FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to module for interfacing Flight Data Recorder with laptop on USB,
Ethernet (10mbps & 100 mbps) for data downloading. This invention connects to the
microcontroller of FDR & establishes the link for enabling the user to download data from
FLASH memory to a conventional laptop.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The embedded systems are based on highly-integrated 32-bit microcontrollers,
combining high-performance data manipulation capabilities with powerful peripheral
subsystems.
FDR of the aircraft acquires data from various sensors by way of acquiring data through
sensors or by acquiring digital data. The data is stored in crash protected Flash Memories
through which the data is downloaded for the purpose of analysis or Crash investigations. The
data is downloaded through specially designed systems which communicate with the modules
on customized interfaces & helps in retrieval of data.
Various interfaces have been utilized in the industry for downloading of aircraft data viz.
RS-232, RS-422 interfaces. These interfaces were sufficient when the number of parameter
being recorded were less & as the complexity of the aircrafts increased, the need was felt for
recording more & more number of parameters with varied sampling up 16 samples & 32
samples per second. This resulted in a huge increase in memory requirement for the Flight Data
Recorders further the need was also felt that the original voice of pilot, co-pilot & other crew
members to be recorded. As the FAA guidelines provided more clarity, systems were
developed to cater to the requirements by using lossless compression techniques. It was quite
evident that the serial interfaces would not be able to serve the purpose for downloading of this
huge data. Hence, the new interfaces were used by the designers.
The present invention provides a simple technique with which the fast interfaces like
USB & Ethernet on FDR can be interfaced to a normal conventional laptop by installing
specified application.
SUMMARY OF PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention, therefore, is directed to module which enables connecting FDR
through a conventional laptop & assist in downloading of data through either USB or Ethernet.
An aspect of the present invention is the utilization of a conventional laptop that enables
it to interact with the electronic circuitry of FDR.
A further aspect of the invention is that the module can be configured to each & every
individual laptop to assist downloading.
The system is configured with a unique driver which is installed in the laptop to accept
unique corresponding protocols from FDR & user can directly interface to the FDR without
having to check the status.
The FDR is connected to the Personal computer/Laptop & a link is established either
through a USB bus or through Ethernet connection. The Ethernet connection can be configured
at both high speed of 100 MBPS & low speed of 10 MBPS.
Once the link is established & the processor starts responding to the command of
computer, the user can direct the FDR to provide the data as configured along with Graphical
User Interface (GUI).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features and advantages of the present invention become more apparent and
descriptive in the description when considered together with figures/flow charts presented:
Figure 1: is a Block Diagram of Module for interfacing FDR with laptop on USB,
Ethernet (10MBPS & 100 MBPS) for data downloading
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The detail description for interfacing conventional laptop with FDR is elaborated in below
paragraph:
INTERFACING SET UP:
• Make connections as per the set up diagram shown in Figure-1.
• Power up the interfacing station.
• Install the driver application in the interfacing station.
• Connect the interfacing cable like USB, Ethernet cable.
• Select the option from the GUI provided.
• Power up the FDR.
• Check for Device manager->
• Select the data as per the protocol decided for downloading of either/both aircraft /Audio
data based on either duration/Sortie number.
• Download the data in to hard drive of interfacing station
• After successful download of the data, exit from downloading software and switch off the
power supply for both interfacing station & FDR.

WE CLAIMS:-
Accordingly, the description of the present invention is to be considered as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art of the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention, and exclusive use of all modifications which are within the scope of the appended claims is reserved. The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Module for interfacing Flight Data RECORDER (FDR) with laptop on USB, Ethernet (10MBPS & 100 MBPS) for data downloading which enables connecting FDR/CVR through a conventional laptop & assist in downloading of data through either USB or Ethernet comprising; FDR means Flight Data recorder which records the flight data for use of crash investigation and health of the Aircraft; USB/Ethernet means the downloading interface media for connecting FDR to conventional computer peripheral.

2. Module for interfacing FDR with computer peripheral on USB/Ethernet of claim 1 wherein modules enables connecting downloading FDR/CVR data through either USB or Ethernet with different data rates through a conventional laptop.

3. Module for interfacing FDR with computer peripheral on Ethernet of claim 2 wherein modules enables Ethernet connection is configured at both high speed of 100 MBPS & low speed of 10 MBPS.

4. Module for interfacing FDR with computer peripheral on USB/Ethernet of claim 3 wherein the system is configured with a unique driver which is installed in the laptop to accept unique corresponding protocols from FDR & user can directly interface to the FDR without checking the status.

5. Module for interfacing FDR with computer peripheral on USB/Ethernet of claim 4 wherein the system link is established with driver protocol and the processor of FDR starts responding to the command of computer, the user can direct the FDR to provide the data as configured along with Graphical User Interface (GUI). ,TagSPECI:As per Annexure-II