Distributed engine control system and method
First Claim
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1. An autonomous distributed control system for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a plurality of control system elements;
means for autonomously carrying out signal processing, computation, communication and recording functions, wherein each of the plurality of control system elements can locally and autonomously convert its analog information into digital data packets or convert its digital data packets into analog signals; and
a plurality of digital switches to autonomously route digital data packets across a network.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a system and method for safety critical real time distributed engine control. Centralized hierarchical control architecture is replaced with an autonomous distributed network. Analog input/output signals are replaced with digitized data packets. Point-to-point wiring and data bus control are replaced with flexible virtual connections using digital switching technology. Fixed redundancy is replaced with variable redundancy.
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20 Claims
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1. An autonomous distributed control system for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
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a plurality of control system elements;
means for autonomously carrying out signal processing, computation, communication and recording functions, wherein each of the plurality of control system elements can locally and autonomously convert its analog information into digital data packets or convert its digital data packets into analog signals; and
a plurality of digital switches to autonomously route digital data packets across a network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for critical real time distributed engine control for a gas turbine engine, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of control system elements;
autonomously carrying out signal processing, computation, communication and recording functions, wherein each of the plurality of control system elements can locally and autonomously convert its analog information into digital data packets or convert its digital data packets into analog signals; and
providing a plurality of digital switches to autonomously route digital data packets across a network. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification