Integrated power distribution, data network, and control architectures for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10065583-B2
Application number	US-201514878904-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 8, 2015
Priority date	Oct 8, 2015
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

An integrated power distribution, data network, and control architecture for a vehicle is provided that includes nodes distributed throughout the vehicle. Each node includes power distribution (PD) and data collection and distribution (DCD) components. The PD components receive electrical power from a source external to the node and distribute and control the electrical power supplied to active and passive electrical loads that are external to the node. The PD components include an electrical power input interface configured to receive an electrical power input from a source external to the node, and one or more power control modules. Each power control module can control the electrical power supplied to one or more electrical power output interfaces that supply power to the active and passive electrical loads. The DCD components receive data from data sources external to the node and transmit data to data consumers external to the node.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An integrated multi-function node, comprising:
a housing; and
a plurality of components that are contained within and enclosed by the housing to form a single integrated unit, wherein the plurality of components are interconnected with connections that are internal to the housing, the plurality of components comprising:
power distribution (PD) components that are configured to receive electrical power from at least one source external to the integrated multi-function node and that are configured to distribute and control the electrical power to a plurality of active and passive electrical loads that are external to the integrated multi-function node, the PD components comprising:
an electrical power input interface configured to receive an electrical power input from the at least one source external to the integrated multi-function node; and
one or more power control modules, wherein each power control module is configured to control the electrical power supplied to one or more electrical power output interfaces, wherein the one or more electrical power output interfaces are configured to supply power to the plurality of active and passive electrical loads; and

data collection and distribution (DCD) components that are configured to receive data from data sources external to the integrated multi-function node and to transmit data to data consumers external to the integrated multi-function node.

2. An integrated multi-function node according to claim 1 , wherein the DCD components are configured to receive command signals that are generated externally to the integrated multi-function node, and wherein each power control module is configured to control the supply of electrical power to the active and passive electrical loads in response to the command signals.

3. An integrated multi-function node according to claim 1 , wherein the PD components further comprise:
an electrical power converter module configured to receive the electrical power input via the electrical power input interface and convert characteristics of the received electrical power to generate an electrical power output that is provided to one or more power control modules.

4. An integrated multi-function node according to claim 1 , wherein the PD components and DCD components are respectively configured to receive electrical power input and to receive or transmit data over a common interface, such that one or more common wires carries electrical power to the integrated multi-function node and carries data to or from the integrated multi-function node, wherein the electrical power input interface is physically connectable to the at least one source external to the integrated multi-function node, and wherein the one or more electrical power output interfaces are each physically connectable to one or more of the plurality of active and passive electrical loads.

5. An integrated multi-function node according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a processor module; and
a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor module, cause the processor module to:
command the one or more power control modules that supply electrical power to the one or more electrical loads external to the integrated multi-function node; and
process data received by the DCD components and process data to be transmitted by the DCD components.

6. An integrated multi-function node according to claim 5 , wherein the processor module is configured to:
receive data from data sources external to the integrated multi-function node via the DCD components; and
wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium has computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor module, cause the processor module to: transmit commands to one or more power control modules that supply the electrical power to the one or more electrical loads such that power is supplied to or removed from the electrical loads in response to the data received via the DCD components as defined by the stored computer-executable instructions.

7. An integrated multi-function node according to claim 6 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium has computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor module, cause the processor module to:
transmit signals to data consumers external to the integrated multi-function node via the DCD components such that the signals transmitted to data consumers external to the integrated multi-function node are responsive to the data received via the DCD components as defined by the stored computer-executable instructions.

8. An integrated multi-function node according to claim 6 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium has computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor module, cause the processor module to:
detect when the integrated multi-function node is connected to different combinations of power sources, data sources, data consumers, and electrical loads, allowing the integrated multi-function node to provide different commands to the power control modules in response to data received via the DCD components depending on which combination of power sources, data sources, data consumers, and electrical loads the integrated multi-function node is connected to.

9. A vehicle, comprising:
at least one electrical power source;
an integrated power distribution, data network, and control architecture comprising:
a plurality of active and passive electrical loads located throughout the vehicle;
a plurality of data elements distributed throughout the vehicle, wherein each data element is either a data source, a data consumer, or both a data source and a data consumer;
a plurality of integrated multi-function nodes, wherein each integrated multi-function node comprises:
a housing;
a plurality of components that are contained within and enclosed by the housing to form a single integrated unit that is installed in and removeable from the vehicle, wherein the plurality of components are interconnected with connections that are internal to the housing, the plurality of components comprising:
power distribution (PD) components that are configured to receive electrical power from the at least one electrical power source that is external to the integrated multi-function node, wherein the PD components are configured to distribute and control the electrical power to the plurality of active and passive electrical loads that are external to the integrated multi-function node, the PD components comprising:
an electrical power input interface configured to receive an electrical power input from the at least one source external to the integrated multi-function node; and
one or more power control modules, wherein each power control module is configured to control the electrical power supplied to one or more electrical power output interfaces, wherein the one or more electrical power output interfaces are configured to supply power to the plurality of active and passive electrical loads; and

data collection and distribution (DCD) components that are configured to receive data from data sources external to the integrated multi-function node and to transmit data to data consumers external to the integrated multi-function node; and
a processor module; and
a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor module, cause the processor module to:
command the one or more power control modules that supply electrical power to the active and passive electrical loads external to the integrated multi

Assignees

• Gulfstream Aerospace Corp

Inventors

• Carleial Pedro R
• Knight Michael

Classifications

• H02J2105/32

  for aircrafts · CPC title

• H02J13/00

  Circuit arrangements for providing remote monitoring or remote control of equipment in a power distribution network · CPC title

• B64D2221/00

  Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft · CPC title

• G05B2219/25257

  Microcontroller · CPC title

• B60R16/023

  for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems · CPC title