System, apparatus and method for controlling an aircraft

• US 8,275,494 B1
• Filed: 12/31/2009
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Roth
• Original Assignee: Michael Roth
• Inventors: Roth, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frisby, Keith
• Application Number:
  US12/650,644
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/1, 701/36, 244/75.1, 244/1.R, 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40013 Details regarding a bus controller

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for controlling an aircraft.

Claims

1. An aircraft control system for controlling an aircraft comprising:

an aircraft data network;

a power delivery network separate from the aircraft data network configured to deliver power from a power source within the aircraft; and

a plurality of device network nodes, each of the plurality of device network nodes (i) being connected to both the aircraft data network and the power delivery network, (ii) being configured to conduct two-way communication with other ones of the plurality of device network nodes, and (iii) comprising

a first load device provided in the aircraft and configured to transmit an outbound control data signal via the aircraft data network to control a second load device of a second device network node, and

a device power control unit configured to control the delivery of power from the power delivery network to said first load device, based on an inbound control data signal received by the device network node from said second load device via the aircraft data network.

2. The aircraft control system of claim 1, wherein the aircraft data network allows two-way communication of control data signals between any two or more of said plurality of device network nodes.

3. The aircraft control system of claim 1, wherein said outbound control data signal transmitted by the first load device is received by the second device network node, and

wherein the second device network node controls the delivery of power from the power delivery network to said second load device, based on the outbound control data signal received by the second device network node.

4. The aircraft control system of claim 1, wherein the aircraft data network comprises

at least one main aircraft data bus;

and

a plurality of data network hubs connected to the main aircraft data bus, each data network huh serving as an interconnection point for a plurality of device network nodes,

wherein a first plurality of device network nodes are directly connected to a first data network huh located in close proximity to said first plurality of device network nodes.

5. The aircraft control system of claim 4, wherein the device power control unit of the device network node is operatively coupled to the first load device.

6. The aircraft control system of claim 1, wherein each of the device network nodes further comprises:

a network communications processor for communicating with the aircraft data network;

wherein said device power control unit receives power from the power delivery network and controls the delivery of power to said first load device, based on said inbound control data signal received by the network communication processor from said aircraft data network.

7. The aircraft control system of claim 6, wherein the device power control unit comprises:

a device power connection connected to said power delivery network;

a device power supply unit for receiving power from the power delivery network via the device power connection; and

a device interface for interfacing with said first load device, said device interface regulating the delivery of power from said device power supply unit to said first load device based on said inbound control data signal received from the network communications processor.

8. The aircraft control system of claim 7, wherein the network communications processor comprises a node processor for communicating with the aircraft data network via a network interlace unit, and for communicating with said device interface of the device power control unit.

9. The aircraft control system of claim 6, wherein when the node processor receives said inbound control data signal from the aircraft data network via the network interface unit, the node processor transmits the inbound control data signal to the device interface of the device power control unit and,

wherein the device interface of the device power control unit permits the delivery of power from the device power supply unit to the first load device, when the inbound control data signal indicates that the first load device is to be provided with power;

and

wherein the device interface of the device power control unit prevents the delivery of power from the device power supply unit to the first load device, when the inbound control data signal indicates that the first load device is not to be provided with power.

10. The aircraft control system of claim 6, wherein each of the device network nodes further comprises a network communications processor power supply unit for receiving power from said power delivery network and providing power to said network communications processor.

11. The aircraft control system of claim 1, wherein a feedback controller system operates to provide information regarding the status of said first load device, based on feedback data signals transmitted to the aircraft data network from a device network node corresponding to the first load device.

12. The aircraft control system of claim 1, wherein said first load device is a sensor device, and a device network node corresponding to said sensor device transmits sensor data signals from said sensor device to said aircraft data network.

13. The aircraft control system of claim 1, wherein every load device provided in the aircraft corresponds to a device network node.

14. The aircraft control system of claim 1, wherein said power delivery network connects the device network nodes to the power source in a loop configuration, such that each device network node is directly connected by the power delivery network to two adjacent device network nodes.

15. The aircraft control system of claim 1, wherein any load device corresponding to any of the plurality of device network nodes can transmit and receive control data signals from any other load device corresponding to any other of the plurality of device network nodes.

16. The aircraft control system of claim 1, wherein the aircraft data network allows two-way communication of control data signals between any two or more of the plurality of device network nodes.

17. A remote control system for remotely controlling load devices in an aircraft comprising:

an aircraft data network;

a power delivery network separate from the aircraft data network configured to deliver power from a power source within the aircraft;

a plurality of device network nodes, each of the plurality of device network nodes (i) being connected to both the aircraft data network and the power delivery network, (ii) being configured to conduct two-way communication with other ones of the plurality of device network nodes, and (iii) comprising

a first load device provided in the aircraft and configured to transmit an outbound control data signal via the aircraft data network to control a second load device of a second device network node, and

a device power control unit configured to control the delivery of power from the power delivery network to said first load device, based on an inbound control data signal received by the device network node from said second load device via the aircraft data network; and

an aircraft communications system for communicating with a remote station outside said aircraft,

wherein the aircraft communications system receives remote control signals from said remote station and transmits said remote control signals through said aircraft data network to a first device network node, and

wherein the first device network node controls the delivery of power from the power delivery network to said first load device corresponding to the first device network node, based on said remote control data signals received through the aircraft data network.

18. The remote control system of claim 17, wherein the aircraft communications system records data transmitted through the aircraft data network between device network nodes, and transmits thh recorded data to the remote station.

19. A method for controlling a first load device in an aircraft by a first device network node in the aircraft comprising the steps of:

receiving by the first device network node an inbound control data signal through an aircraft data network, said aircraft data network connecting a plurality of device network nodes in the aircraft;

receiving by the first device network node power from a power delivery network separate from the aircraft data network, said power delivery network connecting the plurality of device network nodes and configured to deliver power source within the aircraft to the plurality of device network nodes; and

controlling said first load device by regulating the delivery of power received from the power delivery network to said first load device, based on said inbound control data signal received by the first device network node through the aircraft data network,

wherein the inbound control data signal received by the first device network node is transmitted from a second load device of a second device network node connected to the aircraft data network, and

wherein the first load device transmits an outbound control data signal via the aircraft data network to the second load device of the second device network node, to thereby control the second load device.