Avionics Latency Measurement via Optical Image Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring system latency in avionics and vehicle control systems are prone to error and lack the ability to perform non-invasive, end-to-end measurements, making it difficult to verify latency requirements and obtain statistical distributions.
Innovation Solution
A latency measurement system that uses an event generation device, a camera, and a processor to capture and analyze images of a zero-latency indicator and system outputs, determining latency by calculating time differences between event occurrences, allowing for automated and accurate measurement of system latency without perturbing the system operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual timing measurements on an oscilloscope are used, then latency measurements can be obtained, but measurement precision deteriorates due to human error and awkward statistical distribution collection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual oscilloscope measurement operations with an automated image processing system. A camera captures images of display elements, and a processor automatically analyzes these images to extract timing measurements, eliminating human error and enabling automated statistical distribution collection through batch processing of multiple images.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates visual copies of timing information by displaying waveforms and markers on a display device that can be captured by a camera. This allows the measurement information to be copied from the electronic domain to the optical domain, enabling non-contact, automated capture and analysis of timing data.
2Measurement precision
If internal trigger signals are used for latency measurement, then measurements can be performed, but measurement precision deteriorates because they only generally approximate end-to-end latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a display device as an intermediary between the internal trigger signal and the measurement system. The trigger signal is converted into a visible display element that can be captured by the camera, allowing external observation and precise timing measurement of events that were previously only accessible through internal signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces internal electronic trigger signal analysis with external optical capture and image processing. By capturing images of the display elements that represent trigger events and response events, the system achieves precise end-to-end latency measurement without relying on internal trigger signal approximation.
3Productivity
If traditional measurement methods are used, then some latency data can be obtained, but productivity deteriorates due to inability to collect large numbers of sequential measurements for statistical distributions
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous measurement collection by automatically capturing multiple images in sequence and processing them to extract timing data. The processor continuously analyzes images to generate statistical distributions, maintaining uninterrupted measurement collection that accumulates large datasets for robust statistical analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated image processing system accelerates the measurement collection process by rapidly analyzing multiple images in sequence. The processor efficiently extracts timing information from each image and accumulates data points, dramatically increasing the rate at which statistical distribution data is collected compared to manual methods.
4Reliability
If invasive measurement methods are used, then latency can be measured, but reliability deteriorates because the actual system operation is perturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates optical copies of the system's visual output for measurement purposes. By capturing images of display elements that represent timing events, the measurement process operates on copies rather than the actual system signals, completely avoiding perturbation of system operation while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces invasive electronic measurement techniques with non-contact optical imaging. The camera captures images of display elements without injecting signals or modifying system operation, enabling end-to-end latency measurement that completely preserves system integrity and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a system for, and method operating latency measurement including an event generation device that generates an initial event used to measure system latency. A component test system receives the event and in response outputs a test component output signal and a zero-latency indicator. An electronics system including a multifunction display unit receives the test component output signal and displays a visible element on the multifunction display unit. A camera generates a series of recorded images, where each recorded image contains an image of the zero-latency indicator and an image of the visible element. A processor then determines the system latency by determining a time difference in the series of recorded images between a representation of an occurrence of the event in the image of the zero-latency indicator and a representation of the occurrence of the event in the image of the visible element.