Wireless Communications in Faraday Cage Equipment Racks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic systems in mobile platforms, such as aircraft, face complexity and weight issues due to extensive wiring required for communication between line replaceable units (LRUs), which complicates integration and increases system weight, necessitating a wireless communication solution to enhance reliability and reduce weight.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a wireless energy transmission through a plenum or backplane within an equipment bay, where components like LRUs are equipped with transmitters and receivers, allowing electromagnetic or optical signals to propagate without physical wiring, using materials that shield external electromagnetic waves and incorporating wireless data concentrators to manage signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical wiring and wiring harnesses are used to interconnect LRUs for communication, then reliable system interface is achieved, but system weight increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wiring system with an electromagnetic field-based wireless communication system. The equipment bay structure acts as a waveguide, transmitting electromagnetic signals between LRUs without physical cables, thereby eliminating the weight of wiring harnesses while maintaining communication reliability through the controlled electromagnetic environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The equipment bay structure itself serves as an intermediary medium, functioning as both a physical housing and an electromagnetic waveguide. This mediator enables signal transmission between components without direct wire connections, resolving the contradiction between reliability and weight by providing a stable transmission path without the mass of traditional wiring.
2Adaptability or versatility
If extensive wiring assemblies are used to integrate multiple LRUs, then communication between components is established, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the communication function from the physical wiring system and embeds it in the equipment bay's electromagnetic structure. By removing the need for individual wiring assemblies between LRUs and utilizing the bay's waveguide properties, the system achieves component integration without the complexity of extensive wiring networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The equipment bay structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical housing for components, serves as a waveguide for electromagnetic signal transmission, and acts as an isolation barrier. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate wiring systems, reducing integration complexity while maintaining versatility in connecting multiple LRUs.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If electromagnetic shielding materials are used to isolate the equipment bay from external electromagnetic waves, then electromagnetic isolation is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the shielding function with the structural housing of the equipment bay. Instead of adding separate shielding layers or components, the bay structure itself is designed and manufactured as an integrated electromagnetic waveguide with inherent shielding properties. This combination reduces manufacturing complexity by eliminating additional assembly steps while maintaining effective electromagnetic isolation.
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 eliminates the need for heavy cables, reduces system weight, and increases redundancy by enabling wireless communication between components, simplifying assembly and upgrades, while maintaining system reliability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The equipment bay, in one preferred form, may be formed from a material that impedes the transmission of electromagnetic wave energy, thus isolating the plenum or backplane area from electromagnetic wave energy present outside the equipment bay
Implementation Method 2
Wireless energy is able to be transmitted through the plenum of backplane area between the components. The wireless energy may comprise electromagnetic wave signals or optical signals
Implementation Method 3
The wireless energy may comprise electromagnetic wave signals or optical signals
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for transmitting wireless energy between two or more components housed within a faraday-like cage structure. In one preferred form a cooling plenum of an equipment rack supporting a plurality of independent components is used for transmitting wireless signals between the components. In another form a wireless backplane is formed in an equipment rack that houses a plurality of LRUs. In another example a card file housing a plurality of components forms a faraday-like cage for enabling transmission of wireless signals, either electromagnetic wave or optical signals, between various circuit boards held within the card file. The various preferred embodiments eliminate the need for expensive, bulky and heavy electrical or optical cabling to be used to intercouple the components supported within the support structure for communication.