A margin L-band integrated system and its primary / backup switching method

Abstract

This invention discloses a margin L-band integrated system, comprising an L-band integrated rack, an L-band antenna interface unit, an L-band omnidirectional antenna, an antenna distribution box, and a radio interface unit. The L-band integrated rack contains two general-purpose processing modules forming a primary and a backup side. Each general-purpose transceiver module is connected to an L-band antenna interface unit. The two L-band antenna interface units are connected to the same antenna distribution box, which in turn connects to the L-band omnidirectional antenna. The antenna distribution box is also connected to a main control interface module within one of the general-purpose processing modules. Upon receiving a primary / backup switching command from the main control interface module, the radio interface unit allocates the L-band omnidirectional antenna to the primary side's L-band antenna interface. Each radio interface unit receives a primary / backup switching command from an external radio tuning unit and transmits it to its connected main control interface module to complete the primary / backup switching. This invention allows the two transceiver processing subsystems to share a single antenna, reducing antenna usage by half.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of wireless communication, and more particularly to wireless communication equipment for civil aircraft, specifically a margin L-band integrated system and its primary / backup switching method. Background Technology

[0002] The Civil Aviation Regulations of China stipulate that navigation equipment must be designed and installed in a way that ensures the operation of one system does not affect the operation of another when one system fails. Equipment operating in the L-band generally includes an Automatic Transponder (ATC), a Distance Measuring Instrument (DME), and a Telemetry Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). A transponder is an electronic device that automatically responds to radio interrogation signals; a distance measuring instrument measures the slant distance between the aircraft and the control tower through interrogation and response; and TCAS monitors the presence, position, and movement of other aircraft in the airspace surrounding the aircraft by interrogating and listening to the ATC transponders of surrounding aircraft. Traditional civil aircraft require two sets of each type of equipment, with each device requiring an antenna for transmission and reception. When one set fails, switching to another independent set of equipment and antenna is achieved via a button. Because two independent sets of equipment and two antennas coexist, the layout occupies a large space, which is detrimental to aircraft weight reduction. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In the context of system integration and aircraft weight reduction requirements, one objective of this invention is to provide a margin L-band integrated system (LIS) where two transceiver processing subsystems (primary and backup) share a single antenna, halving the number of antennas required and enhancing functionality. Another objective of this invention is to provide a primary / backup switching method for the margin L-band integrated system, used to switch between the primary and backup transceiver processing subsystems, improving switching reliability, reducing equipment idle risk, and ensuring normal operation of the backup system should any primary device fail.

[0004] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0005] A margin L-band integrated system includes an L-band integrated rack, an L-band antenna interface unit, an L-band omnidirectional antenna, an antenna distribution box, and a radio interface unit;

[0006] The L-band integrated rack consists of two general-purpose processing modules, forming the main side and the backup side. Each general-purpose processing module contains a main control interface module, an ATC module, and a DME module. The main control interface module completes the switching between the main side and the backup side according to the main / backup switching command.

[0007] Each general-purpose transceiver module is connected to an L-band antenna interface unit;

[0008] Two L-band antenna interface units are connected to the same antenna distribution box, which is then connected to the L-band omnidirectional antenna. The antenna distribution box is also connected to one of the two main control interface modules. After receiving the master / standby switching command from the connected main control interface module, the L-band omnidirectional antenna is allocated to the main L-band antenna interface.

[0009] Each main control interface module is connected to a radio interface unit, which receives the master / slave switching command issued by the external radio tuning unit and transmits it to the main control interface module.

[0010] The margin L-band integrated system also includes a TCAS device consisting of a TCAS antenna interface unit, a TCAS directional antenna, and a TCAS omnidirectional antenna.

[0011] The aforementioned master / standby switching method for the margin L-band integrated system includes the following steps: when the L-band integrated system starts up later than the radio tuning unit or restarts after a power failure, the two master control interface modules send master / standby switching commands to their respective connected radio interface units. Each radio interface unit obtains the master / standby switching command from the radio tuning unit and sends it to the connected master control interface module. The master control interface module processes the master / standby switching command according to the predetermined master / standby switching logic. When the radio tuning unit starts up later than the L-band integrated system or restarts after a power failure, the radio tuning unit sends a master / standby switching command to the master control interface module and executes the predetermined master / standby switching logic.

[0012] After receiving the master-slave switchover command, the master control interface module first switches the antenna distribution box status from the default state to the state required by the master-slave switchover command, and then starts the ATC module and DME module on the master side to output waveforms.

[0013] When two main control interface modules simultaneously receive master / standby switching instructions from their respective connected radio interface units and the instructions are inconsistent, the master / standby switching instruction received by the currently mastering main control interface module shall prevail, and the master / standby switching instruction on the standby side shall be sent by the currently mastering main control interface module through the RS422 bus.

[0014] When each master control interface module detects that the radio interface unit on the current master side is offline through the ARINC429 channel, the master-slave switchover command received by the current backup master control interface module shall prevail, and the master-slave switchover command on the master side shall be sent by the current backup master control interface module through RS422.

[0015] The L-band antenna interface unit is powered on by default and the power amplifier is not turned on. The power amplifier is turned on for transmission after the main control interface module has completed power-on.

[0016] The L-band antenna interface unit sets a protection threshold based on the actual onboard cables and antenna distribution box line loss. It provides protection when no load is detected, and the protection device continuously monitors and restores when a circuit is detected.

[0017] The process of the main control interface module on the side not connected to the antenna distribution box switching from the main side to the backup side is as follows: When the main control interface module receives external commands or detects that ARINC429 is offline and no external commands are received, it receives commands from the backup main control interface module to become backup. First, it turns off the waveform function of the ATC module and DME module on the same side, then sends the waveform off status to the main control interface module on the other side, and finally sets the main control interface module to backup.

[0018] The process of the main control interface module on the side not connected to the antenna distribution box switching from the backup side to the main side is as follows: when the backup side main control interface module receives the waveform off state of the main side main control interface module, it first enables the waveform functions of the ATC module and DME module on the same side, and then sets the main control interface module to the main side.

[0019] The process of the main control interface module on the antenna distribution box side switching from the main side to the backup side is as follows: When the main control interface module receives an external command or detects that the ARINC429 is offline and no external command is received, it receives a command from the backup main control interface module to become backup. First, it turns off the waveform function of the ATC module and DME module on the same side, then switches the antenna distribution box status, then sends the waveform off status to the other side main control interface module, and finally sets the main control interface module to backup.

[0020] The process of switching the main control interface module on the antenna distribution box side from the backup side to the main side is as follows: when the waveform of the main control interface module on the main side is received as closed, the antenna distribution box status is switched first, then the waveform functions of the ATC module and DME module on the same side are enabled, and finally the main control interface module is set as the main module.

[0021] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0022] 1. This invention uses two main and backup transceiver processing subsystems that share one antenna, which reduces the number of antennas used by half and makes the functions more integrated.

[0023] 2. The power-on initialization logic of this invention can ensure the consistency between the display of the radio tuning unit and the actual working state of the L-band integrated system when there are large differences in the power-on time on the machine. When individual devices are restarted due to voltage disturbances, the working state will not enter the default state, but will be consistent with the display of the radio tuning unit, thus improving the reliability of the equipment.

[0024] 3. The transmission logic between the main control interface modules of this invention can ensure the consistency of received external signals and ensure that the two main control interface modules can execute the same instructions, avoiding the state of the main and backup devices working or not working at the same time, thus improving the reliability of the equipment.

[0025] 4. The logic between the main control interface module and the L-band antenna interface unit, and between the antenna distribution box and the L-band antenna interface unit of this invention can minimize the risk of the power amplifier burning out due to prolonged no-load operation of the L-band antenna interface unit. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a cross-linking diagram of the L-band integrated system.

[0027] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of powering on the L-band integrated system.

[0028] Figure 3 This is a logic diagram for the master / standby switching of the master control interface module that is not connected to the antenna distribution box.

[0029] Figure 4 The main control interface module for connecting the antenna distribution box has a master / slave switching logic diagram. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0031] See Figure 1 As shown in this embodiment, a margin L-band integrated system consists of components such as an L-band integrated rack (LIU), an L-band antenna interface unit (LAIU), an L-band omnidirectional antenna (upper and lower), an antenna distribution box (ADU), a radio interface unit (RIU), a TCAS antenna interface unit, a TCAS directional antenna (upper), and a TCAS omnidirectional antenna (lower).

[0032] The L-band integrated rack comprises two general-purpose processing modules, forming the primary and backup sides. Each module includes a power supply module, a main control interface module (CDCM), an ATC module, and a DME module. The main control interface module switches between the primary and backup sides according to the primary / backup switching command. The ATC and DME modules each transmit and receive their respective waveforms. The L-band integrated rack is a crucial component of the AG600 aircraft's integrated communication and navigation system. Through its integrated structure, it enables communication, navigation, and surveillance functions such as TCAS, ATC, DME, and ADS-B OUT, meeting the needs of the AG600 aircraft in performing various missions.

[0033] Each general-purpose transceiver module is connected to an L-band antenna interface unit, forming a complete transceiver processing subsystem. The two L-band antenna interface units are powered independently to maintain mutual independence; within the L-band integrated rack, the left and right general-purpose transceiver modules maintain independent power supply and independent external interfaces to achieve complete isolation.

[0034] According to the current L-band integrated system architecture, a DME system consists of an L-band antenna interface unit and a DME module (excluding the antenna). When the L-band antenna interface unit or DME module of one DME system fails, the other DME system is unaffected and can continue to operate normally.

[0035] Similarly, an ATC system consists of an L-band antenna interface unit and an ATC module (excluding the antenna). When the L-band antenna interface unit or ATC module of one ATC system fails, the other ATC system is unaffected and can continue to operate normally.

[0036] Two L-band antenna interface units are connected to the same antenna distribution box, which is then connected to the L-band omnidirectional antenna. The antenna distribution box is connected to one of the two main control interface modules through a differential discrete connection. After receiving the main / standby switching command from the main control interface module, the L-band omnidirectional antenna is allocated to the L-band antenna interface of the main side, so that the main side and the standby side can share the antenna.

[0037] Each RIU is connected to a master control interface module, which receives master / standby switching commands from external device radio tuning units (RTUs) and transmits them to the master control interface module.

[0038] The TCAS device communicates with both main control interface modules simultaneously, unaffected by primary / standby switching. Primary / standby switching primarily involves the ATC system and the DME system.

[0039] According to the aforementioned margin L-band integrated system, its master / slave switching method includes power-on and initialization logic and logic between various devices.

[0040] The master / slave switchover command is issued by the external device's radio tuning unit (RTU) and is event-driven. See also Figure 2 As shown, to ensure consistency between the RTU display and the LIS operating status, an interrogation-response mechanism from the LIS to the RTU is added: When the RTU powers on, and the LIS starts later than the RTU or restarts after a power outage, the two main control interface modules CDCM1 and CDCM2 in the LIS system send master / slave switching commands to their respective connected radio interface units RIU1 and RIU2. RIU1 obtains the master / slave switching commands from the two radio tuning units RTU1 and RTU2 and sends them to CDCM1. RIU2 obtains the master / slave switching commands from RTU1 and RTU2 and sends them to CDCM2. The main control interface modules process the master / slave switching commands according to the predetermined master / slave switching logic, and after execution, return the master / slave status to the RTU. When the RTU starts later than the LIS or restarts after a power outage, the RTU sends a master / slave switching command to the main control interface module and executes the predetermined master / slave switching logic.

[0041] The master / standby switching logic is as follows: after receiving the master / standby switching command, the master control interface module will first switch the antenna distribution box status from the default status to the status required by the master / standby switching command, and then start the ATC module and DME module on the master side to output waveforms.

[0042] When the two main control interface modules CDCM1 and CDCM2 simultaneously receive master / standby switching instructions from their respective connected radio interface units RIU1 and RIU2, and the instructions are inconsistent (making CDCM1 and CDCM2 both master or both standby), it will cause LAIU to be idle. It is now defined that the master / standby switching instructions received by the CDCM on the currently master side shall be the standard, and the master / standby switching instructions on the standby side shall be issued by the currently master CDCM through the RS422 bus.

[0043] When RIU1 is offline and CDCM1 is in master mode, RIU1 commands and tuning information cannot be sent, and master / standby switchover commands cannot be sent to CDCM1 to perform the master / standby switchover. Consequently, CDCM2, which is in standby mode, cannot switch to master mode in this situation. To address this, using the CDCM's ARINC429 channel monitoring mechanism, when each master control interface module detects that the currently master RIU is offline, the LIS is defined to take the master / standby switchover command received by the currently standby CDCM as the standard. The master / standby switchover command on the master side is sent by the currently standby CDCM via RS422.

[0044] After the main control interface module powers on, the software startup takes time. The ATC and DME modules, however, transmit quickly upon power-up, sending the signal waveform directly to the LAIU for amplification and output. During this time, the ADU, not receiving the main control interface module's master / slave switching command, will not change its state, potentially leaving the LAIU unloaded. To address this, a new layer of logic is added: the LAIU's power amplifier is off by default upon power-up, only activating and transmitting upon receiving the "time information" from the main control interface module.

[0045] The antenna distribution box receives the master / slave switching command from the main controller 2 via only a differential discrete signal, and cannot transmit its own status back to the main control interface module. The main control interface module also cannot know the power-on status of the antenna distribution box. This results in a delay of several seconds in the antenna distribution box's power-on, which poses a risk of no-load operation for the LAIU. The solution is to set a protection threshold for the LAIU based on the actual cable and antenna distribution box line loss, and to add open-circuit protection measures. This protection device continuously monitors for no-load conditions and recovers when a circuit is detected.

[0046] If the current primary / standby status of CDCM1 is inconsistent with the primary / standby status required in the primary / standby switchover command, then CDCM1 will switch to the status required by the command, see Table 1 and Figure 3 As shown:

[0047] Table 1

[0048]

[0049] When CDCM1 is operating on the primary side, receiving external commands or detecting that ARINC429 is offline and not receiving external commands, receiving commands from CDCM2 to become a backup, the CDCM1 executes the following command sequence: disable the waveform function of the ATC module and DME module on the CDCM1 side, so that this side does not transmit; send the waveform off status to CDCM2; set CDCM1 to backup.

[0050] When CDCM1 is working on the standby side and receives the waveform off status of CDCM2, the command sequence is as follows: enable the waveform function of CDCM1; set CDCM1 as the master.

[0051] The CDCM2 module's master / slave failover logic is shown in Table 2. Figure 4 As shown, if the current primary / standby status of CDCM2 is inconsistent with the primary / standby status of CDCM1 required in the primary / standby switchover command, then CDCM2 will switch to the status required by the command.

[0052] Table 2

[0053]

[0054] When CDCM2 is operating on the primary side, receiving external commands or detecting that ARINC429 is offline and not receiving external commands, and receiving commands from CDCM1 as a backup, the CDCM2 executes the following command sequence: disable the waveform function on the CDCM2 side to prevent transmission on this side; switch the ADU state; send the waveform disabled state to CDCM1; set CDCM2 as a backup.

[0055] When CDCM2 is operating on the standby side and receives the waveform shutdown status of CDCM1, the command sequence is as follows: switch ADU status; enable CDCM2 waveform function; set CDCM2 as the master.

[0056] It is understood that those skilled in the art can make equivalent substitutions or modifications to the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, and all such substitutions or modifications should fall within the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A margin L-band integrated system, comprising an L-band integrated rack, an L-band antenna interface unit, an L-band omnidirectional antenna, an antenna distribution box, and a radio interface unit, characterized in that: The L-band integrated rack consists of two general-purpose processing modules, forming the main side and the backup side. Each general-purpose processing module contains a main control interface module, an ATC module, and a DME module. The main control interface module completes the switching between the main side and the backup side according to the main / backup switching command. Each general-purpose transceiver module is connected to an L-band antenna interface unit; Two L-band antenna interface units are connected to the same antenna distribution box, which is then connected to the L-band omnidirectional antenna. The antenna distribution box is also connected to one of the two main control interface modules. After receiving the master / standby switching command from the connected main control interface module, the L-band omnidirectional antenna is allocated to the main L-band antenna interface. Each main control interface module is connected to a radio interface unit. The radio interface unit receives the main / standby switching command issued by the external radio tuning unit and transmits it to the main control interface module. When the L-band integrated system starts up later than the radio tuning unit or restarts after a power outage, the two main control interface modules send master-slave switching commands to their respective connected radio interface units. Each radio interface unit obtains the master-slave switching command from the radio tuning unit and sends it to the connected main control interface module. The main control interface module processes the master-slave switching command according to the predetermined master-slave switching logic. When the radio tuning unit starts up later than the L-band integrated system or restarts after a power outage, the radio tuning unit sends a master-slave switching command to the main control interface module and executes the predetermined master-slave switching logic.

2. The margin L-band integrated system according to claim 1, characterized in that... It also includes a TCAS device consisting of a TCAS antenna interface unit, a TCAS directional antenna, and a TCAS omnidirectional antenna.

3. The primary / backup switching method for a margin L-band integrated system according to claim 1, characterized in that: After receiving the master-slave switchover command, the master control interface module first switches the antenna distribution box status from the default state to the state required by the master-slave switchover command, and then starts the ATC module and DME module on the master side to output waveforms.

4. The primary / backup switching method for a margin L-band integrated system according to claim 1, characterized in that: When two main control interface modules simultaneously receive master / standby switching instructions from their respective connected radio interface units and the instructions are inconsistent, the master / standby switching instruction received by the currently mastering main control interface module shall prevail, and the master / standby switching instruction on the standby side shall be sent by the currently mastering main control interface module through the RS422 bus.

5. The primary / backup switching method for a margin L-band integrated system according to claim 1, characterized in that: When each master control interface module detects that the radio interface unit on the current master side is offline through the ARINC429 channel, the master-slave switchover command received by the current backup master control interface module shall prevail, and the master-slave switchover command on the master side shall be sent by the current backup master control interface module through RS422.

6. The primary / backup switching method for a margin L-band integrated system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The L-band antenna interface unit is powered on by default and the power amplifier is not turned on. The power amplifier is turned on for transmission after the main control interface module has completed power-on.

7. The primary / backup switching method for a margin L-band integrated system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The L-band antenna interface unit sets a protection threshold based on the actual onboard cables and antenna distribution box line loss. It provides protection when no load is detected, and the protection device continuously monitors and restores when a circuit is detected.

8. The primary / backup switching method for a margin L-band integrated system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The process of the main control interface module on the side not connected to the antenna distribution box switching from the main side to the backup side is as follows: When the main control interface module receives external commands or detects that ARINC429 is offline and no external commands are received, it receives commands from the backup main control interface module to become backup. First, it turns off the waveform function of the ATC module and DME module on the same side, then sends the waveform off status to the main control interface module on the other side, and finally sets the main control interface module to backup. The process of the main control interface module on the side not connected to the antenna distribution box switching from the backup side to the main side is as follows: when the backup side main control interface module receives the waveform off state of the main side main control interface module, it first enables the waveform function of the ATC module and DME module on the same side, and then sets the main control interface module to the main side.

9. The primary / backup switching method for a margin L-band integrated system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The process of the main control interface module on the antenna distribution box side switching from the main side to the backup side is as follows: When the main control interface module receives an external command or detects that the ARINC429 is offline and no external command is received, it receives a command from the backup main control interface module to become backup. First, it turns off the waveform function of the ATC module and DME module on the same side, then switches the antenna distribution box status, then sends the waveform off status to the other side main control interface module, and finally sets the main control interface module to backup. The process of the main control interface module on the antenna distribution box side switching from the backup side to the main side is as follows: when the waveform of the main control interface module on the main side is received as closed, the antenna distribution box status is switched first, then the waveform functions of the ATC module and DME module on the same side are enabled, and finally the main control interface module is set as the main module.

Images