System and method for processing signals from multiple input devices

• US 7,808,413 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Sloat, Jef, May, Richard, Griffith, Scot
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeanglaude; Jean B
• Application Number:
  US12/358,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20100188276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 341/141, 341/155, 341/156
• US Class Current: 341/141
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/122 Shared using a single converter or a part thereof for multiple channels, e.g. a residue amplifier for multiple stages

Abstract

Systems and methods for processing a plurality of input signals are provided. A plurality of selection signals are received. Each of the plurality of selection signals is representative of one of a plurality of input signal characteristics. Each of the input signal characteristics is associated with one of the plurality of input signals. The plurality of input signals are converted into at least one digital waveform. A plurality of signal values may be extracted from the at least one digital waveform based on the plurality of input signal characteristics. An output signal may be generated based on each of the plurality of signal values.

Claims

1. A method for processing a plurality of input signals comprising:

receiving a plurality of input signals; and

converting the plurality of input signals into at least one digital waveform based on a plurality of input signal characteristics, each of the input signal characteristics being associated with one of the plurality of input signals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input signals are each generated by an avionics system device and at least some of the plurality of input signals are analog input signals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input signals comprise a first number of input signals and the converting of the plurality of input signals into the at least one digital waveform comprises multiplexing the plurality of input signals into a second number of digital waveforms, the first number being greater than the second number.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising extracting a plurality of signal values from the at least one digital waveform based on the plurality of input signal characteristics.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising encoding the at least one digital waveform based on the plurality of input signal characteristics.

6. The method of claim 5, further wherein the encoding of the at least one digital waveform based on the plurality of input signal characteristics comprises modulating the at least one digital waveform according to a plurality of modulation algorithms, each of the plurality of modulation algorithms being associated with one of the plurality of input signals.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the extracting the plurality of signal values from the at least one of the digital waveform comprises demodulating the at least one digital waveform according to a plurality of demodulation algorithms, each of the demodulation algorithms being associated with one of the modulation algorithms.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving a plurality of selection signals from a user input device, each of the plurality of selection signals being representative of one of the plurality of input signal characteristics.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of input signals from the avionics systems devices are received through generic interfaces.

10. A method for processing a plurality of input signals comprising:

receiving a plurality of selection signals from a user, each of the plurality of selection signals being representative of one of a plurality of input signal characteristics, each of the input signal characteristics being associated with one of the plurality of input signals;

converting the plurality of input signals into at least one digital waveform having a plurality of the input signal characteristics; and

extracting a plurality of signal values from the at least one digital waveform based on the plurality of input signal characteristics.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of input signals are each generated by an avionics system device and at least some of the plurality of input signals are analog input signals.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of input signals comprise a first number of input signals and the converting of the plurality of input signals into the at least one digital waveform comprises multiplexing the plurality of input signals into a second number of digital waveforms, the first number being greater than the second number.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

extracting a plurality of signal values from the at least one digital waveform based on the plurality of input signal characteristics; and

encoding the at least one digital waveform based on the plurality of input signal characteristics.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the encoding the at least one digital waveform based on the plurality of input signal characteristics comprises modulating the at least one digital waveform according to a plurality of modulation algorithms, each of the plurality of modulation algorithms being associated with one of the plurality of input signals.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the extracting the plurality of signal values from the at least one of the digital waveform comprises demodulating the at least one digital waveform according to a plurality of demodulation algorithms, each of the demodulation algorithms being associated with one of the modulation algorithms.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving a plurality of selection signals from a user input device, each of the plurality of selection signals being representative of one of the plurality of input signal characteristics.

17. A machine-readable medium having a set of instructions stored thereon that when performed by a machine cause the machine to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of input signal characteristics from a user, each of the plurality of input signal characteristics being associated with one of a plurality of input signals;

converting the plurality of input signals into at least one digital waveform having a plurality of the input signal characteristics and

extracting a plurality of signal values from the at least one digital waveform based on said received plurality of input signal characteristics, each of the plurality of signal values being associated with one of the plurality of input signals.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a second plurality of input signal characteristics from the user, each of the second plurality of input signal characteristics being associated with one of a second plurality of input signals; and

extracting a second plurality of signal values from a second at least one digital waveform based on said received second plurality of input signal characteristics, each of the second plurality of signal values being associated with one of the second plurality of input signals.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the at least one digital waveform is generated based on the plurality of input signal characteristics and the plurality of input signals and the second at least one digital waveform is generated based on the second plurality of input signal characteristics and the second plurality of input signals.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the extracting the plurality of signal values from the at least one digital waveform based on said received plurality of input signal characteristics comprises demodulating the at least one digital waveform according to a first set of demodulation algorithms, each of the first set of demodulation algorithms being associated with one of the plurality of input signals, and wherein the extracting the second plurality of signal values from the second at least one digital waveform based on said received second plurality of input signal characteristics comprises demodulating the second at least one digital waveform according to a second set of demodulation algorithms, each of the second set of demodulation algorithms being associated with one of the second plurality of input signals.