Optical Fiber Sensor Interrogation Unit for Aircraft Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern aircraft systems are complex and interdependent, making system development and maintenance laborious due to increased sophistication and multiple interconnections, requiring a simplification method to reduce hardware and software redundancy while enhancing performance and safety.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing optical fiber sensors connected to an interrogation unit that processes and transmits data to an aircraft computer, enabling continuous monitoring of physical parameters across multiple systems, reducing the need for multiple wires and data buses, and allowing for integrated modular multi-ATA system scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple complex aircraft systems with multiple wires and data buses are used to fulfill various ATA chapters, then the aircraft functionalities are comprehensive, but the system complexity and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal sensor system where optical fiber sensors can monitor multiple physical parameters (strain, temperature, acceleration, ultrasonic guided waves, gas detection) across different aircraft systems simultaneously. The interrogation unit serves as a multi-functional device that can interrogate sensors related to structural health monitoring, pneumatic systems, fuel systems, fire detection, ice systems, and environmental control, replacing multiple specialized sensing systems with a single unified platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple separate sensing systems and data transmission methods into a single integrated optical fiber-based system. By combining various sensor types and monitoring functions into one unified interrogation unit connected through optical fibers, the system reduces the number of separate wires and data buses needed, thereby simplifying the overall aircraft system architecture while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capabilities.
2Reliability
If multiple separate sensing systems are used for different aircraft systems, then each system can be independently monitored, but the hardware redundancy and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The interrogation unit is designed as a universal monitoring device that can simultaneously interrogate optical fiber sensors across multiple aircraft systems including structural health monitoring, pneumatic systems, fuel systems, fire detection, ice systems, and environmental control. This single multi-functional unit replaces multiple separate sensing systems, reducing hardware redundancy while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability across all systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple independent sensing systems into a single integrated optical fiber network managed by one interrogation unit. By merging the monitoring functions for different aircraft systems into a unified platform, the system eliminates duplicate hardware components and reduces overall hardware redundancy while preserving the ability to independently monitor each system through the shared optical fiber infrastructure.
3Loss of information
If traditional electrical sensors and multiple data buses are used, then data transmission is established, but the weight and complexity of wiring increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional electrical sensing systems and electrical data transmission with an optical-based system. Optical fiber sensors substitute electrical sensors, and optical fibers replace electrical data buses for transmitting sensor data to the interrogation unit. This substitution eliminates the need for heavy electrical wiring while maintaining effective data transmission capability across all monitored aircraft systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber infrastructure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the sensing element (through integrated optical sensors) and the data transmission medium. This dual functionality replaces separate electrical sensing and data transmission systems, significantly reducing wiring weight while maintaining comprehensive data transmission capability for all aircraft system monitoring.
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 simplifies aircraft systems, reduces hardware and maintenance costs, increases performance and redundancy, and facilitates real-time structural health monitoring, enabling early detection of damage and optimized maintenance through data fusion and artificial intelligence analysis.
Implementation Method 1
one or more optical fibers connecting the one or more optical fiber sensors to the interrogation unit
Data Source
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AI summary
System (100) for an aircraft (1000) configured to obtain one or more aircraft functionalities, the system comprising an aircraft computer (110), the system (100) characterized by comprising one or more optical fiber sensors (120) measuring one or more physical parameters, one or more optical fibers (130) connecting the one or more optical fiber sensors (120) to an interrogation unit (140), the interrogation unit (140) configured to receive light-pulsed data from the one or more optical fiber sensors (120) via the one or more optical fibers (130), process the light-pulsed data to obtain one or more values of physical parameters by applying a transfer function and convert the one or more values of physical parameters into digital data, and digital transmission means (150) configured to transmit the digital data to the aircraft computer (110), wherein the aircraft computer (110) is configured to obtain the one or more aircraft functionalities based on the digital data.