Optical Fiber Interface System for Aircraft Data Bus Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The deployment of ARINC 629 electrical data bus in aircraft is limited by the extra weight, bulk, and installation effort associated with existing electrical physical layer components, which are difficult to maintain and install in an airplane environment.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that converts an aircraft's ARINC 629 electrical data bus to an optical fiber data bus using media converters with differential transmit and receive stubs and optical fiber interfaces, eliminating the need for modifications to line replaceable units and reducing weight and installation complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If glass optical fiber is used for ARINC 629, then data transmission capability is improved, but installation difficulty and maintenance complexity increase due to special handling requirements, small misalignment tolerance, and dust contamination sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes glass optical fiber with plastic optical fiber (POF), replacing a fragile mechanical system with a more robust one. POF has larger core diameter (1mm vs 50-62.5 micrometers), making alignment much easier and tolerance to misalignment significantly higher. The material substitution eliminates dust contamination sensitivity while maintaining optical transmission capability, directly resolving the contradiction between transmission reliability and installation ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes critical physical parameters of the optical fiber: core diameter increased from 50-62.5 micrometers to 1mm, and material composition changed from glass to plastic. These parameter changes fundamentally improve ease of installation and maintenance while preserving data transmission functionality, allowing ARINC 629 protocol compatibility without the handling complexities of glass fiber.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ARINC 629 electrical data bus is deployed, then aircraft communication network is established, but weight and bulk increase due to electrical wiring harness, connectors, and associated equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical data bus system with an optical fiber-based communication system. This substitution eliminates heavy electrical wiring harnesses, large connectors, and associated shielding equipment, reducing aircraft weight significantly while maintaining ARINC 629 communication protocol capability through optical media converters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs media converters that can interface with existing ARINC 629 electrical components while providing optical fiber connectivity. This universal interface approach allows the system to maintain compatibility with legacy equipment while transitioning to lighter optical infrastructure, enabling gradual deployment without complete system replacement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If ARINC 629 electrical physical layer components are used, then data bus functionality is achieved, but installation effort and complexity increase due to multiple components including stub cables, bus terminators, and current mode couplers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary electrical physical layer components (stub cables, bus terminators, current mode couplers) by transitioning to optical fiber architecture. The media converter directly interfaces with the optical fiber, removing the complex electrical component chain and simplifying installation while preserving ARINC 629 data bus functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces media converters as intermediary devices that bridge existing ARINC 629 electrical interfaces with optical fiber infrastructure. These converters handle the complexity of protocol adaptation and signal conversion, allowing straightforward optical fiber installation without requiring modification to legacy ARINC 629 equipment.
4Adaptability or versatility
If electrical wiring is used for ARINC 629, then communication network is established, but electromagnetic interference, lightning, and corrosion hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes electrical conductors with optical fiber, replacing a system susceptible to electromagnetic interference, lightning strikes, and corrosion with an immune optical system. Plastic optical fiber being non-conductive eliminates all electrical hazards while maintaining communication capability, directly addressing the harmful factors affecting electrical wiring in aircraft environments.
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 solution reduces weight, bulk, and installation effort, while providing easier maintenance and fewer electrical wiring hazards, using plastic optical fiber for improved reliability and reduced electromagnetic interference and corrosion risks.
Implementation Method 1
converting an electronic signal received from the electronic component to a digital optical signal for transmission to the optical fiber coupler
Implementation Method 2
converting a digital optical signal received from the optical fiber coupler to an electronic signal for transmission to the electronic component
Data Source
AI summary
A media converter to converts digital fiber optic signals to electronic analog signals in the form of voltage doublet and vice-versa. The media converter includes a differential transmit transformer, a transmit stub interface and an optical fiber transmit interface arranged in serial flow communication in a first communication path; and a differential receive transformer, a receive stub interface and an optical fiber receive interface in serial flow communication in a second communication path. The first communication path converts a voltage doublet signal received from the electronic component to a digital optical signal for transmission to a passive optical star via the optical fiber coupler, and the second communication path converts a digital optical signal received from the passive optical star via the optical fiber coupler to an voltage doublet signal for transmission to the electronic component.