Modular Power Distribution Backplane, System, and Method

• US 20100134958A1
• Filed: 12/02/2008
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Williams, Timothy, Disaverio, Charles T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,948,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/627
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1457 Power distribution arrangements

Abstract

A modular power distribution backplane, system, and method. The modular power distribution backplane can be configured with a plurality of dual-operation tags for placement of components in the backplane. The system and method also can automatically and electronically ensure and verify proper placement or replacement of components in the backplane.

Claims

1. A modular power distribution backplane for a controller area network (CAN) of a vehicle having a J1939 bus, the modular power distribution backplane being configured to be housed in a housing with an access portion to physically access the modular power distribution backplane, and the modular power distribution backplane comprising:

a base substrate having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side and being sized to fit entirely inside the housing;

a plurality of receptacles coupled to the first side of the base substrate, each said receptacle being configured to receive a modular power component, at least one of said receptacles being configured to receive a modular power component in the form of a circuit board, and at least one of said receptacles being configured to receive a modular power component in the form of a power element;

a controller coupled to the base substrate; and

a plurality of dual-operation tags in one-to-one relationship with said receptacles, each said dual-operation tag being configured with a visual indicator and as a key for coupling modular power components to correct ones of said receptacles,

wherein each said dual-operation tag is physically configured as the key for coupling modular components to the modular power distribution backplane,

wherein each said dual-operation tag is physically configured as the visual indicator,

wherein the visual indicators are visible via the access portion of the housing,

wherein said controller is configured to generate information for the physical and electrical coupling of modular power components to receptacles of the modular power distribution backplane, to verify that the modular power components have been properly coupled, and to facilitate an indication of the verifying, and

wherein said controller is configured to verify that the modular power components have been coupled based on the generated information for physical and electrical coupling, the generated information including instructions for placement of modular power components in the backplane.

2. The modular power distribution backplane of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to determine whether a modular power component already coupled to the modular power distribution backplane requires replacing, to facilitate an indication of the already coupled modular power component to be replaced, to identify another modular power component to replace the indicated modular power component to be replaced, and to facilitate an indication of the another modular power component.

3. A method for replacing power components coupled to a modular power distribution backplane for a controller area network (CAN) of a vehicle having a bus, the method comprising:

automatically and electronically determining that a power component coupled to the backplane requires removing;

providing electronically generated information for decoupling the power component determined to require removing from the backplane, the electronically generated information being in at least one of visual form and audio form;

identifying a power component to replace the power component determined to require decoupling from the backplane;

providing electronically generated information associated with the identified power component, the electronically generated information including information for physically coupling and electrically coupling the identified power component to a receptacle of the backplane, the electronically generated information being in at least one of visual form and audio form, the information including instructions for physically coupling and electrically coupling the identified power component to a receptacle of the backplane;

electronically verifying that the identified power component has been coupled based on the electronically generated information for coupling; and

providing an electronic indication of said electronically verifying, the electronic indication being in at least one of visual form and audio form.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

physically decoupling the power component determined to require removing from the backplane; and

physically and electronically coupling the identified power component, after said physically decoupling.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the electronically generated information associated with the identified power component includes a physical location for retrieving the identified component.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said identifying a power component to replace the power component determined to require decoupling from the backplane includes identifying an indicator representing one or more of a type of power component, a name of power component, and a configuration of power component.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the electronically generated information for decoupling the power component determined to require removing includes instructions for decoupling from the backplane.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the electronically generated information for decoupling the power component determined to require removing includes one or more of a physical location, with respect to the backplane, of the power component to be removed and a component identifier of the power component to be removed.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the electronically generated information for decoupling the power component determined to require removing includes instructions for decoupling the power component.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the electronically generated information for decoupling the power component determined to require removing includes instructions for decoupling the power component.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the power components are one or more of circuit boards for coupling to the backplane, modular power elements for coupling to the circuit boards, and modular power elements for coupling to the backplane.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein the backplane includes a plurality of dual-operation indicators, with a first operation being a visual verification operation for coupling an associated power component to a proper location in the backplane, and with a second operation being as a key to prevent improper coupling of power components to the backplane.

13. A system for intelligent placement of electronic components in a backplane for a vehicle, the system comprising:

outputting means for outputting electronically generated information, the electronically generated information including information for physically placing and electrically placing electronic components in the backplane;

verifying means for electronically verifying placement of electronic components in the backplane, the electronically verifying being based on the information for physically placing and electrically placing electronic components in the backplane; and

outputting means for outputting electronically generated verification information of the placement of components in the backplane.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

determining means for automatically and electronically determining that an electronic component coupled to the backplane requires replacing;

providing means for providing electronically generated information for removing from the backplane the electronic component determined to require replacing, the electronically generated information being in at least one of visual form and audio form; and

identifying means for identifying an electronic component to replace the electronic component determined to require replacing.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising means for physically and visually ensuring proper placement of components in the backplane.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the information output by said outputting means for outputting electronically generated information includes instructions for physically placing the components in the backplane, the instructions including a physical location with respect to the backplane of the electronic component to be replaced.