Multiple input release mechanism for deployable emergency locator transmitter and flight recorder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10227136-B1
Application number	US-201715794972-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 26, 2017
Priority date	Oct 26, 2017
Publication date	Mar 12, 2019
Grant date	Mar 12, 2019

Abstract

Various systems may benefit from appropriate triggers to action. For example, various deployable safety devices, such as emergency locator transmitters and flight recorders, may benefit from a multiple input release mechanism. A method can include identifying the presence of at least one crash indicator. The method can also include performing an analysis of aircraft distress based on aircraft parameters other than the at least one crash indicator to provide an analysis result of aircraft distress. The method can further include triggering the release of a safety device contingent upon the presence of the at least one crash indicator being accompanied by a positive result of aircraft distress.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method, comprising:
identifying the presence of at least one crash indicator;
performing an analysis of aircraft distress based on aircraft parameters other than the at least one crash indicator to provide an analysis result of aircraft distress; and
triggering the release of a safety device contingent upon the presence of the at least one crash indicator being accompanied by a positive result of aircraft distress.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the safety device comprises at least one of an emergency locater transmitter, a crash position indicator, or an automatic deployable flight recorder.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one crash indicator comprises a sensor output of a frangible link, a hydrostatic switch, or a g switch.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft parameters comprise a plurality of bank angle, vertical speed, acceleration, ground proximity, terrain warning, cabin altitude warning, traffic warning, or collision warning.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the release of the safety device is permitted only when the presence of the at least one crash indicator is accompanied by a positive result of aircraft distress.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the release of the safety device is permitted even when the presence of the at least one crash indicator is not accompanied by a positive result of aircraft distress, as long as a manual activation switch is activated.

7. An apparatus, comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including computer program code,
wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
identify the presence of at least one crash indicator;
perform an analysis of aircraft distress based on aircraft parameters other than the at least one crash indicator to provide an analysis result of aircraft distress; and
trigger the release of a safety device contingent upon the presence of the at least one crash indicator being accompanied by a positive result of aircraft distress.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the safety device comprises at least one of an emergency locater transmitter, a crash position indicator, or an automatic deployable flight recorder.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one crash indicator comprises a sensor output of a frangible link, a hydrostatic switch, or a g switch.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the aircraft parameters comprise a plurality of bank angle, vertical speed, acceleration, ground proximity, terrain warning, cabin altitude warning, traffic warning, or collision warning.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the release of the safety device is permitted only when the presence of the at least one crash indicator is accompanied by a positive result of aircraft distress.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the release of the safety device is permitted even when the presence of the at least one crash indicator is not accompanied by a positive result of aircraft distress, as long as a manual activation switch is activated.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed in hardware, perform a process, the process comprising:
identifying the presence of at least one crash indicator;
performing an analysis of aircraft distress based on aircraft parameters other than the at least one crash indicator to provide an analysis result of aircraft distress; and
triggering the release of a safety device contingent upon the presence of the at least one crash indicator being accompanied by a positive result of aircraft distress.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the safety device comprises at least one of an emergency locater transmitter, a crash position indicator, or an automatic deployable flight recorder.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the at least one crash indicator comprises a sensor output of a frangible link, a hydrostatic switch, or a g-switch.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the aircraft parameters comprise a plurality of bank angle, vertical speed, acceleration, ground proximity, terrain warning, cabin altitude warning, traffic warning, or collision warning.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the release of the safety device is permitted only when the presence of the at least one crash indicator is accompanied by a positive result of aircraft distress.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the release of the safety device is permitted even when the presence of the at least one crash indicator is not accompanied by a positive result of aircraft distress, as long as a manual activation switch is activated.

Assignees

• L3 Tech Inc

Inventors

• Waggener Jr William N
• Weed Michael E

Classifications

• B64D2045/0065

  Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals · CPC title

• G07C5/085

  using electronic data carriers · CPC title

• B64D25/20 Primary

  Releasing of crash-position indicators · CPC title

• G07C5/0841

  Registering performance data (recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B) · CPC title

• B64D45/00 Primary

  Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for · CPC title