Avionics Bus Waveform Analysis for Hardware Failure Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern aircraft systems face challenges in real-time monitoring and analysis of electrical signal waveforms across avionics buses, as existing methods struggle to differentiate between hardware failures and signal degradations, often requiring external devices and human intervention.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for integrated waveform analysis that uses a processing device to receive and analyze electrical waveforms, extract real-time parametric measurements, and compare them to stored data to identify system interconnection degradations and hardware failures without an external device, enabling automated reporting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If external devices are used for waveform analysis, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewaveform analysis accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the waveform analysis functionality into the existing aircraft system by integrating a processing device that can be incorporated into existing avionics equipment. This merging approach eliminates the need for separate external analysis devices while maintaining diagnostic capabilities through the unified system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The processing device is designed to perform multiple functions including receiving waveforms from multiple sources, storing reference data, analyzing signals, and generating reports. This multi-functional design allows a single integrated device to replace multiple specialized external tools, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive diagnostic capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If manual analysis methods are used, then ease of operation is maintained, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational simplicityVSAvoidanalysis speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automated waveform analysis by having the processing device automatically receive waveforms, compare them against stored reference data, identify deviations, and generate diagnostic reports without requiring manual intervention. This self-service capability dramatically increases analysis productivity while maintaining ease of operation through automated reporting to existing displays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors waveforms and provides immediate feedback by comparing real-time signals against reference standards, automatically identifying and reporting deviations. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables rapid diagnostic productivity while keeping the system easy to operate through automated alert generation on existing avionics displays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If comprehensive waveform monitoring is implemented, then reliability is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem monitoring capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements selective waveform monitoring by focusing analysis on specific critical parameters and only processing waveforms from essential bus lines. The processing device performs partial analysis on selected signals rather than exhaustive monitoring of all system waveforms, reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliability for critical functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring system is segmented to handle different waveform sources and analysis tasks separately, allowing the processing device to activate only the necessary monitoring functions based on system operational state. This segmented approach enables comprehensive monitoring capability when needed while conserving energy during normal operation by activating only essential analysis functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9691191B1Methods and systems for automated real time continuous waveform electrical property monitoring and status reporting

Publication Date: 2017.06.27 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A method for performing an integrated waveform analysis without the use of an external device is disclosed. The method includes receiving, at a processing device, at least one electrical waveform associated with a communications bus, extracting, with the processing device a plurality of real time parametric measurements of voltage samples for the at least one electrical waveform, comparing, with the processing device, the parametric measurements of voltage samples to stored data that is accessible to the processing device, the stored data related to expected electrical signal characteristics for the communications bus proximate at least one of system interfaces, hardware components, and interconnections associated with the communications bus, distinguishing any system interconnection degradations and hardware failures associated with the communications bus based on said comparing, and reporting, via the processing device, at least one of: extracted electrical signal parametric measurements are consistent with the stored electrical signal characteristics, electrical signal parameters are indicative of a system interconnection degradation, and electrical signal parameters are indicative of a hardware failure.