Hot-Swappable PCI Control Card for ECLSS Fault Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current environmental control and life support systems (ECLSS) in vehicles, such as space vehicles, require independent control of multiple equipment components, but existing PCI devices lack hot-swappability, making it difficult to replace non-functional cards without powering down the system.
Innovation Solution
A PCI device with a hot-swappable control card that accommodates multiple power levels, executes commutation logic, and performs active current control/modulation, featuring auto-commutation tables, voltage detection, velocity control, and startup control units, allowing for fault isolation and mitigation by being compatible with various ECLSS equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a PCI device is designed with multiple cards for controlling ECLSS equipment, then the system can independently control various environmental conditions, but the device size and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control card is designed with a universal architecture that can control multiple types of ECLSS equipment (motors, actuators, pumps, valves, heaters) through a single device. The card incorporates multiple power levels, commutation logic, and effector control capabilities that allow one card to replace multiple specialized cards, thereby reducing device size while maintaining independent control capability.
2Device complexity
If current PCI device cards are used without hot-swappability, then the mechanical packaging is simpler, but non-functional cards cannot be replaced without powering down the system
Solution Approach 1:
The control card incorporates preliminary fault detection and isolation capabilities that identify non-functional cards before they cause system failure. The card design includes built-in diagnostics and a hot-swappable architecture that allows replacement of faulty cards while the system remains powered on, enabling maintenance without full system shutdown and improving overall reliability.
3Weight of stationary object
If a single control card controls multiple ECLSS equipment, then equipment size and power requirements are reduced, but the control logic and power distribution become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The control card architecture segments control functions into modular components: a backplane for signal distribution, mounting slots for individual equipment control, and dedicated control units for different effector types. This segmentation allows the single card to manage multiple equipment independently while keeping the control logic organized and manageable through modular design.
Data Source
AI summary
A peripheral component interconnect (PCI) device is provided for use in an environmental control and life support system (ECLSS). The PCI device includes a control card, mounting slots each of which is receptive of the control card and coupled with a piece of ECLSS equipment and a backplane configured to respectively provide, via communication and power signals, communications and power to the control card in any one of the mounting slots. With the control card received in one of the mounting slots, the control card accommodates multiple power levels, executes commutation logic and executes one or more of active current control and active current modulation in accordance with the one of the mounting slots and the piece of the ECLSS equipment coupled therewith.