L-3 Communications Corporation

Charles J Grouse

Gregory W Purdom

Mart D Dismukes

The invention provides a back up power supply for avionics equipment that can be installed in existing avionics equipment trays without having to rewire the aircraft. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention (described for illustrative purposes in the context of providing a power supply back up for a cockpit voice recorder (CVR)), the power supply/CVR combination is retrofit in an existing CVR rack. The power supply is modular; removable/replaceable; and is &ldquo;independent&rdquo; relative to the main aircraft power source and wiring. The modular power supply is designed to fit into a conventional CVR tray; and the modular power supply is designed to accept an existing CVR. According to a preferred embodiment, the power supply is &ldquo;plug compatible&rdquo; with the existing electrical connector in the CVR tray and includes circuitry which allows both the power supply and CVR to be tested using the existing CVR test button in the cockpit; and to report faults from either unit using existing aircraft wiring. The power supply includes circuitry which automatically electrically disconnects it from the CVR and exposed pins when the power supply is removed from the CVR tray.

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Sarasota, FL, United States of America

Charles J Grouse