System for indicating an alignment status of a passenger bridge

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for providing a human sensable indication to an occupant of an aircraft that it is safe to open a door of the aircraft. An indication generator is provided for receiving a control signal in dependence upon a passenger bridge being correctly aligned with the door of the aircraft. More particularly, the passenger bridge is aligned with the door of the aircraft in one of a semi-automated and a fully-automated manner. The indication generator is also for providing the human sensable indication in dependence upon receiving the control signal.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for indicating an alignment status of a passenger bridge relative to an aircraft having a door, the passenger bridge including a passenger bridge alignment mechanism for guiding the passenger bridge to a position for aligning a cabin end of the passenger bridge to the door of the aircraft, the apparatus comprising: 
 a controller for providing a control signal in dependence upon the passenger bridge being in a predetermined aligned relationship with the door of the aircraft; and,    an indication generator in operative communication with the controller for receiving the control signal from the controller and for providing an indication in dependence thereon.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a sensor for sensing an aligned relationship between the door of the aircraft and the passenger bridge and for providing the control signal to the indication generator in dependence thereon.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the sensor is independent of the passenger bridge alignment mechanism.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the sensor comprises a non-contact inductive sensor.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the apparatus operates independently of the passenger bridge alignment mechanism.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising a sensor in operative communication with the controller for sensing an aligned relationship between the door of the aircraft and the passenger bridge and for providing to the controller a signal indicative of the passenger bridge being in a predetermined aligned relationship with the door of the aircraft.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the sensor is independent of the passenger bridge alignment mechanism.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the passenger bridge alignment mechanism includes a sensor in operative communication with the controller, the sensor for sensing an aligned relationship between the door of the aircraft and the passenger bridge and for providing to the controller a signal indicative of the passenger bridge being in a predetermined aligned relationship with the door of the aircraft.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the indication generator includes a wireless receiver for receiving the control signal and wherein the controller comprises a wireless transmitter for transmitting the control to the indication generator.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the indication generator comprises an acoustic indicator.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the acoustic indicator comprises a knocker and an actuator, the actuator responsive to the control signal for moving the knocker into contact with an outside surface of the aircraft.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the indication generator comprises a visual indicator.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the visual indicator comprises a light signal for displaying a visual indication in the form of at least one of a predetermined pattern and color of light.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the visual indicator comprises interior lighting fixtures of the passenger bridge, and wherein the interior lighting fixtures are selectively switchable between a first mode in which the light is on and a second other mode wherein the light is off for providing a visual indication.  
     
     
         16 . A method of indicating an alignment status of a passenger bridge relative to an aircraft comprising the steps of: 
 guiding the passenger bridge to a position for aligning a cabin end of the passenger bridge to a door of the aircraft using a passenger bridge alignment mechanism of the passenger bridge;    detecting alignment of the cabin end of the passenger bridge relative to the door of the aircraft and providing a control signal in dependence thereon; and,    providing a predetermined indication to an occupant of the aircraft in dependence upon the control signal.    
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined indication is an acoustic indication.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the acoustic indication is generated by the step of releasably engaging a knocker with an outside surface of the aircraft.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined indication is a visual indication.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the step of guiding the cabin end of the passenger bridge is performed absent a bridge-operator being present at the cabin end of the passenger bridge.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the step of detecting alignment of the cabin end of the passenger bridge includes the step of: 
 sensing the position of the cabin end of the passenger bridge relative to the aircraft door; and,    registering an alignment when the cabin end of the passenger bridge approaches to within a predetermined distance of the aircraft.    
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the step of sensing the position of the cabin end of the passenger bridge relative to the aircraft door is performed using a sensor independent of the passenger bridge alignment mechanism to sense a predetermined contiguity of a floor surface of the cabin end of the passenger bridge with a floor surface of the aircraft door.  
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein the sensor independent of the passenger bridge alignment mechanism comprises a pressure sensor.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein the sensor independent of the passenger bridge alignment mechanism comprises a non-contact inductive sensor.  
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein the step of guiding the passenger bridge to a position for aligning a cabin end of the passenger bridge to a door of the aircraft is performed independently of the step of detecting alignment of the cabin end of the passenger bridge relative to the door of the aircraft and providing a control signal in dependence thereon.  
     
     
         26 . A method of indicating an alignment status of a passenger bridge relative to an aircraft, the passenger bridge including a passenger bridge alignment mechanism for guiding the passenger bridge to a position for aligning a cabin end of the passenger bridge to a door of the aircraft, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a control signal indicative of alignment of a cabin end of the passenger bridge relative to the door of the aircraft; and,    automatically providing a predetermined human sensable indication to an occupant of the aircraft in dependence upon the control signal.    
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26 , wherein the received control signal is provided from a remote location by a bridge-operator.  
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 26 , wherein the received control signal is provided by a sensor independent of the passenger bridge alignment mechanism, the sensor for sensing a predetermined contiguity of a floor surface of the cabin end of the passenger bridge with a floor surface of the aircraft door.  
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the sensor independent of the passenger bridge alignment mechanism comprises a pressure sensor.  
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the sensor independent of the passenger bridge alignment mechanism comprises a non-contact inductive sensor.  
     
     
         31 . An apparatus for being attached to a passenger bridge equipped with a passenger bridge alignment mechanism, the apparatus for indicating an alignment status of a cabin end of the passenger bridge relative to a door of an aircraft, the apparatus comprising: 
 a sensor disposed on the passenger bridge for sensing an aligned relationship between a floor surface of the door of the aircraft and a floor surface of the cabin end of the passenger bridge and for providing a signal in dependence thereon;    a controller in operative communication with the sensor for receiving the signal therefrom and for providing a second signal in dependence thereon; and,    an indication generator in operative communication with the controller for receiving the second signal from the controller and for providing an indication in dependence thereon.    
     
     
         32 . An apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the apparatus operates independently of the passenger bridge alignment mechanism.  
     
     
         33 . An apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the indication generator includes a wireless receiver for receiving the second signal and wherein the controller comprises a wireless transmitter for transmitting the second signal to the indication generator.  
     
     
         34 . An apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the indication generator comprises an acoustic indicator.  
     
     
         35 . An apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein the acoustic indicator comprises a knocker and an actuator, the actuator responsive to the second signal for moving the knocker into contact with an outside surface of the aircraft.  
     
     
         36 . An apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the indication generator comprises a visual indicator.