Fault tolerant distributed control system
First Claim
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1. In combination:
- a fault tolerant distributed intelligence control system having a plurality of intelligent nodes, each of said nodes coupled to serial communication media and communicating using a valid Manchester encoded data stream protocol;
transceiver means in each of said nodes for connecting said nodes to the serial communication media each of said nodes being connected to one or more of said serial communication media in accordance with a predetermined level of redundancy for enhanced reliability;
processor means coupled to said transceiver means in each of said nodes for processing messages transmitted or received on said communication media and for processing application-specific tasks of said nodes, said processor means operating autonomously in said control system; and
means in each of said nodes for generating and detecting a time beacon for synchronization of messages being transmitted and received between said nodes on said communication media, one of said nodes being preselected to generate said timing beacon, the time beacon comprising a data stream having a plurality of data bits with a non-valid Manchester sequence.
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Abstract
A fault tolerant distributed intelligence control system for sensing and control across fault tolerant fiber optic communication media interconnecting a plurality of intelligent nodes. Each intelligent node comprises a digital control and communication processor (DCCP) operating autonomously in relation to DCCPs at other nodes, and a transceiver for interfacing with the communication media. The fiber optic communication media comprises bi-directional serial data buses. The combination provides a low cost highly reliable distributed control system particularly applicable to primary and secondary aircraft control systems, as well as to other vehicle and control systems.
95 Citations
16 Claims
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1. In combination:
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a fault tolerant distributed intelligence control system having a plurality of intelligent nodes, each of said nodes coupled to serial communication media and communicating using a valid Manchester encoded data stream protocol; transceiver means in each of said nodes for connecting said nodes to the serial communication media each of said nodes being connected to one or more of said serial communication media in accordance with a predetermined level of redundancy for enhanced reliability; processor means coupled to said transceiver means in each of said nodes for processing messages transmitted or received on said communication media and for processing application-specific tasks of said nodes, said processor means operating autonomously in said control system; and means in each of said nodes for generating and detecting a time beacon for synchronization of messages being transmitted and received between said nodes on said communication media, one of said nodes being preselected to generate said timing beacon, the time beacon comprising a data stream having a plurality of data bits with a non-valid Manchester sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A fault tolerant distributed intelligence control system comprising:
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a plurality of intelligent nodes, each of said nodes coupled to serial communication media and communicating using a valid Manchester encoded data stream protocol and comprising at least one processing element; fiber optic bus means for interconnecting each of said intelligent nodes; each processing element in each of said nodes comprises transceiver means for interfacing each processing element to said interconnecting fiber optic bus means; each of said intelligent nodes being connected via said transceiver means to one or more bi-directional fiber optic buses of said fiber optic bus means in accordance with a predetermined level of redundancy; and each processing element in each of said nodes comprises processor means having a local operating network coupled to said transceiver means for processing messages transmitted or received on said fiber optic bus means and for processing application-specific tasks of said nodes, said processor element operating autonomously in said control system and further comprising means for generating and detecting a time beacon for synchronization of messages being transmitted and received between said nodes on said communication media, one of said nodes being preselected to generate said timing beacon. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of providing a fault tolerant distributed control system comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of intelligent nodes, each node coupled to fiber optic bus and communicating using a valid Manchester encoded data stream protocol, each of said nodes comprising at least one processing element; interconnecting each of said intelligent nodes with at least one bi-directional fiber optic bus in accordance with a predetermined level of redundancy; interfacing each processing elements in each of said nodes to said interconnecting fiber optic bus with transceiver means; processing in each element of said nodes messages transmitted or received on said fiber optic bus and processing application-specific tasks of said nodes; and generating and detecting a time beacon for synchronization of messages being transmitted and received between said nodes on said fiber optic bus, one of said nodes being preselected to generate said timing beacon, the time beacon comprising a data stream having a plurality of data bits with a non-valid Manchester sequence. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification