JP2010538338A - Electronic device board capable of executing instructions from simulation system and instructions from diagnostic module, and related simulation method - Google Patents

Abstract

  An electronics board (4) comprising a processing unit (7) and capable of receiving instructions from the diagnostic module (6) and instructions from the simulation system (3). The electronic device board (4) includes means for managing the priority of execution of instructions from the simulation system (3) in comparison with the priority of execution of instructions from the diagnostic module (6). A diagnostic system for an electronic device board, comprising: a diagnostic module; and means for managing priority of instruction execution. A simulation method associated with the electronic device board (4). In particular, a usage method for analyzing a failure of the electronic device board (4) incorporated in the built-in simulator (1).

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic device board.
In particular, the present invention relates to a built-in simulator, and more particularly to an electronic equipment board used in an aircraft equipment simulator.
In that regard, the present invention also relates to an electronic board diagnostic system.

Embedded simulators are used to ensure the development and integration of electronic and information systems mounted on aircraft, especially before the first flight.
Embedded simulators primarily include a host computer (known as a “host”), the actual equipment of the aircraft, and an electronic interface that connects these two elements.

The electronic interface includes a plurality of electronic equipment boards that allow the aircraft equipment to be in an actual situation (eg, certain weather conditions, fault conditions, etc.). This interface generates or acquires signals managed by the host computer for simulating actual equipment.
To do so, the host computer is equipped with a simulation model of the aircraft and its environment. Various peripheral systems are connected to the actual equipment, and the peripheral system includes a verification program.

An embedded simulator is a real-time system. That is, the equipment test is realized at a speed at which the equipment actually operates.
Therefore, when a malfunction is detected at the level of the electronic equipment board, it is necessary to stop the operation of the built-in simulator and find out exactly where the malfunction is.
Therefore, in order to find the source of the failure, a test device (such as a logic analyzer) is installed on the real-time bus connecting the host computer and the electronic device board, and a multimeter or oscilloscope is installed on the input / output of the electronic device board There is a need.

Since the real-time operation of the embedded system stops, the failure is not always obvious and it is difficult to determine where it is.
Therefore, it is necessary to remove the electronic device board attached to the built-in simulator and test the electronic device board in the test bench.

There also exist systems that allow connecting to several electronic device boards to configure the parameters of the electronic device board or read several addresses in the memory.
This system locates faults by issuing diagnostic instructions and analyzing the operation of the electronic device board.
However, for the same reasons already mentioned, this connection and diagnostic work, which is realized with the help of modules on the electronics board, is realized when the embedded simulation system is not operating in real time.

These methods for locating defects in the electronic device board are hardly effective and are time consuming because of the complexity of the method.
On the other hand, if you want to change the values of some parameters while running the actual equipment simulation program, you must stop the simulation, change the simulation program, and then restart the simulation. is there.
Considering the long time required to implement these programs, this method is not effective.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device board that can execute a command from a diagnostic module and a command from a simulation system in real time, in order to solve the above-described limitations.

Therefore, according to a first aspect, an object of the present invention is an electronic device board including a processing unit.
The electronics board can receive instructions from the diagnostic module and instructions from the simulation system, comparing the priority of executing instructions from the simulation system with the priority of executing instructions from the diagnostic module. Means to manage.
Therefore, the instruction from the diagnostic module or the instruction from the simulation system can be executed without stopping the execution from the instruction from the diagnostic module or the instruction from the simulation system in real time.

According to one preferred feature, the management means may prioritize execution of instructions from the simulation system over execution of instructions from the diagnostic module.
Therefore, even if the instruction from the diagnostic module is executed, the instruction from the simulation system can be executed in real time without being obstructed.

According to another preferred feature, instructions from the simulation system take precedence over instructions from the diagnostic module.
As a result, the electronics board suspends execution of instructions from the diagnostic module and immediately executes instructions from the simulation system if instructions from the simulation system arrive while executing instructions from the diagnostic module Begin to.

In practice, the electronics board has completed the execution of the instructions from the simulation system and the means to store the instructions from the diagnostic module in the electronics board while executing the instructions from the simulation system. Means are provided for executing instructions from the diagnostic module in stages.
Therefore, when an instruction from the diagnostic module arrives while an instruction from the simulation system is being executed, the arrived instruction is stored in the memory mounted on the electronic device board, and the instruction from the simulation system is executed. It is executed after waiting for it to finish.

For example, an instruction from the diagnostic module is an instruction for forcibly setting one parameter of the electronic device board to a certain value.
Thus, the instructions from the simulation system and diagnostic module are executed with forced values, allowing analysis and investigation.

In a modification, the instruction from the diagnostic module has a function of storing the value of one parameter.
In fact, it is interesting to know the values of some parameters during analysis or investigation.

The instructions from the diagnostic module are preferably implemented by a non-priority background job.
Thus, the background job detects that the instruction from the simulation system has been executed and then executes the instruction from the waiting diagnostic module.
Therefore, it is not hindered that instructions from the simulation system are executed in real time.

The second aspect of the present invention is directed to an electronic device board diagnostic system.
This diagnostic system comprises a diagnostic module and means for managing the priority of executing instructions from the simulation system in comparison with the priority of executing instructions from the diagnostic module.
Therefore, the diagnostic system of the electronic device board can determine which instruction is preferentially executed without stopping execution of the instruction from the diagnostic module and the instruction from the simulation system in real time.

This means for managing the instruction execution priority is a means for managing the instruction priority of the electronic device board described above.
This diagnostic system has the same features and advantages as already described for the electronics board.

The third aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for executing an instruction from a simulation system and an instruction from a diagnostic module by the electronic device board of the present invention.
This method has similar features and advantages as described above with respect to the electronics board and will not be repeated in the following description.

  The present invention relates to a method for simulating instructions from a diagnostic module and instructions from a simulation system using an electronic device board, and this method diagnoses the priority of execution of instructions from a simulation system. It includes a step of managing the priority of execution of instructions from the module.

According to one preferred feature, execution of instructions from the simulation system takes precedence over execution of instructions from the diagnostic module.
Furthermore, instructions from the simulation system take precedence over instructions from the diagnostic module.

According to one preferred feature, the method comprises:
-Storing instructions from the diagnostic module while instructions from the simulation system are being executed;
-Including executing a command from the diagnostic module upon completion of the command from the simulation system;

For example, the method includes executing an instruction to force a parameter to a value as an instruction from the diagnostic module.
In a variant, the method includes executing an instruction including a function of storing a value of one parameter as an instruction from the diagnostic module.

  According to another preferred feature, the instructions from the diagnostic module are realized by a non-priority background job.

  Another object of the present invention is to analyze defects of the electronic device board incorporated in an embedded simulator using the electronic device board of the present invention and the method of the present invention.

Similarly, an object of the present invention is to analyze a failure of an electronic device board incorporated in an embedded simulator using a diagnostic system.
Furthermore, the built-in simulator is a built-in simulator for aircraft equipment.

  The accompanying drawings are merely exemplary.

It is the schematic of an embedded type simulator. It is the schematic of the command processing by the electronic device board of this invention in the built-in type simulator of FIG.

The built-in simulator provided with the diagnostic system and the electronic device board of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.
The built-in simulator 1 includes an actual equipment 2, a simulation system 3, and an electronic interface 4 located between the two.
The actual equipment 2 is, for example, an aircraft cockpit, an avionics computer, an external moving blade operating device, a generator, and a hydraulic pressure generator.
This equipment 2 does not necessarily need to be an actual system for an aircraft, but may be a model used for aircraft design.

Here, the simulation system 3 is a host computer.
The host computer 3 models the aircraft and its environment and sends simulation instructions to these equipment.
The transmission of these commands is realized, for example, when the host computer 3 transmits a start command (for starting the operation of the embedded system) and a configuration command for the embedded system.

The host computer 3 is constituted by a plurality of servers having a large calculation capacity, for example.
The server used is a server known by the name “α server ES45” designed by, for example, Hewlett-Packard Company.
The electronic interface 4 is provided with an electronic equipment board that can put the equipment of the aircraft into the actual situation when simulating the signal coming from the host computer 3 for the purpose of simulating the actual equipment 2.
These boards are, for example, ARINC 429 or AFDX type boards.

The electronic interface 4 is connected to the host computer 3 by a high-speed bus 5.
At the same time, this bus connects the electronics boards.
For example, the bus is a bus known by the name of the industry standard bus VME ("Versa Module Eurocard"). This bus is particularly well suited for connecting various electronic equipment boards to the host computer 3. This bus is suitable for input / output management.

The diagnostic module 6 is connected to the electronic device board 4 when it is discovered that one of the electronic device boards is defective or when it is desired to force some parameter of the electronic device board to a certain value. The
The diagnostic module 6 is, for example, a personal computer. The connection between the diagnostic module 6 and the electronic device board 4 is realized, for example, through the parallel port RS232 of this computer.

The diagnosis module 6 can obtain the operation information of the electronic device board 4 in exchange for issuing the diagnosis command 11 and forcibly set the parameter of the electronic device board 4 to a certain value.
Therefore, when the diagnostic instruction 11 is used, it is possible to find out a defect confirmed in the installation test of various equipments or in the design stage of the various equipments by analyzing the operation of the electronic device board 4.

The electronic device board 4 includes a microprocessor 7 and a memory 8.
The microprocessor 7 can execute the instructions 10 and 11 received by the electronic device board 4 from the host computer 3 and the diagnostic module 6.
When instructions 10 and 11 (from the host computer 3 and the diagnostic module 6) arrive at the electronic device board 4, interrupts 9a and 9b are started by the instructions. The instructions 10 and 11 have different priorities depending on the type of instruction.

The electronic device board 4 can manage the execution order of these instructions.
For example, when the electronic device board 4 is executing the instruction 10 from the host computer 3 and the instruction 11 from the diagnostic module 6 arrives and the interrupt 9a of the diagnostic module is started, or the electronic device board 4 is in the diagnostic module If the host computer interrupt 9b is started by the arrival of the command 10 from the host computer 3 while executing the command 11 from 6, the electronic device board 4 is in accordance with the source and type of the command. By managing the interrupt priority, these scenarios can be managed.
Therefore, the diagnostic system includes a diagnostic module 6 and means necessary for managing the priorities of the interrupts 9a and 9b.

The host computer gives time to execute instructions 10 and 11 to the microprocessor 8 on the electronics board.
For example, this time is 10 milliseconds. The breakdown is that the execution time of the instruction 10 coming from the host computer is 8 milliseconds, and the execution time of the instruction 11 coming from the diagnostic module 6 is 2 milliseconds.

The management of this priority by the electronic device board 4 will now be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 shows a microprocessor 7 and a memory 8 mounted on the electronic device board 4.
As already pointed out in this specification, the electronics board 4 receives instructions 10 coming from the host computer 3 and instructions 11 coming from the diagnostic module 6. These instructions are executed when interrupts 9a and 9b occur. The interrupts 9a and 9b have different execution priorities.

In this example, it should be noted that the instruction 10 from the host computer 3 arrives at the electronic device board through the bus VME connecting the host computer 3 and the electronic device board.
The instruction from the diagnostic module 6 arrives at the electronic device board 4 through the parallel connection RS232 between the diagnostic module 6 and the electronic device board 4.

There are various types of commands coming from the diagnostic module 6.
Since the instruction coming from the diagnostic module 6 has a binary code representing the type of instruction, the microprocessor 7 can recognize the type of the instruction 11 arriving at the electronic device board 4.

  The instruction 10 coming from the host computer 3 has the highest priority. Thus, if instruction 11 arrives from diagnostic module 6 while instruction 10 coming from host computer 3 is being executed by microprocessor 7, microprocessor 7 continues to execute instruction 10 coming from host computer 3, After that, the execution of the instruction 11 coming from the diagnostic module 6 is started.

The instruction 10 coming from the host computer 3 has a higher priority than the instruction 11 coming from the diagnostic module 6.
Therefore, when the instruction 9 from the diagnostic module 6 is being executed and the interrupt 9b rises due to the arrival of the instruction 10 from the host computer 3, the execution of the instruction 11 from the diagnostic module 6 is stopped and the host The instruction 10 coming from the computer 3 starts to be executed.
The higher priority interrupts 9a and 9b are considered even if other interrupts 9a and 9b are processed, but the lower priority interrupts 9a and 9b are put in a standby state.

When the execution of the instruction 10 coming from the host computer 3 is finished, the execution of the instruction 11 coming from the diagnostic module 6 is resumed from the point where it stopped.
If the microprocessor 7 is busy executing instructions when the instruction 11 from the diagnostic module 6 arrives at the electronic device board 4, the instruction 11 from the diagnostic module 6 is stored in the memory 8 mounted on the electronic device board 4. Wait to be executed.

The memory 8 is, for example, a FIFO (first-in first-out) type volatile memory.
Of course, when the instruction 11 from the diagnostic module 6 arrives when the microprocessor 7 mounted on the electronic device board 4 is not executing any instruction 10 from the host computer 3, it is necessary to store the instruction. There is no. This instruction can be executed directly.

The instruction 11 from the diagnostic module 6, that is, the interrupt 9a caused by the diagnostic instruction 11, has the second priority.
Note that the second priority interrupt has a lower priority than the first priority interrupt.

If a diagnostic command 11 arrives while the command 10 from the host computer 3 is being executed, the diagnostic command 11 is stored in the memory 8 installed. Therefore, the diagnostic instructions 11 are executed in the order in which they arrive at the electronic device board 4, that is, in the order stored in the memory 8.
The diagnostic instruction 11 is executed by the background job 20. The background job 20 detects a moment when the microprocessor 7 is not active, and executes the diagnostic instruction 11 stored in the memory 8 and waiting for execution.

Here, there are two types of instructions 11 from the diagnostic module 6 in particular.
The first type of diagnostic instruction 11 is a forced instruction 11a (the term forced is also known as the term “injection”).
In this embodiment, the forcing command 11a consists of forcing one parameter of the electronic device board 4 to a value defined in the forcing command 11a.
This parameter can be one parameter for input or output of the electronic device board, or one intermediate parameter for use in internal calculations.

Therefore, the forcing command 11a can forcibly set the output parameter of the electronic equipment board corresponding to the input parameter of the actual equipment 2 or the input parameter of the host computer 3 and the configuration parameter of the electronic equipment board 4 to a certain value. it can.
After executing this compulsory instruction 11a, the instruction 10 from the host computer 3 or another instruction 11 from the diagnostic module 6 can be executed. Thus, instructions 10 and 11 are executed taking into account the forced values, not the actual values.
This function is used, for example, when it is desired to analyze the instructions 10 and 11 when the output is fixed to a certain value.

When a forced instruction 10a regarding some input parameters or output parameters of the electronic device board 4 is executed, if the instruction from the host computer 3 does not use the input parameter or output parameter used by the forced instruction 11a, Note that instructions from the host computer 3 can be executed simultaneously.
Of course, if the command from the host computer 3 uses a parameter to be forced by the forced command 11a, the forced command 11a is executed once when the command 10 from the host computer 3 is completed. Only executed.

The compulsory instruction 11a is realized as follows.
The memory 8 mounted on the electronic device board 4 has a memory area including a table including parameter values used when executing one instruction. This table is also called the actual value table 12.
The memory 8 also has a memory area with a table for forced values. This table is also called a table 13 of forced values.
Finally, the memory also has a memory area that contains a table 14 of pointers that are utilized when executing instructions.

When the instruction 11 from the diagnostic module 6 is the compulsory instruction 11a, when the execution of the instruction 10 from the host computer 3 is finished, the compulsory value is stored in the compulsory value table 13, and as a result, the actual value table 12 is displayed. The pointer 15 for accessing the pointer points to the table 13 of the forced value.
Thus, the next instruction 10, 11 (from the host computer 3 or diagnostic module 6) is executed using a forced value rather than an actual value.

When it is desired to end the simulation using the forced value, the instruction 11 from the diagnostic module 6 indicating the end of the forced is received.
Thus, the next instruction 10, 11 (from the host computer 3 or diagnostic module 6) is executed using the actual value.

The second type of instruction 11 from the diagnostic module 6 has a single parameter recording function 11b.
In this embodiment, multiple types of recording functions are possible.
The first type recording function 11b consists of monitoring the value of a parameter acquired by the host computer 3 or the value of a parameter sent to the electronic equipment board 4 by the host computer.
The parameters to be recorded are determined by the diagnostic module 6. The diagnostic module 6 labels the parameter to be recorded with a label that identifies the recording to be performed.

The code executed by the diagnostic instruction 11b is provided with a plurality of recording points.
Thus, for example, when a parameter changes value at a certain recording point provided in this code, the determined value of the parameter is recorded at this moment.
Similarly, the time change of the value of one parameter can be tracked.
The parameter to record is also determined by the diagnostic module 6 with the help of a label that identifies the recording to be performed associated with that parameter to be recorded.
In this case, recording is performed periodically.

  The recorded value is stored in the memory 8 mounted on the electronic device board 4 and then processed by the background job 20 and sent to the diagnostic module 6.

The second type of recording function 11b is a diagnosis of the configuration parameters of the electronic device board 4.
The third type recording function 11 b is a diagnosis of the operating state of the electronic device board 4.
As an operation state, for example, an initial state of an electronic device board, an instruction execution state, and an error state are possible.
The fourth type recording function 11b is a diagnosis of a failure state of the electronic device board 4. With this function, it is possible to find out the problem and to find out what is causing the problem.

Of course, other types of functions could be performed by the diagnostic system.
For example, thanks to the present invention, instructions from a diagnostic module can be executed without preventing instructions from the simulation system from being executed in real time.
Therefore, when a failure is detected at the level of the electronic device board, the source of the failure can be ascertained without stopping execution of a command from the simulation system in real time. Therefore, the source of the defect can be quickly and effectively determined.

Furthermore, the parameter value of the electronic device board can be forced to a certain value without stopping or preventing the real-time operation of the embedded simulator.
Of course, many modifications can be made to the embodiments described so far without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

An electronic device board (4) comprising a processing unit (7),
Can receive commands from the diagnostic module (6) and the simulation system (3),
Means for managing the priority of execution of instructions from the simulation system (3) in comparison with the priority of execution of instructions from the diagnostic module (6);
An electronic device board (4) characterized by the above.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the management means can prioritize execution of instructions from the simulation system (3) over execution of instructions from the diagnostic module (6). Board (4).   3. Electronic device board (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that instructions from the simulation system (3) take precedence over instructions from the diagnostic module (6). Means for storing instructions from the diagnostic module (6) in the electronic device board (4) when instructions from the simulation system (3) are being executed;
Means for executing the instruction from the diagnostic module (6) when the execution of the instruction from the simulation system (3) is completed.
The electronic device board (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that:   One of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the instruction from the diagnostic module (6) is an instruction (11a) that forces one parameter of the electronic device board (4) to a certain value. Electronic equipment board (4) according to item.   Electronic device board (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the instruction from the diagnostic module (6) has the function of storing the value of one parameter.   Electronic device board (4) according to claim 6, characterized in that the instruction (11b) from the diagnostic module (6) is realized by a non-priority background job (20). A diagnostic system for an electronic device board (4),
A diagnostic module (6);
Means for managing the priority of execution of instructions from the simulation system (3) in comparison with the priority of execution of instructions from the diagnostic module (6);
A diagnostic system for an electronic device board (4), comprising: Execution of instructions from the diagnostic module (6) and instructions from the simulation system (3); and
Managing the priority of execution of instructions from the simulation system (3) in comparison with the priority of execution of instructions from the diagnostic module (6);
The simulation method using the electronic device board (4) characterized by the above-mentioned.   A method of using the electronic device board (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the electronic device board is implemented in the embedded simulator (1) by performing the method according to claim 9. (4) A method of analyzing the defect.

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