Aerospace intelligent window system

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intelligent window system, comprising:
 at least one transparency of a vehicle mounted at a location on the vehicle, the transparency comprising at least one sensor configured to measure predetermined characteristics or properties of the transparency, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a temperature sensor and/or a moisture sensor; and   a central monitoring system electrically connected to the at least one sensor, the central monitoring system comprising:
 a processor, and 
 a preset program comprising instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
 receive data obtained over at least one time period directly or indirectly from the at least one sensor, and 
 provide an estimated remaining useable life for the transparency, wherein the estimated remaining useable life for the transparency is based, at least in part, on: 
 (i) received data for the transparency showing present performance of the transparency, 
 (ii) previous output data from the at least one sensor of the transparency, and 
 (iii) an activity of the vehicle when the previous output data was collected. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle comprises one or more of a land vehicle, an air vehicle, a space vehicle, and/or a water vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle comprises an aircraft, and wherein the transparency comprises one or more of a cabin window of the aircraft and/or a windshield of the aircraft. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle comprises an aircraft, and wherein the transparency comprises a windshield of the aircraft. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the windshield of the aircraft comprises at least one of a left side windshield, a right side windshield, a low right front windshield, a low left front windshield, a high right front windshield, a high left front windshield, and/or a middle front windshield between the high right front windshield and the high left front windshield. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle comprises an aircraft, and wherein the activity of the vehicle when the previous output data was collected comprises one or more of before takeoff activity of the aircraft, takeoff of the aircraft, flight of the aircraft, landing of the aircraft, and/or after landing activities of the aircraft. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the preset program instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to schedule repair and/or replacement of the transparency based on the estimated remaining useable life of the selected transparency. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the preset program instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to provide an indication when the estimated remaining useable life of the selected transparency is less than a transit time to an initial destination of the vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the vehicle comprises an aircraft and wherein the activity of the aircraft comprises one or more of a before take-off activity, a during flight activity, landing of the aircraft, and/or an after landing activity. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor measures temperature of at least a portion of the transparency, and the moisture sensor measures moisture between laminated sheets of the transparency. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the central monitoring system is connected to one or more of a monitor, an alarm, and/or a voice activated alarm. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the preset program instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine information about repair and replacement of the transparency based on information about performance of the transparency and the estimated remaining useable life of the selected transparency. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the preset program instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to receive information about an activity of the vehicle during at least one time period. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the received sensor data is received only when the transparency is active during the at least one time period. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the received sensor data comprises formatted information for a plurality of time periods, and wherein the activity of the vehicle is different for each of the plurality of time periods. 
     
     
         16 . A method of installing an intelligent window system in a vehicle, the method comprising:
 installing at least one transparency mounted at a location on the vehicle, the transparency comprising at least one sensor configured to measure predetermined characteristics or properties of the transparency, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a temperature sensor and/or a moisture sensor; and   installing a central monitoring system electrically connected to the at least one sensor, the central monitoring system comprising:
 a processor, and 
 a preset program comprising instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
 receive data obtained over at least one time period directly or indirectly from the at least one sensor, and 
 provide an estimated remaining useable life for the transparency, wherein the estimated remaining useable life for the transparency is based, at least in part, on: 
 (i) received data for the transparency showing present performance of the transparency, 
 (ii) previous output data from the at least one sensor of the transparency, and 
 (iii) an activity of the vehicle when the previous output data was collected. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the vehicle comprises one or more of a land vehicle, an air vehicle, a space vehicle, and/or a water vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the preset program instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to schedule repair and/or replacement of the transparency based on the estimated remaining useable life of the selected transparency. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the preset program instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to provide an indication when the estimated remaining useable life of the selected transparency is less than a transit time to an initial destination of the vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the vehicle comprises an aircraft and wherein the activity of the aircraft comprises one or more of a before take-off activity, a during flight activity, landing of the aircraft, and/or an after landing activity.