 2700/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/459.5 |
International
Class: |
B65D 90/00 20060101
B65D090/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 23, 2008 |
DE |
10 2008 048 500.4 |
Claims
1. A closable compartment comprising: a holding device for holding
a content comprising a closure opening and a first antenna; a
closure element for closing the closure opening in a closure
position; wherein the closure element comprises a second antenna
and a display device for displaying content information relating to
the content present within the holding device; wherein the first
antenna is in the vicinity and opposite the second antenna when the
closure element is in the closure position; wherein the closure
element comprises a receiving element selected from the group
consisting of a sensor, an infrared detector, a radio receiver, and
a combination thereof, the receiving element being adapted to
detect the presence of users in the vicinity of the display device
and the distance of the users from the display device.
2. The closable compartment of claim 1, wherein the display device
is configured such that the displayed content information is
displayed in detail, if the detected distance between a user and
the display device is less than a predetermined distance.
3. The closable compartment of claim 2, wherein data is transmitted
via electromagnetic induction from the second antenna to the first
antenna when the closure element is in the closure position.
4. The closable compartment of claim 1, wherein the closure element
comprises an input device selected from the group consisting of a
membrane keyboard, a circuit element, and a combination
thereof.
5. The closable compartment of claim 1, wherein the holding device
is selected from the group consisting of a lavatory, a galley
device, an oven, a refrigerator, a food store, and a combination
thereof.
6. The closable compartment of claim 1, wherein the closure element
is a sliding door.
7. The closable compartment of claim 1, wherein the closable
compartment comprises a plurality of holding devices each designed
to hold the content, and comprising a plurality of closure
elements, each designed to close each and any of the holding
devices in the closure position.
8. The closable compartment of claim 1, wherein a first closure
element of the closable compartment is laterally movable past a
second closure element that is in the closure position.
9. The closable compartment of claim 1, wherein the closure element
is held and guided by at least one of rails or a sliding guide.
10. An aircraft comprising the closable compartment of claim 1.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a closable compartment, in
particular to a closable compartment in the form of a lavatory, a
galley, an oven, a refrigerator or a food store, and to a closure
element which closes the corresponding compartment. More precisely
expressed, the invention relates to a closable compartment on board
an aircraft.
[0002] It is well known that information containing the content of
the compartment, in particular the number and type of stored items,
the point in time of storing the items, the date of expiry of the
items, the temperature, ambient humidity and ambient pressure
within the closable compartment, can be obtained in that the
closure of the compartment is opened and the items are individually
checked. Furthermore, such information can at least in part be
obtained by means of a window.
[0003] Starting with a centralised or decentralised information
storage device and existing RFID technology, in known closable
compartments whose closure element does not make a translational
movement, or only makes a limited translational movement,
information transfer can be guided to a display by means of cables
and the information can be shown on said display. However, in the
case of cables, in particular in the case of membrane cables,
mechanical bending load or rotation load of the cable during
external mechanical action can result, which load jeopardises the
reliability of transmission. Furthermore, depending on the number
and diameter of the cable cores, cable length and ambient
temperature at the cable, stiffness results which is counter to
flexible usage of the device. This applies in particular to
mechanical elements that are movable in a translational manner,
which elements are electrically connected by means of one cable or
several cables, because mechanical movement is made more difficult
and is impeded as a result of the cable(s).
[0004] In the case of aircraft the known transmission of energy and
information by way of cables results in an undesirable increase in
weight and thus the associated increase in kerosene
consumption.
[0005] Cable-free signal transmission in the field of aircraft
construction is known from WO 2007/006749 A1 and DE 10 2005 032 141
A1.
[0006] It is the object of the invention to create a
flexibly-usable transmission of information for closable
compartments, wherein the least possible additional weight is to
arise as a result of the transmission path, and wherein the
information is processed so as to be easily accessible and
acquirable by the user.
[0007] This object is met by a closable compartment according to
claim 1.
[0008] The closable compartment comprises a holding device for
holding a content, comprising a closure opening and a first
antenna, and a closure element for closing the closure opening in a
closure position. The closure element comprises a second antenna
and a display device for displaying content information relating to
the content present within the compartment. In the closure position
the first antenna is directly opposite the second antenna. In the
closure position a data protocol relating to the content
information as well as electrical energy for operating the display
device are transmitted by means of electromagnetic induction from
the first antenna to the second antenna.
[0009] As a result of the wireless transmission of energy and data
by means of the electromagnetic coupling there is no longer a need
for a cable connection with its associated disadvantages. It is
also possible to do without batteries, large capacitors or other
energy storage devices because information and thus the energy for
the display device are needed only if the closure element is in the
closure position. There is no need to provide stand-by operation of
the closure device.
[0010] In an exemplary embodiment it is preferred if in the closure
position data is transmitted by way of electromagnetic induction
from the second antenna to the first antenna. In other words the
transmission of information can take place in a bi-directional
manner by way of the two antennae. The antennae can be coils with a
copper winding, which coils can be arranged relative to each other
in a manner that is known per se. However, an arrangement in which
the winding axes of each coil in the closure position are aligned
on a straight line, where the coil cores thus face each other, is a
preferred arrangement.
[0011] In a further exemplary embodiment bi-directional data
transmission can be used if the closure element, for example a
sliding door, comprises an input device, in particular in the form
of a membrane keyboard or a circuit element. If the closable
compartment is an oven or a refrigerator or some other location for
storing foodstuffs, for example a galley, then by means of the
input device the interior temperature displayed on the display
device can be adjusted.
[0012] In a further exemplary embodiment the closure element or the
holding device comprises at least one more receiving element, in
particular in the form of a sensor, an infrared detector or a radio
receiver.
[0013] If, for example, a product comprising an RFID chip is
situated in the closure opening, the information stored on the RFID
chip can be received by the receiving element in the form of a
radio receiver.
[0014] The closable compartment can be a lavatory, a galley device,
an oven, a refrigerator or a food store, in particular on board an
aircraft. In the context of these devices, wireless transmission of
information and energy offers an ideal and suitable supplement in
relation to the information requirements of a user. For it is only
in the closure position that information is made available, and it
is only in this position that information is indeed required.
Furthermore, in particular in the case of the above-mentioned
compartments or devices, it is ensured that when content
information is displayed the closure position has in fact been
attained, which represents an additional security advantage and
makes it significantly easier to check that doors are closed,
because a short glance at the display unit is sufficient, in this
case even without the information provided having to be cognitively
acquired.
[0015] A further embodiment provides for the closable compartment
to comprise a multitude of holding devices in each case for holding
a content, and to comprise a multitude of closure elements, and
wherein each closure element is designed in such a manner that it
can close each and any of the holding devices in the closure
position. Independence relating to the allocation is particularly
advantageous. In particular, the present arrangement provides an
advantage in that the energy supply also takes place by way of
induction. In a case where the closure elements provide their own
energy, for example by means of batteries, there is a danger of the
content of each holding device theoretically not being displayed in
current operation if there is no energy or insufficient energy of a
single closure element. Furthermore, in an advantageous manner
there is no maintenance or replacement of batteries.
[0016] In a further embodiment it is further preferred if a first
closure element of the closable compartment can be laterally led
past a second closure element that is in the closure position. This
further improves the flexible use of the closable compartment.
[0017] In a further embodiment it is preferred if the closure
elements are held and guided by rails or a sliding guide. In the
case of a plural number of rails or sliding guides it may be
necessary to provide junction elements in order to lead the closure
elements to other rails. Of course, not only in this design,
basically each closure element is to be brought to the closure
position with each holding device.
[0018] The device according to the invention is, in particular,
suitable for use on board aircraft. However, it is understood that
other means of transport where there are similar design
restrictions are also eminently suitable, for example trains, ships
and boats, submarines or buses.
[0019] The invention is to be illustrated in more detail with
reference to the following drawings. The drawings are to be
understood only as schematic diagrams and do not in any way signify
any limitations to the invention.
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic top section view of a closable
compartment,
[0021] FIG. 2 shows a top view of a closure element of the device
shown in FIG. 1.
[0022] The closable compartment 1 diagrammatically shown in FIG. 1
comprises two walls 2, 3 that form part of a holding device 4 and
that limit the latter to the outside. The content 5 of the holding
device 4, in the present embodiment a galley box for hot or cold
meals for the passengers of an aircraft, comprises three products,
namely product A and two products B. In a closure position a
closure element 6 hermetically seals the holding device 4 towards
the outside, which is, in particular, achieved by sealing lips
7.
[0023] The closure element 6 further comprises a display device 10
in the form of a flat LCD display.
[0024] The right-hand wall 2 of the holding device comprises an
antenna 8 in the form of a copper coil, which antenna 8 is directly
opposite a further antenna 9 that is integrated in the closure
element.
[0025] In the closure position a data protocol for content
information as well as electrical energy for operating the display
device are transmitted, by means of electromagnetic induction, from
the first antenna to the second antenna in a manner that is known
per se.
[0026] To this effect, prior to being fed to the antenna 8 and/or
9, signals can be modulated, encoded/decoded, clock-pulsed,
filtered, or processed in some other way in a manner that is known
per se. FIG. 1 shows a signal processing unit 11 in which the data
information is separated from the energy transmission and is
further processed for display on the display unit 10. A further
signal processing unit, for example comprising a microprocessor,
storage device, clock pulse generator, or filter, is arranged
upstream of the antenna 8, but is not shown in the present
diagram.
[0027] FIG. 2 again illustrates the closure element 6 and the
antenna 9 as well as the display device 10 for displaying content
information relating to the content situated within the holding
device. The diagram shows that apart from the number and type of
the products (1.times.A, 2.times.B), a date, for example an expiry
date or date of storage relating to the products, is displayed
several times. Furthermore, the temperature in the interior of the
holding device is displayed (5 degrees Celsius).
[0028] Moreover, FIG. 2 shows an input device 11 in the form of a
membrane keyboard, by means of which with corresponding menu
navigation, for example, the temperature can be changed. Since it
is only in the closure position that energy is fed to the closure
element 6 in the form of a sliding door, it is necessary to wait
with the input until the initialising process for connecting the
display 10 to the energy supply and for the data transmission to be
finished, and for a data transfer protocol to be correspondingly
completed. By means of the membrane keyboard 11, data is
transmitted, by way of electromagnetic induction, from the second
antenna 9 to the first antenna 8 (bidirectional use).
[0029] Furthermore, FIG. 2 shows a receiving element 12 in the form
of an infrared detector, wherein in the present embodiment the
detection of users in the region of the closure element is made
possible. If, for example, a person approaches the vicinity of the
display device, thus moving closer than a predeterminable distance,
some other information can be displayed which differs from the
previously displayed information, for example more detailed
information displayed in a smaller font.
[0030] Returning to FIG. 1, the diagram indicates that the closable
compartment comprises a plural number of holding devices 4,
arranged side-by-side, each intended to hold a content, and
comprises a plural number of closure elements 6, 6', 6'', and
wherein each closure element 6, 6', 6'' is guided in such a manner
that it can close any of the holding devices 4 in the closure
position, wherein a first closure element 6' of the closable
compartment can be laterally led past a second closure element 6
that is in the closure position. The diagram also shows that the
closure elements are held and guided by a sliding guide 13.
Furthermore, the holding device also comprises elements 14 for
detecting RFID tags so that the content of the closable compartment
can always be updated. Moreover, a temperature sensor 15 to
determine the interior temperature of the holding device 4 is also
provided.
* * * * *