Dynamically adaptable digital architecture system

• US 20020143518A1
• Filed: 03/28/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Litton Systems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Litton Systems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Abrahamson, Carl K.
• Application Number:
  US09/820,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20020143518A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/7867 with reconfigurable architecture
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/34 for reconfigurable circuits, e.g. field programmable gate arrays [FPGA] or programmable logic devices [PLD]

Abstract

An electronic system (L) has a configurable electronic circuit (38) for replicating an output signal from a respective known electronic system replaceable sub-component module (32) of a known electronic master system (L). The output signal (68) from the electronic system sub-component (32) is generated as the result of the function of the electronic system sub-component (32). An input/output interface (30) electronically mates the configurable electronic circuit (38) to the electronic master system (L). A configuration controller element (40) is electronically connectable with the configurable electronic circuit (38), and configures the configurable electronic circuit (38) to replicate a selected function and operational characteristics of the known electronic system sub-component (32). The configurable electronic circuit (38) further has an output (70) adaptable or suitable as an input to the electronic master system (L) to replicate and replace functions of the known electronic system sub-component (32) acting in the electronic master system (L).

Claims

1. An electronic system comprising:

configurable electronic circuitry means for replicating an output signal from a respective known electronic system sub-component of a known electronic master system, the output signal corresponding to a function of the electronic system sub-component;

an input/output interface for electronically mating the configurable electronic circuit to the electronic master system; and

a configuration controller element electronically connectable with the configurable electronic circuit, the configuration controller configures the configurable electronic circuit to replicate a selected function and operational characteristics of the known electronic system sub-component;

wherein the configurable electronic circuit has an output adaptable as an input to the electronic master system to replicate and replace functions of the known electronic system sub-component acting in the electronic master system.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

the configurable electronic circuit and the input/output interface are mounted with a circuit card assembly.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

the configuration controller determines location of the configurable electronic circuit within the electronic master system.

4. The invention of claim 1 further including a processor means external to the configurable electronic circuit to load instructions onto the configurable electronic circuit.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the configurable electronic circuit further includes memory means for storing electronic information.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the configurable electronic circuit includes digital logic circuitry.

7. The invention of claim 1 further including a microprocessor means for executing an emulator program of instructions from the known electronic system sub-component.

8. A method of configuring an electronic circuit module to replicate output signals from a known electronic circuit comprising:

determining operational functions and respective output signals of a known electronic system sub-component of an existing electronic master system;

developing a program on an external processor to replicate desired functions of the known electronic system sub-component; and

loading the program onto a configurable electronic circuit that can be electronically connected to the electronic master system;

whereby the configurable electronic circuit has an output adaptable as an input to the electronic master system to replicate and replace functions of the known electronic system sub-component acting in the electronic master system.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein the configurable electronic circuit is included with a circuit board that can be electronically connected to the electronic master system.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the circuit board is removable from the electronic master system.