LRU Optical Serial Communications via Hand-Held Camera
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for acquiring data from controllers, such as fault data, require specialized equipment and often result in robustness issues with the connector interface, particularly during production testing.
Innovation Solution
A line replaceable unit (LRU) communications system utilizing wireless optical serial communications and a hand-held device, which includes a camera and processor, captures and interprets radiation sequences from an emitter to determine equipment status without the need for physical connections or tool-based access, using a smartphone, tablet, or portable computing device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specialized equipment with physical connectors is used to acquire data from controllers, then data acquisition capability is achieved, but connector interface robustness deteriorates and equipment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical connector interface system with an optical communication system. Instead of physically plugging specialized equipment into controller connectors, the system uses an emitter (LED) on the controller to transmit data optically to a camera on a handheld device, eliminating mechanical contact and associated robustness issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an optical copy of the data transmission function. Rather than directly accessing controller data through physical connectors, the emitter generates optical signals that replicate the data, which are then captured by the camera and processed into interpretable serial data, providing a non-contact data acquisition method.
2Ease of operation
If physical connectors and wire harnesses are used for data access, then data transmission is achieved, but operational ease deteriorates due to tool requirements and connector opening
Solution Approach 1:
The controller unit provides its own data transmission capability through the integrated emitter. Instead of requiring external specialized equipment with connectors, the controller itself emits optical signals that can be captured by any device with a camera, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for specialized access tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical communication system provides universal data access capability. Any handheld device with a camera can communicate with the controller through the emitter, replacing the need for proprietary connectors and specialized equipment. This multi-functional approach allows diverse devices to access controller data without requiring specific hardware interfaces.
3Ease of operation
If wireless RF communications are used, then wireless data transmission is achieved, but hardware costs and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inexpensive optical components (LED emitter and camera) instead of costly wireless RF communication hardware. These components are already present in most devices and provide sufficient data transmission capability without requiring expensive specialized wireless modules, reducing overall system cost while maintaining wireless operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical signals as an intermediary medium for wireless data transmission. Instead of using electromagnetic RF waves that require complex communication protocols and hardware, the system uses visible light from an LED as an intermediary to carry data, which is then captured by a camera and converted into usable data, simplifying the wireless communication architecture.
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 efficient data acquisition with reduced hardware costs and eliminates the need for complex wireless RF communications, providing a robust and efficient method for determining equipment status without opening the unit or altering wire harnesses.
Implementation Method 1
the emitter includes a light emitting diode (LED) and the LRU processor controls the LED to flash on and off in the sequence
Implementation Method 2
The camera is configured to capture the radiation
Implementation Method 3
The device processor is configured to control the flash to emit flash radiation for reception by the receiver
Data Source
AI summary
A line replaceable unit (LRU) communications system is provided and includes an emitter, a hand-held device including a camera and a device processor and a control unit of one or more pieces of equipment. The control unit includes a housing on which the emitter is disposed and an LRU processor. The LRU processor is configured to identify the hand-held device and a maximum frame rate of the camera, to ascertain a status of the one or more pieces of equipment, to control the emitter to emit radiation in a sequence defined in accordance with the status and to limit a rate at which the radiation is emitted in the sequence by the maximum frame rate of the camera. The camera is configured to capture the radiation and the device processor is configured to translate the sequence into interpretable serial data for use in determining the status.