Universal master breakout unit for testing avionic systems

• US 4,870,347 A
• Filed: 02/22/1988
• Issued: 09/26/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arnold Cicerone
• Original Assignee: Arnold Cicerone
• Inventors: Cicerone, Arnold
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURNS, WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US07/158,399
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 324/73 R, 324/73 AT, 324/73 PC, 324/158 F, 324/158 R, 324/510, 324/511, 324/407, 324/408, 539/52, 539/53
• US Class Current: 324/114
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/0416 Connectors, terminals G01R1/0425 and G01R1/0433 take precedence; with measurement function for battery poles G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/008 on air- or spacecraft, railway rolling stock or sea-going vessels

Abstract

A universal breakout unit is provided whereby aircraft circuits or systems may be accessed and tested regardless of the design differences between the various aircraft systems. The universal breakout unit comprises an array of associated pairs of input and output jacks which are disposed on a face panel of the breakout unit. Each input jack of each associated pair is uniformly wired to a connection with one or more input connectors. Similarly, each one of the output jacks of the associated pairs is wired to one connection within one or more output connectors. The input and output jacks are selectively coupled to each other through a manual toggle switch. A specially wired harness, corresponding to each specific aircraft circuit, is provided for connection to the input connector or output connector. A template which is designed to fit the face plate of the breakout unit and the array of associated pairs of jacks which corresponds to the selected harnesses and the selected aircraft circuit can then be placed on the face plate of the master breakout unit. Labels on the template designate what signal or test point will then appear across the proximate pair of jacks. The signal may be tested through the use of patch cords coupling meters which may be included within the master breakout unit or may be coupled to meters or other test devices separate from the breakout unit.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus for providing access and testing to a plurality of electronic circuits comprising:

a hand-carried case;

a plurality of input jacks mounted in fixed positions within said case in a first array;

a plurality of output jacks mounted in fixed positions within said case in a second array;

an input connector mounted in said case for providing a plurality of electrical inputs, said electrical inputs of said input connector correspondingly coupled to said plurality of input jacks, each electrical input of said input connector being connected to one of said plurality of input jacks;

an output connector mounted in said case for providing a plurality of electrical outputs, each one of said electrical outputs being electrically coupled to one of said plurality of output jacks;

first means for selectively coupling each one of said plurality of input jacks in said first array to a corresponding one of said plurality of output jacks in said second array; and

template means disposable on said first array and second array of said plurality of input and output jacks for designating specific significance of each associated pair of said input and output jacks,

whereby electrical coupling between said pluraliy of input and output jacks, and between said input and output connectors, remain invariant as different types of said circuits are accessed and tested.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an input harness means for electrically coupling said input connector to a specified one of said circuits and an output harness means for connecting said output connector to other specified points within said selected circuit, said input harness means and output harness means being specifically dedicated to said selected circuit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said template means comprises a plurality of templates, each template for designating a separate one of said plurality of circuits.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a corresponding plurality of input harnesses and output harnesses, each one of said plurality of templates having associated therewith a specific one of said input harnesses and one of said output harnesses, said one input harness and output harness being selectively designated for use with a selected one of said plurality of circuits.

5. A method of testing a plurality of aircraft circuits having a plurality of test points with a single portable breakout apparatus comprising the steps of:

selecting one of said plurality of aircraft circuits for testing;

providing a portable case for containing a plurality of input and output jacks in a fixed array;

providing a corresponding selected template, said template corresponding to said selected aircraft circuit, said template specifically designating associated pairs of input and output jacks on said apparatus as corresponding to specific ones of said test signals within said aircraft circuit when said template is disposed on said array of input and output jacks, said associated input and output jacks being coupled to corresponding input and output connectors within said apparatus, the connections between said plurality of input and output jacks, and said input and output connectors being fixed and invariant

disposing said template on said array of input and output jacks;

providing an input harness for connecting said selected aircraft circuit to said single apparatus, said input harness corresponding to said selected aircraft circuit;

connecting said selected aircraft circuit and said apparatus by use of said input harness;

providing an output harness for connecting said single apparatus and said selected aircraft circuit, said output harness specifically corresponding to said selected aircraft circuit;

connecting said selected circuit with said output connector of said single apparatus by use of said output harness;

selectively cross-coupling associated ones of said input and output jacks to complete electrical connection within said selected aircraft circuit through said single portable apparatus; and

selectively testing electrical signals provided across a selected one of said plurality of input and output jacks, said electrical signals being provided by said selected aircraft circuit through said input and output harnesses and input and output connectors to said corresponding input and output jacks,

whereby any one of said plurality of aircraft circuits may be accessed and tested with said single apparatus regardless of differences between said aircraft circuits.

6. A portable master breakout unit for testing a plurality of different types of aircraft circuits comprising:

a portable hand-carried case;

a plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks disposed in a fixed array in said portable case;

an input connector having a plurality of input connections, at least one connection of said connector being permanently coupled to one of said input jacks of said plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks;

an output connector having a plurality of connections, at least one connection of said output connector being permanently coupled to one output jack of each of said plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks;

means for selectively coupling ones of said input and output jacks together;

a plurality of templates, each template corresponding to one of said plurality of aircraft circuits, said template bearing visible designations thereon to label selected ones of said plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks when said template is disposed on said array, each template disposable on said array of said plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks to allow visual correlation between said designation on said template and said pairs of jacks; and

a plurality of input and output harnesses, each input harness for connecting between said input connector and a selected one of said plurality of aircraft circuits and each output harness for connecting between said output connector and a selected one of said plurality of aircraft circuits,

whereby said plurality of distinct aircraft circuits may be accessed and tested through a single portable master breakout unit.

7. A master breakout unit for testing a plurality of different types of aircraft circuits comprising:

a plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks;

an input connector having a plurality of input connections, at least one connection of said connector being permanently coupled to one of said input jacks of said plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks;

an output connector having a plurality of connections, at least one connection of said output connector being permanently coupled to one output jack of each of said plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks;

means for selectively coupling ones of said input and output jacks together;

a plurality of templates, each template corresponding to one of said plurality of aircraft circuits, said template bearing visible designations thereon to label selected ones of said plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks, each template disposable in proximity to said plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks to allow visual correlation between said designation on said template and said pairs of jacks; and

a plurality of input and output harnesses, each input harness for connecting between said input connector and a selected one of said plurality of aircraft circuits and each output harness for connecting between said output connector and a selected one of said plurality of aircraft circuits,

wherein said plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks are disposed in a regular rectangular array and wherein each of said templates is a rectangular plate, said rectangular plate having a plurality of linear openings defined therethrough, said plate arranged and configured to be disposed on top of said array of input and output jacks, said input and output jacks being disposed through and accessible through said linear slots, said designations of said template being disposed on the upper surface of said template to indicate by visual proximity to selected ones of said pairs of jacks a corresponding electrical signal provided to said pair of jacks from said corresponding aircraft circuit,

whereby said plurality of distinct aircraft circuits may be accessed and tested through a single master breakout unit.

8. A master breakout unit for testing a plurality of different types of aircraft circuits comprising:

a plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks;

an input connector having a plurality of input connections, at least one connection of said connector being permanently coupled to one of said input jacks of said plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks;

an output connector having a plurality of connections, at least one connection of said output connector being permanently coupled to one output jack of each of said plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks;

means for selectively coupling ones of said input and output jacks together;

a plurality of templates, each template corresponding to one of said plurality of aircraft circuits, said template bearing visible designations thereon to label selected ones of said plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks, each template disposable in proximity to said plurality of associated paris of input and output jacks to allow visual correlation between said designation on said template and said pairs of jacks;

a plurality of input and output harnesses, each input harness for connecting between said input connector and a selected one of said plurality of aircraft circuits and each output harness for connecting between said output connector and a selected one of said plurality of aircraft circuits; and

a plurality of meter circuits, each meter circuit for temporary connection to selected ones of said associated pairs of input and out jacks for testing electrical signals provided from said selected aircraft circuit to said selected one of said associated pair of jacks;

wherein said plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks are disposed in a regular rectangular array and wherein each of said templates is a rectangular plate, said rettangular plate having a plurality of linear openings defined therethrough, said plate arranged and configured to be disposed on top of said array of input and output jacks, said input and output jacks being disposed through and accessible through said linear slots, said designations of said template being disposed on the upper surface of said template to indicate by visual proximity to selected ones of said pairs of jacks a corresponding electrical signal provided to said pair of jacks from said corresponding aircraft circuit,

whereby said plurality of distinct aircraft circuits may be accessed and tested through a single master breakout unit.

9. A master breakout unit for testing a plurality of different types of aircraft circuits comprising:

a plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks;

an input connector having a plurality of input connections, at least one connection of said connector being permanently coupled to one of said input jacks of said plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks;

an output connector having a plurality of connections, at least one connection of said output connector being permanently coupled to one output jack of each of said plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks;

means for selectively coupling ones of said input and output jacks together;

a plurality of templates, each template corresponding to one of said plurality of aircraft circuits, said template bearing visible designations thereon to label selected ones of said plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks, each template disposable in proximity to said plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks to allow visual correlation between said designation on said template and said pairs of jacks; and

a plurality of input and output harnesses, each input harness for connecting between said input connector and a selected one of said plurality of aircraft circuits and each output harness for connecting between said output connector and a selected one of said plurality of aircraft circuits;

wherein said plurality of associated pairs of input and output jacks are disposed in a regular rectangular array and wherein each of said templates is a rectangular plate, said rectangular plate having a plurality of linear openings defined therethrough, said plate arranged and configured to be disposed on top of said array of input and output jacks, said input and output jacks being disposed through and accessible through said linear slots, said designations of said template being disposed on the upper surface of said template to indicate by visual proximity to selected ones of said pairs of jacks a corresponding electrical signal provided to said pair of jacks from said corresponding aircraft circuit,

whereby said plurality of distinct aircraft circuits may be accessed and tested through a single master breakout unit.