Vehicle computer system and method

• US 5,581,462 A
• Filed: 01/06/1994
• Issued: 12/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Orbital Sciences Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fairchild Space and Defense Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Rogers, Roland T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/178,001
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 364/443, 364/424.01, 364/424.03, 364/424.04, 364/550, 364/551.01, 340/438, 340/439
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

An auxiliary computer system for use on a vehicle that has a main computer. The computer system includes a cartridge computer that is removable from the vehicle and a receptacle in the vehicle for receiving the cartridge computer that is called a data transfer unit. The data transfer unit is electrically connected to the vehicle'"'"'s normal or main computer. The computer system also includes a stationary station that is located outside of the vehicle. The cartridge computer is inserted into this stationary station for programming and testing of the cartridge computer and for reviewing information in the cartridge computer that was accumulated while the cartridge computer was in the vehicle. The method of using the auxiliary computer system is also set forth. The auxiliary computer system and method are particularly useful in connection with aircraft and spacecraft that have a main computer.

Claims

1. An auxiliary computer system for use with an aircraft vehicle having a main computer with avionics located in said aircraft vehicle comprising a removable auxiliary computer with an interface and having means for avionics initialization and data recording and for running programs including embedded algorithms therein adapted to be electrically coupled to said main computer, said removable auxiliary computer having a digital signal processor and a dual port random access memory coupled to said digital signal processor, a receptacle in said aircraft vehicle electrically connected to said main computer in said aircraft vehicle for receiving said removable auxiliary computer with said interface, said removable auxiliary computer with said interface being electrically connected to said main computer when said removable auxiliary computer is received by said receptacle in said aircraft vehicle for receiving said removable auxiliary computer, said dual port random access memory decoupling said digital signal processor from said interface allowing said embedded algorithms to be executed concurrently with said avionics initialization and said data recording, and a station located outside of said aircraft vehicle with a receptacle for receiving said removable auxiliary computer, said outside station having means for loading software programs into said removable auxiliary computer including programs to be run in said removable auxiliary computer when said removable auxiliary computer is located in said receptacle in said aircraft vehicle and having means for obtaining information from said removable auxiliary computer after said removable auxiliary computer is used in said receptacle in said aircraft vehicle and received by said receptacle of said outside station.

2. The auxiliary computer system of claim 1 wherein said removable auxiliary computer further comprises a mass memory.

3. The auxiliary computer system of claim 2 wherein said removable auxiliary computer further comprises a memory interface controller.

4. The auxiliary computer system of claim 3 wherein said removable auxiliary computer further comprises a real time clock coupled to said memory interface controller.

5. The auxiliary computer system of claim 4 wherein said removable auxiliary computer further comprises a battery.

6. The auxiliary computer system of claim 5 wherein said station located outside of said vehicle has means for testing the battery of said removable auxiliary computer.

7. The auxiliary computer system of claim 1 wherein said removable auxiliary computer has a handle.

8. The auxiliary computer system of claim 1 wherein said removable auxiliary computer has an erase switch.