Remote device control and power supply
First Claim
1. A system for supplying power to a remote auxiliary load located in an aircraft,a power plant configured to place a high voltage onto a high gage wire;
- an actuator interface controller comprising a power supply, the power supply being interconnected with the high gage wire and a low gage wire, the high gage wire being of higher gage wiring than the low gage wire, where the high gage wire acts as a high voltage power bus and provides the high voltage to the power supply;
the power supply being configured to step down the high voltage received to a low voltage that is lower than the high voltage on the high voltage power bus, and to place the low voltage onto the low gage wire that acts as a low voltage power bus;
the low voltage power bus is interconnected with a remote auxiliary load and provides the low voltage to the remote auxiliary load; and
a local processor located in the actuator interface controller, the local processor being interconnected with a control network via an optic fiber interface;
where the actuator interface controller is electrically interchangeable with other actuator interface controllers, and the local processor of the actuator interface controller includes mission specific software that facilitates control of the remote auxiliary load, such that depending on a particular mission, one actuator interface controller with a first mission specific software may be physically replaced by a second actuator interface controller with a second mission specific software.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An actuator controller with a power supply that steps down a high voltage for use by remote auxiliary loads in an aircraft is provided. A high voltage power bus running through the aircraft may use high gage or smaller diameter wiring, resulting in weight savings in the power bus. A control network running through the aircraft may use fiber optic cabling, providing further weight reductions. An actuator controller may receive the high voltage from the power bus and provide a lower voltage to a remote device. The actuator controller may facilitate communication between the control network and the remote device. The integration of control and power supply may enhance endurance, reliability, and enable localized calibration of the remote device. Modular wing components may include interface controllers, high and low power busswork, and remote devices. The modular wing components may include power and control interconnections.
21 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for supplying power to a remote auxiliary load located in an aircraft,
a power plant configured to place a high voltage onto a high gage wire; -
an actuator interface controller comprising a power supply, the power supply being interconnected with the high gage wire and a low gage wire, the high gage wire being of higher gage wiring than the low gage wire, where the high gage wire acts as a high voltage power bus and provides the high voltage to the power supply; the power supply being configured to step down the high voltage received to a low voltage that is lower than the high voltage on the high voltage power bus, and to place the low voltage onto the low gage wire that acts as a low voltage power bus; the low voltage power bus is interconnected with a remote auxiliary load and provides the low voltage to the remote auxiliary load; and a local processor located in the actuator interface controller, the local processor being interconnected with a control network via an optic fiber interface; where the actuator interface controller is electrically interchangeable with other actuator interface controllers, and the local processor of the actuator interface controller includes mission specific software that facilitates control of the remote auxiliary load, such that depending on a particular mission, one actuator interface controller with a first mission specific software may be physically replaced by a second actuator interface controller with a second mission specific software. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for supplying power to a remote device located in an aircraft, the system comprising:
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a power plant configured to place a high voltage onto a high voltage power bus; an actuator interface controller interconnected with the high voltage power bus and having a power supply, the power supply configured to reduce the high voltage received from the high voltage power bus to a low voltage that is lower than the high voltage on the high voltage power bus, and to place the low voltage onto a low voltage power bus exiting the actuator interface controller; and a remote device interconnected with the low voltage power bus and being powered from the low voltage carried by the low voltage power bus; where the actuator interface controller is configured to (1) direct the operation of the remote device and (2) automatically reboot itself upon detecting an event that disrupts normal operation. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of controlling and supplying power to a remote device located in an aircraft, the method comprising:
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providing an interface controller that is interchangeable with other interface controllers; interconnecting the interface controller with a power plant located in a fuselage of the aircraft and with a remote device located at a remote location of the aircraft; providing a local processor on the interface controller, the local processor configured to control the remote device and relay feedback from the remote device to a control network of the aircraft; loading a mission specific interface controller with a mission specific package of software associated with directing the remote device to perform a mission specific operation; and replacing the interface controller with the mission specific interface controller, wherein the mission specific interface controller is configured to locally calibrate the remote device such that the remote device is calibrated for use with the mission specific interface controller without the need to re-calibrate one or more other remote devices located in a wing of the aircraft that are interconnected with other interface controllers that have not been replaced. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification