Aircraft Oxygen Supply System Self-Testing via BITE
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current oxygen supply systems in aircraft are complex and require extensive wiring for activation, making maintenance and testing cumbersome, and there is a need for a more efficient method to monitor and test their functionality.
Innovation Solution
An oxygen supply system integrated with a microcontroller and built-in test equipment (BITE) that reduces wiring effort and enables remote monitoring and self-testing, using a latch controller, pressure sensor, and energy storage to autonomously activate and test components, with the ability to communicate system status to the aircraft's health management system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional oxygen supply systems are used with extensive wiring for activation, then system reliability is maintained, but device complexity and wiring effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple control functions (microcontroller, latch controller, pressure sensor, energy storage) into an integrated unit that replaces extensive traditional wiring. The latch controller integrates microcontroller, latch driver circuitry, and pressure sensor interface into a single component, reducing wiring complexity while maintaining system reliability through consolidated control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch controller is designed as a multi-functional component that can operate in multiple modes: normal operation mode with full microcontroller control, and backup mode using stored pressure signals. This universal design allows the same hardware to serve different operational requirements, reducing the need for redundant wiring while ensuring reliability across various operating conditions.
2Ease of repair
If built-in test equipment is integrated into the microcontroller, then ease of monitoring and maintenance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The built-in test equipment (BITE) is integrated directly into the microcontroller to enable self-diagnosis and self-testing of the oxygen supply system. The microcontroller can autonomously monitor its own operational status, test the latch controller and pressure sensor, and communicate system health information without requiring external testing equipment, thereby improving maintenance ease while the complexity is managed through software integration.
3Productivity
If remote monitoring and self-testing capabilities are added, then productivity and maintenance efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the BITE continuously monitors operational parameters and system status, then communicates this information remotely through the aircraft's data network. The microcontroller processes sensor data, performs self-tests, and provides feedback on system health status, enabling remote monitoring and predictive maintenance that improves productivity while managing complexity through intelligent data processing.
Data Source
AI summary
An oxygen supply system includes a container housing having a container door, a latch controller coupled to a latch of the container door and configured to control the latch to releasably open the container door, a microcontroller coupled to the latch controller and configured to output a first latch deployment signal to the latch controller to cause the latch controller to open the latch, a pressure sensor coupled to the latch controller and configured to output a second latch deployment signal to the latch controller to cause the latch controller to open the latch, and an energy storage coupled to the microcontroller and the pressure sensor and configured to supply the microcontroller and the pressure sensor with electrical energy. The microcontroller includes built-in test equipment (BITE) configured to monitor and test the operability of one or more of the microcontroller, the latch controller, the pressure sensor and the energy storage.