Centralized Microcontroller for Aircraft SSPC Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current power distribution systems in aircraft require a large number of microcontrollers for each SSPC channel, leading to increased cost, space consumption, and reduced mean time before failure (MTBF), along with complex communication management and risk of data bus saturation.
Innovation Solution
A centralized control system using a single microcontroller to manage multiple SSPC channels, with redundancy to ensure continued operation in case of failure, and logic gates to determine commands for switching devices, reducing the number of microcontrollers and simplifying communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a microcontroller is used per SSPC channel for control and protection, then reliable control and protection is achieved, but the number of microcontrollers increases leading to increased cost, space consumption, and reduced MTBF
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control and protection functions that were previously distributed across multiple microcontrollers (one per SSPC channel) into a single centralized microcontroller. This consolidation reduces the total number of microcontrollers while maintaining reliable control and protection through centralized architecture, directly addressing the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized microcontroller performs multiple functions including control of switching devices, protection functions, and management of multiple SSPC channels simultaneously. This multi-functional approach allows a single microcontroller to replace multiple specialized microcontrollers, reducing component count while maintaining system reliability
2Reliability
If multiple microcontrollers are used per SSPC channel, then control and protection functions are ensured, but communication management becomes complex and data bus saturation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple microcontroller communication interfaces into a single centralized communication interface. This reduces the complexity of communication management by eliminating the need to coordinate multiple microcontrollers' communication activities and reduces the risk of data bus saturation through centralized communication protocols
3Device complexity
If one microcontroller manages multiple SSPC channels, then the number of microcontrollers decreases reducing cost and space, but communication management is simplified
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized microcontroller is designed with universal communication capabilities that can manage multiple SSPC channels through standardized protocols. This multi-functional design simplifies communication management by providing a unified interface while maintaining the ability to control multiple channels effectively
Data Source
AI summary
System, especially for use in aircraft, for controlling at least one switching device (5, 5b, 5n) able to open or close the connection between at least one power source and at least one supplied device, and means for measuring the state of the power supply channel. The system comprises: at least two microcontrollers (1a, 1b) each able to emit a command intended for each switching device (5, 5b, 5n), said microcontrollers (1a, 1b) being connected to at least one portion of the means for measuring the state of the power supply channel; and a means (14, 14b, 14n) for determining the command to be transmitted, able to determine the command to be transmitted to each switching device (5, 5b, 5n) from the commands emitted by each microcontroller (1a, 1b) and intended for said control switch.