Remotely Powered Data Concentrator for Avionics Bus Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional avionics systems face challenges with data concentrator placement due to limitations in aircraft power bus network connections, leading to increased complexity and weight of cabling, as well as restrictions on placing sensors near engines where power connections are undesirable.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of remotely powered data concentrators connected via a single cable that provides both power and network connectivity, allowing for flexible placement of data concentrators closer to sensors and reducing overall system weight and complexity by using the avionics power bus network to power and communicate data packets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of stationary object
If data concentrators are placed closer to sensors to reduce cabling complexity and weight, then the cabling weight and system complexity are reduced, but power connection availability becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines power delivery and data communication into a single Ethernet cable connection. The data concentrator receives both electrical power and network data through the same cable interface, eliminating the need for separate power wiring and enabling flexible placement near sensors without requiring additional power connection infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The Ethernet cable is given dual functionality: it serves both as a power delivery medium and as a data communication channel. This multi-functional approach allows the same infrastructure to fulfill multiple requirements, enabling the data concentrator to be powered and communicated with through a single connection type.
2Reliability
If separate power and data cables are used for data concentrators, then power delivery is reliable, but the system complexity and cabling weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges separate power delivery and data communication functions into a single Ethernet cable connection. This consolidation reduces the number of cables and connectors while maintaining reliable power delivery through the standardized Ethernet infrastructure, thereby reducing system complexity without sacrificing reliability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If data concentrators are placed away from sensors to avoid undesirable locations, then safety and reliability are improved, but the distance increases cabling weight and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
By combining power and data into a single cable connection, the patent reduces the overall cabling burden. This enables data concentrators to be safely positioned at greater distances from sensors in undesirable locations, as the reduced cabling complexity and weight make longer cable runs more manageable and less problematic.
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 enables more efficient data concentration and reduces the weight and complexity of cabling by allowing data concentrators to be placed closer to sensors, while avoiding the need for direct power connections to undesirable locations, thus improving system operation and reducing weight and space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The wire is configured to transmit power from the switch to the data concentrator
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes an avionics power bus network, switch, and data concentrator. The avionics power bus network provides power to at least a first endpoint system and second endpoint system coupled via at least one network pathway configured for transmitting a data packet between the first and second endpoint and is operably connected to the switch. The switch is configured to receive a data packet from the first endpoint and transmit the data packet along the network pathway to the second endpoint and is configured to receive power from the avionics power bus network. The data concentrator is operably connected the first endpoint to receive the data packet from the first endpoint and is operably connected to the switch through a wire. The wire is configured to transmit power from the switch to the data concentrator and to transmit the data packet from the data concentrator to the switch.