1. SKY power
AC POWER - A CHALLENGE ??
@ WAEA - TC Seattle, June 2000

2. SKY power POWER TO THE PEOPLE
In-seat power for notebook computers, handheld video players and other PED’ s
Power management for electrical seat equipment
15 VDC system certified and in-service since October 1998
110 VAC system certified in July 1999
110 VAC system in-service since April 2000
Corresponds to the latest safety and certification standards
POWER TO THE PEOPLE

3. SKY power CUSTOMER 15 VDC 110 VAC &
Airline Aircraft Type Program Status
US Airways A319/A320/A330 (line fit) EIS 1998 / ongoing
LTU B767, A330 (retrofit ) EIS 1998 / completed
Gulf Air A330 (line fit) EIS 1999 / completed
British Airways B747/B EIS 1999 / ongoing Lan Chile A319/A320/A340 (line fit) EIS 2000 / RFC - 110VAC
15VDC approx Seats In-Service
Lufthansa B747, A340 (retrofit) EIS / ongoing
Grupo Taca A319/A320 (line fit) EIS / ongoing
Lan Chile A319/A320/A340 (line fit) EIS 2001
D.C. Aviation A319 Corporate Jet EIS 2000 / completed
China Airlines A340 (line fit) EIS 2001
110VAC approx Seats In-Service

4. AC POWER
TECHNICAL ISSUE
&
INSTALLATION

5. SKY power SYSTEM LAYOUT 15VDC & 110VAC
Seat
Group
LED
MCU
Other Systems
Crew
Panel
BITE
A/C
Power
Supply
A/C Power
Management
(future) PM
Column Right (1)
Outlet
ISPC
FDB
further
seat
systems
Note: LED = “outlet used” Indication, FDB = Floor Disconnect Box, ISPC = In-Seat Power Converter
PM = Programming Module, MCU = Master Control Unit
Power line
Control line
Column Centre Right (3)
Column Centre Left (3)
Column Left (4)
Portable Electronic Device (PED)
Future Applications (5)

6. SKY power - MASTER CONTROL UNIT
15 independent configurable power lines (5 columns, 3 phases each)
Comprehensive power management of all connected seat equipment
System performances individually configurable via Programming Module
BITE performed after „power on“, reset and continuously during operation
Programmable overload protection for each power line
Ground Fault Interrupt for each column
POWER MANAGEMENT & SAFETY

7. SKY power millennium IN-SEAT POWER SUPPLY 110 VAC
Power supply HZ
75 W per outlet W total
Available for 2-seat / 3-seat assemblies
EMI filtering
Electrical Ground Fault Protection (GFI)
Over-voltage and over-current protection
Electrical load sensor
Outlet sensor management
IN-SEAT POWER SUPPLY 110 VAC

8. SKY power millennium OUTLET UNIT 110 VAC
Receptacle for US 2 / 3 pin plug and European standard
Plug pin sensors
Mechanical children protection to prevent manipulation
3 sensors and a micro-controller release power only if a plug is engaged
LED system status information
Plug chassis sensor
LED Indication
OUTLET UNIT 110 VAC

9. SKY power INSTALLATION
Seat Integration Example of the In-Seat Power Converter
front view
side view
top view
ISPC cover removed
Electrical bonding & conductive cooling via seat chassis

10. SKY power INSTALLATION
Seat Integration Example of the 110 VAC Outlet Unit
Premium Class Seats
Economy Class Seats

11. AC POWER
BENCHMARK 15VDC  110VAC

12. SKY power 15 VDC VS. 110VAC HOW MANY PASSENGER WILL USE IT ?
15 VOLT MARKETING ASPECTS
 Some power is available
 The Hypertronic outlet is small, discreet and easy to integrate
 Neither the 15 VDC power output nor the receptacle respond to computer industry standards (there may be some exceptions)
 Additional DC-DC laptop power transformer are required (approx. 60 different types
on the market, priced US$ )
 Providing adapters to passengers is a serious cost and logistic challenge for the
airline
 Not to provide the adapters means not to respond to the passengers’ expectations
HOW MANY PASSENGER WILL USE IT ?

13. SKY power 15 VDC VS. 110VAC
15 VOLT TECHNICAL AND SAFETY ASPECTS
 15 VDC voltage is not considered critical
 The power outlet is small and easy to integrate into the seat
 A third manufacturer’s adapter breaks the chain of OEM equipment
(ISPSS -- notebook)
 Not all third party adapters correspond to airworthiness qualification standards
(DO 160) and the notebook manufacturers’ specifications
Potential risks: Grey market, EMI problems, unregulated battery charging
 Existing 15 VDC VAC transformer (some manufacturers offer such products)
are of potential danger when operated by passengers without any system safety
protection

14. SKY power 15 VDC VS. 110VAC MEET THE PASSENGER’S EXPECTATIONS
110 VOLT MARKETING ASPECTS
 The passengers can operate their laptop computers like at home
 No additional voltage transformer is required
(Non-US notebook computers operate in the range of /60 Hz)
 No additional cost and logistic issues for the airlines
 Instant access meets the passengers expectations
 Crew / passenger instructions are required in order to advise passengers
MEET THE PASSENGER’S EXPECTATIONS

15. SKY power 15 VDC VS. 110VAC
110 VOLT TECHNICAL AND SAFETY ASPECTS
 The notebook OEM transformer meets the individual specifications of the notebooks
This supports a continuous chain of OEM equipment
 The load limit of 75 W does not allow operation of hair dryers or other critical
equipment
 Additional passenger safety features in the seat end
GFI, mechanical locks, over-voltage / over-current protection, load sensor, plug sensors
 The size of the outlet unit may require more seat engineering skills

16. AC POWER
CERTIFICATION
ASPECTS

17. ISPSS APPROVAL CONDITIONS
JAA policy harmonised with the FAA, based on previous FAA Memo
Following items are relevant to AC-Systems:
“No conventional duplex outlet, special adapter required”
Objective: to control access of the in-seat power system
Compliance: the outlet accommodates normal Euro/US duplex connectors, but the built-in safety features provide a safety equivalent to a special adapter.
“Indication of power outlets in use”
Objective: to allow easy monitoring of in-seat power use by the cabin crew, in particular in a dark cabin on long range flight
Compliance: final ISPSS standard has an indication light on the aisle side of each seat group

18. REVIEW OF FAA TEST AND INSPECTION
Standard Qualification for Airborne Equipment
Qualification Report (Do 160); Load & Safety Analysis; EMI & Functional Ground Test...
Additional Aircraft Inspection and Ground Test on In-Service Aircraft
Aircraft installation inspection
Safety features (overload, short circuit outlet, short circuit phases, ground fault, over-heat conditions, mishandling)
Aircraft Inspection at the Assembly Line and Lab Tests at KID-Systeme
Aircraft installation inspection
Safety features (short circuit MCU)
Spilling liquid
Smoke / fire containment of seat box (ISPC)
Flammability
ALL TESTS PASSED SUCCESSFULLY

19. Mishandling of the 110 VAC Outlet Unit
REVIEW OF FAA TEST AND INSPECTION
Mishandling of the 110 VAC Outlet Unit
Attempt to overcome the mechanical and electronic safety protections
Deliberate mishandling by introducing loose pins and similar objects into the outlet
Did not succeed to release power on the outlet
The safety features prevented activation under all tested circumstances
TEST PASSED SUCCESSFULLY

20. Mishandling of PED Power Cord under Load
A damaged PED power cord under load is trapped under the flap of the folding table in the seat armrest.
After the cord is cut through a short circuit or a ground fault switches off outlet power immediately.
TEST PASSED SUCCESSFULLY

21. conductive liquid (salt water)
110 VAC OUTLET UNIT LIQUID INGRESS TEST
LED
conductive liquid (salt water)
AC power not released but available (LED green)
Outlet submerged Power no longer available (LED off)
TEST PASSED SUCCESSFULLY

22. 110 VAC OUTLET UNIT LIQUID INGRESS TEST
Spilling conductive liquid on the AC Outlet used by light bulb testload
Power interrupted by differential current protection after ingress of liquid
TEST PASSED SUCCESSFULLY

23. HEAT TEST OF ISPC UNIT ON LAB TEST RIG
Deliberate Heating with 400°C Air Blower
Connectors started to melt down
Unit switched off at temperature limit
No damages at PCB and components
NO SMOKE - NO FIRE - NO FUMES

24. THANK YOU !