Abstract:
Modular wireless switch system for use in an aircraft, which may include an integrated LED backlight. The system includes a master module having a power supply, a switch, and a wireless communicator configured to communicate a switch state. The system also includes a slave module connectible to the master module, which has a second switch and which is configured to communicate a second switch state using the wireless communicator. All wireless communications may be handled by the master module using a protocol such as ZigBee™. All communications from the slave module may be transmitted to the master module via a wired bus. Additional slave modules are connectible to the bus as desired.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a wireless switch module, and, more specifically, relates to a modular wireless switch system for use in an aircraft, having an integrated LED backlight. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Aircraft and other complex vehicles include many systems which are controlled by the pilot or another crew member during operations. Such systems may provide any number of functions, including flight control and cabin environmental systems. Although some systems are located nearby to the pilot&#39;s controls, other systems are situated in remote locations of the aircraft. 
         [0003]    Aircraft switch design, like the design of other aircraft components, is complicated by space, mounting, and weight requirements. In order to address these issues, aircraft systems may be designed to eliminate or reduce the number of certain components. Wiring in an aircraft, for example, may be reduced or eliminated by incorporating local wireless communications in some applications. 
         [0004]    By using wireless switches, for example, it is possible to avoid routing and weight problems presented by traditional wiring, particularly where a switched system is disposed in a part of the aircraft remote from the switch. 
         [0005]    However typical aircraft systems include many switched systems. Because of this, using a separate radio transceiver for each switch on a given panel can create design problems. These problems may include increased expense and/or increased complexity. 
         [0006]    A particular problem in designing a system using multiple radio transceivers is radio interference. If each of a number of switches is communicating wirelessly within an aircraft, their signals may interfere with one another, potentially resulting in faulty or delayed switching. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, the radio signals may interfere with the aircraft&#39;s internal and external communications, including voice and data communications. Because radio communications are critical to the operation of an aircraft, such interference could result in safety problems. 
         [0008]    Another consideration in designing aircraft switches is usability. Despite automatic control systems in modern aircraft, the attention of a pilot is consumed by a heavy workload. Accordingly, visibility and ease of use are important design considerations. 
         [0009]    It is therefore desired to provide a switching system that addresses these issues. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a modular wireless switching system. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a switching system that is easy to operate. 
         [0011]    These and other objectives are achieved by providing an aircraft switch system that includes a master module having a power supply, a switch, and, a wireless communicator configured to communicate a switch state; and, a slave module connectible to the master module, which has a second switch and which is configured to communicate a second switch state using the wireless communicator. 
         [0012]    In some implementations, a second slave module is connectible to the slave module, has a third switch, and is configured to communicate a third switch state using the wireless communicator. 
         [0013]    The master module and the slave module may be connectible to a bus. Optionally, the slave module is configured to communicate the second switch state to the wireless communicator using the bus. Optionally, the slave module is configured to draw power from the power supply using the bus. Optionally, the bus complies with an I 2 C protocol. 
         [0014]    The master module may be connectible to an aircraft wiring harness, and the power supply is configured to draw power from the aircraft wiring harness. 
         [0015]    The wireless communicator may include a radio transceiver. The wireless communicator may be configured to comprise at least a part of a WPAN, and may comply with an IEEE 802 standard. Optionally, the wireless communicator complies with a ZigBee, WiFi, or Bluetooth standard. 
         [0016]    The wireless communicator may be configured to transmit a switch state to a switched device. Optionally, the master module may be configured to receive a device state from a device using the wireless communicator, and the slave module may be configured to receive a second device state from a second device using the wireless communicator. Optionally, the master and/or slave module may be configured to indicate a device state using an LED. 
         [0017]    In some implementations, the switch is a touch-activated switch, and optionally may be a capacitive switch. The switch may be backlit, and there may be an overlay covering the switch. The overlay may be translucent, and may be illuminated by an LED. The LED may be configured to illuminate the overlay to indicate status information. This status information may include the switch state and/or a device state. 
         [0018]    In some implementations, the slave module is connectible to the master module using alignment pegs. The alignment pegs may align an electrical connection between the master module and the slave module. A second slave module may also be connectable to the slave module using mounting pegs. 
         [0019]    Other objects of the invention and its particular features and advantages will become more apparent from consideration of the following drawings and accompanying detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example switching system. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the switching system shown in  FIG. 1 , including additional features. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b , and  3   c  are side and elevation views of a master module shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b , and  4   c  are side and elevation views of a slave module shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a partially exploded three-dimensional view of the system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a partially exploded three-dimensional view of the system shown in  FIG. 1 , including additional features. 
           [0026]      FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  are exploded views of a master module shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  are exploded views of a slave module shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of components of a module shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example switching system  100  according to aspects of the invention. Switching system  100  includes a master module  110  and a slave module  120 . 
         [0030]    Master module  110  includes an input/output (“I/O”) interface  130 , an aircraft interface  135 , a power supply  140 , a controller  145 , a radio transceiver  150 , a driver  155 , and a switch  160 . 
         [0031]    Switch  160  may include any type of suitable switch known in the art. Preferably, switch  160  is a capacitive touch switch. When switch  160  is actuated, driver  155  transmits a switching signal to a switched device (not shown) using transceiver  150 . Optionally, driver  155  may receive an acknowledgement signal from the switched device via transceiver  150 , which may optionally be used to activate a status indicator (not shown). 
         [0032]    Transceiver  150  may include any type of suitable radio transceiver. Transceiver  150  may be configured to facilitate or become a party to a Wireless Personal Area Network (“WPAN”). Preferably, transceiver  150  is a small, inexpensive, low-power, digital transceiver that supports secure networking. Transceiver  150  may be based on an IEEE 802 standard for personal area networks, and preferably, transceiver  150  conforms to part or all of the ZigBee™ specification. 
         [0033]    Aircraft interface  135  is configured to connect with an aircraft wiring harness (not shown) when installed in an aircraft, although those having skill in the art will understand that aircraft interface  135  may be adapted to or connected to other types of interfaces in various applications. Power supply  140  receives power from the harness via aircraft interface  135 . Power supply  140  is configured to distribute power to the other components of master module  110 . Optionally, the components of master module  110  may be designed to receive power directly from the harness via aircraft interface  135 , in which case power supply  140  may be omitted. 
         [0034]    Slave module  120  includes an input/output (“IO”) interface  165 , a driver  170 , and switches  175 ,  180 ,  185 . Slave module  120  communicates with master module  110  over bus  190  using I/O interfaces  165  and  130 . 
         [0035]    Bus  190  may be any suitable wired communications bus known in the art that is capable of communicating power and data. All of the powered components of slave module  120  may receive power from power supply  140  over bus  190 . Communications over bus  190  may be controlled and arbitrated by controller  145 . Bus  190  is preferably configured to operate under part or all of the Inter-Integrated Circuit™ (“I 2 C”) or “two-wire” interface protocol. 
         [0036]    Switches  175 ,  180 ,  185  may be any type of suitable switch known in the art, and may be identical or substantially identical to switch  160 . When any of switches  175 ,  180 ,  185  are actuated, driver  170  transmits a switching signal to a switched device (not shown) using transceiver  150 . This switching signal is transmitted from a given switch  175 ,  180 ,  185  to transceiver  150  using bus  190 . Optionally, driver  170  may receive an acknowledgement signal from the switched device via transceiver  150 , which may optionally be used to activate a status indicator (not shown). 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of system  100 , showing additional features according to aspects of the invention. Master module  110  and slave module  120  are shown configured in the same way as shown and described with respect to  FIG. 1 , except that an additional slave module  120 ′ is in communication with bus  190 . 
         [0038]    Slave module  120  includes an I/O interface  165 ′ and driver  175 ′, and switches  175 ′,  180 ′, and  185 ′. Slave module  120 ′ operates and communicates with master module  110  in the same way as slave module  120 . Slave module  120 ′ and/or its components may be identical or substantially identical to the slave module  120  and its corresponding components. 
         [0039]    In principle, any desired number of additional slave modules (not shown) may be added to system  100 , subject only to the limitations of the power and communications components of master module  110 . 
         [0040]      FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b , and  3   c  are side and elevation views of master module  110  according to aspects of the invention.  FIGS. 3   b  and  3   c  show alignment features  300  disposed on master module  110 . 
         [0041]      FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b , and  4   c  are side and elevation views of master module  110  according to aspects of the invention.  FIGS. 4   b  and  4   c  show alignment features  300 ′ disposed on slave module  130  that are identical or substantially identical to alignment features  300  shown and described with respect  FIGS. 3   b  and  3   c .  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  show alignment features  400  which are counterparts to features  300  and  300 ′. 
         [0042]    Alignment features  300 ,  300 ′, and  400  are constructed such that they assist in physically connecting slave module  120  to master module  110  and/or to other slave modules (e.g.  120 ′ shown in  FIG. 2 ). Optionally, alignment features  300 ,  300 ′, and  400  are constructed such that they align I/O  130  with I/O  165  in a proper orientation. This can have the advantage of improving structural rigidity of the finished assembly, and of preventing damage to the I/O components during assembly or due to improper electrical connections. As shown in system  100 , alignment features  300 ,  300 ′ and  400  are implemented as peg-and-hole connectors. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other structures may be used. 
         [0043]      FIG. 5  is a partially exploded three-dimensional view of system  100  according to aspects of the invention, illustrating an orientation for physically connecting master module  110  and slave module  120 . Lines  500  indicate the axis of insertion of the various alignment features. 
         [0044]      FIG. 6  is a partially exploded three-dimensional view of system  100  according to aspects of the invention, illustrating an orientation for connecting master module  110  and slave modules  120 ,  120 ′ and  120 ″. 
         [0045]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate system  100  as having the potential to provide a simple, robust, cost-effective, and modular switching panel by ganging together additional slave modules. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  are exploded views of master module  110 , illustrating one possible assembly according to aspects of the invention. Switch board  700  may include switch  160 , and any other additional switches desired. Power board  710  may include aircraft interface  135 , power supply  140 , and driver  155 . Control board  720  may include controller  145 , transceiver  150 , and I/O  130 . Switch board  700 , power board  710 , and control board  720  may be assembled as shown within housing half-shells  750  and  750 ′. Those having skill in the art will understand that there are various ways of assembling and interconnecting these components without departing from the invention. 
         [0047]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  are exploded views of slave module  110 , illustrating one possible assembly according to aspects of the invention. Switch board  800  may include switches  175 ,  180 ,  185 . Switch board  800  may be identical or substantially identical to switch board  700 . Driver board  810  may include driver  170 . I/O board  820  may include I/O  165 . Switch board  800 , driver board  810 , and I/O board  820  may be assembled as shown within housing half-shells  850  and  850 ′. Those having skill in the art will understand that there are various ways of assembling and interconnecting these components without departing from the invention. 
         [0048]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of switch board  800  according to aspects of the invention. 
         [0049]    Switch board  800 ′ includes switches  175 ,  180 ,  185 , as well as LEDs  900 . LEDs  900  may be side-firing LEDs, and are disposed such that they do not obstruct switches  175 ,  180 ,  185 . 
         [0050]    Diffuser panel  800 ″ includes an opaque silicone holder  910  which is embedded with translucent silicone diffusers  175 ′  180 ′  185 ′. 
         [0051]    When switch board  800 ′ and diffuser panel  800 ″ are assembled, silicon diffusers  175 ′  180 ′  185 ′ cam transmit and diffuse light from LEDs  900 , while holder  910  blocks substantially all light from LEDs  900 , preventing light leakage from one illuminated area to another. Diffuser panel  800 ″ may be adhered to switch board  800 ′ to form switch board  800 . Pockets (not shown) are molded into diffuser panel  800 ″ such that LEDs  900  project into diffuser panel  800  in a manner configured to project light into the diffusers  175 ′  180 ′  185 ′, illuminating the switches  175 ,  180 ,  185 . 
         [0052]    LEDs  900  receive power from driver  170 . The intensity or color of LEDs  900  may be varied by controller  145  to reflect the switch state or status of the switched device (not shown) depending upon the desired implementation. 
         [0053]    Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular arrangement of parts, features and the like, these are not intended to exhaust all possible arrangements or features, and indeed many modifications and variations will be ascertainable to those of skill in the art.