Systems and methods for input voting of continuous and discrete signals

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for input voting of continuous signals and discrete signals. The system includes an input device and a voting device. The input device includes a first input module and a second input module for generating continuous signals and discrete signals. The voting device includes a monitoring module and a voting module for monitoring and voting on the signals generated by the input device. The monitoring module includes monitoring of the validity of continuous signal input, monitoring of continuous signal input comparison, monitoring of comparison between discrete signals and valid continuous signals, and monitoring of the validity of discrete signal input. The voted continuous signals and the voted discrete signals can operate in the main signal - main signal mode, or the standby signal - main signal mode, or the main signal - standby signal mode respectively. Through the present invention, the availability of sensor signals can be greatly improved, the requirement for the tracking error of the RVDT signal in the hardware of the sensor system can be reduced, and at the same time, the requirement for the integrity of the command signal of the fly-by-wire control system can be met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the key signal voting and monitoring technology of a fly-by-wire control system, and more specifically, to a system and method for input voting of continuous signals and discrete signals. Background Art

[0002] There are mainly the following three ways for the flap and slat control handle sensor system: (1) Taking a certain regional airliner as an example, the flap and slat control handle adopts four Rotary Variable Differential Transformers (RVDTs for short); (2) Taking a certain large airliner as an example, the flap and slat control handle adopts two independent bidirectional potentiometers, and each potentiometer outputs two sensor position signals; (3) Taking a certain narrow-body airliner as an example, the flap and slat control handle adopts four rotary switches, and each rotary switch has two sets of the same model guide rails.

[0003] The voting methods for the corresponding flap and slat control handle sensor system have three ways: (1) For each flap or slat channel of a certain regional airliner, a system command is generated when one RVDT sensor signal is valid, otherwise the previous valid system command is continued to be used; (2) Each flap or slat channel of a certain large airliner receives one sensor position signal, and a system command is generated through a quadruple redundancy voting method; (3) Each flap or slat channel of a certain narrow-body airliner receives the signals of two rotary switches, and each channel outputs an instruction when the signals of the two rotary switches are consistent, otherwise the previous valid instruction is maintained.

[0004] During the operation of the flap and slat control handle of a certain regional airliner, the problem of multiple flap half-speed occurs frequently. After investigation, the tracking error between the four RVDT sensors of the flap and slat control handle is large, and one RVDT corresponding to the flap channel does not fall within the range of the clamping groove, and the flap channel will consider that an invalid clamping information is received, and then judge it as an invalid instruction. Therefore, it will not drive the flap PDU motor it controls. While the other three channels receive valid RVDT positions and calculate the same motion instructions, they will drive the PDU motors they control. In this way, the phenomenon of flap half-speed movement appears.

[0005] Therefore, the tracking error between the four RVDT sensors of a certain regional airliner is large. Under the current voting architecture, the flap channel determines that one RVDT sensor is invalid and cannot generate a new system command, which affects the system function and reduces the availability of the sensor system. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention content is provided to introduce some concepts in a simplified form that will be further described in the following detailed description. The present invention content is not intended to identify the key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to assist in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0007] In view of the deficiencies in the prior art described above, an object of the present invention is to improve the availability of sensor signals, reduce the requirements for the RVDT signal tracking error of the sensor system hardware, and at the same time meet the requirements for the integrity of the command signals of the fly-by-wire control system.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a system for input voting of continuous signals and discrete signals is provided. The system may include: an input device including a first input module and a second input module, where the first input module is configured to generate a first continuous signal and a first discrete signal associated with the first continuous signal, and the second input module is configured to generate a second continuous signal and a second discrete signal associated with the second continuous signal; and a voting device including a monitoring module and a voting module, where the monitoring module is configured to: determine the validity of the voted continuous signal and the value of the voted continuous signal based on the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal; determine the value of the voted status discrete signal based on the first discrete signal and the second discrete signal; and determine the validity of the voted status discrete signal based on the first continuous signal, the first discrete signal, the second continuous signal, the second discrete signal, and the validity of the voted continuous signal; where the voting module is configured to: output the validity of the voted signal and the value of the voted signal based on the validity of the voted continuous signal, the value of the voted continuous signal, the validity of the voted status discrete signal, and the value of the voted status discrete signal.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the first input device may include a rotary variable differential transformer (RVDT) or a potentiometer and a switch, and the RVDT or potentiometer and the switch are mechanically linked through gears and shafts. The first continuous signal is the continuous measurement value of the RVDT or potentiometer, and the first discrete signal is generated by different combinations of closing and opening of the switch.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the second input device may include a rotary variable differential transformer (RVDT) or a potentiometer and a switch, and the RVDT or potentiometer and the switch are mechanically linked through gears and shafts. The second continuous signal is the continuous measurement value of the RVDT or potentiometer, and the second discrete signal is generated by different combinations of closing and opening of the switch.

[0011] According to one embodiment, determining the validity of the voting continuous signal based on the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal may include: determining a first continuous signal input validity monitoring report based on a comparison between the first continuous signal and a first threshold; determining a second continuous signal input validity monitoring report based on a comparison between the second continuous signal and the first threshold; determining a continuous signal input comparison monitoring report based on a comparison between the difference between the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal and a second threshold; and determining the validity of the voting continuous signal based on the first continuous signal input validity monitoring report, the second continuous signal input validity monitoring report, and the continuous signal input comparison monitoring report.

[0012] According to one embodiment, determining the value of the voting continuous signal based on the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal may include: determining the higher-priority one of the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal as the value of the voting continuous signal; or determining the average value of the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal as the value of the voting continuous signal.

[0013] According to one embodiment, determining the value of the voting status discrete signal based on the first discrete signal and the second discrete signal may include: when the states of the first discrete signal and the second discrete signal are consistent, determining either the first discrete signal or the second discrete signal as the value of the voting status discrete signal.

[0014] According to one embodiment, determining the validity of the voting status discrete signal based on the first continuous signal, the first discrete signal, the second continuous signal, the second discrete signal, and the validity of the voting continuous signal may include: generating a first discrete signal input validity monitoring report based on the first discrete signal; generating a second discrete signal input validity monitoring report based on the second discrete signal; generating a first discrete signal and valid continuous signal comparison monitoring report based on the first continuous signal, the first discrete signal, and the validity of the voting continuous signal; generating a second discrete signal and valid continuous signal comparison monitoring report based on the second continuous signal, the second discrete signal, and the validity of the voting continuous signal; and determining the validity of the voting status discrete signal based on the first discrete signal input validity monitoring report, the second discrete signal input validity monitoring report, the first discrete signal and valid continuous signal comparison monitoring report, and the second discrete signal and valid continuous signal comparison monitoring report.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the voting module may be further configured to: use the value of the voting continuous signal as the main signal and use the value of the voting status discrete signal as the main signal; and adopt a voting method of main signal - main signal to output the validity of the voting signal and the value of the voting signal.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the voting module may be further configured to: use the continuous signal value of the vote as the main signal and the discrete signal value of the vote status as the backup signal; and adopt a voting method of main signal-backup signal to output the validity of the voting signal and the voting signal value.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the voting module may be further configured to: use the continuous signal value of the vote as the backup signal and the discrete signal value of the vote status as the main signal; and adopt a voting method of backup signal-main signal to output the validity of the voting signal and the voting signal value.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for input voting of continuous signals and discrete signals is provided. The method may include: generating a first continuous signal and a first discrete signal associated with the first continuous signal; generating a second continuous signal and a second discrete signal associated with the second continuous signal; determining the validity of the voting continuous signal and the voting continuous signal value based on the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal; determining the discrete signal of the voting status based on the first discrete signal and the second discrete signal; determining the validity of the discrete signal of the voting status based on the first continuous signal, the first discrete signal, the second continuous signal, the second discrete signal and the validity of the voting continuous signal; and outputting the validity of the voting signal and the voting signal value based on the validity of the voting continuous signal, the voting continuous signal value, the validity of the discrete signal of the voting status and the discrete signal value of the voting status.

[0019] According to still another aspect of the present invention, a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program is provided. The computer program, when executed by a processor, executes the method according to the present invention.

[0020] By adopting the system and method provided by the present invention, the availability of sensor signals can be greatly improved, the requirement for the tracking error of the RVDT signal of the sensor system hardware can be reduced, and at the same time, the requirements of the airworthiness authority for the integrity of the command signal of the fly-by-wire flight control system can be met, maintaining the same advanced level as the four-redundancy voting technology of a certain large airliner.

[0021] By reading the following detailed description and referring to the associated drawings, these and other features and advantages will become apparent. It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are illustrative and do not limit the aspects claimed. Description of the Drawings

[0022] In order to understand the manner in which the above-described features of the present invention are utilized in detail, the above briefly summarized content can be described more specifically with reference to the various embodiments, some aspects of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be noted, however, that the drawings only show certain typical aspects of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting its scope, since the description may allow for other equally effective aspects.

[0023] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a system for input voting for continuous signals and discrete signals according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of a first continuous signal input validity monitoring and a second continuous signal input validity monitoring according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of continuous signal input comparison monitoring according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of determining the validity of a voted continuous signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of determining the value of a voted continuous signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 7 and Figure 8 Schematic diagram of discrete signal validity monitoring and discrete signal comparison monitoring with a valid continuous signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of determining the validity of a voted status discrete signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of determining the value of a voted status discrete signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 11 Schematic diagram of determining the validity and value of a voted signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 12 Flowchart of a method for input voting for continuous signals and discrete signals according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 13A block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed implementation

[0035] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the features of the present invention will be further revealed in the following detailed description.

[0036] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a system 100 for input voting of continuous signals and discrete signals according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The system 100 may include an input device 110. The input device 110 may include a first input module 130 and a second input module 140. The first input module 130 may be configured to generate a first continuous signal and a first discrete signal associated with the first continuous signal, and the second input module 140 may be configured to generate a second continuous signal and a second discrete signal associated with the second continuous signal. The following will refer to Figure 2 to describe the input device 110 in detail.

[0037] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the input device 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. As shown, the first input module 130 may include a rotary variable differential transformer RVDT or a potentiometer 132 and a switch 134 (e.g., a guide rail switch), and the RVDT or potentiometer 132 and the switch 134 are mechanically linked by a gear and a shaft connection. The first continuous signal may be a continuous measurement value of the RVDT or potentiometer 132, and the first discrete signal may be generated by different combinations of closing and opening of the switch 134. For example, the first input module 130 may drive the RVDT / potentiometer 132 through a gear and a shaft, and output an RVDT / potentiometer electrical signal of the first input module (which may be referred to as the first continuous signal herein); at the same time, the guide rail switch of the first input module is driven to rotate by an external force. When in different states, different guide rail switches (a rotary switch with a guide rail or a switch driven by a guide rail cam) are closed or opened, and according to different combinations of closing and opening states of the guide rail switches, a state discrete signal of the first input module (which may be referred to as the first discrete signal herein) is output.

[0038] Similarly, the second input module 140 may include an RVDT or a potentiometer 142 and a switch 144, which are connected by gears and shafts to achieve mechanical linkage. The second continuous signal may be the continuous measurement value of the RVDT or potentiometer 142, and the second discrete signal may be generated by different combinations of closing and opening of the switch 144. For example, when the RVDT / potentiometer 142 and the (guide rail) switch 144 of the second input module 140 are simultaneously driven to rotate by an external force, the electrical signal of the RVDT / potentiometer of the second input module and the output of the status discrete signal (which may be respectively referred to as the second continuous signal and the second discrete signal in this article) are also achieved.

[0039] Return Figure 1 , the system 100 may further include a voting device 120. The voting device 120 may include a monitoring module 150 and a voting module 160. The monitoring module 150 may be configured to determine the validity of the voting continuous signal and the value of the voting continuous signal based on the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal; determine the value of the voting status discrete signal based on the first discrete signal and the second discrete signal; and determine the validity of the voting status discrete signal based on the first continuous signal, the first discrete signal, the second continuous signal, the second discrete signal, and the validity of the voting continuous signal. The operation of the monitoring module 150 will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 3 - 10 . The voting module 160 may be configured to output the validity of the voting signal and the value of the voting signal based on the validity of the voting continuous signal, the value of the voting continuous signal, the validity of the voting status discrete signal, and the voting status discrete signal. The operation of the voting module 160 will be described in detail below with reference to Figure 11 .

[0040] Figure 3 FIG. illustrates a schematic diagram of the first continuous signal input validity monitoring 300 and the second continuous signal input validity monitoring 350 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As Figure 3 shown, the continuous signal input validity monitoring includes determining whether the continuous signal is within the valid value range. If it is within the valid range, the continuous signal input validity monitoring reports 0, otherwise 1. For example, the first continuous signal input validity monitoring 300 may include the following steps: comparing the first continuous signal with a first threshold; if it is determined that the first continuous signal is less than the first threshold, setting the first continuous signal input validity report to 0, otherwise setting it to 1. The second continuous signal input validity monitoring 350 may include the following steps: comparing the second continuous signal with the first threshold. If it is determined that the second continuous signal is less than the first threshold, setting the second continuous signal input validity report to 0, otherwise setting it to 1.

[0041] Figure 4Schematic diagram of continuous signal input comparison monitoring according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The continuous signal input comparison monitoring includes comparing the absolute value of the subtraction of two input module continuous signals with a failure threshold. If the absolute difference is within the threshold range, it is reported as 0, otherwise it is 1. For example, the continuous signal input comparison monitoring may include the following steps: obtaining the absolute value of the difference between the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal; comparing the absolute value with a second threshold; if the absolute value is less than the second threshold, the continuous signal input comparison monitoring report is set to 0, otherwise it is set to 1.

[0042] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of determining the validity of a voted continuous signal according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. As Figure 5 shown, the validity of the voted continuous signal can be determined by the following steps: inputting the first continuous signal input validity monitoring report (e.g., the first continuous signal input validity monitoring report shown in Figure 3 ), the second continuous signal input validity monitoring report (e.g., the second continuous signal input validity monitoring report shown in Figure 3 ), and the continuous signal input comparison monitoring report (e.g., the continuous signal input comparison monitoring report shown in Figure 4 ) into "logical NOT" gates respectively; then inputting the results of each "logical NOT" gate into a "logical AND" gate to determine the validity of the voted continuous signal. It can be seen that the validity of the voted continuous signal is true (equal to 1) only when there is no detection failure in the first continuous signal input validity monitoring, the continuous signal input comparison monitoring, and the second continuous signal input validity monitoring, otherwise it is false (equal to 0).

[0043] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of determining the value of a voted continuous signal according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. As Figure 6 shown, the value of the voted continuous signal can be determined by selecting the continuous signal of the input module with a higher priority or taking the average of the continuous signals of the two input modules.

[0044] Figure 7 And Figure 8 Schematic diagram of discrete signal validity monitoring and discrete signal comparison monitoring with an effective continuous signal according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. As Figure 7 shown, the discrete signal validity monitoring includes determining whether the discrete signal label on the bus is valid during the interaction between computers. If it is valid, it is reported as 0, otherwise it is 1; the discrete signal comparison monitoring with an effective continuous signal includes determining whether the discrete signal is consistent with its mechanically linked continuous signal when the validity of the voted continuous signal is true. If they are consistent, it is reported as 0, otherwise it is 1.

[0045] Figure 9Schematic diagram for determining the validity of a voting status discrete signal according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. As Figure 9 shown, the validity of the voting status discrete signal can be determined through the following steps: input the first discrete signal input validity monitoring report (e.g., the first discrete signal input validity monitoring report shown in Figure 7 ), the first discrete signal and valid continuous signal comparison monitoring report (e.g., the first discrete signal and valid continuous signal comparison monitoring report shown in Figure 7 ), the second discrete signal input validity monitoring report (e.g., the second discrete signal input validity monitoring report shown in Figure 8 ), and the second discrete signal and valid continuous signal comparison monitoring report (e.g., the second discrete signal and valid continuous signal comparison monitoring report shown in Figure 8 ) into "NOT" gates respectively; then input the results of each "NOT" gate into an "AND" gate to determine the validity of the voting discrete signal. It can be seen that only when there is no detection failure in the first discrete signal input validity monitoring, the first discrete signal and valid continuous signal comparison monitoring, the second discrete signal input validity monitoring, and the second discrete signal and valid continuous signal comparison monitoring, the validity of the voting status discrete signal is true (equal to 1), otherwise it is false (equal to 0).

[0046] Figure 10 Schematic diagram for determining the value of a voting status discrete signal according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. As Figure 10 shown, when the states of the discrete signals of two input modules (i.e., the first discrete signal and the second discrete signal) are consistent, the state at this time is determined as the value of the voting status discrete signal, otherwise the original state remains unchanged.

[0047] Figure 11 Schematic diagram for determining the validity of a voting signal and the value of a voting signal according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The value of the voting continuous signal and the value of the voting status discrete signal can work in a main signal - main signal mode, or a standby signal - main signal mode, or a main signal - standby signal mode. Refer to Figure 11, the voting method for the main signal - main signal operation is as follows: When both the validity of the consecutive signals being voted on and the validity of the discrete state signals being voted on are true, the validity of the voted signal is true and the value of the voted signal is the value of the consecutive signal being voted on or the value of the discrete state signal being voted on. When the validity of the consecutive signal being voted on is true and the validity of the discrete state signal being voted on is false, the validity of the voted signal is true and the value of the voted signal is the value of the consecutive signal being voted on. When the validity of the consecutive signal being voted on is false and the validity of the discrete state signal being voted on is true, the validity of the voted signal is true and the value of the voted signal is the value of the discrete state signal being voted on. When the validity of the consecutive signal being voted on is false and the validity of the discrete state signal being voted on is false, the validity of the voted signal is false and the value of the voted signal is the default safety value or the valid value of the last frame.

[0048] The voting method for the main signal - standby signal operation is as follows: For example, the value of the consecutive signal being voted on is used as the main signal, and the value of the discrete state signal being voted on is used as the standby signal, and vice versa. When both the validity of the consecutive signal being voted on and the validity of the discrete state signal being voted on are true, the validity of the voted signal is true and the value of the voted signal is the value of the consecutive signal being voted on. When the validity of the consecutive signal being voted on is true and the validity of the discrete state signal being voted on is false, the validity of the voted signal is true and the value of the voted signal is the value of the consecutive signal being voted on. When the validity of the consecutive signal being voted on is false and the validity of the discrete state signal being voted on is true, the validity of the voted signal is true and the value of the voted signal is the value of the discrete state signal being voted on. When the validity of the consecutive signal being voted on is false and the validity of the discrete state signal being voted on is false, the validity of the voted signal is false and the value of the voted signal is the default safety value or the valid value of the last frame.

[0049] Figure 12 The flowchart of method 1200 for input voting of continuous signals and discrete signals according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated.

[0050] At block 1210, method 1200 may include generating a first continuous signal and a first discrete signal associated with the first continuous signal. For example, the operation of block 1210 may be performed by the first input module 130 shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 .

[0051] At block 1220, method 1200 may include generating a second continuous signal and a second discrete signal associated with the second continuous signal. For example, the operation of block 1220 may be performed by the second input module 140 shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 .

[0052] At block 1230, method 1200 may include determining a voted continuous signal validity and a voted continuous signal value based on a first continuous signal and a second continuous signal. For example, the operations of block 1230 may be performed by the monitoring module 150 shown in Figure 1 as described.

[0053] In one embodiment, determining the voted continuous signal validity based on the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal may include: determining a first continuous signal input validity monitoring report based on a comparison of the first continuous signal with a first threshold; determining a second continuous signal input validity monitoring report based on a comparison of the second continuous signal with the first threshold; determining a continuous signal input comparison monitoring report based on a comparison of the difference between the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal with a second threshold; and determining the voted continuous signal validity based on the first continuous signal input validity monitoring report, the second continuous signal input validity monitoring report, and the continuous signal input comparison monitoring report, as Figures 3 - 5 described.

[0054] In one embodiment, determining the voted continuous signal value based on the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal may include: determining the one with a higher priority among the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal as the voted continuous signal value; or determining the average value of the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal as the voted continuous signal value, as Figure 6 described.

[0055] At block 1240, method 1200 may include determining a voted status discrete signal value based on a first discrete signal and a second discrete signal. For example, the operations of block 1240 may be performed by the monitoring module 150 shown in Figure 1 and are described in detail in Figure 10 as described.

[0056] At block 1250, method 1200 may include determining a voted status discrete signal validity based on the first continuous signal, the first discrete signal, the second continuous signal, the second discrete signal, and the voted continuous signal validity. For example, the operations of block 1250 may be performed by the monitoring module 150 shown in Figure 1 as described.

[0057] In one embodiment, determining the status discrete signal validity of a vote based on a first continuous signal, a first discrete signal, a second continuous signal, a second discrete signal, and the validity of a voted continuous signal may include: generating a first discrete signal input validity monitoring report based on the first discrete signal; generating a second discrete signal input validity monitoring report based on the second discrete signal; generating a first discrete signal vs. valid continuous signal comparison monitoring report based on the first continuous signal, the first discrete signal, and the validity of the voted continuous signal; generating a second discrete signal vs. valid continuous signal comparison monitoring report based on the second continuous signal, the second discrete signal, and the validity of the voted continuous signal; and determining the status discrete signal validity of the vote based on the first discrete signal input validity monitoring report, the second discrete signal input validity monitoring report, the first discrete signal vs. valid continuous signal comparison monitoring report, and the second discrete signal vs. valid continuous signal comparison monitoring report, as Figures 7 - 9 described.

[0058] At block 1260, method 1200 may include outputting the validity of a vote signal and the vote signal value based on the validity of the voted continuous signal, the value of the voted continuous signal, the status discrete signal validity of the vote, and the status discrete signal value of the vote. For example, the operations of block 1260 may be performed by the vote module 160 shown in Figure 1 and are described in detail in Figure 11 described.

[0059] Figure 13 FIG. illustrates a block diagram of an example of a hardware implementation of an apparatus 1300 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus 1300 may be used to perform the method of the present invention (e.g., method 1200). Apparatus 1300 may be implemented using a processing system 1314 that includes one or more processors 1304. Examples of processors 1304 include microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform the various functions described throughout this disclosure. In various examples, apparatus 1300 may be configured to perform any one or more of the functions described herein. That is, the processor 1304 utilized in apparatus 1300 may be used to implement the methods described above with reference to Figure 12 described.

[0060] In this example, the processing system 1314 can be implemented to have a bus architecture generally represented by bus 1302. Depending on the specific application and overall design constraints of the processing system 1314, bus 1302 can include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges. Bus 1302 communicatively couples various circuits of one or more processors (generally represented by processor 1304), memory 1305, and a computer-readable medium (generally represented by computer-readable medium 1306) together. Bus 1302 can also link various other circuits, such as a timing source, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and thus will not be described further. Bus interface 1308 provides an interface between bus 1302 and transceiver 1310. Transceiver 1310 provides a communication interface or means for communicating with various other devices over a transmission medium. Depending on the characteristics of the device, a user interface 1312 (e.g., keypad, display, speaker, microphone, joystick) may also be provided. Of course, such a user interface 1312 is optional and may be omitted in some examples.

[0061] Processor 1304 is responsible for managing bus 1302 and general processing, including the execution of software stored on computer-readable medium 1306. The software, when executed by processor 1304, causes the processing system 1314 to perform various functions described for any particular device. Computer-readable medium 1306 and memory 1305 can also be used to store data manipulated by processor 504 when executing the software.

[0062] One or more processors 1304 in the processing system may execute software. Software should be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., regardless of whether it is referred to in terms of software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or other terms. The software may reside on a computer-readable medium 1306. The computer-readable medium 1306 may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium. By way of example, non-transitory computer-readable media include magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disks, floppy disks, magnetic tape), optical disks (e.g., compact disc (CD) or digital versatile disc (DVD)), smart cards, flash memory devices (e.g., cards, sticks, or key drives), random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), registers, removable disks, and any other suitable medium for storing software and / or instructions that can be accessed and read by a computer. The computer-readable medium 1306 may reside within the processing system 1314, outside the processing system 1314, or be distributed across multiple entities including the processing system 1314. The computer-readable medium 1306 may be embodied in a computer program product. By way of example, the computer program product may include the computer-readable medium in a packaging material. Those skilled in the art will recognize how best to implement the described functionality presented throughout this disclosure depending on the particular application and overall design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0063] In one or more examples, the computer-readable storage medium 1306 may include software configured for various functions. The software may include instructions that may configure the processing system 1314 to perform one or more of the functions described with reference to Figure 12 those described above.

[0064] The present invention has been described in detail above. The present invention proposes the generation of continuous signals and discrete signals. The RVDT / potentiometer and the guide rail switch are mechanically linked, and the RVDT / potentiometer is driven by a gear / axis to realize the electrical signal output of the RVDT / potentiometer; in different state cases, the combination of different guide rail switches (rotary switches with guide rails or switches driven by guide rail cams) closing or opening realizes the output of state discrete signals. Redundant signals can be made non-similar, and it can be applied to control handles such as general flap and slat control handles and throttle lever control assemblies in the aviation field.

[0065] In addition, the present invention proposes a monitoring module for continuous signals and discrete signals. Through the monitoring of the validity of continuous signals and discrete signals, as well as the monitoring of continuous signal input comparison and the comparison monitoring of discrete signals with valid continuous signals, the error and invalid fault detection function can be achieved.

[0066] Furthermore, the present invention also proposes a voting module for continuous signals and discrete signals. By judging the validity and consistency of two redundant continuous signals, the voted continuous signal value and validity are obtained. By judging the consistency between discrete signals and continuous signals and the validity of discrete signals, the voted state discrete signal value and validity are obtained. The voted continuous signal and the voted state discrete signal are voted in a master-master or master-slave manner to output a voting signal, thus solving the high dependence on the tracking accuracy of the sensor system and can be applied to the voting of continuous and discrete signals such as the position of the flap / slat control handle, the idle reverse position of the throttle lever, wheel load, and wheel speed.

[0067] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "first", "second", and "third" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0068] Those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the various embodiments of the present invention can be provided as methods, devices, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, the present invention can take the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Moreover, the present invention can take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-readable storage media (including but not limited to disk memories, CD-ROMs, optical memories, etc.) storing computer-executable program codes.

[0069] The present invention is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of methods, devices, systems, and computer program products according to embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that each process and / or block in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, and the combinations of processes and / or blocks in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to the processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing devices to generate a machine, such that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing devices produce a device for implementing the functions specified in one or more processes and / or one or more blocks in the flowcharts.

[0070] Although aspects of the present invention have been described so far with reference to the accompanying drawings, the above methods, systems, and devices are merely examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to these aspects, but is defined only by the appended claims and their equivalents. Various components may be omitted or may be replaced by equivalent components. Additionally, the steps may be implemented in an order different from the order described in the present invention. Furthermore, the various components may be combined in various ways. It is also important that, as technology develops, many of the components described may be replaced by equivalent components that emerge later. Various modifications to the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein, but should be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A system for input voting of continuous signals and discrete signals, the system comprising: An input device, the input device including a first input module and a second input module, wherein the first input module is configured to generate a first continuous signal and a first discrete signal associated with the first continuous signal, and the second input module is configured to generate a second continuous signal and a second discrete signal associated with the second continuous signal; And A voting device, the voting device including a monitoring module and a voting module, wherein the monitoring module is configured to: Determine the validity of the voted continuous signal and the value of the voted continuous signal based on the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal; Determine the value of the voted status discrete signal based on the first discrete signal and the second discrete signal; And Determine the validity of the voted status discrete signal based on the first continuous signal, the first discrete signal, the second continuous signal, the second discrete signal, and the validity of the voted continuous signal; Wherein the voting module is configured to: Output the validity of the voted signal and the value of the voted signal based on the validity of the voted continuous signal, the value of the voted continuous signal, the validity of the voted status discrete signal, and the value of the voted status discrete signal.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first input device includes a rotary variable differential transformer (RVDT) or a potentiometer and a switch, the RVDT or the potentiometer and the switch are mechanically linked through gears and shafts, the first continuous signal is the continuous measurement value of the RVDT or the potentiometer, and the first discrete signal is generated by different combinations of closing and opening of the switch.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein determining the validity of the voted continuous signal based on the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal includes: Determining a first continuous signal input validity monitoring report based on the comparison of the first continuous signal with a first threshold; Determining a second continuous signal input validity monitoring report based on the comparison of the second continuous signal with the first threshold; Determining a continuous signal input comparison monitoring report based on the comparison of the difference between the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal with a second threshold; And Determining the validity of the voted continuous signal based on the first continuous signal input validity monitoring report, the second continuous signal input validity monitoring report, and the continuous signal input comparison monitoring report.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein determining the value of the voted continuous signal based on the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal includes: Determining the higher-priority one of the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal as the value of the voted continuous signal; Or Determining the average value of the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal as the value of the voted continuous signal.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein determining the value of the voted status discrete signal based on the first discrete signal and the second discrete signal includes: When the first discrete signal is in the same state as the second discrete signal, determine the first discrete signal or the second discrete signal as the state discrete signal value of the voting.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein determining the validity of the state discrete signal of the voting based on the first continuous signal, the first discrete signal, the second continuous signal, the second discrete signal, and the validity of the continuous signal of the voting includes: Generating a first discrete signal input validity monitoring report based on the first discrete signal; Generating a second discrete signal input validity monitoring report based on the second discrete signal; Generating a first discrete signal and valid continuous signal comparison monitoring report based on the first continuous signal, the first discrete signal, and the validity of the continuous signal of the voting; Generating a second discrete signal and valid continuous signal comparison monitoring report based on the second continuous signal, the second discrete signal, and the validity of the continuous signal of the voting; And Determining the validity of the state discrete signal of the voting based on the first discrete signal input validity monitoring report, the second discrete signal input validity monitoring report, the first discrete signal and valid continuous signal comparison monitoring report, and the second discrete signal and valid continuous signal comparison monitoring report.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the voting module is further configured to: Use the continuous signal value of the voting as the main signal and use the state discrete signal value of the voting as the main signal; and Adopt a voting method of main signal - main signal operation to output the validity of the voting signal and the voting signal value.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the voting module is further configured to: Use the continuous signal value of the voting as the main signal and use the state discrete signal value of the voting as the backup signal; and Adopt a voting method of main signal - backup signal operation to output the validity of the voting signal and the voting signal value.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the voting module is further configured to: Use the continuous signal value of the voting as the backup signal and use the state discrete signal value of the voting as the main signal; and Adopt a voting method of backup signal - main signal operation to output the validity of the voting signal and the voting signal value.

10. A method for input voting of continuous signals and discrete signals, the method comprising: Generating a first continuous signal and a first discrete signal associated with the first continuous signal; Generating a second continuous signal and a second discrete signal associated with the second continuous signal; Determining the validity of the continuous signal of the voting and the continuous signal value of the voting based on the first continuous signal and the second continuous signal; Determining the state discrete signal value of the voting based on the first discrete signal and the second discrete signal; Determining the validity of the state discrete signal of the voting based on the first continuous signal, the first discrete signal, the second continuous signal, the second discrete signal, and the validity of the continuous signal of the voting; and Output the validity and value of the voting signal based on the validity of the continuous signal of the voting, the value of the continuous signal of the voting, the validity of the discrete signal of the voting status, and the value of the discrete signal of the voting status.

11. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, where the computer program, when executed by a processor, executes the method according to claim 10.

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