Digital Flight Control Surface Sensing With Hall-Based Redundancy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional aircraft flight control surface position sensors, such as potentiometers, resolvers, and RVDTs, are heavy, expensive, and require complex interfacing circuitry, leading to large and costly circuitry needs, as well as mechanical calibration challenges, which affect airplane performance and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A digital surface position sensor system that includes a position sensor, an adaptable hardware interface, and a processing circuit, which generates digital position and identification signals for aircraft flight control surfaces, reducing the need for mechanical calibration and minimizing circuitry requirements, and utilizing a Hall sensor and magnet configuration for position sensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional position sensors (potentiometers, resolvers, RVDTs) are used, then position feedback is provided, but the system becomes heavy, expensive, and requires complex interfacing circuitry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical position sensors (potentiometers, resolvers, RVDTs) with a magnetic sensing system using Hall effect sensors and magnets. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical interfacing circuitry while providing reliable position feedback through magnetic field detection, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the sensing parameter from electrical/mechanical (voltage, resistance) to magnetic field strength. By using Hall effect sensors to detect magnetic field variations caused by magnet rotation, the system achieves accurate position measurement without requiring complex analog-to-digital conversion circuitry, thus reducing interfacing complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Measurement precision
If traditional position sensors are used, then position sensing is achieved, but wire and connector weight increases, affecting airplane performance
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic sensing system requires fewer and thinner wires compared to traditional sensors. The Hall effect sensor outputs can be directly interfaced with digital systems, eliminating the need for heavy shielding and complex connector assemblies required by potentiometers and resolvers, thus reducing weight while maintaining measurement precision.
3Reliability
If traditional position sensors are installed or replaced, then position feedback is restored, but mechanical calibration is required which takes time and may require several attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic sensing system is designed to be self-calibrating or require minimal calibration. The Hall effect sensor naturally detects magnetic field positions, and the system can automatically determine reference positions through software algorithms, eliminating the need for manual mechanical calibration procedures and reducing maintenance time.
4Reliability
If multiple traditional position sensors are used, then redundant position feedback is provided, but dedicated circuitry for each sensor increases system cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic sensing system uses universal digital interfaces that can be shared across multiple sensors. Multiple Hall effect sensors can connect to the same digital bus or processor inputs, allowing redundant position feedback from multiple locations without requiring dedicated analog circuitry for each sensor, thus reducing overall system complexity and cost.
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
The digital surface position sensor system provides efficient, lightweight, and cost-effective position feedback with reduced wire and connector weight, enabling reliable and accurate flight control surface position monitoring without the need for mechanical calibration, thereby enhancing aircraft performance and integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The instant disclosure addresses this need with the digital surface position sensor system of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the digital surface position sensor includes a Hall sensor and magnet configuration for position sensing.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A digital surface position sensor includes a position sensor, an adaptable hardware interface, and a processing circuit. The position sensor is adapted to be coupled to an aircraft flight control surface and is configured to sense a position of the aircraft flight control surface and supply a position signal representative thereof. The adaptable hardware input supplies an identification signal that identifies the aircraft flight control surface to which the position sensor is coupled. The processing circuit is coupled to receive the position signal and the identification signal. The processing circuit is configured, upon receipt of the signals, to process the position signal and the identification signal and generate (i) a first digital position signal representative of the position of, and the identification of, the aircraft flight control surface and (ii) and independent second digital signal representative of the position of, and the identification of, the aircraft flight control surface.