Power Switching Component for Electronic Flight Bag

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electronic flight bag power supply systems require repetitive maintenance and face certification challenges due to safety hazards like fire hazards and electrolyte leaks, necessitating the need for improved power management solutions.

Innovation Solution

A power switching component that selectively applies electrical power from multiple sources, including a primary and auxiliary power source, to an electronic flight bag device based on the aircraft's condition, ensuring continuous power availability while minimizing maintenance needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a standby battery source is implemented to ensure continuous power supply, then reliability is improved, but maintenance requirements increase and safety hazards arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous power supplyVSAvoidfire hazard and electrolyte leaks
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the battery component from the power supply system entirely, extracting the harmful element (electrolyte-containing battery) while maintaining the backup power capability through alternative means (external power source connected via power switching component). This eliminates fire hazards and electrolyte leak risks while preserving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The power switching component serves as an intermediary device that manages power flow between the primary power source, external power source, and electronic flight bag. It enables seamless transition between power sources without requiring a standby battery, thus maintaining reliability while eliminating battery-related safety hazards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a standby battery source is implemented to ensure continuous power supply, then reliability is improved, but maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous power supplyVSAvoidrepetitive maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the battery component from the system, eliminating the need for repetitive battery maintenance, replacement, and disposal. The external power source approach requires no physical maintenance of power storage components, significantly reducing life cycle costs while maintaining continuous power capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the aircraft's existing external power infrastructure and power switching capabilities, leveraging already-maintained aircraft systems rather than introducing a separate battery maintenance regime. The power switching component integrates with existing aircraft power management systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2543973B1Power supply system for an electronic flight bag
Publication Date: 2018.05.23 ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE INC
  • EP2543973B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2543973B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2543973B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A control system for providing electrical power to an electronic flight bag device on an aircraft. The control system including a power switching component coupled to a plurality of power sources and at least one electronic flight bag device. The power switching component is operative and configured to selectively apply electrical power from at least one of the plurality of power sources to the at least one electronic flight bag device based upon a condition of the aircraft.