Capacitor-Buffered Power Control for Low-Power Wireless Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft galley equipment and similar systems face power constraints, limiting the operation of wireless transceivers due to higher power requirements than available input power, necessitating a solution to enable wireless communication without additional resources or weight.
Innovation Solution
A power buffering system that stores input power until a predetermined level is reached, allowing periodic activation of wireless transceivers to transmit and receive data, using capacitors to manage the power supply and control the communication process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wireless transceivers are added to galley inserts for data communication, then communication capability is improved, but power consumption exceeds the available power budget
Solution Approach 1:
The system activates the wireless transceiver periodically rather than continuously. A controller monitors the power buffer level and only enables the transceiver when sufficient power is available, creating intermittent operation cycles that match the periodic charging pattern of the power buffer.
Solution Approach 2:
The power buffer charges and stores energy in advance before the transceiver needs to operate. The system accumulates power during periods when the transceiver is inactive, preparing the necessary energy reservoir beforehand to support subsequent transmission operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If power buffering is implemented to enable periodic transceiver operation, then wireless communication becomes possible, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power buffer acts as an intermediary component between the constant power supply and the variable-power wireless transceiver. This mediator absorbs the complexity of power management by providing a buffer that decouples the steady input power from the intermittent high-power transmission requirements.
3Use of energy by moving object
If transceivers operate periodically with buffered power, then power constraints are satisfied, but communication continuity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous monitoring of power buffer levels and continuously manages the transition between charging and transmission phases. This ensures that communication opportunities are seized as soon as power availability permits, maximizing the duration of useful communication action within power constraints.
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
Enables intermittent but effective wireless communication with galley inserts and other devices, allowing data transmission despite limited power availability, while minimizing additional power, space, and weight requirements.
Implementation Method 1
using capacitors to manage the power supply and control the communication process
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A power control system in which power from a power supply is buffered until a predetermined level of buffered power is available at which time the system activates a device to function powered by the buffered power. Thus, by buffering the available power, a higher power requirement load can be operated periodically e.g. data can be transmitted to/from a wireless transceiver periodically.