Device for adjusting at least one parameter, in particular for an aircraft automatic pilot system

• US 20040236480A1
• Filed: 05/17/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: Granger, Stephane, Bourret, Thierry
• Granted Patent: US 7,400,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/03 with multiple-channel loop, i.e. redundant control systems

Abstract

The adjustment device (1) comprises a selector (4) which is capable of being actuated by an operator, a coder (5) which is driven in rotation by the selector (4), when the latter is actuated, an arithmetic unit (UC) which receives the signal emitted by the coder (5), formats it, makes a computation to deduce the selected value therefrom and is capable of transmitting the selected value thus computed, a first detection means (7) which is capable of detecting an actuation of the selector (4), a second detection means (8) which is capable of detecting the emission of a signal indicating a change of the selected value, and a comparison means (9) which deduces a malfunction when only one of the first and second detection means (7, 8) has made a detection.

Claims

1. A device for adjusting at least one parameter, comprising for the adjustment of this parameter:

at least one selector (4) which is capable of being actuated by an operator;

at least one coder (5) which is driven in rotation by said selector (4) when the latter is actuated, and which then emits a signal representative of that rotation; and

at least one arithmetic unit (UC) which receives the signal emitted by the coder (5), formats it, makes a computation to deduce the selected value therefrom and is capable of transmitting the selected value thus computed,

wherein it also comprises;

a first detection means (7) which is capable of detecting an actuation of said selector (4);

a second detection means (8) which is capable of detecting the emission of a signal indicating a change of the selected value; and

a comparison means (9) which is linked to said first and second detection means (7, 8) and which deduces a malfunction from the information received from said first and second detection means (7, 8) when only one of said first and second detection means (7, 8) has made a detection.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said comparison means (9) deduces a malfunction only when said second detection means (8) has detected a change of the selected value while said first detection means (7) has not detected actuation of said selector (4).

3. The device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein it also comprises a first means (10) which prevents the arithmetic unit (UC) from transmitting a change of the selected value, on detection of a malfunction by said comparison means (9).

4. The device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein it also comprises a second means (11) which emits an alarm signal, on detection of a malfunction by said comparison means (9).

5. The device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein it also comprises a display means (6) which is intended to display the selected value, transmitted by said arithmetic unit (UC).

6. The device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said first detection means (7) comprises an auxiliary coder which is mounted in series between said selector (4) and said coder (5).

7. The device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said second detection means (8) comprises an electronic circuit board which receives the information emitted at the output of said arithmetic unit (UC).

8. The device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein it also comprises a third means (15) which is capable of sending an order to change the selected value directly to said arithmetic unit (UC) and wherein said first detection means (7) is capable of detecting such an order and of indicating such a detection to said comparison means (9).

9. The device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said arithmetic unit (UC) comprises a first computer (C1) which receives the signal emitted by the coder (5) and which formats it, and a second computer (C2) which receives the signal formatted by said first computer (C1), which makes a computation to deduce the selected value therefrom and which is capable of transmitting the selected value thus computed, and wherein said second detection means (8) is capable of detecting the signal which is formatted by said first computer (C1) and which is transmitted by the latter to said second computer (C2).

10. The device as claimed in claim 9,

wherein said second detection means (8) and said comparison means (9) are integrated into said second computer (C2).

11. The device as claimed in claim 9,

wherein it also comprises a fourth means (22) which prevents said second computer (C2) from registering information transmitted by said first computer (C1), relating to a change of the selected value, when said comparison means (9) has detected a malfunction.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11,

wherein said fourth means (22) is integrated into said second computer (C2).

13. The device as claimed in claim 9,

wherein the link between said first detection means (7) and said comparison means (9) passes through said first computer (C1) and is furnished with a discrete signal processing unit (21), which is independent of the software functions (17) of said first computer (C1).

14. The device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said arithmetic unit (UC) comprises first and second redundant computing channels, wherein said device (1) comprises a first set formed of a second selection means (8) and of a comparison means (9), which is associated with said first computing channel, a second set formed of a second selection means (8) and of a comparison means (9), which is associated with said second computing channel, and a means of priority to register in prioritized manner, when only one of said comparison means (9) has detected a malfunction, the information originating from the computing channel, the associated comparison means (9) of which has not detected a malfunction.

15. An aircraft automatic pilot system, comprising a functional unit (DU) which is disposed in a control module (3A, 3B) furnished with a system (1) of adjusting parameters that are used by said functional unit (DU),

wherein said system of adjusting parameters comprises at least one adjustment device (1) such as that specified in claim 1.