Control system and process for several actuators

• US 20030195673A1
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airabus Francd
• Inventors: Foch, Etienne, Fleury, Christophe
• Granted Patent: US 7,031,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/03 with multiple-channel loop, i.e. redundant control systems

Abstract

This invention relates to a system for controlling several actuators (A11, . . . , Anr), comprising at least two computers (L1, L2, . . . , Lk) and at least two means (C1, C2, . . . , Cn) of controlling at least one actuator, each control module being capable of controlling at least one actuator through at least one first connection (16) and being capable of receiving information about this at least one actuator through at least one second connection (15), in which each control module is connected to at least two computers through at least two first communication buses (11, 12, 13).

Claims

1. System for controlling several actuators (A11, . . . , Anr), comprising at least two computers (L1, L2, . . . , Lk) and at least two modules (C1, C2, . . . , Cn) for controlling at least one actuator, each control module being capable of controlling at least one actuator through at least one first connection (16) and being capable of receiving information about this at least one actuator through at least one second connection (15), characterized in that each control module is connected to at least two computers through at least two first communication buses (11, 12, 13).

2. System according to claim 1, in which the computers (L1, L2, . . . , Lk) are connected to each other through at least one second communication bus (10).

5. Use of the system, according to claim 1, to control the electrical generation system of an aircraft.

6. Use of the system, according to claim 1, to control the flaps of an aircraft.

3. Process for controlling several actuators (A11, . . . , Anr) in a system comprising at least two computers (L1, L2, . . . , LK) and at least two modules (C1, C2, . . . , Cn) for the control of at least one actuator, each control module being capable of controlling at least one actuator through at least one first connection (16) and being capable of receiving information related to this at least one actuator through at least one second connection (15), characterized in that at least two control modules are used that make decisions related to control of the actuators that they control as a function of information received from several computers, and in that each computer can use information output from the control modules connected to it, calculates set values as a function of this information, and sends these set values to the said control modules.

4. Process according to claim 3, in which the computers work independently and asynchronously.