Method to Use Empty Slots in Onboard Aircraft Servers and Communication Devices to Install Non-Proprietary Servers and Communications Interfaces

Abstract

The power supply and cooling provided by existing aircraft system line replaceable units (LRUs) or other devices supports new cards that are installed in previously empty slots or which replace existing original cards and which are not limited in functionality and do not require licensing of any proprietary technology included in the LRU. These new cards can include components such as processors, memory, and/or storage that significantly improve the performance of the LRU, and/or add new functionality—all without exceeding the power supply and cooling capability of the LRU. A network and avionics bus interface can be added to a portion of the new card and electrically coupled to the circuitry and electronic components on the new card, so that one or more cables connected to the interface can be connected to externally accessible standard avionics buses and network connectors added to a chassis of the LRU.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus for use in an avionics device having a backplane with slots in which a plurality of original circuit cards are inserted, comprising:
 (a) a circuit card that includes:
 (i) an electronics area that includes a circuit coupled to electronic components; and, 
 (ii) a footer area on which are disposed at least traces able to electrically connect to conductors included in a slot of the backplane that convey electrical power signals usable to energized the circuit card; 
   (b) means for preventing any signals other than the electrical power signals from being conveyed between the circuit card and conductors included in a slot of the backplane with which the circuit card is coupled; and   (c) means for conveying signals between the circuit card and an external bus, device, or network without using the backplane of the avionics device.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the circuit card provides additional functionality that was not provided by any of the plurality of original cards installed in the backplane, and wherein the circuit card is electrically coupled to a slot on the backplane that was previous unused, so that the additional functionality can be accessed through the means for conveying signals between the circuit card and the external bus, device or network. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the circuit card is a replacement for a specific original circuit card previously installed in one of the slots of the backplane of the avionics device and provides at least one of greater speed of operation, improved efficiency, or lower power consumption, compared to the specific original circuit card, and wherein the circuit card is used to replace the specific original circuit card in said one of the slots. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the means for preventing any signals other than the electrical power signals from being conveyed between the circuit card and conductors included in the slot of the backplane with which the circuit card is coupled comprises providing only traces on the footer area that are disposed to electrically contact corresponding conductors in the slot into which the circuit card is inserted that convey electrical power signals, all other traces on the footer area of the circuit card that correspond to other conductors in the slot being omitted. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the means for preventing any signals other than the electrical power signals from being conveyed between the circuit card and conductors included in the slot of the backplane with which the circuit card is coupled comprises an extender that is disposed between the traces on the footer area of the circuit card and the slot, the extender including a slot into which the footer area of the circuit board is inserted, and a portion that is inserted into the slot of the backplane coupled to the circuit card, the portion of the extender that is inserted into the slot including only traces that are disposed to electrically contact corresponding conductors in the slot that convey the electrical power signals required to energize the circuit card. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , the slots are electrically interconnected with a backplane bus, and wherein the means for preventing any signals other than the electrical power signals from being conveyed between the circuit card and conductors included in the slot of the backplane with which the circuit card is coupled comprises a modification to the backplane to create an electrically open condition in electrical traces on the backplane bus that provide any signal other than the electrical power signal to the slot into which the circuit card is inserted, so that only conductors in said slot that carry the electrical power signal are active. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the means for conveying signals between the circuit card and an external bus, device, or network comprises:
 (a) a bus interface on the circuit card that is electrically coupled to the circuit;   (b) at least one externally accessible connector added to the avionics device; and   (c) one or more cables extending between the bus interface on the circuit card and the at least one externally accessible connector on the avionics device, wherein signals are conveyed between the circuit card and an external bus, device, or network that is electrically connected to the at least one externally accessible connector.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the means for conveying signals between the circuit card and an external bus, device, or network comprises:
 (a) a bus interface on the circuit card that is electrically coupled to the circuit; and   (b) one or more cables that are connected to the bus interface and which extend outside the avionics device to connect to the external bus, device, or network.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the means for conveying signals between the circuit card and an external bus, device, or network comprises a network and avionics bus interface that is electrically coupled to the circuit on the circuit card and is configured to connect with the external bus, device, or network. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the network and avionics bus interface is disposed on either a surface of the circuit card, or proximate to a top of the circuit card, or proximate to an end of the circuit card.