The Boeing Company
System and method of determining a seat back status of a passenger seat in a vehicle

Abstract:

A method of determining a seat back status of a passenger seat in a vehicle. The method includes monitoring a seat back orientation sensor coupled to a seat back of the passenger seat and monitoring a reference orientation sensor coupled at a fixed position within the vehicle. The seat back orientation sensor determines an orientation of the seat back relative to Earth, and the reference orientation sensor determines an orientation of the vehicle relative to Earth. The method further includes determining an orientation of the seat back relative to the vehicle based on a comparison between the orientation of the seat back and the orientation of the vehicle relative to Earth, and transmitting seat back orientation data, of the seat back relative to the vehicle, to a remote monitoring unit, wherein the remote monitoring unit is configured to display a first notification when the seat back is not fully upright.