Flight data recorder system

• US 6,397,128 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1998
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Todd, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hernandez, Olga
• Application Number:
  US09/223,592
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• Field of Search: 701/14,1,24,35 244/1 R 340/964,971,945 434/47
• US Class Current: 701/14
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0065 Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00

Abstract

A flight data recording system (50) including a flight data recorder (FDR (12) with an integrated flight data acquisition unit (FDAU) (16). The FDR (12) has first and second interface ports for communicating with one or more external aircraft instrumentation subsystems. The system includes an digital communication bus (52) coupled to one of the interface ports and arranged to provide a communications pathway between the FDR (12) and the external aircraft instrumentation subsystems. A portable maintenance access terminal (70) is coupled to the system via a local area network bus (60).

Claims

1. A flight data recording system comprising:

a flight data recorder (FDR) with an integrated flight data acquisition unit, the FDR having first and second interface ports for communicating with external aircraft instrumentation subsystems;

an avionics standard communications bus coupled to said second interface port of said FDR and arranged to provide a communications pathway between some of said external aircraft instrumentation subsystems and said FDR,

wherein one of said external aircraft instrumentation subsystems is a portable maintenance access terminal coupled to said FDR through said local area network bus.

4. The flight data record system according to claim 1 wherein said portable maintenance access terminal further includes a data table that controls data acquisition functions of the flight data recording system.

5. The flight data recording system according to claim 1 wherein said portable maintenance access terminal further includes a flight operation quality assurance function.

7. The flight data recording system according to claim 1 further comprising a central maintenance computer configured to communicate with said portable maintenance access terminal over said local area network bus.

2. The flight data recording system according to claim 2 wherein said portable maintenance access terminated includes a quick access recorder function.

3. The flight data recording system according to claim 2 wherein said quick access recorder function is configured to retrieve data from said external aircraft instrumentation microsystems and deliver it to said FDR over said local area network bus.

6. A flight data recording system comprising:

a flight data recorder (FDR) with an integrated flight data acquisition unit, the FDR having first and second interface ports for communicating with external aircraft instrumentation subsystems;

an avionics standard communications bus coupled to said second interface port of said FDR and arranged to provide a communications pathway between some of said external aircraft instrumentation subsystems and said FDR; and

a central maintenance computer configured to communicate with said FDR over said local area network bus.