Aircraft Optical Ring Network for EMI Immunity and Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft communication networks using copper cables face issues with electromagnetic disturbances, limited adaptability, low throughput, high weight, and costly maintenance, while fiber optic networks lack flexibility and redundancy.
Innovation Solution
An on-board optical communication network utilizing a ring configuration with multimode bidirectional optical fibers, passive optical elements, and mode multiplexing to enable high-speed data transmission, easy equipment connection/disconnection, and enhanced security, along with redundancy for network reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If copper cables are used for aircraft communication networks, then electromagnetic compatibility and current induction problems occur, but the network can still be established with existing technology
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces copper cable-based electrical communication systems with optical fiber communication systems. This substitution eliminates electromagnetic disturbances and current induction problems by using light instead of electrical signals, while maintaining network reliability through redundant ring topology and passive optical components
2Weight of moving object
If fiber optic cables are used to replace copper cables, then weight is reduced and electromagnetic compatibility is improved, but network adaptability to modifications decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical network into modular components: optical line terminals (OLTs), optical network units (ONUs), and passive optical splitters. This segmentation allows flexible addition, removal, or modification of equipment without requiring changes to the core fiber infrastructure, thereby maintaining adaptability while using lightweight optical fibers
Solution Approach 2:
The passive optical splitter serves multiple functions: it divides optical signals to multiple ONUs, enables point-to-multipoint communication, and supports network expansion without requiring active electronic components. This universal component maintains network adaptability while the fiber optic infrastructure provides weight reduction and electromagnetic compatibility
3Productivity
If traditional copper cable networks are used, then installation and maintenance are complex, but the network can operate with limited throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex active copper cable networks with passive optical networks. The passive splitters eliminate the need for complex electronic signal processing and regeneration equipment, simplifying installation and maintenance while enabling high-speed data throughput through optical fiber infrastructure
4Use of energy by moving object
If copper cables with significant weight are used, then fuel consumption increases during flight, but the network provides basic communication functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes heavy copper cables with lightweight optical fibers, directly reducing aircraft weight and fuel consumption. The passive optical network maintains reliable communication functionality through redundant ring topology and robust optical signal transmission, eliminating the trade-off between weight reduction and communication reliability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The optical network achieves high-speed data transmission (up to several tens of Gb/s), improved adaptability, enhanced security through mode multiplexing, and redundancy, allowing continuous connectivity even in network failures, while reducing weight and maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
each optical fiber is adapted to allow the transport of optical signals of at least three different modes, each multiplexer/demultiplexer comprises a plurality of passive optical elements and allows the transmission of at least three equipment signals coming from equipment via modal multiplexing in an optical fiber
Implementation Method 2
the branch boxes each comprise three splitters to which the optical fibers are connected and each directed towards at least one prism, said splitters and said prism being configured to direct an optical signal originating from an optical fiber and entering a splitter towards the other two splitters
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention concerns an embedded optical ring communication network (10) suitable for transmitting data between equipment (12a-12h), characterised in that it comprises an assembly of distribution boxes (14a-14h) each connected to two other distribution boxes (14a-14h) by multimode bidirectional optical fibres (16a-16h) so as to form a ring, suitable for also being connected to a multiplexer/demultiplexer (18a, 18b, 18c) by multimode bidirectional optical fibres, and in that each optical fibre (16a-16h) is suitable for transporting optical signals of at least three different modes (32, 32, 34).