Aircraft CVFDR Backup Power Switching for Lower Weight

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flight recorders require large and heavy capacitors or batteries to provide backup power during electrical interruptions, increasing the size, weight, and cost of the CVFDR system.

Innovation Solution

The CVFDR system reduces power demand during short power interruptions by operating in a normal mode initially and switching to an economy mode, allowing the use of a smaller temporary power source, such as a capacitor, to meet regulatory requirements while minimizing size and weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If large and heavy capacitors or batteries are used to provide backup power during electrical interruptions, then the reliability of the flight recorder system is improved, but the weight and size of the system increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackup power reliabilityVSAvoidsystem weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts its power consumption by switching between normal operating mode and economy operating mode based on power availability. During power interruptions, the economy mode reduces power demand to match the limited capacity of smaller capacitors, while maintaining essential recording functions. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the system's power requirements flexible rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes operational parameters (power consumption levels, data sampling rates, processing intensity) when transitioning to economy mode during power interruptions. By adjusting these parameters, the system can function reliably with smaller energy storage devices, thereby reducing weight while maintaining adequate reliability for critical flight data recording.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If large and heavy capacitors or batteries are used to provide backup power during electrical interruptions, then the reliability of the flight recorder system is improved, but the size of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackup power reliabilityVSAvoidsystem volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts its power consumption by switching between normal operating mode and economy operating mode based on power availability. During power interruptions, the economy mode reduces power demand to match the limited capacity of smaller capacitors, while maintaining essential recording functions. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the system's power requirements flexible rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes operational parameters (power consumption levels, data sampling rates, processing intensity) when transitioning to economy mode during power interruptions. By adjusting these parameters, the system can function reliably with smaller energy storage devices, thereby reducing volume while maintaining adequate reliability for critical flight data recording.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If conventional flight recorders operate continuously in normal mode during power interruptions, then data recording quality is maintained, but the power demand exceeds the capacity of smaller temporary power sources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata recording reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts its power consumption by switching between normal operating mode and economy operating mode based on power availability. During power interruptions, the economy mode reduces power demand to match the limited capacity of smaller capacitors, while maintaining essential recording functions. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the system's power requirements flexible rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

During power interruptions, the system performs only the essential minimum functions needed to maintain data recording reliability (economy mode), rather than continuing full normal operations. This partial action approach ensures that power consumption remains within the capabilities of smaller temporary power sources while still achieving the critical objective of reliable flight data recording.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

This approach enables the use of a 20% smaller capacitor, resulting in a 30% weight reduction of the CVFDR system without compromising performance, thus reducing size and cost.

Implementation Method 1

Conventional flight recorders require large and heavy capacitors or batteries to provide backup power during electrical interruptions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS12589883B2Flight recorder system and method

Publication Date: 2026.03.31 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO

AI summary

A CVFDR system of an aircraft includes a cockpit voice and flight data recorder (CVFDR) communicatively coupled, via a data communication network, to a set of flight recorder modules. The CVFDR receives a first voltage from a remote first power source. In the event of an interruption of the first voltage, the CVFDR receives a second voltage from a local second power source for a predetermined period.