Patent attributes
An aircraft passenger service unit includes infrared sensor configured for detecting infrared radiation and for providing a corresponding sensor output, and a controller, which is configured for receiving and evaluating the sensor output provided by the infrared sensor. The infrared sensor is an infrared sensor array configured for detecting infrared radiation emitted within a plurality of spatial sectors covering a detection area below the aircraft passenger service unit; and the infrared sensor array is configured for detecting the infrared radiation individually for each spatial sector and for providing individual sensor signals for the plurality of spatial sectors. The infrared sensor array is configured such that each passenger seat arranged within the detection area is covered by at least two of the plurality of spatial sectors, respectively; and the controller is configured for determining a passenger seating position within a passenger seat from the individual sensor signals.
