Dual-Use Fire Pin for Countermeasure Power and Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing countermeasure dispensing systems in military platforms face limitations in power delivery and data transfer speed due to separate control interfaces and power delivery components, which restrict the capabilities of countermeasure expendables and limit the speed of data transfer.
Innovation Solution
A dual use fire pin and magazine identification wire system that integrates power and data transmission through an enhanced fire select multiplexing assembly, allowing for 20 W of power and 500 k baud data transfer using existing vehicle wiring harnesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate control interfaces and power delivery components are used, then system reliability is improved, but power delivery capability and data transfer speed are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate power delivery and data communication functions into a single fire pin interface. The fire pin now carries both power signals (for actuating countermeasure expendables) and data signals (for bidirectional communication between controller and payload), replacing the traditional separate control interfaces. This merging enables enhanced power delivery capability (up to 20W) and high-speed data transfer (500 k baud) while maintaining system reliability through integrated error handling and protocol management.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire pin is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple purposes: it delivers power to actuate countermeasure expendables, transmits data bidirectionally between controller and payload, and provides grounding. This universal interface replaces multiple dedicated components, enabling both legacy simple payloads and future smart payloads with higher power and communication requirements to operate through the same interface.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate control interfaces and power delivery components are used, then system compatibility is improved, but data transfer speed is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The communication protocol implemented over the fire pin is dynamic and adaptive, capable of adjusting data transfer rates and modes based on payload type. The system supports bidirectional communication with legacy payloads that have limited processing capability as well as future smart payloads with advanced processors, enabling data transfer speeds up to 500 k baud while maintaining backward compatibility with existing countermeasure systems.
3Ease of manufacture
If existing vehicle wiring harnesses are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but power delivery and data transfer capabilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrical parameters of the existing fire pin interface to enable enhanced power delivery. By modifying the voltage and current characteristics of the fire pin (while maintaining physical compatibility with existing wiring harnesses), the system achieves up to 20W power delivery capability. The interface also supports high-speed data transfer by utilizing differential signaling and advanced modulation techniques over the same physical medium, allowing retrofits to existing platforms without replacing the entire wiring harness.
Data Source
AI summary
A communications interconnect between the countermeasure controller of a countermeasure system and the dispenser containing the countermeasure payloads therein. Additionally, the present disclosure provides a power connection between the countermeasure controller and the countermeasure dispenser to deliver power to the countermeasure payloads, including smart payloads, utilizing existing vehicle wiring harnesses and wiring kits.