Wireless Input Output Device for Aircraft Cabinet Weight Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft electronic enclosures rely heavily on bulky and costly electrical wiring for interconnection, leading to excessive weight and complexity, with limited flexibility in reconfiguring computer networks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a radiofrequency wireless communication system with waveguides for interconnection, utilizing transceiver modules and software to manage digital network protocols, and incorporating analog/digital converters for efficient data transmission between computers and equipment items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical wiring with standardized connectors is used for interconnection, then reliable data transmission is achieved, but weight and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical electrical wiring system with an optical communication system using laser beams transmitted through the enclosure structure. This substitution eliminates heavy copper cables and connectors while maintaining reliable data transmission through optical signals, directly resolving the contradiction between transmission reliability and weight reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure structure itself serves as an intermediary element that guides optical signals between equipment items. By integrating waveguide functionality into the enclosure walls, the patent eliminates the need for separate cable routing while ensuring reliable signal transmission paths, thus reducing weight without compromising communication reliability.
2Reliability
If electrical wiring with standardized connectors is used for interconnection, then data transmission is established, but excess weight and cost result from unused connection capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The optical communication system replaces the physical electrical connector infrastructure with wireless or guided optical transmission. This eliminates the need for numerous cable bundles and ARINC connectors, reducing the quantity of materials while maintaining connection establishment capability through optical channels integrated into the enclosure structure.
3Reliability
If point-to-point wiring is used for each computer connection, then direct communication paths are created, but network reconfiguration becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The optical communication system enables dynamic reconfiguration of communication paths through software control of laser transceivers. Network topology can be changed by reprogramming which equipment items transmit and receive optical signals, without any physical rewiring. This provides both direct communication paths when needed and flexible adaptability for reconfiguration, resolving the contradiction between path directness and reconfiguration ease.
4Adaptability or versatility
If three-dimensional wired networks are used for interconnection, then comprehensive connectivity is achieved, but the weight of cables, supports and connectors exceeds the mechanical structure weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the heavy mechanical cable support infrastructure with an optical transmission system that uses the enclosure structure itself as the transmission medium. Laser beams transmit data through the enclosure walls without requiring heavy cable trays, support structures, or connector assemblies, achieving comprehensive connectivity while dramatically reducing interconnection weight below the mechanical structure weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure structure serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support for equipment items, guides optical communication signals between them, and potentially provides cooling pathways. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heavy cable routing infrastructure, achieving comprehensive connectivity with minimal additional weight.
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 significantly reduces weight and cost by eliminating unnecessary wiring, simplifies network reconfiguration, and enhances reliability through modular and interference-resistant communication.
Implementation Method 1
a radiofrequency wireless communication system with waveguides for interconnection, utilizing transceiver modules
Implementation Method 2
waveguides for interconnection, utilizing transceiver modules and software to manage digital network protocols
Implementation Method 3
at least one transceiver module, and incorporating analog/digital converters for efficient data transmission
Data Source
AI summary
An input/output device for an electric or electronic cabinet grouping together a plurality of devices such as computers. The input/output device includes input/output channels, conversion units and at least one computing unit. The conversion unit is connected to the input/output channels and to the computing unit. A digital network link protocol management unit is connected to the computing unit and to at least one transceiver. The computing unit executes software to provide a digital transmission of data representative of the input/output values between the network and the computers via the transceiver. An electric cabinet grouping together computers, each computer provided with a transceiver. The electric cabinet includes the input/output device.