Computer system for remote testing of inflatable personal restraint systems

• US 8,818,759 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2011
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shields, Ronald A., Settles, Peter A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US13/228,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20120259586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 702/183
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/062 Belts or other passenger restraint means for passenger seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06205 Arrangements of airbags
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2201/00 Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/02 Supports or holding means for living bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0256 injecting test signals and analyzing monitored process response, e.g. injecting the test signal while interrupting the normal operation of the monitored system; superimposing the test signal onto a control signal during normal operation of the monitored system
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

A system for testing a number of electronic module assemblies (EMAs) that control one or more personal restraint systems. A programmed processor with a computer system transmits signals that instruct the EMAs to perform a diagnostic self-test. The results of the self-test are received by the computer system and stored in a computer readable memory. In one embodiment, the computer system is a cabin management computer system for use on an aircraft.

Claims

1. A computer system for remotely testing a number of electronic module assemblies that control the deployment of one or more personal restraint devices, comprising:

a programmed processor configured to execute program instructions that cause the programmed processor to;

transmit a wireless code that indicates a diagnostic test of electronics module assemblies is beginning;

transmit one or more wireless codes that identify an electronics module assembly that controls the deployment of one or more personal restraint systems and cause the identified electronics module assembly to perform a diagnostic self-test;

receive diagnostic self-test information from the identified electronics module assembly associated with the one or more codes indicating if the one or more personal restraint systems controlled by the identified electronics module assembly can deploy; and

transmit a wireless signal that causes an electronics module assembly to return to a sleep mode when the last diagnostic self-test is completed.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal causes any remaining electronic module assemblies that have completed a diagnostic self-test and are in an awake mode to return to a sleep mode.

3. A non-transitory computer readable media with instructions stored thereon that are executable by a programmed processor to:

transmit a wireless code that indicates a diagnostic test of electronics module assemblies is beginning;

transmit one or more wireless codes that identify an electronics module assembly that controls the deployment of one or more personal restraint systems and cause the identified electronics module assembly to perform a diagnostic self-test;

receive diagnostic self-test information from the identified electronics module assembly associated with the one or more codes indicating if the one or more personal restraint systems controlled by the identified electronics module assembly can deploy; and

transmit a wireless signal that causes an electronics module assembly to return to a sleep mode when the last diagnostic self-test is completed.