WO2007039097A1

WO2007039097A1 - Quick-mount module for avionics equipment carrier

Info

Publication number: WO2007039097A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/009095
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan Osternack; Oliver Schalke; Sven Rehmeier; Jörg BRADTKE
Original assignee: Airbus Deutschland Gmbh
Priority date: 2005-09-19
Filing date: 2006-09-19
Publication date: 2007-04-12
Also published as: WO2007039097A8

Abstract

The application describes a module comprising at least one data processing, data transmitting or data storing device, which can be slid or inserted into an equipment compartment of an avionics rack of an aircraft avionics device, and which comprises a housing with a first data interface, and at least one electronics printed circuit board with a second data interface. When the housing is a quick-mount housing in which any desired printed circuit boards of a standard format can be integrated in the module, and the terminal allocation of the second data interface can be converted to a standardised terminal allocation of the first data interface by means of an adapter printed circuit board that connects in the housing to the second data interface.

Description

Quick-mount module for avionics equipment carrier

Reference to related applications

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of German Patent Application No. 10 2005 044 711.2 filed on September 19, 2005 and United States Provisional Patent Application No. 60/718,674 filed September 20, 2005, the disclosure of which applications is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a module comprising at least one data processing, data transmitting or data storing device, which can be slid or inserted into an equipment compartment of an avionics rack of an aircraft avionics device, and which comprises a housing with a first data interface, and at least one electronics printed circuit board with a second data interface.

Prior art

Avionics devices in aircraft frequently comprise several components which when acting together result in a desired system. Such components can, for example, include servers, communication devices, interfaces and power supply devices, which together are installed in a shared equipment carrier that generally speaking is integrated in an avionics rack. Avionics devices exist which make it possible to quickly exchange individual components in the case of a defect or in the case of a desired retrofit (due to this ability also referred to as line replaceable units, LRUs), wherein these components often comprise electronics printed circuit boards made to specifications. In part, electronics printed circuit boards of the commonly used format 6U-CompactPCI are used, which as a result of their design width require relatively large PCB slots so that the equipped avionics equipment no longer fits in the standard compartments provided by the avionics rack, but instead requires a specially made rack. For example, while the Rockwell Collins ISC-2100 (information services cabinet, see also http://www.rockwellcollins.com/products/cs/at/page982.htmJ) by way of its front can relatively easily be equipped with various electronics printed circuit boards, the dimensions of the surrounding housing of the ISC-2100 do not, however, comply with any ARINC standards. Therefore, in particular for the ISC-2100 a specially designed accommodation rack in the aircraft becomes necessary, in which rack the housing can be firmly installed. The "Airbus Flight Information Service" device (AFIS), made by Rockwell, which devices have dimensions that conform to ARINC, is not capable of being equipped with components designed as LRUs. The network server system SAGEM A380 NSS (see also http://www.sagem-ds.com/eng/bds _ navio_200.htm) does comprise a housing that complies with ARINC, but the integrated components of said housing cannot be exchanged quickly, instead among other things require dismantling of the entire device.

The lack of the ability to quickly exchange individual components is disadvantageous as far as cost-effective inventory keeping of entire systems and in some respects more difficult maintenance are concerned. Normal avionics devices are associated with a further disadvantage due to the widespread use of components whose dimensions do not conform to any common standard, for example the use of electronics printed circuit boards and the like that have been made to specifications. In addition, it is disadvantageous to use electronics printed circuit boards which, while comprising standardised dimensions, use dimensions that are, however, disadvantageous as far as an avionics device that requires retrofitting is concerned. For example, with the use of 6U-CompactPCI electronics printed circuit boards, cost savings can be achieved in the selection of an electronics printed circuit board; however, as a result of the design width of the electronics printed circuit boards the dimensions of the avionics devices so far often do not conform to ARINC. Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to overcome at least one of the above-mentioned disadvantages in order to improve their ease of service by quick interchangeability of components and by the ability to integrate new functionalities as a result of the ability to use electronics printed circuit boards of a standard format while at the same time saving space so that a commonly used avionics rack can be utilised to accommodate an equipped avionics equipment carrier.

This object is met in that the housing of the electronics printed circuit board is a quick-mount housing, in that any desired printed circuit boards of a standard format can be integrated in the module, and in that the terminal assignment or allocation of the second data interface can be converted to a standardised terminal assignment or allocation of the first data interface by means of an adapter printed circuit board that is connected to the second data interface in the housing.

Advantageously, the electronics printed circuit board is arranged in the CompactPCI format. This format is in widespread use and one can select from a multitude of products of a number of manufacturers, which results in low market prices, and avoids becoming dependent on a single manufacturer.

Furthermore, it is preferable if at least one network connection and one power supply connection are led from the second interface to the first interface by means of the adapter printed circuit board. In this way the electronics printed circuit board can be supplied with the required voltages and can communicate with the surrounding components.

Advantageously the network connection is an Ethernet connection because this improves the commercial availability and reduces the costs of providing this facility.

Furthermore, the equipment compartment that is used can be identified in the avionics rack by means of an electronic device. This helps to identify the position of each inserted slide-in - A -

module. Identification can also take place by way of a mechanical device, or by way of a combination of both.

In order to remove the heat generated during operation, the housing of the slide-in module preferably comprises several holes or bores for the inflow of cooling air.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the housing comprises a front panel. The front panel can comprise the device designation, status displays and also additional connections.

It is particularly preferred if the front panel comprises at least one slide-in unit or a plug-in place for an electronics device. This electronics device can, for example, be a storage unit.

Moreover, it is advantageous if the front panel comprises a connection to a serial bus or a network connection.

The following are shown:

Fig. 1 : a front view of an equipped avionics equipment carrier system; Fig. 2: a three-dimensional view of a slide-in module; Fig. 3: a rear view and a section of a slide-in module 4 with inserted electronics printed circuit boards; and

Fig. 4: a diagrammatic view of the backplane connection architecture. Fig. 5: a diagrammatic view of another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the exemplary embodiments

Fig. 1 shows the front view of an equipped avionics equipment carrier system 2, with slide-in modules 4, 6 and 8 that are inserted in racks 10, 11 and 13 located in the housing 12. The rack 10 is located above the rack 11 and accommodates the slide-in modules 4. In the lower rack 11 the slide-in modules 6 are arranged. In a further rack 13, which is adjacent to the left-hand side of the previously mentioned racks, two slide-in modules 8 are arranged, one on top of the other.

In order to facilitate the retrofitting of additional devices or the modernisation of a module rack (hereinafter referred to as an avionics rack), the housing 12 of the avionics equipment carrier system 2 according to the invention comprises dimensions that comply with a common standard in relation to widely used avionics racks, such as, for example, the ARINC 600 standard. Accordingly it is possible to insert the housing 12 in a free region of an avionics rack where it is locked into place or attached using suitable means, as a result of which in the case of correspondingly readily accessible installation, quick exchange of an avionics device to be replaced becomes possible. With the consistent use of avionics equipment carrier systems according to the invention the avionics rack can be designed throughout to conform to a single standard, and in future new functionalities can be retrofitted to said avionics rack without expensive modifications. The avionics equipment formed by an equipped avionics equipment carrier system according to the invention can thus be designated a line replaceable unit (LRU).

In addition to this, as described above, the avionics equipment carrier system 2 itself can be equipped with additional or replacement slide-in modules in order to provide new functionalities within an avionics device comprising several slide-in modules 4, 6 and 8. Each of the devices within the slide-in modules 4, 6 and 8 comprises a housing that can be slid into the racks 10, 11 and 13. Consequently the devices are encapsulated in order to protect the equipment components, some of which, for example the electronics printed circuit boards, are sensitive, thus considerably facilitating the exchange of defective slide-in modules 4, 6 and 8. Due to the respective housing, the slide-in modules 4, 6 and 8 can be touched and held without requiring any particular care, and with suitable locking or attachment elements can be equipped in such a way that consequently they can easily be removed from the respective rack, or that by insertion and subsequent securing they can be integrated in the rack. The slide-in modules are preferably attached without the use of tools, such as, for example, by using snap-in or tension means or by using lock-down levers and the like. In order to integrate the slide-in modules 4, 6 and 8 the associated racks 10, 11 and 13 at least in part comprise slide faces, on which the slide-in modules 4, 6 and 8 are guided to their predetermined end positions. The slide-in modules 4, 6 and 8 are thus quickly exchangeable and are also LRUs. According to the above abbreviation the concept according to the invention can thus be designated an "LRU in LRU".

The slide-in modules 4, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, of the equipment carrier shown, wherein the designation "equipment carrier" refers to a combination of the housing 12 and the rack 10, are predominantly data processing and data transmitting devices, in particular devices for wireless data transmission (in particular WLAN and GSM), servers, routers, switches, firewalls and devices for communication control. Tasks such as video streaming for in-flight entertainment systems, the provision of various communication services and a host of other requirements can be carried out in this way. As is described below, the slide-in modules 4 essentially comprise electronics printed circuit boards encapsulated by surrounding housings 14. As some of the front panels of the slide-in modules 4 according to the invention show, slide-in slots for solid-state storage devices such as, for example, compact flash cards and network connections or USB connections for maintenance purposes are possible. Mechanically insensitive solid-state storage devices can, among other uses, be used to equip the slide-in module with program data or operating system data.

In the diagram shown in Fig. 1, the slide-in modules 6 comprise data-storing devices; in the embodiment shown these are mechanical hard discs encased by a housing. The slide-in modules 8, arranged one on top of the other, are used for supplying power to the devices installed in the rack 10. By using two power supply devices 8, the failure safety is improved.

By way of an example, Fig. 2 shows the internal structure of a slide-in module 4 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. This structure is essentially identical in the case of most slide-in modules 4. In order to provide a desired functionality, a corresponding electronics PCB 16 is integrated in the slide-in module 4. Advantageously the electronics printed circuit board 16 is of a commonly used standard format, so that any electronics boards, from any manufacturer, which electronics board comply with this standard, can be used in a slide-in module 4. By way of an example, the electronics printed circuit boards of the present invention comprise the 3U-CompactPCI format. When compared to electronics printed circuit boards used in commonly used avionics equipment, printed circuit boards using the 3U-CompactPCI format are smaller, with, for example, 6U-CompactPCI boards being twice as high.

In order to lead out the various inputs and outputs, 3U-CompactPCI electronics printed circuit boards usually comprise a terminal strip with a number of pins. While the terminal strip of CompactPCI cards is standardised, this standardisation is however limited to the form of the terminal strip, to the spacing between the individual pins, and to the pin assignment within a particular region of the terminal strip. The pin assignment in a remaining region can be freely selected by the manufacturer of the electronics printed circuit board.

Identical terminal assignment or allocation of all slide-in modules is necessary; it results from the requirements of modularity and replaceability among each other. In order to ensure that always the same terminal assignment is used, adaptation of the terminal assignment of the CompactPCI card is necessary, depending on the model. This is implemented by an adapter printed circuit board 18, whose connector strip 20 can be connected to a socket strip 22 of the electronics printed circuit board 16. The adapter printed circuit board changes over the connection pins that have been freely selected by the manufacturer, and on the socket strip 24 of the adapter printed circuit board provides a terminal assignment that applies to all slide-in modules. By means of this method, any desired electronics printed circuit board 16 can be adapted to be used within the slide-in module 4.

Fig. 3 shows a rear view and a section view of a slide-in module 4 with printed circuit boards inserted in the housing. The socket strip 24 of the slide-in module closes off with the surrounding housing 14 at the rear of the slide-in module 4, wherein the rear is the end of the slide-in module 4, which end is inserted in the rack 10. The electronics printed circuit board 16 and the adapter printed circuit board 18 (not visible in Fig. 3) are held in printed circuit board guides 26, which not only serve to hold the printed circuit boards but also to align the terminal strips. The lateral areas of the slide-in module 4 comprise a multitude of boreholes 15, which make it possible for cooling air to flow through the slide-in module 4. Since the slide-in modules are preferably installed edge- wise in the module rack 11 , the cooling air that flows from below into the housing 12 of the avionics equipment carrier system 2 can flow through the slide-in module 4.

Fig. 4 shows a lateral section of an avionics equipment carrier system 2, equipped for an avionics device, comprising slide-in modules 4, 6 and 8. In the rack 10, a slide-in module 4 is shown, which is equipped with an electronics printed circuit board 16 and an adapter printed circuit board 18. On the underside of the rack 10, the rack 11, which is used for accommodating hard discs 6, adjoins, suspended in the housing 12 so as to reduce vibrations.

At the rear of the slide-in modules 4 the backplane PCB 30 adjoins, which for each slide-in module 4 to be connected comprises a connector strip 32 (not shown in Fig. 4) into which the socket strip 24 of the socket strip that finishes off the slide-in module 4 snaps.

In order to provide the functionalities of the slide-in modules located in the rack 10, apart from the actual devices in the slide-in modules a particular connection architecture is also required, by means of which independently of any given purpose of application of the slide-in module, interaction between the slide-in module and the avionics equipment carrier system is made possible. Fig. 5 diagrammatically shows such a connection architecture.

Preferably, the connections between the slide-in modules 4 are implemented by a shared backplane PCB within the avionics equipment carrier system, which backplane PCB comprises a connector strip 32 for each slide-in module compartment, into which connector strip 32 the respective socket strip 24 of the slide-in modules 4 can snap. The backplane PCB provides communication by way of a network in the form of an Ethernet connection. This means that each connector strip of a slide-in module compartment comprises Ethernet wiring, through which the associated snapped-in slide-in module becomes a participant in a network or a sub-network. To this purpose the corresponding pins on the terminal strip of commonly used 3U-CompactPCI cards are made to connect to the connector strip 32 of the corresponding slide-in module compartment on the rear printed circuit board of the avionics equipment carrier system by way of the respective adapter printed circuit board 18. To provide a CompactPCI card with the required operating voltages, further pins of the terminal strip are connected to the power supply devices 8 by way of the respective adapter printed circuit board 18 and the connector strip 32 of the backplane PCB.

Operation of a CompactPCI printed circuit board requires no further inputs or outputs; however, as an option, further signal lines may be added, which, for example, make it possible to monitor the system status. However, the provision of a PCI bus of its own within the avionics equipment carrier system 2 is not required for integrating CompactPCI cards. As far as the ability to be able to exchange any components during ongoing operation is concerned, furthermore, an Ethernet connection is preferred. For unambiguous identification of a slide-in module located in any desired compartment, electronic and mechanical means are available so that receiving a known and provided-for network address for each device can be assured.

Furthermore, for the purpose of controlling the network connections, for example limitations of data traffic or the setting up of subnets, corresponding devices are inserted into slide-in module compartments, which then carry out administrative tasks. Fig. 5 shows a backplane switch which communicates with all the connector strips 32 of the backplane PCB. By means of a network distributor that can be installed in the rack 10, the data traffic between the slide- in modules 4 can be controlled by way of the backplane switch. This makes it possible to separate communications from each other beyond device groups. For example, devices for monitoring galley functions in an aircraft can be excluded from communicating with an in- flight entertainment system although the devices are connected to the same backplane PCB. However, if required, subnet-independent data transmission can be permitted by way of an additional network administration device.

The hard discs 6 (see Fig. 1) accommodated in the rack 11 are connected, by way of a shared connector strip 34 and an optionally separate backplane PCB, to the devices of the slide-in modules 4 in the rack 10. Preferably, an interface is selected which makes it possible to exchange hard discs during operation, for example in the case of a serial ATA interface (SATA).

The areas of application presented above, the listed devices, the above-mentioned electronics printed circuit board formats and the respective commonly used standards merely refer to exemplary embodiments of the present invention; they are not to be interpreted as limitations to the invention. The scope of protection of the invention is based on the following claims.

Is should also be noted that reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims .

It should be noted that the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps and the "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Also elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined.

Claims

1. A module comprising at least one data processing, data transmitting or data storing device that can be slid in or inserted in an equipment compartment of a rack (11) of an aircraft avionics device, comprising a housing (14) with a first data interface, and at least one electronics printed circuit board (16) with a second data interface, wherein the housing (14) is a quick-mount housing in which any desired printed circuit boards of a standard format can be integrated in the module, and the terminal allocation of the second data interface can be converted to a standardised terminal allocation of the first data interface by means of an adapter printed circuit board (18) that connects in the housing to the second data interface.

2. The module of claim 1 , in which the at least on electronics printed circuit board (16) is a Compact-PCI printed circuit board.

3. The module of any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one network connection and a power supply connection are lead from the second interface to the first interface by means of the adapter printed circuit board (18).

4. The module of claim 3, in which the at least one network connection is an Ethernet connection.

5. The module of any one of the preceding claims, in which the equipment compartment that is used can be identified in the rack (11) by means of an electronic device.

6. The module of any one of the preceding claims, in which the equipment compartment that is used can be identified in the rack (11) by means of a mechanical device.

7. The module of any one of the preceding claims, in which the housing (14) comprises several bores (15) for an inflow of cooling air.

8. The module of any one of the preceding claims, in which the housing (14) comprises a front panel.

9. The module of claim 8, in which the front panel comprises at least one slide-in unit or a plug-in place for an electronics device.

10. The module of claim 9, in which the electronics device is a storage unit.

11. The module of one of claims 9-10, in which the plug-in place is arranged as a connection to a serial bus.

12. The module of any one of claims 8-11 , in which the front panel comprises a network connection.