SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING PARAMETERS AT AIRCRAFT LOCI

• US 20080228331A1
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Holland, Mark J., Yeeles, Christopher J., McNerney, Mark A., McGhehey, Mark J.
• Application Number:
  US11/686,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228331A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A system for measuring parameters at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft includes: (a) a central unit; (b) a plurality of communicating nodes coupled with the central unit; and (c) a respective plurality of sensing units associated with each respective communicating node of the plurality of communicating nodes; at least one selected sensing unit of at least one respective plurality of sensing units being a remote sensing unit. The at least one remote sensing unit communicates wirelessly with the respective communicating node.

Claims

1. A system for measuring parameters at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft;

the system comprising;

(a) a central unit;

(b) a plurality of communicating nodes coupled with said central unit; and

(c) a respective plurality of sensing units associated with each respective communicating node of said plurality of communicating nodes;

at least one selected sensing unit of at least one said respective plurality of sensing units being a remote sensing unit;

said at least one remote sensing unit communicating wirelessly with said respective communicating node.

2. A system for measuring parameters at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one remote sensing unit is comprised of a sensing element coupled with an interface element;

said sensing element indicating a measured parameter to said interface element;

said interface element communicating information related with said measured parameter in said wireless communicating.

3. A system for measuring parameters at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft as recited in claim 1 wherein said aircraft includes a pressurized space and wherein said at least one remote sensing unit is an outside sensing unit;

said outside sensing unit being situated at a respective unpressurized locus of said plurality of loci outside of said pressurized space.

4. A system for measuring parameters at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft as recited in claim 3 wherein said outside sensing unit is powered by a dedicated power source.

5. A system for measuring parameters at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft as recited in claim 2 wherein said information includes said measured parameter.

6. A system for measuring parameters at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft as recited in claim 2 wherein said information includes a treatment of said measured parameter.

7. A system for measuring parameters at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft as recited in claim 2 wherein said aircraft includes a pressurized space and wherein said at least one remote sensing unit is an outside sensing unit;

said outside sensing unit being situated at a respective unpressurized locus of said plurality of loci outside of said pressurized space.

8. A system for measuring parameters at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft as recited in claim 7 wherein said outside sensing unit is powered by a dedicated power source.

9. A system for measuring parameters at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft as recited in claim 8 wherein said information includes a treatment of said measured parameter.

10. A network for sensing conditions at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft;

the network comprising;

(a) a network control unit;

(b) a plurality of reporting units coupled with said network control unit; and

(c) a respective plurality of condition sensing units coupled with each respective reporting unit of said plurality of reporting units;

at least one selected condition sensing unit of at least one said respective plurality of condition sensing units being a remote condition sensing unit;

said at least one remote condition sensing unit being wirelessly coupled with said respective reporting unit.

11. A network for sensing conditions at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft as recited in claim 10 wherein said at least one remote condition sensing unit is comprised of a sensing element coupled with an interface element;

said sensing element indicating a measured parameter to said interface element;

said interface element communicating information related with said measured parameter in said wireless communicating.

12. A network for sensing conditions at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft as recited in claim 10 wherein said aircraft includes a pressurized space and wherein said at least one remote condition sensing unit is an outside condition sensing unit;

said outside condition sensing unit being situated at a respective unpressurized locus of said plurality of loci outside of said pressurized space.

13. A network for sensing conditions at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft as recited in claim 12 wherein said outside condition sensing unit is powered by a dedicated power source.

14. A network for sensing conditions at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft as recited in claim 11 wherein said information includes said measured parameter.

15. A network for sensing conditions at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft as recited in claim 11 wherein said information includes a treatment of said measured parameter.

16. A network for sensing conditions at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft as recited in claim 11 wherein said aircraft includes a pressurized space and wherein said at least one remote condition sensing unit is an outside condition sensing unit;

said outside condition sensing unit being situated at a respective unpressurized locus of said plurality of loci outside of said pressurized space.

17. A network for sensing conditions at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft as recited in claim 16 wherein said outside condition sensing unit is powered by a dedicated power source.

18. A network for sensing conditions at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft as recited in claim 17 wherein said information includes a treatment of said measured parameter.

19. A method for measuring parameters at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) in no particular order;

(1) providing a central unit;

(2) providing a plurality of communicating nodes coupled with said central unit; and

(3) providing a respective plurality of sensing units associated with each respective communicating node of said plurality of communicating nodes; and

(b) operating at least one selected sensing unit of at least one said respective plurality of sensing units as a remote sensing unit;

said at least one remote sensing unit communicating wirelessly with said respective communicating node.

20. A method for measuring parameters at a plurality of loci associated with an aircraft as recited in claim 19 wherein said aircraft includes a pressurized space, and wherein at least one said remote sensing unit is an outside sensing unit situated at a respective unpressurized locus of said plurality of loci outside of said pressurized space;

said at least one said remote sensing unit being comprised of a sensing element coupled with an interface element;

said sensing element indicating a measured parameter to said interface element;

said interface element communicating information related with said measured parameter in said wireless communicating.