Systems and methods for testing arm and fire devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10197611-B2
Application number	US-201615160046-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2016
Priority date	May 20, 2016
Publication date	Feb 5, 2019
Grant date	Feb 5, 2019

Abstract

Systems and methods for testing an Arm and Fire Device (AFD). The system includes an AFD arm controller and a first power supply coupled to the AFD controller to provide arming power to the AFD controller. The system further includes a monitoring module coupled to the AFD controller through a plurality of means of isolation and communication. The monitoring module may include one or more monitor circuits for the AFD to test at least one circuit in the AFD, at least one circuit external to the AFD, or combination. The system further includes at least one output for the AFD to provide data from the monitoring module. The system may further include a first switch to control the monitoring module is powered and a second switch to control power to the AFD arm module. The system can include an input for applying data to the AFD.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A system comprising:
an arm and fire device (AFD) arm/fire module having arm control circuits and an arm/fire circuit, wherein the arm control circuits are coupled to the arm/fire circuit through one or more arming switches;
a monitoring module coupled to the AFD arm/fire module through a plurality of means of isolation, wherein the monitoring module is powered by a first power supply, the monitoring module includes one or more circuit monitors for monitoring continuity of a first signal path to the arm control circuits in the AFD arm/fire module and for monitoring a status of at least one of the arm control circuits in the AFD arm/fire module, and wherein the monitoring module includes a first switch for controlling power from the first power supply to the one or more circuit monitors in the monitoring module; and
a second power supply coupled to the AFD arm/fire module to provide arming power to the AFD arm/fire module, wherein the first power supply is coupled to a second signal path between the second power supply and the AFD arm/fire module through one or more voltage steering devices, and wherein the one or more voltage steering devices are configured to control a flow of power between the first power supply and the second power supply and the AFD arm/fire module.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of means of isolation comprise:
a first means of isolation disposed between a first circuit monitor in the monitoring module and a first mating circuit in the AFD arm/fire module; and
a second means of isolation disposed between a second circuit monitor in the monitoring module and a second mating circuit in the AFD arm/fire module.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein:
the first means of isolation is configured to isolate the first circuit monitor from the first mating circuit in the AFD arm/fire module; and
the second means of isolation is configured to isolate the second circuit monitor from the second mating circuit in the AFD arm/fire module.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein:
the first means of isolation is configured to provide communication of input data to the first mating circuit in the AFD arm/fire module; and
the second means of isolation is configured to provide communication of input data to the second mating circuit in the AFD arm/fire module.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring module is coupled to an external circuit and the first power supply is provided from the external circuit to the monitoring module through the first switch.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first switch controls application of the first power supply to at least one of the one or more circuit monitors in the monitoring module.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a voltage inversion circuit to generate a continuity signal having a voltage polarity different from the polarity of a control signal to the AFD arm/fire module.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more voltage steering devices are configured to provide at least one path for measuring continuity to at least one external circuit to at least one of the arm control circuits in the AFD arm/fire module and prevent a continuity signal from activating the at least one of the arm control circuits.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring module is configured to control activation of the second power supply to the AFD arm/fire module as a result of a first test of continuity of the first signal path to the arm control circuits, a second test of a status of at least one of the arm control circuits, or combination of both.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second switch coupled to the second power supply and a start launch sequence monitor coupled to the second switch, wherein the start launch sequence monitor is configured to control operation of the second switch responsive to a result of a test of at least one of the one or more circuit monitors.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a high voltage monitor coupled to at least one of the one or more circuit monitors, wherein the high voltage monitor is configured to detect a status of a capacitor coupled to an initiator in the AFD arm/fire module.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the AFD arm/fire module includes at least one of a fuze, an Electronic Safe and Arm Device (ESAD), an Electronic Safe, Arm and Fire device (ESAF), an Ignition Safety Device (ISD), and a Safe and Arm Device (SAD).

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more circuit monitors comprises:
an intent to launch detector configured to detect an intent to launch condition; and
a power delay module coupled to the intent to launch detector, wherein the power delay module is configured to delay the first power supply to the AFD arm/fire module until after a launch event; and
an intent to launch control switch coupled to an input to the monitoring module, wherein the intent to launch control switch is configured to control application of the second power supply to the arm control circuits.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of means of isolation and communication comprises:
a third means of isolation disposed between the intent to launch detector in the monitoring module and a post launch detector in the AFD arm/fire module; and
a fourth means of isolation disposed between the power delay module in the monitoring module and a second intent to launch detector in the AFD arm/fire module.

15. A method for testing an Arm and Fire Device (AFD), the method comprising:
employing one or more means of isolation disposed between an AFD arm/fire module and a monitoring module, wherein the monitoring module is coupled to a first power supply and the AFD arm/fire module is coupled to a second power supply, wherein the one or more means of isolation are configured to couple arm control circuits in the AFD arm/fire module to the monitoring module in a closed position and isolate the arm control circuits in the AFD arm/fire module from the monitoring module in an open position;
controlling a flow of power between the first power supply and the second power supply and the AFD arm/fire module through one or more voltage steering devices, wherein the first power supply is coupled to a second signal path between the second power supply and the AFD arm/fire module through the one or more voltage steering devices;
providing a continuity signal via a first signal path to the monitoring module responsive to employing the one or more means of isolation, wherein the arm control circuits in the AFD arm/fire module and the monitoring module are coupled to the first signal path, and wherein the one or more means of isolation prevents the continuity signal from powering the arm control circuits in the AFD arm/fire module; and
verifying a connection to the monitoring module using the continuity signal.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising generating the continuity signal with a first voltage polarity, and performing a continuity test between the monitoring module and an external circuit to the AFD arm/fire module.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising providing a power signal to the external circuit via the first signal path, wherein the power signal has a second voltage polarity, and wherein the second voltage polarity is opposite the first voltage polarity.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising controlling activation of the power signal to the AFD arm/fire module responsive to a result of the continuity test between the monitoring module and the external circuit

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Biggs Bradley M

Classifications

• F42C21/00

  Checking fuzes; Testing fuzes · CPC title

• G01R31/40

  Testing power supplies (testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10) · CPC title

• F42B35/00

  Testing or checking of ammunition {(apparatus for measuring the energy of projectiles G01L5/14)} · CPC title

• F42D1/05

  Electric circuits for blasting · CPC title

• H02J9/061

  for DC powered loads · CPC title