FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a Power PC based electronic module which has the capability to
acquire data on different interfaces like ARINC-717 & ARINC-429 and combines the data in a
single packet of specified length & transmits the packet every second on Ethernet interface for
verification of the health of the avionics system, aircraft & FDR/CVR.
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. The present aircrafts have been configured so as to avoid redundant processing of
the sensor data. The present aircrafts acquire sensor data by a single system & the information
is shared across various other systems who desire to utilize that particular information. This
reduces the size & complexity of systems designed earlier for both acquisition & manipulation.
The present systems are only having receivers that are designed to acquire the data on digital
buses.
SUMMARY OF PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention is directed towards a single power PC based high end electronic
module that can acquire data on various aircraft level interfaces & verify the correctness of the
data by providing the live acquired data on Ethernet interface. This capability acquires the
parameters transferred by Aircraft Cockpit Display System or Cockpit Computers through
ARINC 717 Bi phase interface. This capability is repeated periodically as long as the system is
in acquiring mode and power to the electronic module is switched ON. The formatted A/c
parameters acquired on ARINC 717 interface is received by the board at user configurable baud
rates. Each word consists of 16 bits. LSB is received first and the MSB last. One frame of data
consists of 4 sub frames. Each sub frame consists of either of 256/512/1024 words. The sub
frames are transmitted back to the user on interfacing devices which interact through Ethernet
interface.
The present invention helps the user to verify the health of the electronic modules by
conducting self testing and also test the health of the aircraft other sub systems by acquiring
real time data from aircraft sub systems and comparing with the predefined standard values.
These provide an edge to the user by providing instant feedback and live reporting of parameter
details and thereby reducing downtime of the aircraft.
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 Processor Module.
Figure 2: is a Block Diagram of Architecture of Electronic Module for Arinc-717 Interface
Figure 3: is a Block Diagram of Architecture of Electronic Module for Arinc-429 Interface
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
ARINC-717 interface standard is used to record flight data. The transmitter sends
continuous data stream of Harvard Bi-phase encoded 12-bit words in frames. The DAU
processor provides the ARINC-717 interface using the microprocessor, CPLD and the
differential driver. The CPLD generates the Harvard Bi-phase output. This output from the CPLD
is applied as an input to the Differential Driver. The glue logic of ARINC-717 interface is
implemented in CPLD. The micro-controller interface with the CPLD to generate the required
ARINC 717 signals is as shown in Figure.
The Controller port is used for implementing the 10/100 Mbps Ethernet in the system.
The Media Independent Interface (MII) is used to communicate with the system. A total of 18
signals is interfaced to the Fast Ethernet Transceiver (FEC). The Receive Control Register
(RCNTRL) is used to indicate MII operation.
ARINC-429 interface standard is used to receive and transmit data through ARINC 429
bus. The transceiver and line driver with help of ARINC 429 MICROPROCESSOR INTERFACE
sends a continuous data stream of Harvard Bi-phase encoded word in frames.
The number of bits transferred per word defaults to eight, but can be set to any value
from eight to sixteen bits. Data is transferred with the ARINC-429 standard calls for LSB to be
transmitted first.
The CPLD generates the chip selects to select the any one of five ARINC 429
MICROPROCESSOR Interfaces. ARINC 429 MICROPROCESSOR Interfaces supports the
both high speed and low speed data transfer.
To perform a built-in loop back test of the ARINC-429 (Harvard Bi-Phase Encoding), the
different registers in ARINC controllers to be set.

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. Processor module for acquiring data on AR717 & AR429 and transmitting on Ethernet for verification Comprising; The Processor based on 32 – bit Power PC controller to process the desired Harvard bi-phase frame in to digital form. Said embedded system means a embedded system having 32-bit processor and interfaced with memory devices and communication peripherals with their communication port; Said protocols & formats means a unique algorithm to transfer the binary or loader file inside the memory which interfaces with Motorola & Analog devices processor; said Arinc 717 interface means a standard is used to record flight data. The transmitter sends continuous data stream of Harvard Bi-phase encoded 12-bit words in frame; said Arinc 429 interface means to receive and transmit data through ARINC 429 bus.

2. Processor module for acquiring data on AR717 & AR429 and transmitting on Ethernet for verification of claim 1 wherein the Arinc 717 interface utilizes minimum configuration in terms of resources comprising:
a) The interface with microprocessor Serial Interface &
b) 256 micros CPLD.

3. Processor module for acquiring data on AR717 & AR429 and transmitting on Ethernet for verification of claim 2 wherein the Arinc 717 interface is not using any separate dedicated external memory.

4. Processor module for acquiring data on AR717 & AR429 and transmitting on Ethernet for verification of claim 3 wherein the Arinc 717 interfaced with any microprocessor system having Serial Interface.

5. Processor module for acquiring data on AR717 & AR429 and transmitting on Ethernet for verification of claim 4 wherein the Arinc 717 interface is for use on Civil/Military aircraft for airborne application. However, the invention is not limited to airborne application and can be used where ARINC 717 is required.

6. Processor module for acquiring data on AR717 & AR429 and transmitting on Ethernet for verification of claim 5 wherein the Arinc 717 interface utilizes minimum frame buffer memory of 1024 Byte for frame storage and 1024 for intermediate frame storage and support 512 byte/second in present configuration. However, it can be configured from 128 words/second to 1024 words/second.

7. Processor module for acquiring data on AR717 & AR429 and transmitting on Ethernet for verification of claim 5 wherein the Arinc 717 interface support four Synch words for frame identification purposes and a mechanism has been implemented to avoid frame identification problem which may occur during reading and writing of the frame.

8. Processor module for acquiring data on AR717 & AR429 and transmitting on Ethernet for verification of claim 1 wherein the ARINC-429 interface standard is used to receive and transmit data through ARINC 429 bus. The transceiver and line driver with help of ARINC 429 microprocessor interface sends a continuous data stream of Harvard Bi-phase encoded word in frames.

9. Processor module for acquiring data on AR717 & AR429 and transmitting on Ethernet for verification of claim 8 wherein the number of bits transferred per word defaults to eight, but can be set to any value from eight to sixteen bits in Arinc 429 interface.

10. Processor module for acquiring data on AR717 & AR429 and transmitting on Ethernet for verification as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the Controller port is used for implementing the 10/100 Mbps Ethernet in the system. The Media Independent Interface (MII) is used to communicate with the system. A total of 18 signals is interfaced to the Fast Ethernet Transceiver (FEC). The Receive Control Register (RCNTRL) is used to indicate MII operation. ,TagSPECI:As per Annexure-II