Aircraft Peripheral Electronic Assembly With Reconfigurable Interfaces

Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity and cost of developing and maintaining decentralized system architectures in aircraft, particularly in flight control and landing gear, are increased due to the need for multiple dedicated interfaces to read and control various sensors and actuators, limiting the reuse of remote control parts.

Innovation Solution

An electronic assembly with three generic interfaces - a digital output, an analog output, and an analog input - allows coupling with peripheral devices and a digital evaluation unit, enabling flexibility and reuse while reducing the number of necessary interfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple dedicated interfaces are provided for different peripheral devices, then the ability to read and control various sensors and actuators is improved, but the device complexity and development cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to read and control various sensors and actuatorsVSAvoidnumber of different interfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal interface concept where a single physical interface can communicate with multiple different peripheral devices (sensors, actuators, valves, motors) by dynamically configuring communication protocols and signal types through software. The electronic assembly includes a configurable interface that can adapt to different device types including analog devices, digital devices, I2C devices, and CAN devices, eliminating the need for dedicated hardware interfaces for each device type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The interface is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable, allowing the system to switch between different communication modes and protocols based on the connected peripheral device. The interface can change its behavior from analog to digital, from master to slave mode, and support different protocols (I2C, CAN, PWM, PID) through software configuration rather than hardware changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple dedicated interfaces are provided for different peripheral devices, then the ability to read and control various sensors and actuators is improved, but the development cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to read and control various sensors and actuatorsVSAvoiddevelopment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal interface concept where a single physical interface can communicate with multiple different peripheral devices (sensors, actuators, valves, motors) by dynamically configuring communication protocols and signal types through software. The electronic assembly includes a configurable interface that can adapt to different device types including analog devices, digital devices, I2C devices, and CAN devices, eliminating the need for dedicated hardware interfaces for each device type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple dedicated interface functions into a single unified interface that can handle analog signals, digital signals, I2C protocols, and CAN protocols through software configuration. This consolidation reduces the number of separate interface circuits, connectors, and associated components needed in the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If electronics are tailor-made for respective applications, then the performance for specific applications is improved, but the reusability of remote control parts decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance for specific applicationVSAvoidreusability of remote control parts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The interface is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable, allowing the system to switch between different communication modes and protocols based on the connected peripheral device. The interface can change its behavior from analog to digital, from master to slave mode, and support different protocols (I2C, CAN, PWM, PID) through software configuration rather than hardware changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic assembly incorporates a universal interface that can be configured through software to work with different peripheral devices, maintaining optimized performance for each device type while enabling the same hardware to be reused across different applications and projects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3388793B1Electronic assembly for peripheral devices of an aircraft

Publication Date: 2022.06.22 LIEBHERR AEROSPACE LINDENBERG GMBH

Figure 1
Figure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to an electronic assembly for peripheral devices such as sensors of an aircraft, comprising three different generic interfaces for coupling the assembly to at least one peripheral device and at least one, in particular downstream, digital evaluation unit, the assembly being able to be coupled to the peripheral device via at least one interface.