Computer system for remote testing of inflatable personal restraint systems

• US 9,153,080 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2014
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• 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 Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jerrah
• Application Number:
  US14/468,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20150199856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 cabin management 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 code that causes an electronic module assembly that controls the deployment of one or more personal restraint systems to remain in an awake mode and receive one or more codes that identify the electronic module assembly;

transmit one or more codes that identify the electronic module assembly and cause the identified electronic module assembly to perform a diagnostic self-test;

receive diagnostic self-test information from the identified electronic 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 an instruction to the identified electronic module assembly to return to a sleep mode.

2. The cabin management computer system of claim 1, wherein the cabin management computer system is connected to the number of electronic module assemblies via a wired communication link.

3. The cabin management computer system of claim 1, wherein the cabin management computer system is connected to the number of electronic module assemblies via a wireless communication link.

4. A non-transitory computer readable media with instructions stored thereon that are executable by a programmed processor in a cabin management computer system to:

transmit a code that causes an electronic module assembly that controls the deployment of one or more personal restraint systems to remain in an awake mode and receive one or more codes that identify the electronic module assembly;

transmit one or more codes that identify the electronic module assembly and cause the identified electronic 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 an instruction to the identified electronic module assembly to return to a sleep mode.

5. A cabin management 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 code that causes an electronic module assembly that controls the deployment of one or more personal restraint systems to remain in an awake mode and receive one or more codes that identify the electronic module assembly;

transmit one or more codes that identify the electronic module assembly and cause the identified electronic module assembly to perform a diagnostic self-test;

receive diagnostic self-test information from the identified electronic module assembly associated with the one or more codes indicating if a battery in the electronic module assembly has sufficient power to deploy one or more of the personal restraint systems controlled by the identified electronics module assembly; and

transmit an instruction to the identified electronic module assembly to return to a sleep mode.