Active Hubcap Circuit Signal Repeater for Aircraft Landing Gear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tire pressure sensing systems in aircraft landing gear face challenges in efficiently transmitting signals between tire pressure sensors and brake control units due to signal degradation over transformers, leading to a decreased signal-to-noise ratio and increased complexity and weight from separate power and data lines.
Innovation Solution
An active hubcap circuit is introduced, electrically coupled to both the tire pressure sensor and the brake control unit, which receives and amplifies input signals, improving the signal-to-noise ratio and allowing power and data to be communicated over the same power distribution channels, reducing the number of wires and overall weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate power and data lines are used to transmit signals between tire pressure sensors and brake control units, then signal transmission reliability is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines power and data transmission into a single communication line between the tire pressure sensor and brake control unit. The sensor module transmits both power requests and data over the same bus, eliminating the need for separate dedicated power and data wires. This merging reduces wiring complexity while maintaining reliable signal transmission through protocol-based communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication bus is designed to serve multiple functions: it carries both power transmission requests and sensor data, and can operate in different modes (wired or wireless). This multi-functional approach allows the same physical medium to handle various communication needs, reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If separate power and data lines are used for signal transmission, then signal quality is improved, but weight of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging power and data transmission into a single communication bus, the patent reduces the total amount of wiring required in the aircraft landing gear system. This consolidation directly reduces weight while maintaining signal quality through proper protocol design and signal conditioning.
3Reliability
If signal transmission occurs over transformers, then electrical isolation is improved, but signal-to-noise ratio decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an active hubcap circuit as an intermediary between the tire pressure sensor and brake control unit. This active repeater circuit receives signals from the sensor, amplifies them, and retransmits them to the control unit, effectively compensating for signal degradation caused by transformer isolation. The active circuit acts as a mediator that restores signal quality while maintaining electrical isolation.
4Loss of information
If active hubcap circuit is added to amplify signals, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The active hubcap circuit serves as a necessary intermediary to restore signal quality degraded by transformer isolation. While it adds circuitry, it consolidates multiple functions (signal amplification, noise filtering, and protocol handling) into a single location, potentially reducing overall system complexity compared to distributed signal conditioning.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system includes a wheel, a hubcap 106 coupled to the wheel and a tire pressure sensor 100 coupled to the wheel. The system also includes a brake control unit (BCU) and an active hubcap circuit 300 coupled to the hubcap. The active hubcap circuit 300 is electrically coupled to the tire pressure sensor 100 and the BCU and configured to receive an input signal from at least one of the tire pressure sensor 100 or the BCU, generate an output signal by increasing a signal to noise ratio of the input signal and output the output signal to at least one of the BCU or the tire pressure sensor 100.