METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A PASSIVE AVIONICS DATA TRANSFER DEVICE FOR USE WITH COTS TABLET EQUIPMENT DEPLOYED AS CLASS I OR II ELECTRONIC FLIGHT BAG SYSTEMS

• US 20140222254A1
• Filed: 03/08/2013
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASIG LLC
• Original Assignee: ASIG LLC
• Inventors: Ribich, Richard Luke
• Granted Patent: US 9,335,796 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0075 Adaptations for use of electronic flight bags in aircraft; Supports therefor in the cockpit
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1675 Miscellaneous details related to the relative movement between the different enclosures or enclosure parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/00 Arrangements for software engineering testing or debugging G06F11/36; administrative, planning or organisation aspects of software project management G06Q10/06

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an aerospace grade data conversion apparatus. The data conversion apparatus includes an avionics interface module for: collecting data outputs from a plurality of analog and digital avionics and electrical data sources; aligning digital data respectively output from the plurality of digital data sources; and commingling the digital data in order to generate a data sequence interpreted by a receiving device, the receiving device including an electronic tablet. The present disclosure also provides a software developer'"'"'s kit. The software developer'"'"'s kit includes a library configured to allow application software developers to utilize digital data output from an avionics interface module. The present disclosure further includes a mounting system. The mounting system includes one or more assemblies for securing an electronic flight bag device to an aircraft, wherein the electronic flight bag includes an electronic tablet.

Claims

1. An aerospace grade data conversion apparatus, comprising:

An avionics interface module for;

collecting data outputs from a plurality of analog and digital avionics and electrical data sources; and

aligning digital data respectively output from the plurality of digital data sources; and

commingling the digital data in order to generate a data sequence interpreted by a receiving device, the receiving device including an electronic tablet.

2. The avionics module according to claim 1, wherein, the module connects to a commercial off the shelf electronic tablet.

3. The avionics module according to claim 1, where the collection of data outputs is interpreted, parsed and qualified as Class I or II electronic flight bag solution.

4. The avionics module according to claim 1, where the aligning of the incoming data stream is done so in a manner that allows application software developers to utilize the digital data outputs.

5. The avionics module according to claim 1, where the commingling of the digital data can be interpreted by a receiving device including an electronic tablet, such as an Apple iPad.

6. The avionics module according to claim 1, where the collection of data outputs is interpreted, parsed and qualified as Class I or II electronic flight bag solution.

7. The avionics module according to claim 1, wherein the aligning of the incoming data stream is done so in a manner that allows the data to be accessed by an Apple iPad.

8. The avionics module according to claim 1, where the commingling of the digital data can be interpreted by an Apple iPad.

9. A software developer'"'"'s kit, comprising:

a library configured to allow application software developers to utilize digital data output from an avionics interface module.

10. The software developer'"'"'s kit, according to claim 9, further comprising, an iOS device or commercial of the shelf electronic tablet, such as an Apple iPad.

11. The software developer'"'"'s kit, according to claim 9, wherein, the combination of the avionics aircraft module hardware and this software kit connects multiple ARINC 429 bus channels on an aircraft to an iOS device.

12. The software developer'"'"'s kit, according to claim 9, wherein the iOS device or commercial off the shelf electronic table is an Apple iPad.

13. The software developer'"'"'s kit, according to claim 9, wherein, applications can utilize the data streaming from the avionics interface module.

14. The software developer'"'"'s kit, according to claim 9, where, application can further utilize all of the Apple CoreLocationServices data plus airspeed, heading, course, time/distance/bearing to waypoint plus fuel utilization, and flight plan information.

15. A mounting system, comprising:

an enclosure that protects the electronic table, and

a base that is attached to the enclosure and provides an electromechanical interface and physical mechanical security.

16. The mounting system, according to claim 15, further comprising, a wiring interface that feeds power to the electronic tablet that can be attached to the base.

17. The enclosure system according to claim 15, further comprising, an articulating pivot point that is affixed to the underside of the electronic table via the enclosure.

18. The enclosure system according to claim 15, wherein the articulating pivot point allows 360°

articulation in the vertical axis and 115°

of rotation in the longitudinal and lateral axes.

19. The enclosure system according to claim 15, wherein, the enclosure system fits around the electronic tablet and secures the electronic table to the mounting system.

20. The base system according to claim 15, where, the base mechanically attaches to the aircraft or the pilots knee via straps.

21. The base according to claim 15, further comprising, a hard-point mount that the enclosure can be attached comprising a pedtray, a pedtray clamp, a bushing, a clamp nut and an adapter plate.

22. The base according to claim 15, further comprising, a moveable adjustment handle.

23. The base according to claim 15, where the adjustment handles allows for adjusting the viewing angle of the electronic table.

24. The base according to claim 15, further comprising, a top tension plate and a bottom tension plate and a clamp nut.

25. The base according to claim 15, where the top tension plate can be tightened in order to prevent the enclosure from moving relative to the base.

26. The base according to claim 15, where the clamp nut can be loosened to remove the pedtray from the base in order to forward fit form factors of Apple iPad.

27. The base according to claim 15, where the pedtray attaches to the pedtray clamp.

28. The base according to claim 15, where the pedtray and the pedtray clamp are secured together by a bushing and secured to the adapter plate.

29. The base according to claim 15, where the adapter plate secures the enclosure.