WO2016166666A1

WO2016166666A1 - Method and system for remotely displaying the exterior inside an airplane cabin

Info

Publication number: WO2016166666A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/052083
Authority: WO
Inventors: Laurent GROUX; Vincent POIRIER; Ahmed EL ZIANI
Original assignee: Latecoere
Priority date: 2015-04-13
Filing date: 2016-04-13
Publication date: 2016-10-20
Also published as: FR3034899A1; FR3034899B1

Abstract

The invention aims to optimize the view of the surroundings of the airplane for either the passengers or the crew, particularly the possibility of displaying, at any time, a field of view showing specific information or a specific landscape, for example the city near the airport where the airplane is going to land. According to one embodiment, the remote display system according to the invention comprises front-view and side-view cameras (40) that are installed on the sides of the fuselage skin and connected to display screens (51, 52) that act as a virtual porthole for the passenger cabin and are in a central position within the passenger cabin. The cameras (40) are then able to send video signals to the display screens (51, 52) via a central server (20), a display control (22) controlling a switch (21) for managing the server (20) so as to select, within the server (20), the source of the image signals to be displayed for each screen (51, 52).

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EXTERNAL VISUALIZATION DELEGATED IN THE INTERIOR OF AN AIRCRAFT CABIN

DESCRIPTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a remote viewing process of environments surrounding an aircraft inside the passenger cabin of this aircraft. The invention also relates to a visualization system for implementing this method and to an aircraft equipped with such a system.

The visualization relates more particularly to opening view fields directed forwardly, rearward and laterally relative to the fuselage of the aircraft, but may extend to other fields of view, such as the fore and aft tips or the wing ends of aircraft in the case where the vehicle is an airplane.

The field of the invention is that of the visualization in an aircraft cabin of the environment of this cabin, while the conventional field of view in the cabin through windows of reduced size is substantially restricted.

In general, it is known to use cameras outside a speaker and to view the images from this camera on a suitable screen, connected to the camera either by an electric cable or by radio waves.

[0005] In particular in the field of surveillance, cameras are arranged at points allowing optimized viewing of an area to be monitored on screens arranged in a monitoring station,

STATE OF THE ART

In the automotive field, a visual tip forward or backward direction also uses video cameras, to improve driving in case of bad weather (fog, snow, night shifts, etc.). using a stereoscopic camera (see for example EP 2 381418 or FR 2 958 774) and rearward vision using simple cameras to bypass dead angles. Such applications do not require a particular location of the control screen, which is generally that of GPS navigation for reasons of simplification.

These video equipment appeared in the automotive field are not suitable for the avionics field because the environment and the fuselage of an aircraft are not comparable in configuration and size to the environment and the cabin of a motor vehicle. In particular, a motor vehicle has a large glass area while the plane windows offer a very small view of ^the environment: display problems are different in nature and do not overlap.

In the field of avionics, it is known from patent documents EP 0 913 325, US 7088 310 or US 2010/188506 visualization systems of the environment of an aircraft by transmission of images captured by cameras. The images are viewed on screens installed in the aircraft cabin near the passengers.

However, these solutions do not display all available images for all passengers, regardless of their seat, especially for passengers located in the central aisles. In addition, the flight crew can not follow the evolution of the environment of the aircraft in the passenger cabin regardless of the location where it officiates.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims precisely to optimize the vision of the environment of the aircraft, whether for passengers or flight crew, including the ability to view at any moment a field of view with information or a landscape particular, for example the city near the airport where the plane will land.

More specifically, the subject of the present invention is a method for remote viewing of environments surrounding an aircraft comprising a fuselage composed of two lateral skins, wings, a cockpit and a cabin. passengers equipped with seats divided into two series of longitudinal rows in lateral position near each lateral skin of the fuselage and on at least one series of longitudinal rows in the central position of the cabin in which the display is offset. This method consists, in a first step, of installing front and side cameras on an outer face of each side fuselage skin of the aircraft, in a second step, to install viewing screens acting as a porthole virtual equipping the passenger cabin and in the central position of the passenger cabin at a view height and in sufficient number so that the passengers sitting on the seats in the central position can view the images displayed by at least one screen in the central position. In a next step, the cameras transmit video signals to a processing unit connected to the display screens and, in another step, the processing unit converts the video signals from each camera into image signals and a control system. visualization selects, in the processing unit, the image signals to be displayed on each screen set to receive several display sources. Data from a navigation data center coupled to the processing unit is inserted as a screen overlay according to the images displayed on the screen in full screen. According to preferred embodiments:

the shots are made in a spectral band chosen between the visible-near-infrared band and the infrared band in order to perform night vision;

- The installation of side screens is performed in a location chosen between the interior of existing portholes, instead of unused portholes and on specific locations near the seats dedicated to passengers;

- in a passenger compartment dedicated to the first class, called first class cabin, each seat being installed in an individual monument with insulation walls and an access door, each monument located laterally along a skin of fuselage has at least one viewing screen serving as a virtual porthole and each monument in central position comprises at least one screen on a longitudinal wall, preferably three display screens;

- In the first class cabin, each screen being dedicated to a single passenger, the display of each screen can be adapted to the position of the passenger by interaction data based on a motion recognition of the passenger supplied to the passenger unit. treatment;

in the first class cabin, the cameras dedicated to front shots are installed on each fuselage skin at a front area of said cabin, and the cameras dedicated to side shots and above wing are installed on each fuselage skin at a rear area of said cabin;

in a passenger cabin section dedicated to the business and / or economic classes, known as the economy cabin, the screens in the central position of the cabin are arranged transversely, between two to five rows of seats; - In the economy cabin, at least one camera dedicated to lateral shooting is installed on each fuselage skin.

The invention also relates to a remote display system of environments surrounding an aircraft and intended for the implementation of the method defined above, the aircraft comprising a fuselage composed of two lateral skins, wings, a cockpit and a passenger cabin equipped with portholes and seats distributed longitudinally on two series of rows in a lateral position near each lateral skin of the fuselage and on at least one series of rows in the central position of the cabin, the display being offset in the passenger cabin. In this system, front and side cameras are installed on an outer face of each of the aircraft's fuselage side skins and are connected to lateral viewing screens, serving as a virtual window between two portholes in the passenger cabin, and in the central position of the passenger cabin at a view height and in sufficient number so that the passengers sitting on the seats in the central position can view the images displayed by at least one screen in central position. The cameras are then able to transmit signals videos to the display screens via a central server of these video signals. A display command drives a server management switch to select, in the server, the source of the image signals to be displayed for each screen. The central server is coupled to a navigation data center of the aircraft and the display control is able to insert data from said central by means of keying according to the images displayed in full screen on the screen concerned .

According to preferred embodiments:

the management server is coupled to a navigation data central unit of the aircraft so that the display control inserts data coming from said central unit by means of incrustation according to the images displayed in full screen on the screen concerned ;

the video cameras are photosensitive sensors in spectral bands that can switch between the visible-near-infrared band and a far-infrared band;

- Passenger position recognition receivers are connected to a video interconnection unit in conjunction with the central server to guide, on remote control, the view taken to provide the passenger concerned a visualization adapted to its position . - the economy cabin having a floor and a ceiling, the screens arranged in central position are fixed by brackets connected to the choice between the ceiling, the floor and a seat back centered of a central series of row of seats.

PRESENTATION OF FIGURES

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows and which relates to a detailed embodiment, with reference to the appended figures which represent, respectively:

- Figure 1, a schematic top view of an example of first class cabin defined by two fuselage skins equipped with cameras and incorporating monuments equipped with display screens according to the remote display system of the invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of an example of an economy cab delimited by two fuselage skins equipped with lateral cameras and viewing screens integrated in the fuselage skins and in the central position of the cabin according to FIG. remote display system of the invention;

FIG. 3, a functional interconnection diagram between the equipment of an exemplary remote display system according to the invention, and

FIGS. 4a and 4b, two images integrating information during shots taken on the ground and on landing of an airplane and transmitted to a display screen of the remote display system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The schematic top view of Figure 1 illustrates an example of first class cab 1 C delimited by two side fuselage skins 2a and 2b.

The first class cabin 1 C is arranged at the front of the aircraft, between the pilot cockpit 10 and the wings 6a, 6b, and comprises three series of four rows of monuments, two side series of rows Ra, Rb along the fuselage skins 2a, 2b, and a central series Rc. Each row has a monument 7 per series, and each monument 7 is intended to receive a passenger during most of the air journeys, day and night. Overall, the monuments 7 are arranged between two passenger accommodation zones, an 8V forward zone on the cockpit side 10 and a rear zone 8R at the wings 6a, 6b. In addition, in the cabin 1C, each monument 7 incorporates a sleeper seat 71, surrounded by sound and heat insulation walls 9 delimiting the monument.

For the lateral monuments 7a, 7b of the lateral rows Ra, Rb, arranged along the fuselage skins 2a, 2b, three walls delimit the monument: a transverse wall before 9V (on the side of the front zone 8V), a rear cross wall 9R (the rear area side 8R), and a wall longitudinal 9L parallel to the axis X - X ', in which is arranged an input / output gate 9p called access door.

The central monuments 7c, arranged in the central series Rc, are themselves surrounded by four walls: two transverse walls front and rear 9A and 9R, and two longitudinal walls 9L, respectively similar to the transverse walls 9A, 9R, and with the longitudinal walls 9L of the lateral monuments 7a, 7b. One of the longitudinal walls 9L of each central monument 7c integrates an access door 9p, similar to the access doors of the lateral monuments 7a, 7b. In the example, the integration of the access doors 9p of the central monuments 7c successively alternate, from the zone before 8V to the rear zone 8R, between a longitudinal wall 9L closer to one of the fuselage skins 2a, 2b and then on the other 2b, 2a.

Furthermore, each fuselage skin 2a, 2b is equipped with three external cameras, respectively front cameras 3a, 3b, side cameras 4a and 4b, and wing cameras 5a, 5b. The cameras are installed at the same level on the fuselage skins 2a to the other 2b and can cover in combination a wide field of view of up to 180 °.

Thus, the front cameras 3a, 3b are installed at the level of the accommodation zone before 8V on the longitudinal axis X - X 'of the cabin 1C, said area 8V comprising toilets 81 and a galley 82. The The objectives of these front cameras 3a, 3b are oriented towards the cockpit of piloting 10, so as to be able to take so-called "before" shots.

The side cameras 4a and 4b and wing 5a, 5b are arranged on the skins of the fuselage 2a and 2b, at the rear accommodation area 8R, comprising toilets 83, 84 and a galley 85. The objectives of the side cameras 4A, 4b are oriented laterally (the so-called "lateral" shots) and those of the wing cameras 5a, 5b are oriented towards the wings 6a, 6b (thus toward the rear of the aircraft ) for shooting "on the wing".

The front cameras 3a, 3b, lateral 4a, 4b and wing 5a, 5b, transmit images to three central display screens 1 1 c installed in the longitudinal walls 9L of the central monuments 7c vis-à-vis longitudinal walls which have a door 9p. The transmission of images is also performed on lateral display screens 1 1 a, 1 1 b, integrated in portions 2p of fuselage skin 2a, 2b serving as the fourth wall of the side monuments, 7a and 7b. Each lateral monument 7a, 7b comprises two real portholes H1 surrounding, respectively, a lateral display screen 1 1a, 1 1b serving virtual window. The side shields 11a, 11b are arranged on the side of the inner fuselage face 2i so that the outer fuselage side 2e remains smooth at said screens, which improves the coefficient of lateral drag.

A remote display system described below makes it possible to switch, for each screen 1 1a, 1 1b and 1 1c, between the different image sources, the cameras 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b in the example. In particular, the central screens 1 1 c positioned on each longitudinal wall 9L, respectively towards the front zone 8V, towards the rear zone 8R and in a median manner, respectively receive the images from the front cameras 3a, 3b, wing cameras. 5a, 5b, and side cameras 4a, 4b.

Under these conditions, each screen 1 1, 1 1b or 1 1 c is dedicated to a single passenger. Advantageously, the display of each screen 1 1 a, 1 1 b, or 1 1 c is then angularly adapted to the position of the passenger installed in the sleeper seat 71, by passenger-screen based interaction data provided by means of motion recognition of this passenger in connection with the visualization system.

Referring to the schematic top view of Figure 2, the example of economic cabin 2C shown is arranged at the rear of the first class cab 1 C - following the rear accommodation area 8R (see figure 1) - that is to say in the fuselage portion between the wings 6a, 6b and the empennage of the aircraft (not shown). Two zones of accommodation surround the seats 13 of the economy cabin 2C, a front zone 14V on the side of the cabin 1C and a rear zone 14R on the tail side of the aircraft.

This economical cabin 2C comprises three series of rows of seats 13, two side series Sa, Sb, along the side fuselage skins 2a, 2b, and a central series Se. The side series Sa, Sb have three seats 13 in the first nine rows on the front zone side 14V, then two seats 13 in the last five rows, the side of the rear area 14R, this reduction in the number of seats corresponding to the narrowed conformation of the fuselage rearward. The central Se series of eleven rows of seats has four seats 13 per row. At the rear area 14R of this economy cabin 2C, a side camera dedicated to the shooting 12a, 12b is installed on each fuselage skin 2a, 2b, on the outer side of fuselage 2e. The cameras 12a, 12b, as well as the cameras 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b of the cabin 1C can transmit images to the display screens of the cabin 2C (conversely, the screens 11a, 11b b, 1 1 c of the cabin 1 C can also view the images taken by the cameras 12a, 12b of the cabin 2C) via the remote display system described below.

Side viewing screens 15a, 15b of the cabin 2C are integrated in the fuselage skin 2a, 2b on the side of the fuselage inner face 2i, which allows to raise the coefficient of lateral drag. These side display screens 15a, 15b, constitute - as in the cabin 1 C - virtual portholes between two portholes H1 real.

15c transverse viewing screens are also installed in the central position of the cabin 2C. These centrally located display screens 15c are arranged transversely, i.e., perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X - X ', all three rows of central seats Se. The transverse screens 15c are suspended centrally, with respect to the row of central seats Se, by rigid cables (not shown) at a sufficient height of view so that the passengers of the central seats Can view the displayed images, without obstructing the overall vision of the 2C cabin.

A remote display system allows specific interconnections to transmit images from cameras and other sources to different screens. FIG. 3 illustrates a functional interconnect diagram 100 between the different pieces of equipment of an exemplary remote display system according to the invention.

In this diagram 100, a central server 20 receives data from an avionics navigation data center 30, signals The reference 40 is here used to generically designate one or the other of the front, wing and / or lateral cameras described above and installed, in the cabins 1 C and 2C, on the outer face 2e of the fuselage skins 2a, 2b. The cameras 40 are connected to the display screens 51 and 52 via the central server 20 which manages the image streams carried by the video signals provided by the cameras 40, each screen 51 or 52 being set to receive several sources of data. display. References 51 and 52 are used to generically designate the screens installed respectively in booths 1C and 2C. In the central server 20, a multiplexed management switch 21 selects at each moment the source of images and / or data - among the cameras 40 and the avionics unit 30 - which transmits the image signals and / or of data to be displayed by each screen 51 and / or 52.

The management switch 21 is controlled by a remote display control 22, installed for example in the cockpit, which can operate in automatic configuration or in manual configuration, for example according to navigation data provided by the avionics unit. 30. In automatic configuration, the central server 20 provides the operator with a choice of broadcasting images between several modes: takeoff mode, landing mode, entertainment mode, etc.

Advantageously, a video interconnect unit 60, abbreviated VIU, connected to the central server 20, receives data from position recognition receivers 72 installed near the seats 71 of the cabin 1 C. [0038] the remote control 22, the signals provided by these receivers 72 are analyzed by the unit VIU 60 in order to orient the images provided by the central server 20 to each screen 51 taking into account the position data transmitted by the receivers 72. The orientation of the images optimizes then the visualization of these images according to the position of each passenger concerned. In addition, also under the remote control 22, the unit VIU 60 can provide the server 20 the screen image data 51 in order to reorient them to the screens 52.

In addition, aircraft data provided by the avionics unit 30 are transmitted to the screens 52 of the cabin 2C in order to directly cut the images in certain flight phases, for example at take-off and landing.

Advantageously also, the screens 51 and 52 have switching means between a sensitive CCD sensor in the visible spectral band - near infrared, and a sensitive CCD sensor in a far infrared band for performing a night vision.

Image views 101 and 102 taken by side cameras described above and visualized on screens 51 are illustrated respectively in Figures 4a and 4b. These images 101 and 102 are taken on the ground in Toulouse and during a landing near New York.

The screens 51 are tactile and can receive, in incrustation, data from the avionics center or other cameras following a contact solicitation on Op pictograms located at the bottom of screens 51. This data is based on the images displayed on the screen in full screen. 10i information is also displayed, highlighted in the upper part of the images 101 and 102, this information relating to geographical and avionics, here the location and speed of the aircraft. Other information 10x can be provided directly by the operator using a terminal in connection with the command 22 of the central server 20 of the aircraft (see Figure 3).

The invention is not limited to the examples described or shown. For example, it is advantageous to use video signal transmissions and other data between the sources and the display screens via wired links or transmit / receive antennas with the appropriate signal conversions. In addition, the screens arranged in the central position can be fixed by supports of any type connected to the choice between the ceiling, the floor and a centered seat back of the economy cabin.

Furthermore, the display screens are set to receive the images from any camera, the avionics unit or the display control installed in the cockpit.

In addition, the video signal processing unit may be any suitable equipment capable of performing the management functions of the central server.

Claims

1. Remote viewing method of environments surrounding an aircraft comprising a fuselage composed of two lateral skins (2a, 2b), wings (6a, 6b), a cockpit (10) and a passenger cabin (1 C, 2C) equipped with seats (71, 13) distributed longitudinally (XX ') on two series of rows in lateral position (Ra, Rb; Sa, Sb) near each lateral skin of the fuselage (2a, 2b) and on at least one series of longitudinal rows (Rc; Se) in the central position of the cabin (1C; 2C) in which the visualization is remote, this method being characterized in that it consists, in a first step, in installing front-facing cameras ( 3a, 3b) and laterally (4a, 4b; 5a, 5b; 12a, 12b) on an outer face (2e) of each side fuselage skin of the aircraft (2a, 2b), in a second step, to install viewing screens (1 1a, 1 1b; 15a, 15b) serving as a virtual window fitted to the passenger cabin (1C; 2C) as well as in the central position (1 1 c, 15c) of the passenger cabin (1 C; 2C) at a sufficient viewing height and in sufficient number so that the passengers sitting on the seats in the central position (Rc; Se) can view the images displayed by at least one screen in central position (1 1 c; 15c), and, in a subsequent step, transmitting video signals from the cameras (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5c, 12a, 12b) to a processing unit (20) connected to the display screens (1 1 a, 1 1b, 1 1c, 15a, 15b) and then, in another step, the processing unit (20) converts the video signals from each camera (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5c, 12a, 12b ) in image signals and a display control (22) selects, in the processing unit (20), the image signals to be displayed on each screen (1 1 a, 1 1 b, 1 1 c; 15a , 15b; 51; 52) set to receive a plurality of display sources (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b; 12a, 12b; 25, 30), data from a navigation data center (30), ) coupled with the unit of ent (20) being embedded on the screen (51; 52) according to the images (101, 102) displayed in full screen on the relevant screen (51; 52).

2. remote display method according to claim 1, wherein the shots are operated in a spectral band chosen between the visible-near-infrared band and a far-infrared band for night vision.

3. remote display method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the installation of the side screens (1 1 a, 1 1b, 15a, 15b) is performed at a location selected between the portholes interior existing (H1), instead of unused windows and on specific locations near the seats (71; 13) dedicated to passengers.

4. Remote viewing method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in a passenger compartment dedicated to the first class, said cabin first class (1 C), each seat (71) being installed in a single monument ( 7) having insulation walls (9) and an access door (9p), each laterally located monument (7a, 7b) along a fuselage skin (2A, 2b) has at least one display screen (1 1 a, 1 1 b) serving as a virtual port, and each monument in the central position (7c) has at least one display screen (1 1 c) on a longitudinal wall (9L), preferably three display screens.

5. remote display method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, in the first class cabin (1 C), each screen (1 1 a, 1 1 b, 1 1 c) being dedicated to a single passenger, the display of each screen (1 1 a, 1 1 b, 1 1 c) can be adapted to the passenger position by interaction data based on a motion recognition of this passenger supplied to the processing unit (20) .

6. A remote display method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, in the first class cabin (1 C), the cameras (3a, 3b) dedicated to front shots are installed on each fuselage skin (2a). , 2b) at a front area (8V) of said car (1C), and the cameras (4a, 4b; 5a, 5b) dedicated to lateral and above-wing shooting (6a, 6b) are installed on each fuselage skin (2a, 2b) at a rear area (8R) of said cabin (1C).

7. Remote viewing method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in a passenger cabin part dedicated to business and / or economic classes, said economy cabin (2C), the screens in the central position (15c) of the cabin are arranged transversely between two to five rows (Se) of seats (13).

8. Remote viewing method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in the economy cabin (2C), at least one camera (12a, 12b) dedicated to lateral shooting is installed on each fuselage skin (2a). , 2b).

9. Remote viewing system of environments surrounding an aircraft and intended for the implementation of the method according to any one of the preceding claims, the aircraft comprising a fuselage composed of two side skins (2a, 2b), wings ( 6a, 6b), a cockpit (10) and a passenger cabin (1C; 2C) equipped with portholes (H1) and seats (71; 13) distributed longitudinally (XX ') on two series of rows in a lateral position (Ra , Rb; Sa, Sb) near each lateral skin of the fuselage (2a, 2b) and on at least one series of rows (Rc; Se) in the central position of the cabin (1C; 2C) in which the visualization is deported, characterized in that, in this system, front (3a, 3b) and side (4a, 4b; 5a, 5b; 12a, 12b) cameras are installed on an outer face (2e) of each of fuselage side skins of the airplane (2a, 2b) and are connected with side-display screens (1 1 a, 1 1 b; 15a, 15b), serving as a virtual window between two portholes (H1) equipping the passenger cabin (1 C; 2C) and in the central position (1 1 c, 15c) of the passenger cabin (1 C; 2C) at a view height and in sufficient number so that the passengers sitting on the seats in the central position (Rc; ) can display the images displayed by at least one screen in central position (1 1 c, 15c), and in that the cameras are then able to transmit video signals to the display screens via a central server (20) of these signals videos, a display control (22) controlling a management switch (21) of the server (20) to select, in the server (20), the source of the image signals to be displayed for each screen (1 1 a, 1 1 b, 1 1 c; 15a, 15b; 51; 52), the central server (20) being coupled to a navigation data center of the aircraft (30) for the display control (22) to insert data from said central station (30) by image-based keying means (101, 102) displayed in full screen on the relevant screen.

10. remote display system according to the preceding claim, wherein the video cameras (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 12a, 12b) are photosensitive sensors in spectral bands that can switch between the visible band - near infrared and a far infrared band.

1 1. A remote display system according to any one of claims 9 or 10, wherein passenger position recognition receivers (72) are connected to a video interconnect unit (60) in connection with the central server (20) to to direct, on remote control (22), the viewed shooting (101, 102) to provide the passenger concerned a visualization adapted to its position.

12. Optimized surveillance and security system according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the economy cabin (2C) having a floor and a ceiling, the screens arranged in a central position (15c) are fixed by supports optionally connected between the ceiling, the floor and a centered seat back (13) of a central series of rows of seats (Se)