Abstract: An oven having water injection system comprising an oven including a compartment enclosed on all sides, a water injector, and a first water valve coupled to the water injector, wherein the water valve includes proportional control.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving a plurality of meals into an oven. The plurality of meals includes at least two different types of meals, each type of meal requiring a different respective cooking time. The method also includes running a separate timer for cooking each respective type of meal in the plurality of meals. A system can comprise an oven cooking compartment configured to receive a plurality of individually packaged meals. The system can also include a controller operatively connected to the oven, the controller including machine readable instructions configured to perform the method recited.

Abstract: An oven heating element assembly includes a heating element operable to heat air that flows across the heating element, wherein the heating element includes, a disk having a metallic layer, a ceramic layer sandwiched between the metallic layer and a second metallic layer, and a fan operable to cause air to flow across the heating element.

Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of RFID readers distributed throughout an aircraft cabin. The RFID readers are configured to read RFID tags attached to luggage items. The system also includes a controller operatively connected to the plurality of RFID readers. The controller includes machine readable instructions configured to cause the controller to receive RFID readings from the plurality of RFID readers and track locations of the luggage items within the aircraft cabin. A method comprises tracking RFID tags affixed to luggage items within an aircraft cabin to monitor distribution and/or movement of the luggage items within the aircraft cabin. Tracking RFID tags includes detecting the RFID tags using a plurality of RFID readers located in overhead bins of the aircraft cabin.

Abstract: A system for monitoring traffic in aircraft cabins includes conductive wire in aisle carpeting and sensors to register pressure via capacitance changes. The system identifies the volume and location of traffic in aircraft aisles via registered changes to voltage, current, and/or conductivity of the conductive wire, and sensors embedded in the carpet. Measurements over time establish changes in traffic flow and directionality which may be used to direct crew members in flight. Lighting elements may be incorporated into the carpet to provide signals to passengers and crew via the lighting elements.

Abstract: An appliance comprising a door configured to enclose a cooking or chilling space, a filter slot positioned above the door configured to accept a filter for filtering odors and particles, and a control panel for controlling the appliance positioned above the door.

Abstract: An aircraft insert can include a body and a wireless network module configured to create an insert host network for one or more devices to connect to the wireless network module in a host mode, and to connect to an aircraft network in a client mode. The insert can include a LED mounted on or within the body, the LED readable by a Personal Electronic Device (PED) and having insert host network information to allow the PED to connect to the insert wireless network when the wireless network module is in the host mode. The wireless network module can be configured to receive aircraft network information from the PED in the host mode to connect to the aircraft network when in the client mode.

Abstract: An appliance for use in an aircraft galley including a body defining an interior space, a motor configured to drive a fan propeller situated on an outside of the body, and a fan propeller situated within the interior space, wherein a shaft of a fan propeller is not in direct contact with a shaft of the motor.

Abstract: An oven is disclosed for preparing meals on-demand in an aircraft galley, which includes a housing having a cooking path extending between an inlet for introducing a food product into the cooking path and an outlet for retrieving the food product from the cooking path, a plurality of heating zones located along the cooking path for sequentially cooking the food product, a conveyor assembly for transporting the food product from the inlet of the cooking path to the outlet of the cooking path through the plurality of heating zones, and at least one heating element located within each cooking zone.

Abstract: An aircraft tray table retention assembly may include a seat magnetic component installed within a rear bezel of an aircraft seat, and a tray table magnetic component installed within an aircraft tray table. The aircraft tray table may be coupled to the aircraft seat via at least one of one or more hinges or a set of rails, and may be configured to actuate between a stowed position and a deployed position via the at least one of one or more hinges or a set of rails. The tray table magnetic component may be configured to engage the seat magnetic component when the aircraft tray table is in the stowed position. The aircraft tray table retention assembly may include a tray magnetic component configured to engage the tray table magnetic component when the aircraft tray table is in the deployed position.

Abstract: An oven comprises a cooking volume and a fluid inlet in fluid connection with the cooking volume for ingress of fluid into the cooking volume. The oven also comprises an outlet conduit in fluid communication with the cooking volume for egress of gas from the cooking volume. The oven further includes a hydrophobic filter in the outlet conduit configured to capture moisture from a flow of fluid egressing from the cooking volume.

Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of RFID readers distributed throughout an aircraft cabin. The RFID readers are configured to read RFID tags attached to luggage items. The system also includes a controller operatively connected to the plurality of RFID readers. The controller includes machine readable instructions configured to cause the controller to receive RFID readings from the plurality of RFID readers and track locations of the luggage items within the aircraft cabin. A method comprises tracking RFID tags affixed to luggage items within an aircraft cabin to monitor distribution and/or movement of the luggage items within the aircraft cabin. Tracking RFID tags includes detecting the RFID tags using a plurality of RFID readers located in overhead bins of the aircraft cabin.

Abstract: A device can include an enclosure defining an interior having an enclosure volume and configured to hold one or more items, a heat system configured to heat the interior of the enclosure, a fluid system configured to input a known amount of a fluid (e.g., water, steam, air) into the enclosure, and a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure within the enclosure. The device can include an item volume deduction module operatively connected to the pressure sensor and the fluid system. The item volume deduction module can be configured to correlate a pressure increase caused by injection of a known amount of the fluid (e.g., water, steam, air) in the enclosure to a total item volume of the one or more items within the enclosure.

Abstract: An antenna component for an aircraft insert can include a non-conductive body having an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface can be configured to be hidden from view when installed on the insert. The antenna component can include a surface antenna assembly disposed on the inner surface such that when the non-conductive body is installed on the insert the surface antenna is not visible. The surface antenna assembly can be configured to receive one or more predetermined frequencies. The non-conductive body can be configured to pass at least the one or more predetermined frequencies.

Abstract: A method is provided for establishing secure network communication for a wireless network module of a battery-free insert. The method includes establishing communication with a low security module of an access point of a secure network, wherein a timestamp is not used to establish the communication with the low security module, obtaining a timestamp from the low security module, discontinuing communication with the low security module, and sending a request to a high security module to establish communication with the high security module of the access point. The request includes the timestamp. Communication is established with the high security module using the timestamp for establishing high security communication with the secure network.

Abstract: A filter component for an aircraft insert can include a non-conductive body having an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface can be configured to be hidden from view when installed on the insert. The filter component can include a surface filter disposed on the inner surface such that when the non-conductive body is installed on the insert the surface filter is not visible. The surface filter can be configured to filter out one or more predetermined filter frequencies.

Abstract: A data transfer system is disclosed for a galley insert used in an aircraft, which includes an electronic interface having an integrated antenna configured to utilize a wireless communication protocol to add data relating to insert status into a message reported to a maintenance engineer by way of a wireless reader.

Abstract: An aircraft insert can include a body and a wireless network module configured to create an insert host network for one or more devices to connect to the wireless network module in a host mode, and to connect to an aircraft network in a client mode. The insert can include a data tag mounted on or within the body, the data tag readable by a Personal Electronic Device (PED) and having insert host network information to allow the PED to connect to the insert wireless network when the wireless network module is in the host mode. The wireless network module can be configured to receive aircraft network information from the PED in the host mode to connect to the aircraft network when in the client mode.

Abstract: An aircraft tray table retention assembly may include a seat magnetic component installed within a rear bezel of an aircraft seat, and a tray table magnetic component installed within an aircraft tray table. The aircraft tray table may be coupled to the aircraft seat via at least one of one or more hinges or a set of rails, and may be configured to actuate between a stowed position and a deployed position via the at least one of one or more hinges or a set of rails. The tray table magnetic component may be configured to engage the seat magnetic component when the aircraft tray table is in the stowed position. The aircraft tray table retention assembly may include a tray magnetic component configured to engage the tray table magnetic component when the aircraft tray table is in the deployed position.

Abstract: A system includes three switches each having a single pole and dual throws. The respective single pole is on a supply side of the each respective switch. The dual throws are on a load side of each respective switch, and include a respective normally open (NO) throw and a respective normally closed (NC) throw. A first voltage detector is connected from the single pole of the first switch to the NC throw of the third switch. A second voltage detector is connected from the single pole of the second switch to the NC throw of the first switch. A third voltage detector is connected from the single pole of the third switch to a NC throw of the second switch.