Device for detecting position of moving part, associated method and aircraft

Abstract

A device (2) for detecting the position of a movable part (1) movable between a first extreme position, a second extreme position and at least one intermediate position comprises a fixed antenna (3) and a plurality of radio frequency identification tags (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) arranged along the path of the movable part (1) between the extreme positions and the intermediate position, the device (2) further comprising a mechanical contactor (5), the mechanical contactor is configured to establish an electrical connection between the antenna (3) and a single combination of the at least one radio frequency identification tag (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) for each position of the movable member (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to data acquisition systems in the field of aviation, and more particularly to a device for detecting the mechanical position of a movable part in an aircraft engine.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for detecting the position of a movable member that requires neither a wired connection nor an on-board battery. Existing technology

[0003] The environment of an aircraft engine is very crowded and includes many devices that need to be monitored, whether for maintenance of the aircraft, to assist with control, or to help diagnose possible technical problems.

[0004] In particular, it may be necessary to know the position of elements such as thrust reverser doors in order to ensure aerodynamic performance in relation to the engine performance of the aircraft.

[0005] To monitor these devices, sensors are installed in the engine environment to detect and retrieve data related to the observed devices. These sensors must meet several constraints, including overall spatial constraints that enable their integration into the engine environment, and location constraints that require the sensors to be positioned close to the devices so they can sense the data.

[0006] Therefore, so-called “passive” sensors that require neither onboard batteries nor wired connections have been developed to meet these constraints.

[0007] These sensors rely primarily on two technologies.

[0008] The first technology is piezoelectric. Piezoelectric sensors consist of a piezoelectric generator that converts mechanical force into an electric current. However, these sensors have the disadvantage of operating only when the state of the movable element changes, thus preventing subsequent verification or attempts to obtain the position of the movable element.

[0009] The second technology is radio frequency identification, commonly known as RFID. This technology operates using an RFID tag and an RFID reader that transmits electromagnetic waves, such as a query request, to the RFID tag.

[0010] So-called "passive" RFID tags operate without an onboard battery and wired connection and derive their energy from electromagnetic waves emitted by the RFID reader. RFID technology allows for the measurement of various data, such as temperature, voltage, humidity or pressure.

[0011] However, the nature of a passive RFID tag means that it can only operate, i.e. detect and retrieve data, when an RFID reader is emitting electromagnetic waves. In fact, if the event that the sensor is monitoring occurs when the tag is not being interrogated by an RFID reader, then the event cannot be detected by the tag.

[0012] Therefore, there is no solution to obtain a mechanical position sensor that requires neither an on-board battery nor a movable part with a wired connection.

[0013] The present invention therefore aims to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide a device for detecting the mechanical position occupied by a movable element that requires neither a wired connection nor an on-board battery.

[0014] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for detecting the position of a movable member between a first extreme position, a second extreme position and at least one intermediate position, the detection device comprising: a fixed antenna and a plurality of radio frequency identification tags arranged along the path of the movable member between these extreme positions and the intermediate positions.

[0015] The apparatus includes a mechanical contact switch configured to establish an electrical connection between a single combination of an antenna and at least one radio frequency identification tag for each position of the movable member.

[0016] Advantageously, the mechanical contact switch is arranged around the movable member and comprises a fixed armature and a movable part fixed to the movable member.

[0017] Preferably, the fixed armature includes a plurality of connecting pin pairs, each RFID tag is associated with a single pin pair, the single pin pair including a first pin and a second pin, the first pin contacts the RFID tag associated with the pin pair, and the second pin contacts the antenna.

[0018] Advantageously, the movable portion is fixed to the movable member and comprises a plurality of paths capable of conducting an electric current between two pins of a pair of connection pins.

[0019] Advantageously, the plurality of vias are positioned on the movable element so that, for each position of the movable element, current is carried only between pairs of pins associated with the radio frequency identification tags forming a single combination of radio frequency identification tags for the position of the movable element.

[0020] Another object of the invention is a method for detecting the position of a movable element between a first extreme position, a second extreme position and at least one intermediate position, for realizing a detection device as defined previously.

[0021] The method comprises the following steps:

[0022] - a remote RFID reader issues a query request for the location of the movable component, the query request being directed to one of the plurality of tags,

[0023] - receiving the query request sent by the RFID reader by the antenna,

[0024] - activating the RFID tags in a single combination of RFID tags for the locations where the movable parts are located,

[0025] - Each activated RFID tag processes the query request individually,

[0026] - Based on the processing results, if the RFID tag to which the query request is directed is activated, the tag formulates a separate response to the query request,

[0027] - The antenna transmits a unique response formulated by the tag to the RFID reader.

[0028] - repeating the previous steps for each of the other tags of the plurality of tags such that the RFID reader issues a query request for each of the plurality of tags,

[0029] - Determine the position of the movable part.

[0030] Advantageously, each RFID tag in the plurality of tags comprises a respective calculator, and the step of individually processing the query request by each activated tag comprises the following steps: for each activated tag:

[0031] -demodulate the query request,

[0032] - transmitting the demodulated request to the computer, and

[0033] -Verify the validity of the query request.

[0034] Advantageously, the issuing step is repeated after the remote RFID reader receives a response to a previous query request, or after the remote RFID reader receives no response within a predetermined time after issuing.

[0035] Another object of the invention is an aircraft comprising a detection device as defined previously.

[0036] Advantageously, the device is capable of implementing the method as previously defined. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent on reading the following description, given only as a non-limiting example, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0038] [ Figure 1 ] shows a device for detecting the mechanical position of a movable member according to the present invention;

[0039] [ Figure 2 ] schematically shows Figure 1 RFID tag of the device;

[0040] [ Figure 3 ] shows that when the movable member is in the first extreme position Figure 1 device;

[0041] [ Figure 4 ] shows when the movable member is in the middle position Figure 1 device;

[0042] [ Figure 5 ] shows that when the movable member is in the second extreme position Figure 1 devices; and

[0043] [ Figure 6 ] shows the steps of the method for detecting a movable part according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] Figure 1 The device 2 for detecting the position occupied by the movable element 1 is schematically shown.

[0045] The movable part 1 is, for example, a mechanical element of an aeronautical component on an aircraft, in this case a tubular element, the position of which is desired to be known. The movable part 1 can also be prismatic or cylindrical and can also be simply fixed, pivoted or spherically connected to such an onboard aeronautical component.

[0046] For example, piece 1 is movable during operation of the aeronautical component of an aircraft and can therefore assume a plurality of positions comprising and distributed between a first extreme position, a second extreme position and at least one intermediate position therebetween.

[0047] In the example shown in the figures, the movable element 1 moves on an axis I, which is in particular Figure 1 、 Figure 3 、 Figure 4 and Figure 5 Visible in. Figure 3 、 Figure 4 and Figure 5 A top view of possible positions of the movable element 1 and the corresponding states of the detection device 2 are shown respectively.

[0048] therefore, Figure 3 It shows the detection device 2 according to the present invention when the movable member 1 is in the first extreme position, Figure 4represents the detection device 2 when the movable member 1 is in an intermediate position between the first extreme position and the second extreme position, Figure 5 It shows the detection device 2 when the movable member 1 is in the second extreme position.

[0049] The device 2 comprises a fixed antenna 3, a plurality of radio frequency identification tags 4 (called RFID tags) and a mechanical contact switch 5. The entire device is mounted on a printed circuit board or circuit 6 on which at least one electrical connection trace 7 ( Figure 3 ).

[0050] In the example shown, the device 2 therefore comprises three RFID tags 4a, 4b and 4c.

[0051] Antenna 3 Figure 1 For clarity, the antenna is not included in other figures.

[0052] The antenna 3 is an antenna commonly used in the field of radio frequency identification and receives electromagnetic waves transmitted by the RFID reader L and converts the received electromagnetic waves into electrical signals.

[0053] The antenna 3 is connected to the electrical connection trace 7 so that the antenna 3 transmits electrical signals generated by electromagnetic waves through the trace 7 .

[0054] The mechanical contact switch 5 comprises a fixed armature 8 mounted to the plate 6 and a movable part 9 fixed to the movable member 1 or, in one embodiment, forming part of the movable member 1. The fixed armature 8 comprises an axial channel oriented along the path of the axis I of the movable member 1, in which channel the movable member 1 moves.

[0055] The RFID tag 4 is arranged on the plate 6 in the vicinity of the movable element 1 and along the path of movement of the movable element 1 on the plate 6. Thus, in the example shown, the RFID tag 4 is arranged parallel to the axis I.

[0056] The mechanical contact switch 5 is connected to the trace 7 for electrical connection to the antenna 3 on the one hand and to each RFID tag 4a, 4b, 4c of the plurality of RFID tags 4 on the other hand. Thus, an electrical connection can be established between the antenna 3 and each RFID tag 4.

[0057] To this end, the fixed armature 8 of the mechanical contact switch 5 comprises a plurality of connecting pins arranged in pairs 10 .

[0058] More specifically, the fixed armature 8 comprises one pair of pins 10 for each RFID tag, so that each tag 4 is associated with a single pair of pins 10. Thus, in the example shown in the figures, the armature 8 comprises three pairs of pins 10a, 10b and 10c.

[0059] Thus, the RFID tag 4a is uniquely associated with the first pin pair 10a, the RFID tag 4b is uniquely associated with the second pin pair 10b, and the RFID tag 4c is uniquely associated with the third pin pair 10c.

[0060] Thus, each pin pair 10 comprises a first connection pin 11 connected to the RFID tag and a second connection pin 12 in contact with the trace 7 connected to the antenna 3 .

[0061] Thus, in the example shown, the plurality of pin pairs 10a, 10b and 10c include respective first pins 11a, 11b and 11c each connected to an RFID tag 4a, 4b or 4c, and second pins 12a, 12b and 12c each connected to an antenna 3 via a trace 7.

[0062] The two pins 11 and 12 of each pin pair 10 are substantially radially aligned in a direction perpendicular to the movement path.

[0063] During the movement of the movable element 1 , it moves in the contact switch 5 between the corresponding pins 11 and 12 of the fixed armature 8 and simultaneously contacts both pins 11 and 12 of the same pair 10 .

[0064] The movable part 9 comprises a plurality of conductive paths 13 capable of connecting two pins 11 and 12 of the same pair 10 of pins.

[0065] More specifically, the path 13 is a conductive annular or prismatic element that surrounds the portion of the movable member 1 that is inserted into the fixed armature 8. The path 13 is fixed to the movable member 1, allowing the movable member 1 to move along the motion path. Alternatively, the movable portion 9 is directly machined onto the movable member 1 and is an integral component of the movable member 1. Thus, multiple conductive paths 13 and the movable member 1 can be formed as a single component.

[0066] The axial dimension of the via 13 is at least equal to the width of the ends of the pins 11 and 12 that are in contact with the via 13 , so as to establish sufficient contact with the pins 11 and 12 of the same pin pair 10 .

[0067] Furthermore, when the movable member 1 is positioned so that each of the plurality of vias 13 is radially aligned with the two pins 11 and 12 of the same pin pair 10 , the via 13 extends radially enough to contact the pins 11 and 12 .

[0068] Therefore, when the movable member 1 is positioned so that each of the plurality of passages 13 is radially aligned with the same pair of pins 10 , the passage 13 transmits current between the two pins 11 and 12 of the pair of pins 10 .

[0069] The passages 13 of the plurality of passages are spaced apart from each other on the movable member 1. The spacing between the passages 13 is constant and does not change during the movement of the movable member 1.

[0070] Each path 13 is positioned on the movable part 1 so that for each position of the movable part 1, electrical contact is established only between the pins 11 and 12 of the pin pair 10 associated with the RFID tag 4, forming a single combination of RFID tags for the position of the movable part 1.

[0071] In other words, at each position of the movable member 1, a single combination of at least one RFID tag from the plurality of tags 4 is defined. This combination of tags corresponds to the tags 4 to be activated, i.e., to receive current from the antenna 3 when the antenna 3 receives a query request from the RFID reader L for a given position of the movable member 1.

[0072] Thus, the passages 13 are spaced apart on the movable member 1 so that for each position of the movable member 1 only the pairs of pins 10 associated with the RFID tags forming a single combination for that possible position are radially aligned with the passages 13 .

[0073] Thus, in the example shown, the plurality of passages 13 include a first passage 13a, a second passage 13b, and a third passage 13c, which are spaced apart by an axial distance at least equal to the axial dimension of the ends of the pins 11 and 12 for contact with the passages 13. The passages 13a, 13b, and 13c translate along the motion path with the movable member 1.

[0074] The first and third vias 13a, 13c extend axially over a distance substantially equal to the axial dimension of the ends of the pins 11 and 12 in contact with the via 13, while the second via 13b, positioned axially between the first and third vias 13a, 13c, extends axially over a distance substantially two to two and a half times the axial dimension of the ends of the pins 11 and 12 in contact with the via 13. Therefore, the second via 13b extends axially over a distance substantially two to two and a half times the axial dimension of the first and third vias 13a, 13c.

[0075] Therefore, when the movable member 1 is in Figure 3In the illustrated first extreme position, none of the vias 13 are radially aligned with the first pin pair 10a, thereby establishing no electrical connection between the RFID tag 4a and the antenna 3. Conversely, vias 13b and 13c are aligned with the pin pairs 10b and 10c, respectively, thereby establishing electrical connection between the antenna 3 and the RFID tags 4b and 4c. In this manner, if the antenna 3 receives a query request from an RFID reader while the movable member 1 is in this first position, only the RFID tags 4b and 4c are activated and are able to formulate and transmit a response to the antenna 3 for transmission to the RFID reader L.

[0076] Thus, a single combination of RFID tags for the first extreme position includes RFID tags 4b and 4c.

[0077] Similarly, when the movable member 1 is in Figure 4 In the illustrated intermediate position, none of the vias 13 are axially aligned with the first and third pin pairs 10a, 10c, resulting in no electrical connection between the RFID tags 4a, 4c and the antenna 3. Conversely, only vias 13b are radially aligned with the pin pairs 10b, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the antenna 3 and the RFID tag 4b. In this manner, if the antenna 3 receives a query request from an RFID reader L while the movable member 1 is in this intermediate position, only the RFID tag 4b is activated and is able to formulate a response and transmit it to the antenna 3 for transmission to the RFID reader L.

[0078] Thus, a single combination of RFID tags for the intermediate position includes only RFID tag 4b.

[0079] Finally, when the movable element 1 is in Figure 5 In the second extreme position shown, none of the vias 13 are axially aligned with the third pin pair 10c, thereby establishing no electrical connection between the RFID tag 4c and the antenna 3. In contrast, vias 13a and 13b are aligned with the pin pairs 10a and 10b, respectively, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the antenna 3 and the RFID tags 4a and 4b. In this manner, if the antenna 3 receives a query request from the RFID reader L when the movable member 1 is in this second extreme position, only the RFID tags 4a and 4b are activated and are able to formulate and transmit a response to the antenna 3 for transmission to the RFID reader L.

[0080] Thus, a single combination of RFID tags for the second extreme position comprises RFID tags 4a and 4b.

[0081] Thus, the mechanical contact switch 5 is configured to establish an electrical connection between the antenna 3 and a single combination of at least one RFID tag among the plurality of RFID tags 4 for each position of the movable member 1 .

[0082] Figure 2 RFID tag 4a is shown. Each RFID tag 4 in the plurality of RFID tags is identical, so the following description of first tag 4a also applies to tags 4b and 4c and all tags 4 in the plurality of RFID tags.

[0083] The RFID tag 4 a is a conventional passive RFID tag, ie, it has no onboard battery and is powered solely by electromagnetic waves emitted by the remote RFID reader L and sensed by the antenna 3 .

[0084] The RFID tag 4a includes a demodulator 14a, a converter 15a, a voltage regulator 16a, a calculator 17a, a reset system 18a for resetting the calculator 17a, an internal clock 19a, and an inverse modulator 20a.

[0085] The demodulator 14a and the converter 15a are both directly connected to the first pin 11a of the pin pair 10a associated with the RFID tag 4a, so that when the path 13 is aligned with the pin pair 10a and the antenna 3 senses a query request, the antenna 3 transmits the electrical signal generated by the electromagnetic wave as input to the demodulator 14a and the converter 15a.

[0086] The converter 15a ensures that the electrical signal received by the antenna 3 is converted into direct current. The converter 15a transmits the converted direct current as output to the voltage regulator 16a on the one hand and to the reset system 18a on the other hand.

[0087] Therefore, the voltage regulator 16a is directly connected to the output of the converter 15a, so that the converter 15a delivers current to the voltage regulator 16a.

[0088] The voltage regulator 16 a is connected at its output, on the one hand, to an internal clock 19 a and, on the other hand, to a calculator 17 a .

[0089] Thus, the voltage regulator 16a receives as input the current generated by the converter 15a and is able to deliver as output a DC voltage suitable for powering the calculator 17a and the internal clock 19a.

[0090] A reset system 18a for resetting the calculator is also directly connected to the output of the converter 15a, so that the converter 15a delivers the generated current as input to the reset system 18a. Furthermore, the reset system 18a is directly connected to the calculator 17a at the output.

[0091] The reset system 18a comprises a system of the known PoR type (abbreviated as “Power-on Reset”) capable of initializing or resetting the calculator 17a when an electric current is applied to the system 18a.

[0092] Thus, the reset system 18a receives as input the current generated by the converter 15a and resets the calculator 17a.

[0093] The demodulator 14a is connected at its input to the first branch 11a of the pair of pins 10a associated with the RFID tag 4a so that when the path 13 is aligned with this pair of pins 10a, the demodulator 14a can receive the signal received by the antenna 3. The demodulator 14a is connected at its output to a calculator 17a.

[0094] Demodulator 14a demodulates the electrical signal received by antenna 3 and provides the demodulated signal as input to calculator 17a. In other words, demodulator 14a continuously converts and demodulates the signal received by antenna 3 and transmits the signal to calculator 17a. Therefore, the electrical signal transmitted from antenna 3 to demodulator 14a is a modulated signal.

[0095] The internal clock 19a is directly connected to the calculator 17a and is configured to send time information to the calculator 17a in order to allow synchronization of tasks performed by the calculator 17a.

[0096] The calculator 17a is an integrated circuit capable of processing the demodulated query request sent by the demodulator 14a, ie, verifying that the query request is correct, formulating a response to the query request, and sending the response to the inverse modulator 20a.

[0097] Therefore, the calculator 17a is directly connected to the inverse modulator 20a.

[0098] The inverse modulator 20 a is a component known from passive RFID tags and is intended to modulate the response formulated by the calculator 17 a using the waves sensed from the RFID reader and received by the antenna 3 .

[0099] Thus, the inverse modulator 20a is directly connected to the first pin 11a of the pair 10a associated with the RFID tag 4a so as to be able to transmit an electrical signal directly to the antenna 3 when the via 13 is radially aligned with the pins 11a and 12a of the pair 10a.

[0100] The inverse modulator 20a provides a modulated response as an output to the antenna 3 through the pin pair 10a and the via 13 radially aligned with the pin pair 10a. The antenna 3 is capable of emitting electromagnetic waves and transmitting the modulated response to the RFID reader L.

[0101] The individual RFID tags 4 in the plurality of RFID tags are identical in design, so the foregoing description also applies to tags 4b and 4c and all tags 4 in the plurality of RFID tags.

[0102] Therefore, RFID tag 4b also includes demodulator 14b, converter 15b, voltage regulator 16b, calculator 17b, reset system 18b for resetting calculator 17b, internal clock 19b and inverse modulator 20b. RFID tag 4b operates identically to previously described RFID tag 4a.

[0103] Similarly, RFID tag 4c also includes demodulator 14c, converter 15c, voltage regulator 16c, calculator 17c, reset system 18c for resetting calculator 17c, internal clock 19c and inverse modulator 20c. RFID tag 4c operates identically to previously described RFID tag 4a.

[0104] Nonetheless, each of the plurality of RFID tags 4 has a unique identifier so that it can be targeted by a request sent by the RFID reader L. Alternatively, the plurality of RFID tags 4 may each have a different design.

[0105] The detection means 2 ensure detection of the position of the movable element 1 between a first extreme position and a second extreme position and at least one intermediate position.

[0106] Figure 6 The steps of this method for detecting the position of a movable element 1 between a first extreme position, a second extreme position and at least one intermediate position are shown. The following description of the method illustrates the method by an example in which the movable element 1 is in the first extreme position, corresponding to Figure 3 .

[0107] During a first step 60 , a remote RFID reader L issues a query request for the location of the movable element 1 , the query request being addressed to one of the tags, in particular here for example to the tag 4 a .

[0108] During a second step 61 , the antenna 3 receives as input electromagnetic waves emitted by the RFID reader L, the received electromagnetic waves corresponding to the query request to the RFID tag 4 a emitted by the remote RFID reader L in step 60 .

[0109] During a next step 62 , the RFID tags 4 forming a single combination of RFID tags for the position in which the movable element 1 is located are interrogated sequentially, one after the other.

[0110] During a step 62 , the signal received by the antenna 3 is transmitted on the trace 7 and thus propagates to the second pins 12 a , 12 b and 12 c of the pair of pins 10 .

[0111] The received signal is then transmitted only to the first pin 11 of the pair 10 with which the via 13 is aligned and establishes electrical contact.

[0112] In the example described, the movable element 1 is in the Figure 3 When movable member 1 occupies this first extreme position, no via 13 is radially aligned with first pin pair 10a, and thus no electrical connection is established between RFID tag 4a and antenna 3. In contrast, vias 13b and 13c are aligned with pin pairs 10b and 10c, respectively, thereby establishing electrical connection between antenna 3 and RFID tags 4b and 4c.

[0113] Therefore, the signal received by antenna 3 and transmitted to the second pins 12a, 12b, and 12c is transmitted to the first pins 13b and 13c of the pin pair 10b and 10c through paths 13b and 13c, while path 13a does not establish electrical contact between pins 11a and 12a. The second pins that have received the signal then transmit the signal to the RFID tags to which they are connected, thereby activating these RFID tags.

[0114] Therefore, in this example, only tags 4b and 4c are activated. In other words, only tags 4b and 4c receive the electrical signal received by antenna 3 to power tags 4b and 4c.

[0115] During a subsequent stage 63 of the method, the query request is processed by each activated RFID tag. More specifically, each of the plurality of RFID tags activated in step 62 performs stage 63 individually. Thus, in Figure 3 In the example shown, stage 63 is implemented by RFID tags 4b and 4c.

[0116] This phase 63 comprises a first step 631 in which the query request is demodulated by the demodulator of each activated RFID tag.

[0117] The demodulated query request is then transmitted to the active RFID tag's calculator (step 632), which verifies the query request's validity (step 633). More specifically, step 633 of verifying the query request's validity includes: each active RFID tag's calculator verifies that the query request is indeed intended for the tag to which the calculator belongs, and that the query request is correct. If these two conditions are met, the calculator verifies the query request; otherwise, it does not.

[0118] exist Figure 3 In the example shown, the active tags are tags 4b and 4c, and the query request issued is initially directed to tag 4a. Therefore, the request is demodulated by demodulators 14b and 14c of the active tags 4b and 4c, and then sent by these demodulators to calculators 17b and 17c of the active tags 4b and 4c, respectively, which then verify the validity of the request.

[0119] Since the request received at this stage is a request for the tag 4a, neither the calculators 17b nor 17c verifies the received query request.

[0120] During the next step 64, based on the results of the request processing phase 63, the calculator of each activated RFID tag formulates a response to the query request issued by the remote RFID reader L. The formulated response may include, for example, a simple confirmation that the RFID tag is activated. More specifically, the step 64 of formulating a response is performed only if the query request has been verified during the processing phase 63, more specifically during the verification subphase 633.

[0121] If, on the other hand, the query request is not authenticated by the activated tag's calculator during step 633 , no response is formulated and the method proceeds directly to step 66 described below.

[0122] exist Figure 3 In the example shown, since the query request has not been authenticated, calculators 17b and 17c do not formulate any response.

[0123] After step 64 of formulating a response has been performed, the formulated response is transmitted by antenna 3 to a remote RFID reader L (step 65). More specifically, step 65 includes a first sub-step 651 of transmitting the formulated response to the reverse modulator of the same tag. In a second sub-step 652, the reverse modulator modulates the formulated response and then transmits the modulated response to antenna 3 via the connection pins and pathways described above (sub-step 653). In sub-step 654, antenna 3 transmits the modulated response to the remote RFID reader L, which receives the modulated response (sub-step 654).

[0124] In a subsequent step 66 , all previous steps 60 to 65 are repeated for each of the remaining tags in the plurality of tags, so that these steps 60 to 65 are performed once for each tag in the plurality of tags.

[0125] More specifically, once the remote RFID reader L has received a response to the previous query request, i.e., once step 654 is completed, step 66 is executed. If the query request has not been verified by the activated tag's calculator in step 63, i.e., the RFID reader L has not received a response, and therefore steps 64 and 65 have not been executed, step 66 is executed after a predetermined maximum response time has expired.

[0126] exist Figure 3In the example described, the query request has not yet been validated by any of the active calculators 17b and 17c of the tags 4b and 4c. Therefore, no response is formulated, sent, or received by the RFID reader L. At the end of the maximum response time elapsed from the time the RFID reader L sent the query request for tag 4a, the RFID reader L issues a query request for tag 4b in the first iteration of step 60.

[0127] Like the previous request for tag 4a, this request for tag 4b is sensed by antenna 3, transmitted on trace 7, and then received by tags 4b and 4c, which are activated by receiving the request. The query request is then processed individually by each activated RFID tag (i.e., here, tags 4b and 4c).

[0128] Thus, during this processing step 63 performed by each active tag 4b and 4c, the query request directed to tag 4b is thereby demodulated by the demodulators 14b and 14c of these tags and then transmitted to the calculators 17b and 17c of these tags (which validate the query request).

[0129] As previously mentioned, the calculator 17c does not verify the request because the request is directed to the tag 4b. Therefore, the calculator 17c does not make any response to the request.

[0130] Instead, the calculator 17 b validates the request during a processing step 63 and therefore formulates a response to the request during a step 64 .

[0131] The next step 65 includes transmitting the formulated response to the reverse modulator 20b via the calculator 17b, modulating the formulated response by the reverse modulator 20b, transmitting the modulated response to the antenna 3 via the pin pair 10b and the path 13b, and finally transmitting the modulated response to the RFID reader L via the antenna 3.

[0132] The RFID reader L then receives the modulated response formulated by the calculator 17b of the tag 4b and can therefore issue a query request to the last tag of the remaining tags in the plurality, ie the tag 4c, during a final repetition 66 of steps 60 to 65.

[0133] Similar to the stage regarding the request for tag 4b, this request for tag 4c is transmitted to tags 4b and 4c. Therefore, tags 4b and 4c are activated, and only tag 4c formulates a response to the request and transmits the response to RFID reader L. Tag 4b does not verify the request during the processing step. Therefore, RFID reader L receives a response from tag 4b to its query request for tag 4b.

[0134] Thus, the RFID reader L has issued a request for each tag 4a, 4b and 4c, thereby ending the repetition of step 66.

[0135] Finally, in the subsequent final step 67 of the method, the position of the movable element 1 is determined. Step 67 is performed when the RFID reader L has performed step 60 for each of the plurality of tags and has received a response to the last request it has sent or when the maximum response time has elapsed since the last request was sent. In other words, step 67 is performed at the end of the last repetition 66 of steps 60 to 65.

[0136] More specifically, step 67 is performed by RFID reader L. Based on whether RFID reader L receives a response from each of the multiple tags after issuing a query request for each of the multiple tags, RFID reader L can determine which tags are activated, thereby reconstructing a single combination of activated RFID tags associated with the position of movable member 1. In practice, the absence of an RFID tag responding to the query request for that RFID tag means that movable member 1 is not in a position where passage 13 is radially aligned with pin pair 10 associated with that RFID tag. The RFID reader can then determine the position of movable member 1 based on this correspondence.

[0137] exist Figure 3 In the illustrated example, after repeating steps 60 to 65 for each of the plurality of tags 4a, 4b, and 4c, as described above, the RFID reader L receives responses only from tags 4b and 4c. Therefore, the position of the movable member 1 corresponds to a single combination of tags 4b and 4c, which is the first extreme position as described above.

[0138] Thus, the detection device 2 uses radio frequency identification technology to provide a reliable and continuously interrogable position sensor of the movable element 1 , which requires neither on-board batteries nor wired connections for data transmission and power supply.

Claims

1. A device (2) for detecting the position of a movable member (1) between a first extreme position, a second extreme position and at least one intermediate position, comprising: A fixed antenna (3) and a plurality of radio frequency identification tags (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) arranged along the path of the movable part (1) between the extreme positions and the intermediate position, characterized in that the detection device comprises a mechanical contact switch (5) configured to establish an electrical connection between the antenna (3) and a single combination of at least one radio frequency identification tag (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) for each position of the movable part (1).

2. The detection device (2) according to claim 1, wherein: The mechanical contact switch (5) is arranged around the movable member (1) and comprises a fixed armature (8) and a movable part (9) integral with the movable member (1).

3. The detection device (2) according to claim 2, wherein: The fixed armature (8) includes a plurality of connecting pin pairs (10, 10a, 10b, 10c), each radio frequency identification tag (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) is associated with a single pin pair (10, 10a, 10b, 10c), the single pin pair including a first pin (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) and a second pin (12, 12a, 12b, 12c), the first pin and the radio frequency identification tag (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) associated with the pin pair (10, 10a, 10b, 10c) contacting each other, and the second pin contacting the antenna (3).

4. The detection device (2) according to claim 3, wherein: The movable portion (9) is fixed to the movable member (1) and includes a plurality of paths (13, 13a, 13b, 13c) capable of transmitting current between two pins (11 and 12, 11a and 12a, 11b and 12b, 11c and 12c) of a connecting pin pair (10, 10a, 10b, 10c).

5. The detection device (2) according to claim 4, wherein: The plurality of paths (13, 13a, 13b, 13c) are positioned on the movable member (1) so that, for each position of the movable member (1), current is carried only between the pins of the following pairs (10, 10a, 10b, 10c): the pairs being associated with the radio frequency identification tags (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) forming a single combination of radio frequency identification tags for the position in which the movable member (1) is located.

6. A method for detecting the position of a movable element (1) between a first extreme position, a second extreme position and at least one intermediate position, said method being used to implement a detection device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The method comprises the following steps: - a remote RFID reader (L) issues (60) a query request for the location of the movable element (1), the query request being directed to one of the plurality of tags, - receiving (61) the query request sent by the RFID reader (L) by the antenna (3), - activating (62) a radio frequency identification tag in a single combination of tags for said position where said movable part (1) is located, - each activated tag processes the query request individually (63), - if, as a result of said processing (63), said RFID tag to which said query request is directed is activated, formulating (64) by said tag an individual response to said query request, - transmitting (65) by said antenna (3) to said RFID reader (L) said individual response formulated by said tag, - repeating (66) the previous step for each of the other tags of the plurality of tags, such that the RFID reader issues a query request for each of the tags of the plurality of tags, - determining (67) the position in which the movable element (1) is located.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein: Each RFID tag (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) of the plurality of tags comprises a respective calculator (17a, 17b, 17c), and the step of individually processing (63) the query request by each activated tag comprises the following steps: for each activated tag: - demodulating the query request (631), - transmitting (632) the demodulated request to said calculator (17, 17a, 17b, 17c), and - Verify (633) the validity of the query request.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein: After the remote RFID reader (L) receives a response to the previous query request, or after the remote RFID reader (L) does not receive a response within a predetermined time after issuing (60), a repetition (66) of the issuing (60) step is performed.

9. An aircraft, characterized in that: The aircraft comprises a detection device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

10. The aircraft according to claim 9, wherein: The detection device (2) is capable of implementing the method according to one of claims 6 to 8.

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