Time-Triggered Serial Bus Arbiter for Avionics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing serial data communication systems in critical applications like avionics require specific protocols and components, making them difficult to implement and prone to failure if the master device fails, and they do not easily support multiplexed data transmission on a common bus without dedicated cables.
Innovation Solution
A time-triggered serial communications bus system controlled by an independent arbiter that enables and disables data transmission intervals using timers, allowing multiple end users to transmit on a common bus without a master device and without specific COTS components, supporting both active and passive users and handling asynchronous scenarios through frame synchronization and buffering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specific protocols and components are used for serial data communication in critical applications, then data accuracy and reliability are improved, but device complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs standard, off-the-shelf components rather than specialized expensive components. The system uses conventional serial communication hardware that is widely available and well-understood, eliminating the need for proprietary or specialized parts while maintaining reliability through proper protocol design.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication bus is designed to be universally compatible with multiple devices and protocols. The system can handle both synchronous and asynchronous communication modes, support multiple data formats, and interface with various types of devices using standard communication interfaces, reducing the need for device-specific customizations.
2Reliability
If dedicated cables are used for each data bus, then data transmission reliability is improved, but weight and system size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple data communication functions into a single shared serial bus. Multiple devices can communicate over the same physical medium using time-division multiplexing, where each device is assigned specific time slots for transmission. This eliminates the need for dedicated cables for each device while maintaining communication reliability through proper arbitration and collision avoidance mechanisms.
3Quantity of substance
If time multiplexing protocols are used to allow different users to transmit on the same bus, then the number of cables is reduced, but device complexity and protocol requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service arbitration where devices automatically manage their own transmission timing based on predefined time slots. Each device has built-in timing mechanisms that enable it to transmit during its assigned window without requiring complex external arbitration logic. The protocol uses simple start and stop bits that are inherently self-synchronizing, reducing the need for complex protocol management.
4Ease of operation
If a master device controls the bus, then data transmission coordination is improved, but system reliability decreases due to single point of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bus control function into distributed time slots assigned to different devices. Instead of one master device controlling all transmissions, each device is given specific time windows during which it can transmit autonomously. This segmentation eliminates the single point of failure while maintaining coordinated transmission through the structured time-division multiplexing framework.
Data Source
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AI summary
A serial communications bus system comprising a plurality of end users (20) arranged to transmit data on a common data bus (30), each end user provided with a bus arbiter (10), physically separate from the respective end user, configured to define, for that end user, a cycle of transmission enable intervals whereby the end user may transmit data on the data bus and transmission disable intervals whereby the end user may not transmit data on the data bus.