SWITCH USAGE FOR ROUTING ETHERNET-BASED AIRCRAFT DATA BUSES IN AVIONICS SYSTEMS

• US 20100150151A1
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Embraer S.A.
• Original Assignee: Embraer S.A.
• Inventors: Armanini Junior, Paulo Roberto, Monteiro, Alexandre, Andrade, Jose Augusto Reis
• Granted Patent: US 8,837,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40169 Flexible bus arrangements arrangements for maintenance or administration involving management of faults; events, alarms H04L41/06; automatic restoration of network faults H04L41/0654
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4028 the transportation system being an aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/351 for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches

Abstract

Switches for Ethernet-based aircraft data buses in avionics systems provide manual means (through human interaction) to route the information transmitted on avionics system high speed data buses. For instance, the information path can be selected according to crew or maintenance people intentions. Considering a point-to-point databus connection between two pieces of equipment, adding an appropriate switch in the connection between those two pieces of equipment can allow one or more pieces of equipment to be connected to the other terminals of the switch. Therefore, depending on switch position, it is possible to establish a connection between those two or more selected pieces of equipment, where other equipment connected to open terminals may remain without access to the data bus.

Claims

1. A method of routing data between avionics equipment comprising:

(a) routing high speed data from first avionics equipment on board an aircraft to second avionics equipment on board said aircraft through an electromechanical switch having at least first and second positions; and

(b) manually changing the position of the electromechanical switch to change the routing of said high speed data from the first avionics equipment to third avionics equipment on board said aircraft and different from said second avionics equipment,

wherein said high speed data can flow through said switch at a rate in excess of 1 mbits/second.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said switch has first and second manually settable positions and wiper contacts.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said switch has first, second and third multipole manually settable positions.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said switch in a first position cross-connects said first and second equipment and also cross-connects said third equipment with fourth avionics equipment, and in a second position different from said first position cross-connects said first and third equipment and cross-connects said second and fourth equipment.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said avionics equipment includes at least one high speed data port in communication with said switch via Ethernet connections.

6. A system for routing data between avionics equipment comprising:

at least one electromechanical switch having at least first and second positions, said switch routing high speed data from first avionics equipment on board an aircraft to second avionics equipment on board said aircraft, said switch having an actuator that manually changes the position of the electromechanical switch to change the routing of said high speed data from the first avionics equipment to third avionics equipment on board said aircraft and different from said second avionics equipment, and

high speed data lines coupled to said switch, said high speed data lines supporting flow of high speed digital data through said switch at a rate in excess of 1 mbit/second.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said switch comprises multiple poles.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said switch includes a lever lock.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein said switch comprises at least one electrical actuated device.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said electrical actuated device comprises a relay.

11. The system of claim 6 further including a switch actuator installed in a panel on board an aircraft.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein said switch couples first and second avionics equipment via said high speed data.

13. The system of claim 6 wherein said switch uses contacts to switch at least two poles of a high speed data bus.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said high speed data bus comprises an Ethernet based data bus.

15. The system of claim 6 wherein said switch is selected to reduce susceptibility of electromagnetic interference.

16. The system of claim 6 wherein said switch comprises wiper action contacts.

17. The system of claim 6 wherein said switch comprises at least first and second positions.