Wireless crash survivable memory unit

• US 9,449,440 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2014
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Farraj, Karim, Miller, David Lowell, Kersten, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US14/489,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20160078693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/3.06, 455/431
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0065 Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/24 with receiving set
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/021 specially adapted for data recorders, e.g. for flight recorders
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0213 Venting apertures; Constructional details thereof

Abstract

A recorder for a vehicle comprises a crash survivable memory unit, which includes a first antenna assembly including a first resonant element configured for near field data communications and to receive near field power transmissions, and a crash protected memory assembly that operatively communicates with the first antenna assembly. One or more protective layers surround the first antenna assembly and the memory assembly. A second antenna assembly is external to the crash survivable memory unit. The second antenna assembly includes a second resonant element, which is configured for near field data communications with the first resonant element and for near field power transmissions to the first resonant element. The second antenna assembly is adapted to receive information related to vehicle operations and to configure the information for wireless transmission to the first antenna assembly for recording in the memory assembly.

Claims

1. A recorder for a vehicle, comprising:

a crash survivable memory unit comprising;

a first antenna assembly including a first resonant element configured for near field data communications and to receive near field power transmissions;

a crash protected memory assembly that operatively communicates with the first antenna assembly; and

one or more protective layers surrounding the first antenna assembly and the memory assembly;

a second antenna assembly that is external to the crash survivable memory unit, the second antenna assembly including a second resonant element configured for near field data communications with the first resonant element and for near field power transmissions to the first resonant element;

wherein the second antenna assembly is adapted to receive information related to vehicle operations and to configure the information for wireless transmission to the first antenna assembly for recording in the memory assembly.

2. The recorder of claim 1, wherein the first antenna assembly further includes a near field power receiver and a near field data transceiver that are in operative communication with the first resonant element.

3. The recorder of claim 2, wherein the first resonant element comprises an antenna element, a resonant inductor, or a capacitor.

4. The recorder of claim 2, wherein the second antenna assembly further includes a near field power transmitter and a near field data transceiver that are in operative communication with the second resonant element.

5. The recorder of claim 4, wherein the second resonant element comprises an antenna element, a resonant inductor, or a capacitor.

6. The recorder of claim 1, wherein wireless communicative coupling between the first and second resonant elements is carried out with near field communication techniques comprising direct induction, resonant magnetic induction, electrostatic induction, or electromagnetic radiation.

7. The recorder of claim 1, wherein the protective layers comprise:

a heat absorption layer that surrounds the memory assembly;

a thermal insulation layer that surrounds the heat absorption layer; and

an impact resistant protective armor layer that surrounds the thermal insulation layer.

8. The recorder of claim 7, wherein the heat absorption layer includes a metallic microlattice layer, and a phase change material.

9. The recorder of claim 7, wherein the thermal insulation layer comprises a flexible aerogel.

10. The recorder of claim 7, wherein the protective armor layer comprises a non-ferro-magnetic metal or a composite material.

11. A flight recorder for an aircraft, comprising:

a crash survivable memory unit comprising;

a crash protected memory assembly embedded in a heat absorption material;

at least one thermal insulation layer that surrounds the embedded memory assembly;

an impact resistant protective armor layer that surrounds the at least one thermal insulation layer and the memory assembly, wherein at least a portion of the protective armor layer is transparent to near field transmissions;

a first resonant element in operative communication with the memory assembly, the first resonant element configured for near field data communications and to receive near field power transmissions;

a first splitter/combiner that operatively communicates with the first resonant element for power and data transmissions;

a first data transceiver that operatively communicates with the first splitter/combiner;

a power receiver configured to receive power transmissions from the first splitter/combiner; and

a solid state storage array in the memory assembly that operatively communicates with the first data transceiver;

a second resonant element that is external to the crash survivable memory unit, the second resonant element configured for near field data communications with the first resonant element and for near field power transmissions to the first resonant element;

a second splitter/combiner that is external to the crash survivable memory unit, the second splitter/combiner in operative communication with the second resonant element for power and data transmissions;

a second data transceiver that is external to the crash survivable memory unit, the second data transceiver in operative communication with the second splitter/combiner; and

a power transmitter that is external to the crash survivable memory unit, the power transmitter configured to send a power signal to the second splitter/combiner for wireless transmission of the power signal to the crash survivable memory unit.

12. The flight recorder of claim 11, further comprising a first power conversion module in the memory assembly and configured to receive a power signal from the power receiver, the first power conversion module including an emergency power storage that supplies power to the memory assembly to allow one or more active operations to be completed when there is an aircraft system power failure.

13. The flight recorder of claim 12, further comprising a storage controller in the memory assembly that operatively communicates with the first data transceiver and the solid state storage array.

14. The flight recorder of claim 13, further comprising a data packer or encoder external to the crash survivable memory unit that packetizes and serializes data for transmission to the memory assembly through the second data transceiver.

15. The flight recorder of claim 14, wherein the data packer or encoder receives data from a data acquisition module that collects data to be recorded from one or more data interfaces.

16. The flight recorder of claim 15, wherein the data acquisition module is in operative communication with a system interface module that operatively communicates with an aircraft system interface.

17. The flight recorder of claim 16, further comprising a second power conversion module, external to the crash survivable memory unit, in operative communication with the system interface module and the power transmitter, the second power conversion module including an emergency power storage for aircraft system power interruptions of a short duration.

18. The flight recorder of claim 11, wherein the first and second resonant elements each comprise an antenna element, a resonant inductor, or a capacitor.

19. The flight recorder of claim 11, wherein the first and second resonant elements are configured for wireless communicative coupling using near field communication techniques comprising direct induction, resonant magnetic induction, electrostatic induction, or electromagnetic radiation.

20. A crash survivable memory unit, comprising:

a crash protected memory assembly embedded in a heat absorption material;

at least one thermal insulation layer that surrounds the embedded memory assembly;

an impact resistant protective armor layer that surrounds the at least one thermal insulation layer and the memory assembly, wherein at least a portion of the protective armor layer is transparent to near field transmissions;

a resonant element in operative communication with the memory assembly, the resonant element configured for near field data communications and to receive near field power transmissions;

a splitter/combiner that operatively communicates with the resonant element for power and data transmissions;

a near field data transceiver that operatively communicates with the splitter/combiner;

a near field power receiver configured to receive near field power transmissions from the splitter/combiner;

a storage controller in the memory assembly and in operative communication with the data transceiver;

a solid state storage array in the memory assembly and in operative communication with the storage controller; and

a local power conversion module in the memory assembly and configured to receive a power signal from the power receiver, the power conversion module including an emergency power storage that supplies power to the memory assembly to allow one or more active operations to be completed when there is a power failure.