Photo-Sensor Display Fault Detection via Animation Interruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for monitoring critical electronic displays in aircraft lack effective fault detection, often resulting in pilots being unaware of frozen displays, which can lead to dangerous situations due to the high cost and impracticality of retrofitting with modern instrumentation.
Innovation Solution
A system that senses faults in electronic displays by receiving and augmenting streaming data with an animation instruction, using a photo-sensor to monitor the display for interruptions, and signaling faults through a hardwired electrical circuit, including warning lights or audible alarms, without the need for programmable software.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If modern digital instruments with integrated fault detection are used, then fault detection capability is improved, but cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The fault detection function is segmented from the main display system and implemented as a separate, simple monitoring circuit. The photo-sensor and animation monitor operate independently from the display's internal processing, creating a dedicated fault detection pathway that does not increase the complexity of the primary display system.
Solution Approach 2:
A photo-sensor is introduced as an intermediary device to detect display faults. Instead of relying on the display system's internal fault detection mechanisms, the photo-sensor externally monitors the visual output by detecting animation interruptions, providing fault detection without requiring modifications to the display's internal complexity.
2Reliability
If existing aircraft are retrofitted with modern instrumentation, then fault detection is improved, but cost and feasibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The fault detection system uses inexpensive, simple components including a basic photo-sensor, animation instruction generator, and warning device. These components are far cheaper than modern digital instruments, making retrofitting economically feasible for existing aircraft without requiring expensive instrument replacements.
Solution Approach 2:
The fault detection system is designed to be universally applicable to various display types through the use of a photo-sensor that monitors visual output regardless of the display's internal technology. The system can be retrofitted to different aircraft configurations by simply adjusting the animation instructions rather than requiring custom instrumentation for each display type.
3Device complexity
If simple fault detection methods are used, then cost and complexity are reduced, but fault detection precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic animation (repeating visual patterns) as a test signal to continuously monitor display functionality. The animation's regular, predictable nature allows the simple photo-sensor to detect faults with high precision by identifying interruptions or deviations from the expected periodic pattern, achieving accurate fault detection without complex measurement equipment.
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
Provides a simple, inexpensive, and reliable method to detect faults in electronic displays, preventing potentially life-threatening errors by alerting users to frozen or malfunctioning displays, applicable for retrofitting existing systems and new installations.
Implementation Method 1
monitoring the animation via a photo-sensor, sensing an interruption in the animation via the photo-sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of sensing a fault in an electronic display may include receiving streaming data to be displayed, appending the streaming data with an animation instruction, displaying the streaming data via a screen, monitoring the animation via a photo-sensor, sensing an interruption in the animation via the photo-sensor, and signaling, in response to the sensing step, a fault in the electronic display. The displaying step may include producing, in response to the animation instruction, an animation in a dedicated area of the screen. In some examples, the sensing and signaling steps may be performed without programmable software.