Antenna diagnostics for wireless communication unit for communicating engine data

• US 10,712,377 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2017
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Sybesma, Hilbrand Harlan-Jacob, Feenstra, Keith Richard, Furlong-Petsch, Kevin Michael James, Steffler, David Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Hollington, Jermele M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rajaputra, Suresh K
• Application Number:
  US15/635,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20180003755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0085 Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 29/00 Power-plant nacelles, fairings, or cowlings nacelles not otherwise provided for B64C
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/10 Radiation diagrams of antennas

Abstract

Systems and methods for recording and communicating engine data are provided. One example embodiment is directed to a method for performing diagnostics on an antenna in communication with a wireless communication unit located in a nacelle of an aerial vehicle engine. The method includes receiving, by one or more computing devices, a voltage from a diagnostic circuit for the antenna. The method includes determining, by the one or more computing devices, a change in a magnitude of the received voltage. The method includes determining, by the one or more computing devices, a condition of the antenna based on the change in the magnitude of the voltage.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an aerial vehicle comprising at least one engine, the at least one engine comprising;

a nacelle;

an antenna;

a diagnostic circuit comprising;

a ground node;

a load resistor electrically coupled to the antenna and the ground;

a first resistor electrically coupled to the load resistor at a first node of the diagnostic circuit;

a second resistor electrically coupled to the first resistor at a second node of the diagnostic circuit;

a third resistor electrically coupled to the second resistor at the second node of the diagnostic circuit; and

a fourth resistor electrically coupled to the third resistor at a third node of the diagnostic circuit,

a wireless communication unit located in the nacelle and in communication with the diagnostic circuit, the wireless communication unit comprising;

one or more memory devices; and

one or more processors, the one or more processors configured to;

receive a voltage from the diagnostic circuit for the antenna,

wherein the voltage is received from the third node of the diagnostic circuit;

determine a change in a magnitude of the received voltage; and

determine a condition of the antenna based, at least in part, on the change in the magnitude of the received voltage.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined condition comprises the antenna shorted to ground.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined condition comprises at least one of a cable shorted to ground and the antenna shorted to ground.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined condition comprises the antenna connected.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined condition comprises the antenna open.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a change in the magnitude of the received voltage indicates a change in the condition of the antenna from a first condition to a second condition.

7. A method for performing diagnostics on an antenna in communication with a wireless communication unit located in a nacelle of an aerial vehicle engine comprising:

receiving, by one or more computing devices, a voltage from a diagnostic circuit for the antenna, wherein the diagnostic circuit comprises a ground node, a load resistor electrically coupled to the antenna and the ground, a first resistor electrically coupled to the load resistor at a first node of the diagnostic circuit, a second resistor electrically coupled to the first resistor at a second node of the diagnostic circuit, a third resistor electrically coupled to the second resistor at the second node of the diagnostic circuit, and a fourth resistor electrically coupled to the third resistor at a third node of the diagnostic circuit, wherein the voltage is received from the third node of the diagnostic circuit;

determining, by the one or more computing devices, a change in a magnitude of the voltage received from the diagnostic circuit; and

determining, by the one or more computing devices, a condition of the antenna based, at least in part, on the change in the magnitude of the received voltage.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the determined condition comprises the antenna shorted to ground.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the determined condition comprises at least one of a cable shorted to ground and the antenna shorted to ground.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the determined condition comprises the antenna connected.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the determined condition comprises the antenna open.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising generating, by the one or more computing device, a notification indicative of the determined condition of the antenna.

13. A diagnostic circuit for an antenna located in a nacelle of a gas turbine engine mounted to an aerial vehicle, the diagnostic circuit comprising:

a load resistor electrically coupled to the antenna and a ground node of the diagnostic circuit, the load resistor having a known resistance;

a first resistor electrically coupled to the load resistor at a first node of the diagnostic circuit;

a second resistor electrically coupled to the first resistor at a second node of the diagnostic circuit;

a third resistor electrically coupled to the second resistor at the second node of the diagnostic circuit; and

a fourth resistor electrically coupled to the third resistor at a third node of the diagnostic circuit,

wherein when a condition of the antenna changes, a magnitude of a voltage at the third node changes due, at least in part, to a change in a voltage across the load resistor, and wherein the magnitude of the voltage used to determine the condition of the antenna is received from only the third node along the diagnostic circuit.

14. The diagnostic circuit of claim 13, wherein the load resistor is directly electrically connected to the antenna.

15. The diagnostic circuit of claim 13, wherein the condition comprises at least one of the antenna connected and the antenna shorted to ground.

16. The diagnostic circuit of claim 13, further comprising a first blocking diode and a second blocking diode, the first blocking diode electrically coupled to the second node and a first voltage source of the diagnostic network, the second blocking diode electrically coupled to the second node and a ground node of the diagnostic circuit.

17. The diagnostic circuit of claim 16, further comprising a second voltage source electrically coupled to the second resistor, the second voltage source providing a voltage that is equal to a voltage provided by the first voltage source.

18. The diagnostic circuit of claim 13, further comprising an inductor electrically coupled to the second node and the first resistor, the inductor and the first resistor being in series with one another.

19. The diagnostic circuit of claim 13, further comprising a first capacitor and a second capacitor, the first capacitor electrically coupled to the first node and a wireless communication unit, the second capacitor electrically coupled to the second node and a ground node of the diagnostic circuit.

20. The diagnostic circuit of claim 19, further comprising a third capacitor electrically coupled to the third node and the ground node of the diagnostic circuit.