The Boeing Company

Theboeing Company

Gregory Lloyd Sheffield

Joseph A Schneider

Fernando Dones

Matthew Kyle Fay

Charles Robert Kreienheder

Robert G Becnel

Femando Dones

A vehicle management system (VMS) computer includes a power distribution controller that includes a plurality of power distribution circuits that are each controlled by the controller to supply power to end component loads. The power distribution controller is communicably coupled to a data processing system by a bus. The VMS computer also includes a plurality of settable circuit breakers, wherein each of the plurality of settable circuit breakers corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of power distribution circuits. The power distribution controller is configured to monitor various values such as voltages, currents, powers, power spikes, and interruptions and to interrupt a respective one of the plurality of power distribution circuits via a settable circuit breaker upon detecting an indication of a fault from the monitored values.

Vehicle management system and replacement of separate power distribution units

A vehicle management system (VMS) computer includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor by a bus. The VMS computer also includes a power distribution controller that includes a plurality of power distribution circuits that are each controlled by the controller to supply power to a plurality of end component loads. The power distribution controller is communicably coupled to the processor and the memory by the bus. The VMS computer also includes a plurality of parallel power distribution lines. Each pair of parallel power distribution lines couples a respective one of the plurality of power distribution circuits to a corresponding one of a plurality of end component loads. Each of the plurality of power distribution circuits supplies power via both lines in a respective pair of the plurality of parallel power distribution lines.

Vehicle management system and parallel power distribution lines

An avionics mounting unit includes a housing with a first mounting interface to couple the housing to a structure of an aircraft and a second mounting interface to couple an avionics device to the housing. The second mounting interface includes slots oriented orthogonal to each other and extending to sides of the housing such that the avionics device can be installed via the slots from any of four sides of the housing. The avionics mounting unit also includes communication circuitry, power supply circuitry, one or more avionics device interface ports, and one or more aircraft interface ports. The avionics device interface port(s) are configured to provide power to the avionics device and configured to enable data communications with the avionics device. The aircraft interface port(s) are configured to receive power from the aircraft and to enable data communications between other aircraft systems and the avionics device.

Reconfigurable avionics mounting

Systems, methods, and apparatus for maintenance over an auxiliary power line are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a disclosed method for retrieving maintenance data from a unit on a vehicle comprises powering the unit by an auxiliary power line connected to the unit or powering the unit by a primary power line connected to the unit. The method further comprises retrieving, by a digital source controller, the maintenance data off of the unit via the auxiliary power line by using broadband over power line (BPL). Further, the method comprises providing power to the auxiliary power line by the digital source controller. In one or more embodiments, the maintenance data comprises built in test (BIT) data, built in test equipment (BITE) data, health management data, configuration data, at least one hardware (HW) part number, and/or at least one software (SW) version number.

Maintenance over auxiliary power line

Systems, methods, and apparatus for maintenance over an auxiliary power line are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a disclosed method for generating and transmitting maintenance data from a unit on a vehicle comprises powering the unit by an auxiliary power line connected to the unit or a primary power line connected to the unit. The method further comprises modulating, by the unit, at least a portion of the maintenance data to generate at least one modulated signal. Further, the method comprises transmitting, from the unit, at least one modulated signal on the auxiliary power line. In one or more embodiments, the maintenance data comprises health management (HM) data, built in test (BIT) data, built in test equipment (BITE) data, and/or configuration data.

A vehicle management system (VMS) computer includes a data processing system comprising a processor, a memory, and a power distribution controller. The power distributions controller includes a plurality of power distribution circuits that are each controlled by the controller to supply power to end component loads. The power distribution controller is communicably coupled to the data processing system by a bus. The power distribution controller is configured to control power generation by each of the plurality of power distribution circuits such that each of the plurality of power distribution circuits generates output power at an adjustable voltage level output to a respective one of the end component loads.

Integration of vehicle management system and power distribution control

A coupler is provided. The coupler includes a power line, a PLC-to-Ethernet converter, a first transformer, and a power sourcing circuit. The power line is coupled between a first connector and a second connector. The power line is configured to conduct PLC signals. The PLC-to-Ethernet converter is configured to convert between the PLC signals and Ethernet signals. The first transformer is coupled between the PLC-to-Ethernet converter and a third connector. The first transformer is configured to condition the Ethernet signals for power-over-Ethernet transmission. The power sourcing circuit is coupled to the power line and configured to provide power to the first transformer.

Coupler for power line communication and power-over-ethernet

A method and apparatus for controlling a set of sensor platforms. The apparatus comprises a map manager and a controller. The manager creates a visibility map for an area of interest for a set of sensor platforms. The map manager further updates the visibility map over time while the set of sensor platforms monitors the area of interest. The controller controls a route of each of the set of sensor platforms using the visibility map.

Coordinating sensor platforms performing persistent surveillance

A wireline communication system and method are provided that utilize a military standard 1553 bus to transmit both military standard 1553 communication signals and other communication signals, such as those transmitted in accordance with another communications protocol. A wireline communication system may include a military standard 1553 bus and a military standard 1553 node configured to communicate with military standard 1553 communication signals at a first predefined range of frequencies. The wireline communication system further includes a first interface node configured to communicate via the military standard 1553 bus with second communication signals having a second predefined range of frequencies, different than the first predefined range of frequencies. The second communication signals are transmitted along the military standard 1553 bus at less than a predetermined decibel level. The second predefined range of frequencies and the predetermined decibel level are selected to limit interference between the different signals.

Wireline communication system and method employing a military standard 1553 bus

In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises a bus network having a set of lines, and a number of communication system devices associated with a number of electronics equipment connected to the bus in which each communication system device configures the electronics equipment to send and receive a plurality of signals on a line of the set of lines in a noise region of the set of lines.

Expanded electronic bus communication capacity

A re-usable adapter card interfaces with a first card such that components requiring a lower certification level&#x2014;e.g., commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components or the like&#x2014;may be isolated on the first card, wherein the adapter card includes high certification-level parts and communicates with the first card. The two cards are electronically and mechanically coupled to form the finished board assembly. The interface card may be re-used in a variety of current or future cabinet specifications, including, for example, cabinets manufactured in accordance with the Compact PCI (cPCI) 3U and 6U specifications.

Methods and apparatus for a board assembly

A sensor device for monitoring and testing the integrity of structural elements is disclosed. A frangible membrane including a thin breakable conductor sense loop is bonded to a structural element to be tested. A fracture in the bonded structural element induces a disruption in the both the frangible membrane and the thin breakable conductor sense loop. Measured electrical property change of the disrupted conductor sense loop reveals the fracture in the structural element. Connection to the sensor device may be through a connector or using a wireless reader which remotely energizes the sensor device. The sensor may also be implemented as a gasket and/or employ weep holes to the breakable conductor to reveal possible corrosion as well.

Fracture detecting structural health sensor

A redundant pair of interconnected board sub-assemblies have substantially the same dimensions and level of functionality. A module interconnect card is configured to mechanically and electronically connect to the first and second board sub-assemblies. Each sub-assembly is configured (e.g., via a properly configured microcontroller) to compensate for a loss of functionality in the other sub-assembly. Each subassembly preferably includes a re-usable adapter card that interfaces with a first card such that components requiring a lower certification level&#x2014;e.g., commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components or the like&#x2014;may be isolated on the first card, wherein the adapter card includes high certification-level parts and communicates with the first card. The two cards are electronically and mechanically coupled to form the finished board assembly. The interface card may be re-used in a variety of current or future cabinet specifications, including, for example, cabinets manufactured in accordance with the Compact PCI (cPCI) 3U and 6U specifications.

Growing community of inventors

O'Fallon, MO, United States of America

Gregory Lloyd Sheffield