RECONFIGURABLE FADEC FOR GAS TURBINE ENGINE

• US 20100057957A1
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Ernst, James, Zeller, Robert, Smilg, Lawrence Mitchell
• Granted Patent: US 8,327,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/104
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence

Abstract

A reconfigurable FADEC includes a reconfigurable CPU configured for performing digital computing functions. A reconfigurable MSPD communicates with the CPU and is configured for performing analog I/O functions. A data bus is coupled to the CPU and the MSPD. The data bus is configured for connecting the CPU and the MSPD to an external connector.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable FADEC comprising:

A reconfigurable CPU configured for performing digital computing functions;

A reconfigurable MSPD communicating with the CPU and configured for performing analog I/O functions; and

A data bus coupled to the reconfigurable CPU and the MSPD, the data bus being configured for connecting the CPU and the MSPD to an external connector.

2. A reconfigurable FADEC as defined in claim 1, wherein the reconfigurable MSPD includes an ASIC or other programmable device.

3. A reconfigurable FADEC as defined in claim 1, wherein the data bus is configured to isolate interactions between the reconfigurable CPU and the reconfigurable MSPD for fault isolation.

4. A reconfigurable FADEC as defined in claim 1, wherein the data bus is configured to have a communications standard compatible with an external PC for performing tests thereon.

5. A reconfigurable FADEC as defined in claim 1, wherein the data bus is configured to carry information between sensing MSPDs and control channel CPUs.

6. A reconfigurable FADEC as defined in claim 1, wherein the reconfigurable CPU and the reconfigurable MSPD are each configured to be reprogrammable through the data bus.

7. A reconfigurable FADEC as defined in claim 1, wherein the reconfigurable CPU is configured to perform data packing for data bus communications and signal filtering.

8. A reconfigurable FADEC as defined in claim 1, wherein the data bus is an external data bus and is configured to allow additional devices to be connected thereto as an upgrading feature.

9. A reconfigurable FADEC as defined in claim 8, wherein the additional devices include sensor I/O, computing, and data storage for engine monitoring.

10. A reconfigurable FADEC as defined in claim 1, further comprising a power supply configured to select between aircraft and PMA power.

11. A reconfigurable FADEC as defined in claim 1, further comprising a power supply configured to condition PMA power to the voltage necessary to power the FADEC.

12. A reconfigurable FADEC as defined in claim 1, further comprising a scaleable power supply configured to adjust DC power level to distribute the necessary power to operate the FADEC so as to allow the ability to scale the power supply as the functions of the FADEC scale.

13. A reconfigurable FADEC as defined in claim 1, wherein the data bus is configured to a data bus standard selected from one of IEEE 1394, CAN-bus, USB, AFDX, TTP, FireWire, FlexRay, and RS-485.

14. A reconfigurable FADEC as defined in claim 1, wherein the reconfigurable MSPD is configured for sensor signal conditioning, excitation, actuator drives, fault detection, and data bus interfacing.