Test system for plug-in connectors, aircraft or spacecraft and method

• US 9,310,415 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Henkel, Wolfram
• Primary Examiner(s): Koval, Melissa
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRUNG Q
• Application Number:
  US13/735,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20130187661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 324/500, 324/503
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/66 Testing of connections, e.g. of plugs or non-disconnectable joints testing for incorrect line connections G01R31/55
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/69 of terminals at the end of a cable or a wire harness; of plugs; of sockets, e.g. wall sockets or power sockets in appliances

Abstract

A test system for plug-in connectors, especially for plug-in connectors in an airplane. A transmitting device which is designed for sending out a test signal to the plug-in connectors to be tested, and comprising at least one receiving device for each plug-in connector to be tested which is electrically coupled with the respective plug-in connector and which is designed for receiving the transmitted test signal and outputting an acknowledgement signal in response to receiving the transmitted test signal. Furthermore, the present invention creates an aircraft or a spacecraft and a method.

Claims

1. A test system for testing a plug-in connector in an airplane or a spacecraft with a cabling system connected to the plug-in connector having a plug and a socket, the test system comprising:

a transmitting device having a first microcontroller configured to transmit at least one predetermined test signal via a wireless connection for testing an electrical connection associated with the plug-in connector;

at least one receiving device having a second microcontroller for monitoring an arrival of the transmitted test signal at the plug-in connector for testing the plug-in connector, which is electrically coupled with the plug-in connector and which is designed for receiving the transmitted test signal and outputting at least one predetermined acknowledgement signal via the wireless connection for identifying the electrical connection of the plug-in connector in response to receiving the transmitted test signal;

wherein the plug-in connector is addressed directly and data for the plug-in connector is alpha numeric, and the plug-in connector itself can be addressed by an unambiguous code which can be formed from a plug type.

2. The test system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the transmitting device and the at least one receiving device are supplied with electrical energy via an electrical cable.

3. The test system according to claim 2, wherein the electrical cable is arranged for transmitting at least one of the predetermined test signal for the plug-in connector by the transmitting device and the predetermined acknowledgement signal by the at least one receiving device.

4. The test system according to claim 1, wherein a wireless interface is arranged for supplying at least one of the transmitting device and the at least one receiving device with electrical energy.

5. The test system according to claim 4, wherein the wireless interface is arranged for transmitting at least one of the predetermined test signal for the plug-in connector to be tested by the transmitting device and the predetermined acknowledgement signal by the receiving device.

6. The test system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting device is coupled with the plug-in connector to be tested via an electrical cable;

and wherein the receiving device is coupled with the plug-in connector in such a manner that connecting elements of the plug-in connector are electrically arranged between the transmitting device and the at least one receiving device.

7. The test system according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the transmitted test signal and the acknowledgement signal has at least one of a frequency spectrum and a type of modulation which are designed in such a manner that at least one of a data transmission and power transmission via the electrical cable is not disturbed by either the transmitted test signal and the acknowledgement signal.

8. The test system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the transmitted test signal and the acknowledgement signal of the receiving device in each case have one of a different frequency spectrum and a different modulation.

9. An aircraft or spacecraft, comprising:

an airplane cabling system having at least one plug-in connector having a plug and a socket;

a test system for the at least one plug-in connector, the test system including;

a transmitting device having a first microcontroller configured for sending out at least one predetermined test signal via a wireless connection for testing an electrical connection associated with the at least one plug-in connector, and

at least one receiving device having a second microcontroller for monitoring an arrival of the transmitted test signal at the at least one plug-in connector for testing the at least one plug-in connector, which is electrically coupled with the respective plug-in connector and which is designed for receiving the transmitted test signal and outputting at least one predetermined acknowledgement signal via the wireless connection for identifying the electrical connection of the at least one plug-in connector in response to receiving the transmitted test signal,

wherein the plug-in connector is addressed directly and data for the plug-in connector is alpha numeric, and the plug-in connector itself can be addressed by an unambiguous code which can be formed from a plug type.

10. A test method for testing a plug-in connector in an airplane or a spacecraft using a cabling system connected to the plug-in connector having a plug and a socket, the test method comprising:

transmitting at least one predetermined test signal via a wireless connection for testing an electrical connection associated with the plug-in connector via a transmitting device having a first microcontroller;

electrically coupling at least one receiving device having a second microcontroller with the plug-in connector for receiving the transmitted test signal and monitoring an arrival of the transmitted test signal at the plug-in connector;

outputting at least one predetermined acknowledgement signal via the wireless connection for identifying the electrical connection of the plug-in connector in response to receiving the transmitted test signal; and

wherein the plug-in connector is addressed directly and data for the plug-in connector is alpha numeric, and the plug-in connector itself can be addressed by an unambiguous code which can be formed from a plug type.

11. The test method according to claim 10, comprising the further step:

supplying at least one of the transmitting device and the at least one receiving device with electrical energy via an electrical cable.

12. The test method according to claim 11, comprising the further step of using the electrical cable for at least one of:

sending the at least one predetermined test signal to the plug-in connector to be tested; and

outputting the at least one predetermined acknowledgement signal.

13. The test method according to claim 10, comprising the further step:

supplying at least one of the transmitting device and the at least one receiving device with electrical energy via a wireless interface.

14. The test method according to claim 13, comprising the further step of using the wireless interface for at least one of:

sending the at least one predetermined test signal to the plug-in connector to be tested; and

outputting the at least one predetermined acknowledgement signal.

15. The test method according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the transmitted test signal and the at least one acknowledgement signal have at least one of a frequency spectrum and a type of modulation which are designed in such a manner that at least one of a data transmission and a power transmission via the electrical cable is not disturbed by either of the transmitted test signal and the acknowledgement signal.