FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to test equipment, particularly for avionics FDR system. It
is for dynamic data simulation & testing of FDR system where there is dynamic
recording of aircraft data based on dynamically generated Setup and Configuration file
uploaded to the FDR before recording.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Earlier used FDR system has fixed format of data recording i.e.512 words per second or
1024 words per second or 2048 words per second etc. This requires simulation of data
in a fix format way. The present SSFDR system records data dynamically based on
requirement controlled by setup & configuration file. The dynamicity controlled by
changing the sampling rate of direct sensor data and by masking the direct digital bus
data (MIL 1553B & ARINC 429) in Setup & Configuration file. The test equipment for
testing of this system also needs to have capacity to simulate data in same dynamic
way. This leads to invention of this test equipment.
SUMMARY OF PRESENT INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of present invention is to provide generation of
different types of signals like Analog, Discrete, Tacho, Thermocouple, ARINC429,
MIL1553B etc.
In accordance with second aspect of present invention is to provide generation of
dynamic format of data based on a Setup and configuration file.
In accordance with another aspect of present invention is to provide complete
functional testing of individual unit of FDR system.
In accordance with yet another aspect of present invention is to provide full
functional testing in integration of all sub units.
Annexure‐II
The present invention is particularly concerned with the dynamic data simulation
controlled by Data Base/GUI without making any changes in test equipment software.
The dynamicity of simulation is provided by changing the sampling rate of Analog,
Thermo, RTD, Tacho and Enabling / Disabling of Digital bus (ARINC429 & MIL 1553B)
simulation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent and
descriptive in the description when considered together with figures/flow charts
presented:
Part 1 of Figure 1.: Complete block diagram of the system showing hardware and
interconnection of different panels used in the equipment.
Part 2 of Figure 1: PXI based back panel on Industrial PC also back panel consist of
Analog, Discrete IO modules, ARINC 429 & MIL 1553B cards, Audio cards etc.
Part 3 of Figure 1: The relay and conditioning panels used to condition the Analog
/Discrete etc as per required voltage level and accuracy.
Part 4 of Figure 1: The Break In Break out Box to measure or check the simulated
signal accuracy.
Part 5 of Figure 1: Monitoring panel used for self test of the I/O modules and signal
conditioning modules.
Part 6 of Figure 1: Standard Measuring instrument for monitoring of signal generation.
Annexure‐II
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The dynamic test equipment for FDR is an Industrial PC based system on PXI based
back panel for rugged application. It is used to provide dynamic test functions & Stimuli
to perform high-level functional checks of all the LRU’s of FDR system in individual
mode as well as in Integration mode testing.
The Host PC shall run application software to interface the user with the hardware.
There shall be cPCI add - on card on the Host PC, interfaced with the cPCI based
hardware using a cPCI chassis. The control of the cPCI bus shall be with the Host PC.
The Ethernet interface is used in the Host PC shall be used to download the data from
the LRU’s.
The details of different parameters simulated from test equipment dynamically are
mentioned in table 1 as shown below
Simulated Parameters
Name
Sampling rate Remarks
Analog 0
or
4/8/16/32
0 sampling rate means the
parameter will not be recorded
Thermo -do- -do-
RTD -do- -do-
Tacho -do- -do-
Discrete -do- -do-
ARINC 429 0/1 0 Bus Disabled
1 Bus Enabled
Mil 1553 B 0/1 0 Bus Disabled
1 Bus Enabled
Table 1
The data mentioned in the above table is a sample of minimum capability of simulation,
however, the test equipment is capable of simulating the data in THE RANGE 0 mV to
40V DC with the accuracy of ten times of FDR system accuracy. There are different
kinds of ARINC 429 digital bus signals (Sampled ARINC 429, Standard ARINC 429,
Annexure‐II
Extended Fixed length ARINC 429 and Extended Variable Length ARINC 429) are
simulated dynamically.

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. We Claim

1. The Dynamic formats of aircraft data, comprising:
- An embedded hardware with PXI Based host PC for application executable.
- Relevant memory like Random Access Memory (RAM) and/or Non-volatile Random Access Memory (NVRAM) and/or Read Only Memory for storing program and scratch calculations,
- A hardware port for communication with testing units,
- Different circular connectors for connection with units,
- Respective looms/cables

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising of
- A signal conditioner module to generate signals corresponding to required accuracy for Analog, Discrete, Tacho, Thermocouple, ARINC429 and MIL1553B data.

3. The system according to claim 1 & 2, capable of generating dynamic frame of data and signal genration as per Setup and Configuration file.

4. The system according to claim 3, further capable of varying sample rate of at least one type of signal.

5. The system as per claim 1 & 2 is not limited to airborne applications alone but can be used on ground/in water. ,TagSPECI:As per Annexure-II