Joseph Winkelmann

US Patent:

20080172506, Jul 17, 2008

Filed:

Sep 10, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/852706

Inventors:

Philip J. Ellerbrock - Bridgeton MO, US
Robert L. Grant - St. Peters MO, US
Daniel W. Konz - Hazelwood MO, US
Joseph P. Winkelmann - St. Peters MO, US

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

International Classification:

G06F 13/362

US Classification:

710104

Abstract:

A communications system and method are provided for digitally connecting a plurality of data channels, such as sensors, actuators, and subsystems, to a controller using a network bus. The network device interface interprets commands and data received from the controller and polls the data channels in accordance with these commands. Specifically, the network device interface receives digital commands and data from the controller, and based on these commands and data, communicates with the data channels to either retrieve data in the case of a sensor or send data to activate an actuator. Data retrieved from the sensor is converted into digital signals and transmitted to the controller. Network device interfaces associated with different data channels can coordinate communications with the other interfaces based on either a transition in a command message sent by the bus controller or a synchronous clock signal.

US Patent:

20060236351, Oct 19, 2006

Filed:

Jun 21, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/425609

Inventors:

Philip Ellerbrock - Bridgeton MO, US
Daniel Konz - Hazelwood MO, US
Joseph Winkelmann - St. Peters MO, US

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

International Classification:

H04N 5/44
H04N 7/173
H04N 7/18

US Classification:

725081000, 725100000, 348734000

Abstract:

The present invention provides a network controller that directs communications with a variety of remote devices via a common bus. The network controller includes a transmitter for transmitting messages via the common bus, and a receiver for receiving messages from the common bus. Additionally, the network controller includes a clock for providing clock signals to both the transmitter and receiver. The transmitter and receiver are selected such that the network controller is capable of selectively operating in either synchronous or asynchronous mode. In operation, the network controller is configured in either a Manchester encoding or a Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART) protocol. The transmitter transmits messages comprising a command and an address of at least one remote device. In one embodiment, the transmitter simultaneously transmits messages to a plurality of remote devices in accordance with a group address comprised of a multiple bits with each bit associated with a respective group.