Structure for the connection of a plurality of electronic devices to an ARINC 629 type bus

• US 6,289,024 B1
• Filed: 11/01/1996
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sextant Avionique
• Original Assignee: Sextant Avionique
• Inventors: Toillon, Patrice
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HANH N
• Application Number:
  US08/742,926
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: 370/257, 370/433, 370/438, 370/451, 370/501, 370/502, 370/445, 370/447, 370/461, 370/462, 370/201, 370/289, 370/286, 370/364, 370/489, 379/406, 379/407, 379/410
• US Class Current: 370/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40006 Architecture of a communication node current supply arrangements H04L12/10; intermediate storage or scheduling H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4604 LAN interconnection over a backbone network, e.g. Internet, Frame Relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4028 the transportation system being an aircraft

Abstract

A structure to connect a plurality of electronic devices to an ARINC type external bus including a local bus with a sufficiently small length to overcome a phenomena of attenuation and propagation time, a connection channel for connection to the local bus for each of the devices located in one and the same zone, and at least one connection channel for the connection of the local bus to the external bus.

Claims

1. A structure for the connection of a plurality of electronic devices to an ARINC (Aeronautical Radio, Inc.) type external bus, said structure comprising:

a local bus having a length less than or equal to 10 cm to overcome a phenomena of attenuation and propagation time;

a bidirectional connection channel for connecting each of the electronic devices located in one and the same zone to the local bus; and

at least one connection channel for connecting the local bus to the external bus,

wherein each connection channel of the electronic devices comprises means for permitting transmission on the local bus only when all other connection channels of the structure are inactive,

wherein each connection channel of the structure comprises means for broadcasting information received thereon to all other connection channels of the structure without memorization and without internal frame information filtering, and

wherein the plurality of electronic devices connected to the structure share the same collision domain.

2. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said each connection channel comprises logic means for the detection of transmission carried by the device, and for delivering a detection signal that is sent to other connection channels of the connection structure.

3. A structure according to claim 1, further comprising:

a closed pack including a material that shields internal circuits against electromagnetic radiation and lightning,

wherein walls of the pack comprise a mechanical support for a plurality of connectors to connect devices and external buses, a shape and dimensions of said connectors being chosen so as to enable a greatest possible reduction of size and weight of the pack while at the same time providing for electrical continuity of a peripheral sheathing of stubs with the devices.

4. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said each connection channel comprises means for monitoring an activity of the local bus and for permitting a reception of signals transmitted by the local bus, solely if only one other connection channel is active or if the channel is in the process of transmission to the local bus.

5. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said each connection channel is electrically separated from one another, outside the local bus, and an electrical supply of said each connection channel being provided in common mode by a device that is connected to it.

6. A structure according to claim 1, wherein the structure includes a modular structure with several independent connection channels.

7. A structure according to claim 1, wherein the local bus includes an RS 485 type double serial line.

8. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said each connection channel comprises:

a transmitter/receiver stage that is supplied by the device and is connected directly to the local bus,

a logic stage that combines logic functions of the channel and is connected to the transmitter/receiver stage,

an analog stage that combines analog functions of the channel and is connected to the logic stage, and

an isolating stage providing for electrical isolation between the electronic device and the analog stage.

9. A structure according to claim 8, wherein the logic stage of each bidirectional connection channel sends out a validation signal Vei that is applied to the transmitter of the transmitter/receiver stage to authorize or not authorize transmission on the local bus.

10. A structure according to claim 8, wherein the logic stage of the connection channel for connection to the external bus comprises means for preventing signals transmitted by the external bus from being re-transmitted to the external bus, so as to avert any echo phenomenon.

11. A structure according to claim 9, wherein each bidirectional connection channel comprises two redundant analog stages connected to a single isolating stage, each analog stage being connected to a respective logic stage, and each logic stage being connected to a respective local bus by a respective transmitter/receiver stage.

12. A structure according to claim 11, wherein the structure is connected to two redundant external buses, by two respective connection channels connected respectively to the two local buses.

13. A structure according to claim 11, wherein the structure is connected to an external bus by a connection channel comprising two redundant analog stages connected to a single isolating stage, each analog stage being connected to a respective logic stage, and each logic stage being connected to a respective local bus by means of a respective transmitter/receiver stage.

14. A structure according to claim 1, wherein the connection channel for connection with the external bus is supplied either by one of the devices or by the external bus by a set of diodes associated in an OR gate, to the input of which there are applied all the supply voltages given by the channels.

15. A structure according to claim 1, wherein the signals exchanged with the device enable the supply of the bidirectional connection channel, the at least one connection channel, and the external bus.

16. A structure according to claim 1, wherein each bidirectional connection channel comprises means for simultaneously receiving signals that it has just transmitted on the local bus.

17. A structure according to claim 1, comprising a second local bus coupled to the first local bus, by a repeater so as to appear as a single local bus for all the connection channels of the connection structure.

24. A structure according to claim 1, wherein the local bus includes an RS 485 type double serial line.

18. A structure for the connection of a plurality of electronic devices to an ARINC (Aeronautical Radio, Inc.) type external bus, said structure comprising:

a local bus having a length less than or equal to 10 cm to overcome a phenomena of attenuation and propagation time;

a bidirectional connection channel configured to connect each of the devices located in one and the same zone to the local bus; and

at least one connection channel configured to connect the local bus to the external bus,

wherein each connection channel of the electronic devices comprises a mechanism configured to permit transmission on the local bus only when all other connection channels of the structure are inactive,

wherein each connection channel of the structure comprises a mechanism configured to broadcast information received thereon to all other connection channels of the structure without memorization and without internal frame information filtering, and

wherein the plurality of electronic devices connected to the structure share the same collision domain.

19. A structure according to claim 18, wherein said each connection channel comprises a logic circuit configured to detect a transmission carried by the device, and configured to deliver a detection signal that is sent to other connection channels of the connection structure.

20. A structure according to claim 18, further comprising:

a closed pack including a material that shields internal circuits against electromagnetic radiation and lightning,

wherein walls of the pack comprise a mechanical support for a plurality of connectors to connect devices and external buses, a shape and dimensions of said connectors being chosen so as to enable a greatest possible reduction of size and weight of the pack while at the same time providing for electrical continuity of a peripheral sheathing of stubs with the devices.

21. A structure according to claim 18, wherein said each connection channel comprises a monitoring stage configured to monitor an activity of the local bus and permit a reception of signals transmitted by the local bus, solely if only one other connection channel is active or if the channel is in the process of transmission to the local bus.

22. A structure according to claim 18, wherein said each connection channel is electrically separated from one another, outside the local bus, and an electrical supply of said each connection channel being provided in common mode by a device that is connected to it.

23. A structure according to claim 18, wherein the structure includes a modular structure with several independent connection channels.

25. A structure according to claim 18, wherein said each connection channel comprises:

a transmitter/receiver stage that is supplied by the device and is connected directly to the local bus,

a logic stage that combines logic functions of the channel and is connected to the transmitter/receiver stage,

an analog stage that combines analog functions of the channel and is connected to the logic stage, and

an isolating stage providing for electrical isolation between the electronic device and the analog stage.

26. A structure according to claim 25, wherein the logic stage of each bidirectional connection channel sends out a validation signal Vei that is applied to the transmitter of the transmitter/receiver stage to authorize or not authorize transmission on the local bus.

27. A structure according to claim 26, wherein each bidirectional connection channel comprises two redundant analog stages connected to a single isolating stage, each analog stage being connected to a respective logic stage, and each logic stage being connected to a respective local bus by a respective transmitter/receiver stage.

28. A structure according to claim 27 wherein the structure is connected to two redundant external buses, by two respective connection channels connected respectively to the two local buses.

29. A structure according to claim 27, wherein the structure is connected to an external bus by a connection channel comprising two redundant analog stages connected to a single isolating stage, each analog stage being connected to a respective logic stage, and each logic stage being connected to a respective local bus by means of a respective transmitter/receiver stage.

30. A structure according to claim 25, wherein the logic stage of the connection channel for connection to the external bus comprises a logical gate configured to prevent the signals transmitted by the external bus from being re-transmitted to the external bus, so as to avert any echo phenomenon.

31. A structure according to claim 18, wherein the connection channel for connection with the external bus is supplied either by one of the devices or by the external bus by a set of diodes associated in an OR gate, to the input of which there are applied all the supply voltages given by the channels.

32. A structure according to claim 18, wherein the signals exchanged with the device enable the supply of the bidirectional channel, the at least one connection channel and the external bus.

33. A structure according to claim 18, wherein each bidirectional connection channel for the connection of a device comprises a mechanism configured to simultaneously receive signals that it has just transmitted on the local bus.

34. A structure according to claim 18, comprising a second local bus coupled to the first local bus, by a repeater so as to appear as a single local bus for all the connection channels of the connection structure.

35. A structure for the connection of a plurality of electronic devices to an ARINC (Aeronautical Radio, Inc.) type external bus, said structure comprising:

a local bus with a sufficiently small length to overcome phenomena of attenuation and propagation time;

a bidirectional connection channel for connecting each of the electronic devices located in one and the same zone to the local bus; and

at least one connection channel for connecting the local bus to the external bus, wherein each connection channel of the electronic devices comprises;

means for permitting transmission on the local bus only when all other channels are inactive;

a transmitter/receiver stage that is supplied by the device and is connected directly to the local bus;

a logic stage that combines logic functions of the channel and is connected to the transmitter/receiver stage;

an analog stage that combines analog functions of the channel and is connected to the logic stage; and

an isolating stage providing for electrical isolation between the electronic device and the analog stage, and

wherein the logic stage of the connection channel for connection to the external bus comprises means for preventing signals transmitted by the external bus from being re-transmitted to the external bus, so as to avert any echo phenomenon.

36. A structure for the connection of a plurality of electronic devices to an ARINC (Aeronautical Radio, Inc.) type external bus, said structure comprising:

a local bus with a sufficiently small length to overcome phenomena of attenuation and propagation time;

a bidirectional connection channel configured to connect each of the devices located in one and the same zone to the local bus; and

at least one connection channel configured to connect the local bus to the external bus,

wherein each connection channel of the electronic devices comprises;

a mechanism configured to permit transmission on the local bus only when all other channels are inactive;

a transmitter/receiver stage that is supplied by the device and is connected directly to the local bus;

a logic stage that combines logic functions of the channel and is connected to the transmitter/receiver stage;

an analog stage that combines analog functions of the channel and is connected to the logic stage; and

an isolating stage providing for electrical isolation between the electronic device and the analog stage, and

wherein the logic stage of the connection channel for connection to the external bus comprises a logical gate configured to prevent the signals transmitted by the external bus from being re-transmitted to the external bus, so as to avert any echo phenomenon,

a bidirectional connection channel for connecting each of the electronic devices located in one and the same zone to the local bus; and

at least one connection channel for connecting the local bus to the external bus,

wherein each connection channel of the electronic devices comprises means for permitting transmission on the local bus only when all other connection channels of the structure are inactive,

wherein each connection channel of the structure comprises means for broadcasting information received thereon to all other connection channels of the structure without memorization and without internal frame information filtering, and

wherein the plurality of electronic devices connected to the structure share the same collision domain.