Multi-redundant inlaid wiring harness
First Claim
1. A wiring network for a structure having a composite fabrication assembly made of a plurality of layers of composite materials for connecting components outside of the structure for sending and receiving transmittable information between the components, the wiring network comprising:
- a plurality of nonwoven conductive conduits placed between layers of the assembly, each having opposite ends;
a first and a second gateway connected to opposite ends of each conduit and positioned to select one of the conduits for communication between the gateways; and
means for controlling selecting one of the conduits from the plurality of nonwoven conductive conduits responsive to failure of a previously selected one of the plurality of conductive conduits to direct transmittable information over the selected conduit to thereby provide continued communication between the first and the second gateway.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-redundant inlaid wiring harness provides for alternate electrical or optical pathways in an aircraft wiring system. A plurality of conduits are inlaid between layers of composite fabric during fabrication of a section of an aircraft. The conduits are connected at their ends to computer-controlled gateway buses. The buses select a pathway between the buses from the number of possible pathways. If the selected pathway is later damaged, the buses select a new pathway and reroute the power or signal over the new pathway. Conduit selection is based on any of several hierarchies including path of least resistance and shortest or fastest path.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wiring network for a structure having a composite fabrication assembly made of a plurality of layers of composite materials for connecting components outside of the structure for sending and receiving transmittable information between the components, the wiring network comprising:
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a plurality of nonwoven conductive conduits placed between layers of the assembly, each having opposite ends; a first and a second gateway connected to opposite ends of each conduit and positioned to select one of the conduits for communication between the gateways; and means for controlling selecting one of the conduits from the plurality of nonwoven conductive conduits responsive to failure of a previously selected one of the plurality of conductive conduits to direct transmittable information over the selected conduit to thereby provide continued communication between the first and the second gateway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A wiring system for an aircraft comprising an outer structure having
a composite fabrication assembly made of a plurality of layers of composite materials for connecting components outside of the structure for sending and receiving transmittable information between the components, the wiring system comprising: -
a plurality of nonwoven conductive conduits placed between layers of the assembly, each having opposite ends; first and second gateway means connected to opposite ends of each of the conduits for selecting one of the conduits for communication between the gateway means; and means for controlling selecting one of the conduits from the plurality of nonwoven conductive conduits responsive to damage to a previously selected one of the plurality of nonwoven conductive conduits to select and direct the transmittable information over the selected conduit to thereby provide continued communication between the first and the second gateway. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A wiring system for an aircraft comprising an outer structure having a composite fabrication assembly made of a plurality of layers of composite materials for connecting components adjacent the structure for sending and receiving transmittable information between the components, the wiring system comprising:
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a plurality of nonwoven conductive conduits placed between layers of the assembly, each having opposite ends; a first and a second gateway connected to opposite ends of each of the conduits and positioned to select one of the conduits for communication between the gateways; and a server electrically or optically connected to at least one of the gateways and positioned to instruct the at least one of the gateways to select one of the conduits from the plurality of nonwoven conductive conduits to carry transmittable information over the selected conduit. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification