Modular Voltage Regulator Unit for Aircraft Sensor Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft health monitoring systems face challenges in power conditioning due to noisy and interrupt-prone industry-standard compliant power, which is incompatible with sensitive electronics, and traditional systems become oversized when trying to power a large number of distributed digital 'smart' sensors without conditioning the aircraft power at the sensor level.
Innovation Solution
A voltage regulator unit is introduced to provide additional power regulation, mechanically connected to a host unit, allowing for modular power conditioning that can be swapped or expanded as needed, rather than requiring the entire flight data acquisition unit to be changed, thereby addressing the power needs of distributed nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power conditioning is performed at the host unit to support distributed smart sensors, then the host unit can provide stable power to multiple sensors, but the host unit becomes oversized for applications with fewer sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The power conditioning function is segmented from the host unit and placed in separate regulator units that can be independently added or removed. Each regulator unit handles a portion of the power conditioning load, allowing the host unit to remain compact while still supporting multiple sensors when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic configuration of power conditioning capacity by adding or removing regulator units based on the actual number of sensors deployed. This enables the power conditioning capability to adapt to varying application requirements rather than being fixed at an oversized capacity.
2Volume of moving object
If no power conditioning is performed at the sensor level to minimize sensor size, then smart sensor size is reduced, but the host unit must be oversized to condition power for all sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The power conditioning function is segmented from the host unit and distributed to separate regulator units that can be positioned near the sensors they serve. This allows sensors to remain compact while power conditioning capacity is distributed rather than concentrated in the host unit.
Solution Approach 2:
Regulator units act as intermediary components between the host unit and the sensors, performing power conditioning locally rather than requiring all conditioning to occur at the host or all sensors to include built-in conditioning.
3Reliability
If power conditioning circuits are added to condition noisy aircraft power, then power quality is improved, but space and heat generation increase proportionally to power level
Solution Approach 1:
The power conditioning function is segmented into separate regulator units that can be distributed throughout the system rather than consolidated in one large host unit. This segmentation allows for more efficient heat dissipation and reduces the concentrated space requirement while maintaining overall power conditioning capacity.
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 solution enables efficient power conditioning for distributed digital systems, reducing the size and heat generation of the host unit while ensuring reliable power supply to multiple nodes, thereby optimizing system design and performance.
Implementation Method 1
The voltage regulator unit includes a voltage regulator circuit configured to provide power conditioning for the one or more nodes
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A power conditioning system includes a power source, at least one node, a host unit and a voltage regulator unit. The host unit includes a host mechanical housing and is configured to communicate with the at least one node. The voltage regulator unit includes a first regulator mechanical housing and a first voltage regulator circuit. The first regulator mechanical housing is mechanically mated with the host mechanical housing. The first voltage regulator circuit is configured to condition the power from the power source and provide first conditioned power to the at least one node.