Fuze Setter Adapter for Incompatible Interface Bridging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy fuze setters are incompatible with next generation fuzes, preventing effective data transfer and programming due to differences in communication and power interfaces, leading to inventory issues and operational limitations.
Innovation Solution
A fuze setter adapter that enables communication and power transfer between incompatible fuze setters and fuzes by providing inductive and direct connect interfaces, with internal electronics for data capture, storage, and power conversion, allowing for fuze setting operations to proceed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If legacy fuze setters use inductive coupling-based interfaces, then power and data transfer is achievable, but data transfer speed is too slow for next generation fuzes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fuze adapter as an intermediary device that couples between the legacy inductive fuze setter and the next generation fuze. The adapter contains an inductive interface that communicates with the legacy setter and a high-speed interface (USB, Ethernet, or direct connect) that communicates with the next generation fuze, thereby mediating the incompatibility between the two systems and enabling high-speed data transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the data transfer interface parameters by replacing the slow inductive coupling interface with high-speed interfaces (USB 2.0/3.0, Ethernet, or direct connect electrical contacts). This parameter change increases data transfer speed from legacy levels to modern high-speed levels, enabling next generation fuzes to receive programming data at required speeds.
2Speed
If next generation fuzes use different high speed interfaces, then data transfer capability is improved, but backwards compatibility with legacy setters is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The fuze adapter serves as a mediator that translates between legacy inductive protocols and modern high-speed protocols. It contains conversion electronics that capture data from the legacy setter via inductive coupling, store it temporarily, and then transmit it at high speed to the next generation fuze through USB, Ethernet, or direct connect interfaces, thereby enabling programming compatibility across generations.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter performs preliminary data capture and storage from the legacy setter before transferring to the fuze. It temporarily holds the programming data in its memory, allowing the legacy setter to operate at its slower speed while the adapter prepares and then rapidly transmits the data to the next generation fuze when ready.
3Reliability
If legacy fuzes and next generation fuzes use incompatible interfaces, then each fuze type is optimized for its interface, but mixed inventory usability is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The fuze adapter is designed with universal multi-functionality to work with multiple fuze types and setter types. It can adapt between legacy inductive interfaces and multiple next generation interfaces (USB, Ethernet, direct connect), enabling a single adapter design to support mixed inventories of both legacy and next generation fuzes with various setter types, thereby achieving cross-compatibility while maintaining optimized interface performance.
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 fuze setting operations between previously incompatible fuze setters and fuzes, overcoming interface incompatibilities and facilitating the use of existing inventories, thereby improving operational efficiency and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
The fuze setter adapter also supports the ability to convert electrical power input from a legacy fuze setter into a form compatible with a next generation fuze.
Implementation Method 2
Internal electronics in the fuze setter adapter supports data capture, storage, and reformatting as the communications protocols on either side of the fuze setter adapter may require.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques and architecture are disclosed for a fuze setter adapter that operationally engages an incompatible fuze and fuze setter with each other so that fuze setting may be undertaken. The fuze and fuze setter each include at least one wireless or direct connect interface for electrical power transfer and/or data communications. The fuze setter adapter provides complementary interfaces configured to couple with the interfaces of the fuze and fuze setter. A processor control in the fuze setter adapter links the fuze setter adapter interfaces. The processor control is programmed to receive data communications from the fuze setter, convert those signals to fuze-compatible signals, and transfer the fuze-compatible signals to the fuze, and vice versa. The processor control is further programmed to receive electrical power from the fuze setter, convert that electrical power to fuze-compatible power, and transfer the fuze-compatible power to the fuze.