Methods and systems for communicatively coupling vehicles and ground systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9436569-B2
Application number	US-201313968761-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2013
Priority date	Aug 16, 2013
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

Methods and systems for communicating data between a vehicle and a ground system are described. The system includes an integrated power and communications connector that couples to the vehicle so that power is supplied to at least selected systems on-board the vehicle. In addition, data is communicated between the vehicle on-board systems and the ground system via the integrated connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of communicating data between a vehicle and a ground system, said method comprising:
coupling an on-board pin having a power portion and an optical fiber communication portion to a ground system socket having a power portion and an optical fiber communication portion;
providing power to an on-board system via the power portions of the pin and socket; and
communicating data between the on-board system and the ground system via the optical fiber communication portions of the pin and socket.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein coupling the on-board pin and the ground system socket comprises manually connecting a first connector including the socket to a second connector including the pin.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the on-board system collects data from a plurality of monitors onboard the vehicle.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the data communicated between the on-board system and the ground system comprises at least one of advanced avionics data, in-flight entertainment system data, catering system data, passenger system data, and engine monitoring data.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of wireless communication and power line communication occur while communicating data via the optical fiber communication portions of the on-board pin and the ground system socket.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein at least one of wireless communication and power line communication are used as a fail-over mode in the event the optical fiber communication fails.

7. A system for communicating with a vehicle on-board system of a vehicle, said system comprising:
a ground sub-system for providing power to and communicating with the vehicle on-board system, said ground sub-system comprising an integrated power and communications connector couplable to an on-board connector coupled to the vehicle, said integrated power and communications connector comprising:
a socket configured to engage a pin having an outer conductive portion coupled to electrical conductors and an inner communications portion comprising an optical fiber coextensive with an end of the outer conductive portion;

wherein, when said integrated power and communications connector and the on-board connector are coupled together, power is supplied via the outer conductive portion to the vehicle on-board system, and data is communicated between the vehicle on-board system and said ground sub-system via the optical fiber.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein the pin and said are coupled together by pushing said socket over said pin.

9. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein the on-board system collects data from a plurality of monitors on-board the vehicle.

10. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein the data communicated between the vehicle on-board system and the ground sub-system comprises at least one of advanced avionics data, in-flight entertainment system data, catering system data, passenger system data, and engine monitoring data.

11. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein at least one of wireless communication and power line communication occur while communicating data via the optical fiber communication portions of said pin and said socket.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein at least one of wireless communication and power line communication are used as a fail-over mode in the event the optical fiber communication fails.

13. A connector pin comprising:
an outer conductive portion having an end configured to engage a socket, said outer conductive portion configured to conduct electric power; and
an inner communications portion, said inner communications portion comprising an optical fiber coextensive with said end of said outer conductive portion.

14. A connector pin in accordance with claim 13 wherein said outer conductive portion is hollow and said optical fiber is positioned within said outer conductive portion.

15. A connector pin in accordance with claim 13 further comprising threads for threadedly engaging said pin to a connector housing.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Lee Donald B
• Ward Brian Edward
• Mitchell Timothy M

Classifications

• G06F1/32

  Means for saving power · CPC title

• G02B6/3817 Primary

  containing optical and electrical conductors (cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F11/3013

  where the computing system is an embedded system, i.e. a combination of hardware and software dedicated to perform a certain function in mobile devices, printers, automotive or aircraft systems (testing or monitoring of control systems or parts thereof G05B23/02) · CPC title

• H01R27/02

  for simultaneous co-operation with two or more {dissimilar} counterparts · CPC title

• G06F11/30 Primary

  Monitoring · CPC title