Test System for Plug-in Connectors, Aircraft or Spacecraft and Method

• US 20130187661A1
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Henkel, Wolfram
• Granted Patent: US 9,310,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/503
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/66 Testing of connections, e.g. of plugs or non-disconnectable joints testing for incorrect line connections G01R31/55
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/69 of terminals at the end of a cable or a wire harness; of plugs; of sockets, e.g. wall sockets or power sockets in appliances

Abstract

A test system for plug-in connectors, especially for plug-in connectors in an airplane. A transmitting device which is designed for sending out a test signal to the plug-in connectors to be tested, and comprising at least one receiving device for each plug-in connector to be tested which is electrically coupled with the respective plug-in connector and which is designed for receiving the transmitted test signal and outputting an acknowledgement signal in response to receiving the transmitted test signal. Furthermore, the present invention creates an aircraft or a spacecraft and a method.

Claims

1. A test system for plug-in connectors in an airplane comprising

a transmitting device configured to transmit at least one predetermined test signal for the plug-in connectors to be tested;

at least one receiving device for each plug-in connector to be tested which is electrically coupled with the respective plug-in connector and which is designed for receiving the transmitted test signal and outputting at least one predetermined acknowledgement signal in response to receiving the transmitted test signal.

2. The test system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the transmitting device and the receiving device are supplied with electrical energy via an electrical cable.

3. The test system according to claim 2, wherein the electrical cable is arranged for transmitting at least one of the predetermined test signal for the plug-in connectors by the transmitting device and the predetermined acknowledgement signal by the receiving device.

4. The test system according to claim 1, wherein a wireless interface is arranged for supplying at least one of the transmitting device and the receiving device with electrical energy.

5. The test system according to claim 4, wherein the wireless interface is arranged for transmitting at least one of the predetermined test signal for the plug-in connectors to be tested by the transmitting device and the predetermined acknowledgement signal by the receiving device.

6. The test system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting device is coupled with at least one plug-in connector to be tested via an electrical cable;

and wherein the receiving device is coupled with the respective plug-in connector in such a manner that the connecting elements of the respective plug-in connector are electrically arranged between the transmitting device and the receiving device.

7. The test system according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the test signal sent and the acknowledgement signals have at least one of a frequency spectrum and a type of modulation which are designed in such a manner that at least one of a data transmission and power transmission via the electrical cable is not disturbed by either the test signal sent and the acknowledgement signals.

8. The test system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the test signal sent and the acknowledgement signals of the individual receiving devices in each case have one of a different frequency spectrum and a different modulation.

9. An aircraft or spacecraft, comprising an airplane cabling system which has at least one plug-in connector;

and comprising a test system for plug-in connectors, the test system comprising a transmitting device which is designed for sending out at least one predetermined test signal for the plug-in connectors to be tested, and at least one receiving device for each plug-in connector to be tested which is electrically coupled with the respective plug-in connector and which is designed for receiving the transmitted test signal and outputting at least one predetermined acknowledgement signal in response to receiving the transmitted test signal.

10. A test method for plug-in connectors in an airplane and by using a test system for plug-in connectors, the test system comprising a transmitting device which is designed for sending out at least one predetermined test signal for the plugin connectors to be tested, and at least one receiving device for each plug-in connector to be tested which is electrically coupled with the respective plug-in connector and which is designed for receiving the transmitted test signal and outputting at least one predetermined acknowledgement signal in response to receiving the transmitted test signal, comprising the following steps:

sending out a predetermined test signal by means of a transmitting device for the plug-in connectors to be tested;

outputting at least one predetermined acknowledgement signal in response to receiving the test signal at a receiving device by the respective receiving device, wherein the receiving device is electrically coupled with the plug-in connector to be tested.

11. The test method according to claim 10, comprising the further step:

supplying at least one of the transmitting device and the receiving device with electrical energy via an electrical cable.

12. The test method according to claim 11, comprising the further step of using the electrical cable for at least one of:

sending the test signal to the plug-in connectors to be tested; and

outputting the acknowledgement signal.

13. The test method according to claim 10, comprising the further step:

supplying at least one of the transmitting device and the receiving device with electrical energy via a wireless interface.

14. The test method according to claim 13, comprising the further step of using the wireless interface for at least one of:

sending the predetermined test signal to the plug-in connectors to be tested; and

outputting the predetermined acknowledgement signal.

15. The test method according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the test signal sent and the acknowledgement signals have at least one of a frequency spectrum and a type of modulation which are designed in such a manner that at least one of a data transmission and a power transmission via the electrical cable is not disturbed by either of the test signal sent and the acknowledgement signal.