USOO6664656B2

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 6,664,656 B2

Bernier (45) Date of Patent: Dec. 16, 2003

(54) AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL POWER 4,551,632 A 11/1985 Jourdan et al. .............. 307/9.1
DISTRIBUTION NETWORK 5,493,497 A 2/1996 Buus ............................. 701/4
5,570.002 A 10/1996 Castleman .................. 323/283
(75) Inventor: Alan T. Bernier, Woodinville, WA (US) 5,936,318 A 8/1999 Weiler et al.
6,046,513 A 4/2000 Jouper et al. ................. 307/31
(73) ASSignee: Its posing Company, Seattle, WA FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
EP 109963O 5/2001
(*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this FR 2.786326 5/2000
patent is extended or adjusted under 35 OTHER PUBLICATIONS
U.S.C. 154(b) by 145 days.
Todd, J.R. et al.: “Integrating fly-by-light/power-by-wire
(21) Appl. No.: 09/951,583 flight control Systems on transport aircraft, Digital Avionics
9 Systems Conference, 1993, 12' DASC., AIAA/IEE, Oct.
(22) Filed: Sep. 11, 2001 1993, pp. 457-462, XP010117028 Fort Worth, TX, USA,
O O paragraph: "Integration of fly-by-light/power-by-wire
(65) Prior Publication Data flight control Systems'; figure 4.
US 2003/0047997 A1 Mar. 13, 2003 Luis J. Feiner: “Power-by-wire aircraft secondary power
systems", Digital Avionics Systems Conference, 1993, 12"
Related U.S. Application Data DASC, Oct. 1993, pp. 439–444, XP010117031, Fort Worth,
(60) Provisional application No. 60/232,368, filed on Sep. 14, TX, USA, paragraphs: “Abstract”, “Introduction”, “Power
2000. by Wire Expected Benefits”, “Integrated Power/Data Infra
(51) Int. Cl.................................................... B60L 1/00 structure"; figures 6, 7.
(52) U.S. Cl. ........................ 307/9.1; 244/60; 24.4/75 R; * cited by examiner
244/76 R; 701/3; 307/64
(58) Field of Search .............................. 30764. 1s. 23.
307/80, 9.1, 20, 34, 42, 84, 86; 244/194,
Primary Examiner-Shawn Riley
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Conrad O. Gardner
76 R, 53 R., 60,227, 75 R; 701/3 (57) ABSTRACT
(56) References Cited A data collection network and electrical power distribution
network designed to reduce airplane wire weight and allow
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS nearly complete wiring design and installation of wiring and
3,908.935 A * 9/1975 Heintz ........................ 244/227 equipment in the major structural Sections of the airplane.
4,144,551 A 3/1979 Smith et al. .................. 361/93
4,422,180 A 12/1983 Wendt 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets

STANDARD PCBNCLUDING
TRANSDUCERS / DATABUS INTERFACES
DATA BUS

INPUT
SIGNALS
FROM LOADS

OMAN POWER
DISTRIBUTION PANEL (PDP)
ELECTRICAL POWER FROM KREMOTE POWER
ENGINE GENERATORS
BROUGHT TO AN POWER
DISTRIBUTION UNIT (RPDU)
DISTRIBUTION PANELS (PDP)

MAOR FEEDERS ROUTEPOWER ARPANE

FROM PDPTO REMOTE POWER DATABUS
DISTRIBUTION UNITS (RPDU)
REMOTE POWER DISREBUTION
UNITS ROUTEPOWERTO
ENDIVIDUAL LOADS
U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 2003 Sheet 1 of 5 US 6,664,656 B2

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U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 2003 Sheet 2 of 5 US 6,664,656 B2

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U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 2003 Sheet 3 of 5 US 6,664,656 B2

REMOTE DATA CONCENTRATORS

RDC) COLLECT DATA FROM
ENSORS, DISCRETES AND
BROADCAST THE INFORMATION
ON THE DATA BUS 7 IEEE's
-As ls

G. AT
S GSE
As P----- PT-Ru

AIRPLANE
EQUIPMENT CENTER HOUSING DATA BUS
SYSTEMS CONTROLS (EE
INDEPENDENT FEDERATED BOXES
OR INTEGRATED MODULAR AWIONCS
|MASUITE).

(Prior Art) Fig. 3

STANDARD PCB INCLUDING
TRANSDUCERS / DATA BUS INTERFACES
DATA BUS

INPUT
SIGNALS
FROM LOADS

Fig. 4
U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 2003 Sheet 4 of 5 US 6,664,656 B2

DMAIN POWER
DISTRIBUTION PANEL (PDP)
ELECTRICAL POWER FROM YKREMOTE POWER
ENGINE GENERATORS DISTRIBUTION UNIT (RPDU)
BROUGHT TO MAIN POWER
DISTRIBUTION PANELS (PDP)

MAJOR FEEDERS ROUTE POWER ARPLANE

FROM POP TO REMOTE POWER DATA BUS
DISTRIBUTION UNITS (RPDU)
REMOTE POWER DISTRIBUTION
UNITS ROUTE POWER TO
Fig. 5 INDIVIDUAL LOADS
U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 2003 Sheet 5 of 5 US 6,664,656 B2

SIANDARDPCBINCLUDING
SSPC'S CONTROLLING LOADS
& DATA BUS INTERFACE
DATA BUS

OUTPUT
POWER
TO LOADS

AC POWER INPUT DC POWER INPUT

SENSITIVE DISPLAY
CONTROL PANEL
BREAKERS GROUPED
BY FUNCTION
DATA BUS
CONNECTOR Fig. 6
 US 6,664,656 B2
1 2
AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL POWER installation effort. The architecture is shown in FIG. 2. The
DISTRIBUTION NETWORK System can be Subdivided into a data collection network and
an electrical power distribution network.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
APPLICATIONS
The data collection System utilizes remote data concen
trators (RDC), which collect data from geographic areas of
This application claims priority from Provisional Appli the aircraft and transmit that information on a bus for use by
cation Ser. No. 60/232,368, filed Sep. 14, 2000, abandoned. various System controllers on the aircraft. Electrical power
on the aircraft is transmitted from engine generators to
FIELD OF THE INVENTION centrally located Main Power Distribution Panels. Second
The present invention relates to a new data collection ary feeders distribute the electrical power to small Remote
network and electrical power distribution network designed Power Distribution Units (RPDU) which contain solid state
to reduce airplane wire weight and allow nearly complete power controllers and can be remotely turned off and on in
wiring design and installation of wiring and equipment at the response to data bus commands from the System controllers.
major Structural levels. A big advantage is the Savings in wire weight due to not
15 having to bring Sensor data all the way to the System control
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION and not having to distribute all the loads from a single
distribution point in the aircraft. By locating these remote
A conventional aircraft distribution System is depicted in data collectors and distribution units geographically close to
FIG. 1. Electrical power from engine mounted generators is their Source/destinations the aircraft wiring can be greatly
fed to a main power distribution panel (PDP), generally in Simplified and built as part of the aircraft Structural Sections
a forward E/E bay, which is co-located with the system with mainly power feeds and data buS wiring going acroSS
controllers. Electrical power is then distributed from these Structural joins.
Main power distribution panels to all the load equipment in
the aircraft. Data Sources are hardwired from Sensors all System Configuration
around the aircraft to the System controllers in the E/E bay. 25
Load control Signals are hardwired from System controllers FIG. 3 depicts the Remote Data Concentrator network.
in the E/E bay to the individual loads that need to be The network consists of RDCs's which are located about the
controlled. This System results in large complex wire aircraft geographically close to the data Sources (sensors,
bundles which run the length of the airplane in Some cases. discretes, transducers etc.). The Sensor data is digitized and
broadcast on to a System data bus to be used by any other
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION System. Lightning protection is minimized due to the
This invention is aimed at Saving distribution engineering reduced wire lengths from the Sensors in lightning Strike
and fabrication costs by Standardizing several new or modi areas to the RDC's. The RDC's are geographically close to
fied Electrical components and putting them together in a the Sensors they are connected to. Sensor information wiring
fashion which allows different model airplanes to use the 35 need no longer be run all the way from the Sensors to the
Same components connected to common electrical Sources System controllers. The Savings in wire weight, wire bundle
and data buses. The System uses Software files to control Size and associated manufacturing complexity can be real
individual configuration variations of one model and varia ized whether federated System controllers are utilized or an
tions from model to model. Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) rack concept is used. A
40 notional RDC is depicted in FIG. 4. All RDC's could be
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS identical and unique addresses of their data established
through exterior program pinning of an RDC.
FIG. 1 is the depiction of a conventional aircraft distri FIG. 5. illustrates the electrical power distribution net
bution System; work. The electrical power distribution network consists of
FIG. 2 is illustrative of system distribution architecture; 45 centrally located Power Distribution Panels (PDP), Remote
FIG. 3 shows the Remote Data Concentrator Network; Power Distribution Units (RPDU), and a Circuit Breaker
FIG. 4 is illustrative of RDCs; Control and Status (CBCS) display. All of these units are
FIG. 5 shows the electrical power distribution network; connected to a high-Speed data bus from which System/
FIG. 6 depicts a power distribution panel; manual control commands are received/executed.
FIG. 7 shows an RPDU; and,
50 The Power Distribution Panels are located centrally in the
airplane and distribute electrical power to remotely located
FIG. 8 shows the CBCS display unit. RPDU’s which are geographically located around the air
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE plane in close proximity to the electrical load equipment. A
INVENTION Power distribution panel(shown in FIG. 6) would contain
55 the Main Generator breakers and primary Distribution
A new data collection network and electrical power Buses. They would ideally be located within the pressurized
distribution network designed to reduce airplane wire weight fuselage near the leading edge of the wings to reduce the
and allow nearly complete wiring design and installation of length of the engine generator feeders. There would be one
wiring and equipment at the major structural levels (Section power distribution panel for each engine generator channel.
41, 43, 45, etc.). Reducing wire runs across major aircraft 60 Each Power Distribution Panel would consist of Main
Structural Sections would allow the airplane wiring build to generator control breakers, Bus Tie Breakers, Bus bar net
be simplified. Manufacturing and maintenance costs would work and controllable Distribution breakers to feed electri
be reduced. cal power to Remote Power Distribution Units. The PDP's
System Distribution Architecture would be connected to a high-speed data buS network to
65 receive control commands and transmit status. All PDP's
An aircraft electrical power/data distribution designed to would be identical and there would be one PDP for each
minimize and Simplify electrical wiring on aircraft and it's independent channel within the airplane. The airplane chan
 US 6,664,656 B2
3 4
nel identifier would be established by programming pin well for instance) and monitor/control the circuit breakers as
within the airplane wiring connecting to the PDP. All PDPs well as review any maintenance messages.
across the NAPD family could utilize a single part number
with minimal weight penalty to a lower capacity member of Appendix
the family. PDPs would have unique airplane load equip
ment tables loaded into NVM memory for a particular The following attached APPENDIX reviews in further
channel Such that all load circuit breaker connectivity infor detail a description of the present AIRCRAFT ELECTRI
CAL POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM and includes
mation needed by RPDUs would be read by the RPDU at the CONCLUSIONS and a list of ACRONYMS.
time the units were powered up.
Remote Power Distribution Units receive power from the 1O Introduction
Main PDPs and distribute power to individual load equip
ment. RPDUs are placed in the airplane geographically close A conventional aircraft distribution System is depicted in
to the load equipment they control and supply. An RPDU FIG. 1. Electrical power from engine mounted generators is
(shown in FIG. 7) would be a shoe box sized unit consisting fed to a main power distribution panel (PDP), generally in
of several circuit cards. Most of the circuit cards would have 15 a forward E/E bay, which is co-located with the system
several Solid State Power Controllers (SSPC) mounted on controllers. Electrical power is then distributed from these
the card. Two cards would be for redundant data bus Main power distribution panels to all the load equipment in
communication and SSPC control with respect to data bus the aircraft. Data Sources are hardwired from Sensors
commands. SSPCs would offer conventional circuit wire (temperature, pressure, position and discretes) all around the
protection, arc fault protection, and additionally would pro aircraft to the System controllers in the E/E bay. Load
vide load on/off control in response to System commands via control Signals are hardwired from System controllers in the
the databuS. Remote trip reset and circuit “collaring could E/E bay to the individual loads that need to be controlled.
also be accomplished by data bus command. AS the same This System results in large complex wire bundles, which
SSPC package can handle a range of currents, a higher run the length of the airplane in Some cases.
capacity device would be Standard and the devices would be 25 This paper describes an architecture of aircraft electrical
programmed by download of circuit information for a power/data distribution designed to minimize and Simplify
RPDU in a certain geographic location. The RPDUs require electrical wiring on aircraft and it’s installation effort. The
no active cooling. An RPDU would be automatically recon proposed architecture is shown in FIG. 2. The system can be
figured for an individual SSPC failure such that device Subdivided into a data collection network and an electrical
failure would not result in flight delays and maintenance power distribution network.
could be accomplished at the first convenient maintenance
opportunity. Each RPDU will be powered from one electri Distribution Architecture
cal bus (Left Main, Right Main, etc.). This will simplify The data collection System utilizes remote data concen
electrical separation requirements. The RPDU will be in
communication to the System by data bus So that electrical 35 trators (RDC), which collect data from geographic areas of
power will be connected or removed from the individual the aircraft and transmit that information on a bus for use by
loads as commanded from the System controller. By locating various System controllers on the aircraft. For instance flap
the RPDU near the load, aircraft wiring will be minimized. position information is Sent to an electronic unit which acts
RPDUs would be located in each of the major airplane on that information. If the flap lever is selected to deploy to
Sections. More RPDUs would be located where there is a 40 flaps to Some position the electronic unit will command the
higher concentration of loads. This could minimize the flaps to the desired position.
wiring being routed acroSS major aircraft Sections to: power Electrical power on the aircraft is transmitted from engine
feeders supplying the RPDUs and the data bus wiring. All generators to centrally located Main Power Distribution
RPDUs would be identical, and there would be as many Panels. Secondary feeders distribute the electrical power to
RPDUs in each electrical channel as required to supply all 45 small Remote Power Distribution Units (RPDU) which
load equipment for that channel. The RPDUs would have contain Solid State power controllers and can be remotely
common part numbers across the NAPD family turned off and on in response to data bus commands from the
The CBCS (FIG. 8) is a display unit located in the System controllers. The big advantage is the Savings in wire
Electronics bay with another unit possible located in the weight due to not having to bring Sensor data all the way to
airplane cockpit. The function of this unit will be to review 50 the System control and not having to distribute all the loads
circuit breaker status (Open, Closed, Tripped), to remotely from a Single distribution point in the aircraft. By locating
Set tripped circuits and to remotely de-power and collar these remote data collectors and distribution units geo
electronic circuit breakers for maintenance purposes Such as graphically close to their Source/destinations the aircraft
remove and replacing load equipment. The cockpit unit wiring can be greatly simplified and built as part of the
would be used to provide Status/reset capability to Some Set 55 aircraft Structural Sections with mainly power feeds and data
of loads, which are deemed to need to be reset in the event buS wiring going acroSS Structural joins.
of a trip in flight. On the ground they would provide the System Configuration
Same interface as the unit located in the electronicS bay. For
dispatch purposes one could call up a page to Verify that all FIG. 3 depicts the Remote Data Concentrator network.
breakers were engaged and circuit protection was operative 60 The network consists of RDCs, which are located about the
or that certain circuits were “collared’ open. For mainte aircraft geographically close to the data Sources (sensors,
nance purposes circuit breakers would be grouped on the discretes, transducers etc.). The Sensor data is digitized and
Screen by System function So that one could de-power the broadcast on to a System data bus to be used by any other
proper breakers from the Screen to facilitate a maintenance System. Lightning protection is minimized due to the
action. There could be remote data bus access ports from 65 reduced wire lengths from the Sensors in lightning Strike
which a mechanic with a portable display could plug into the areas to the RDCs. The RDCs are geographically close to the
data bus near a major load center he was working on (wheel Sensors they are connected to. Sensor information wiring
 US 6,664,656 B2
S 6
need no longer be run all the way from the Sensors to the Main, Right FIG. 6. Power Distribution Panel (PDP) Main,
System controllers. The Savings in wire weight, wire bundle etc.). This will simplify electrical Separation requirements.
Size and associated manufacturing complexity can be real The RPDU will be in communication to the system by data
ized whether federated System controllers are utilized or an bus so that electrical power will be connected or removed
Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) concept is used. The from the individual loads as commanded from the System
IMA concept uses generic I/O and Microprocessor modules controller. By locating the RPDU near the load, aircraft
in a cabinet to control multiple systems. A notional RDC is wiring will be minimized. RPDUs would be located in each
depicted in FIG. 4. All RDC's could be identical and unique of the major airplane sections. More RPDUs would be
addresses of their data established through exterior program located where there is a higher concentration of loads. This
wiring of an RDC. could minimize the wiring being routed acroSS major aircraft
FIG. 5. illustrates the electrical power distribution net sections to: power feeders supplying the RPDUs and the
work. The electrical power distribution network consists of data bus wiring. All RPDUs would be identical, and there
centrally located Power Distribution Panels (PDP), Remote would be as many RPDUs in each electrical channel as
Power Distribution Units (RPDU), and a Circuit Breaker required to Supply all load equipment for that channel. The
Control and Status (CBCS) display. All of these units are 15 RPDUs would have common part numbers across the air
connected to a high-Speed data bus from which System/ craft family
manual control commands are received/executed. The CBCS (FIG. 8) is a display unit located in the
The Power Distribution Panels are located centrally in the Electronics bay with another unit possible located in the
airplane and distribute electrical power to remotely located airplane cockpit. The function of this unit will be to review
RPDUs, which are geographically located around the air circuit breaker status (Open, Closed, Tripped), to remotely
plane in close proximity to the electrical load equipment. Set tripped circuits and to remotely de-power and collar
A Power distribution panel (shown in FIG. 6) would electronic circuit breakers for maintenance purposes Such as
contain the Main Generator breakers and primary Distribu remove and replacing load equipment. The cockpit unit
tion Buses. They would ideally be located within the pres would be used to provide Status/reset capability to Some Set
Surized fuselage near the leading edge of the wings to reduce 25 of loads, which are deemed to need to be reset in the event
the length of the engine generator feeders. There would be of a trip in flight. On the ground they would provide the
one power distribution panel for each engine generator Same interface as the unit located in the electronicS bay. For
channel. Each Power Distribution Panel would consist of: dispatch purposes one could call up a page to Verify that all
Main generator control breakers, Bus Tie Breakers, Bus bar breakers were engaged and circuit protection was operative
network and controllable Distribution breakers to feed elec or that certain circuits were “collared’ open. For mainte
trical power to Remote Power Distribution Units. The PDPs nance purposes circuit breakers would be grouped on the
would be connected to a high-Speed data buS network to Screen by System function So that one could de-power the
receive control commands and transmit status. All PDPS proper breakers from the Screen to facilitate a maintenance
would be identical and there would be one PDP for each action. There could be remote data bus access ports from
independent channel within the airplane. The airplane chan 35 which a mechanic with a portable display could plug into the
nel identifier would be established by program wiring within data bus near a major load center he was working on (wheel
the airplane connecting to the PDP. All PDPs across the well for instance) and monitor/control the circuit breakers as
aircraft family could utilize a Single part number with well as review any maintenance messages.
minimal weight penalty to a lower capacity member of the The benefits this advanced distribution system will pro
family. PDPs would have unique airplane load equipment 40
vide over conventional distribution Systems include:
tables loaded into NVM memory for a particular channel Reduced aircraft wiring, Reduced Shielding length
Such that all load circuit breaker connectivity information requirements, Simpler physical Separation for meeting Sys
needed by RPDUs would be read by the RPDU at the time tem Separation requirements and easier build and repair of
the units were powered up. Remote Power Distribution aircraft wiring during manufacturing or repair.
Units receive power from the Main PDPs and distribute 45
power to individual load equipment. RPDUs are placed in Components
the airplane geographically close to the load equipment they
control and supply. An RPDU (shown in FIG. 7) would be Remote Data Concentrators are depicted in FIG. 4. The
a Shoebox-sized unit consisting of Several circuit cards. mix and type of analog signals would be decided early on by
Most of the circuit cards would have several Solid State 50 a Systems team Such that most all-analog data types would
Power Controllers (SSPC) mounted on the card. Two cards be standardized. Sensors for a new family of systems would
would be for redundant data bus communication and SSPC be required to conform to the standards. The RDC would
control with respect to data bus commands. SSPCs would take the analog data, and broadcast the Scaled data on the
offer conventional circuit wire protection, arc fault data bus along with the input address (input pins from which
protection, and additionally would provide load on/off con 55 data came) and the RDC address (Physical wiring pins
trol in response to System commands via the databuS. which identify one RDC location from another) to give each
Remote trip reset and circuit “collaring could also be Sensor a unique address.
accomplished by data bus command. As the same SSPC Main Power Distribution Panels (PDP) are illustrated in
package can handle a range of currents, a higher capacity FIG. 6. The panels house high capacity (Generator Circuit
device would be standard and the devices would be pro 60 Breaker, Bus-Tie-Breaker) and medium capacity (RPDU
grammed by download of circuit information for a RPDU in feeds) contactors. They would utilize molded busbars to
a certain geographic location. The RPDUS require no active connect electrical power circuits in a Safe and Volume
cooling. An RPDU would be automatically reconfigured for efficient manner. They would be connected to the System
an individual SSPC failure Such that device failure would data buses to receive control inputs and to broadcast System
not result in flight delays and maintenance could be accom 65 Status. Load connectivity data for individual airplane loads
plished at the first convenient maintenance opportunity. would be loaded into memory of the PDP. Upon power up
Each RPDU will be powered from one electrical bus (Left RDPUs would read their load connectivity from the PDP
 US 6,664,656 B2
7 8
allowing the RPDU to directly control electrical power to providing remote power distribution unit located near the
individual loads. center of electrical load equipment for each of Said
Remote Power Distribution Units (RPDU) illustrated in power distribution panels,
FIG. 7 are at the center of the distribution system. These providing at least one data communication network
units are envisioned to be about the size of a shoebox between Said power distribution panel and Said remote
populated with Several circuit cards containing perhaps 6 to power distribution units and, each of Said power dis
8 Solid State Power Controllers each. Two cards would be tribution panels housing high capacity and medium
for redundant dedicated System Data bus communications. capacity RPDU feeds contractors and a memory for
loading load connectivity data for individual airplane
Circuit Breaker Control and Status Display (CBCS), loads whereupon power up RPDU reads load connec
illustrated in FIG. 8 would normally provide status infor tivity from the power distribution panel thereby allow
mation on electronic circuit breaker State (Open/Closed). ing the RPDU to directly control electrical power to
One would be located in the electronics bay to facilitate individual loads.
maintenance of the aircraft. A display in the cockpit could 3. An electrical power distribution network in an aircraft
utilize an existing display to allow reset of the Subset of 15 comprising in combination:
circuits required to be reset in flight. a plurality of power distribution panels (PDP);
Ideally the architecture for the data concentration and each of Said power distribution panels housing high
electrical power distribution networks is developed by joint capacity and medium capacity RPDU feeds contractors
aircraft and Supplier teams. Specifications for the individual and a memory for loading load connectivity data for
components are accomplished through ARINC Standards. individual airplane loads whereupon power up RPDU
Conclusion reads load connectivity from the power distribution
panel thereby allowing the RPDU to directly control
The remote Data Concentrator network used in conjunc electrical power to individual loads,
tion with the Remote Power Distribution network would a plurality of remote power distribution units (RPDU);
greatly reduce aircraft wiring length, weight complexity and 25
a circuit breaker control and status display (CBCS);
installation cost. Aircraft Structural Sections could be wired
prior to Section joins with only a Small number of wires said plurality of power distribution panels (PDP), said
required to go acroSS Structural joins. This would result in plurality of remote power distribution units (RPDU),
Significantly reduced installation time during integration and Said circuit breaker control and Status display
assembly thus reducing manufacturing costs. The aircraft (CBCS) connected to a high-speed data bus for receiv
wiring System would also now be easier to repair and ing and executing System/manual control commands.
troubleshoot, lowering airline maintenance costs. A large 4. In combination in an electrical power distribution
network:
number of the individual components of this integrated a plurality of power distribution panels PDP) located
System would be identical acroSS the aircraft family allowing centrally in an aircraft for distributing power to
for reduced spares holding costs for the airlines. 35
remotely located remote power distribution units
Acronyms (RPDU) located around the aircraft in close proximity
CBCS Circuit Breaker Control and Status
to electrical load equipment;
E/E Electronic Equipment each of said power distribution panels (PDP) comprising
IMA Integrated Modular Avionics 40
main generator breakers and primary distribution
PDP Power Distribution Panel buses,
RDC Remote Data Concentrator said power distribution panels (PDP) located within the
RPDU Remote Power Distribution Unit preSSurized fuselage near the leading edge of the wings
SSPC Solid State Power Controller of the aircraft to reduce the length of the engine
What is claimed is: 45 generator feeders,
1. An aircraft electrical power distribution network com one of each of Said power distribution panels associated
prising in combination: with each engine generator channel;
a data collection network including a plurality of Sensors, each of said power distribution panels (PDP) comprising
an electrical power distribution network, main generator control breakers, bus tie breakers, a bus
50 bar network and controllable distribution breakers to
Said data collection network comprising a plurality of data feed electrical power to Said remote power distribution
concentrators (RDC); units (RPDU);
a plurality of System controllers, said power distribution panels (PDP) connected to a
Said data collection network comprising Said data con high-speed data bus network to receive control com
centrators collecting Sensor data from various locations 55 mands and transmit Status, and,
in the aircraft and transmitting Said data on a bus for each independent channel within the aircraft comprising a
utilization by Said plurality of System controllers, and single identical power distribution unit (PDP).
Said data concentrators responsive to analog data and 5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein said remote
broadcasting Scaled data on Said bus with input address power distribution units (RPDU) comprise several circuit
and RDC address thereby providing each of said plu 60 cards including a plurality of Solid State power controllers
rality of Sensors with a unique address. (SSPC) mounted on the card, two of said cards providing
2. A method of configuring an electrical power distribu redundant data bus communication and (SSPC) control with
tion System topology for a particular airplane configuration respect to data bus commands, and each of Said remote
from a plurality of configurations comprising the Steps of: power distribution units (RPDU) powered from one electri
providing at least one generating means, 65 cal bus.
providing a main electrical power distribution panel for
each of Said power generating means,