ARINC Signal Optical Conversion for Aircraft EMC Test Immunity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing EMC test benches struggle to ensure immunity of the control/command bay against lightning injection tests while maintaining representativeness of the operational context, as ARINC links are prone to disturbances and intermediate protections can influence measurements.
Innovation Solution
A device that converts ARINC electrical signals into optical TTL signals using converters and optical fibers to route signals, providing immunity and representativeness by isolating the control/command bay from electrical disturbances and ensuring accurate data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ARINC electrical interfaces are used to connect the control/command bay to equipment under test, then data transmission and control functions are enabled, but the control/command bay becomes vulnerable to lightning injection disturbances and overvoltages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device that converts ARINC electrical signals to optical signals and back, placing this conversion device between the control/command bay and the equipment under test. This intermediary optical conversion system isolates the electrical domains, preventing lightning-induced overvoltages from reaching the control/command bay while maintaining signal transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the direct electrical connection (electrical field interaction) with an optical signal transmission system. By converting electrical ARINC signals to optical signals for transmission and back to electrical signals, the system substitutes the vulnerable electrical field coupling with optical field transmission, which is inherently immune to electromagnetic disturbances from lightning injections.
2Reliability
If intermediate lightning protections are installed upstream of the control/command bay, then the control/command bay is protected from disturbances, but the representativeness of operational context is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The optical conversion device serves as an intelligent intermediary that maintains signal fidelity while providing isolation. Unlike simple protective filters that alter signal characteristics, the bidirectional optical-electrical conversion preserves the authenticity of ARINC signals during normal operation, ensuring representativeness while providing protection during lightning events.
Solution Approach 2:
By substituting electrical connections with optical transmission, the system eliminates the need for electrical protective filters that would compromise signal representativeness. The optical link provides inherent immunity without requiring additional electrical protection components that could influence measurements or alter operational context authenticity.
3Reliability
If optical conversion devices are placed at both inputs and outputs of equipment, then complete immunity links are built, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the test system into distinct electrical and optical domains by placing optical conversion devices at strategic interface points. Rather than protecting every electrical connection, the system divides the architecture into protected electrical zones and isolated optical zones, achieving comprehensive immunity with fewer conversion points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the signal conversion function with the existing ARINC interface architecture, integrating optical-electrical conversion capabilities into the test bench structure. By merging the protection function with the data transmission function in unified converter devices, the system achieves complete immunity links without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
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 solution effectively protects the control/command bay from lightning-induced overvoltages and maintains the representativeness of the operational context, ensuring the integrity and immunity of the test bench during EMC tests.
Implementation Method 1
a first converter of the received first ARINC signal into a first electrical TTL signal; a second converter of the first electrical TTL signal previously converted into a first optical TTL signal
Implementation Method 2
an optical connector connected to an optical fiber making it possible to route said first optical TTL signal to a control equipment
Data Source
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AI summary
The EMC test bench comprises: · an item of equipment under test (SRT) intended to be loaded on board an aircraft, said item of equipment being subjected to EMC tests and delivering ARINC electrical interfaces as inputs and as output; · an electrical interfaces device (EID) representative of an item of anti-lightning equipment and comprising an ARINC signals acquisition and/or generation card connected to the ARINC inputs and outputs of the item of equipment under test (SRT); · a command/control rack (CCR) for the analysis of control signals originating from the electrical interfaces device comprising an ARINC signals acquisition and/or generation card; · a signals conversion system for protecting the command/control rack (CCR) connected between said command/control rack (CCR) and the electrical interfaces device (EID).