KR-20260065989-A - System and method for safety signaling using optical fibers

KR20260065989AKR 20260065989 AKR20260065989 AKR 20260065989AKR-20260065989-A

Abstract

The safety signaling system includes a panel comprising an HMI that sets a first operator safety condition to either VOTE or NO VOTE, a first optical transceiver for connecting to a first optical fiber, and a second optical transceiver for connecting to a second optical fiber. A panel control circuit connected between the HMI and the first transceiver activates the first transceiver to transmit a continuous wave (CW) optical signal to the first optical fiber only while the HMI sets the first operator safety condition to VOTE. A remote interface includes a third optical transceiver for connecting to the first optical fiber, a fourth optical transceiver for connecting to the second optical fiber, and a remote interface control circuit connected to the third transceiver. The interface control circuit sets the first received safety condition to VOTE only while the CW optical signal is received by the third transceiver, and determines the current first remote safety condition using the first received safety condition.

Inventors

앨리슨, 데이비드 벤자민
메그나, 안토니 에드워드

Assignees

코드 테크놀로지스, 엘엘씨

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240417
Priority Date: 20230419

Claims (13)

As a safety signaling system, A first voltage-to-optic converter (VTLC) placed in an operator panel - said first VTLC is configured to output a first optical signal of a predetermined first optical frequency only when it receives a predetermined first voltage representing a first operator safety condition set to a first value -; A first optical fiber operably connected to a first VTLC at a first end to receive the first optical signal output by the first VTLC and propagate the first optical signal to a second end; A first optical-voltage converter (LTVC) placed at a remote interface—the first LTVC is operably connected to a second end of the first optical fiber to receive the first optical signal, and the first LTVC is configured to output a predetermined second voltage only when receiving the first optical signal—; and A remote interface control circuit portion disposed in the remote interface—the remote interface control circuit portion is operably connected to the first LTVC and configured to receive the predetermined second voltage when output by the first LTVC and to set the first received safety condition to a first value when receiving the predetermined second voltage—including; The above first optical signal provides a first forward channel; Thus, the first received safety condition set to the first value in the remote interface control circuit unit indicates definitively that the first operator safety condition is currently set to the first value; The above remote interface control circuit determines the current value of the first remote safety condition using the first received safety condition, safety signaling system.
A safety signaling system according to claim 1, wherein the current value of the first remote safety condition is transmitted to a remote system by the remote interface control circuit.
A safety signaling system according to claim 1, wherein the first optical signal is a continuous wave (CW) signal.
A safety signaling system according to paragraph 3, wherein software, a computer, and encoding are not used to transmit the first voltage, the first optical signal, and the second voltage between the operator panel and the remote interface.
A safety signaling system according to claim 1, wherein the remote interface control circuit sets the current value of the first remote safety condition to the current value of the first received safety condition.
In paragraph 1, The above remote interface control circuit further includes a fault latch subcircuit operably attached to the first LTVC to monitor the second voltage; The above fault latch subcircuit is configured to output an error value to the remote interface control circuit when it detects the interruption of the above-determined second voltage; The above remote interface control circuit is further configured to set the current value of the first remote safety condition to a second value regardless of the current value of the first received safety condition when receiving the error value from the fault latch subcircuit; A safety signaling system, wherein the above remote interface control circuit is further configured to maintain the current value of the first remote safety condition at the second value until the fault latch subcircuit is reset.
In paragraph 1, A second VTLC deployed on the remote interface above—the second VTLC is configured to output a second optical signal of a predetermined second optical frequency, wherein the second optical frequency is different from the first optical frequency, and the second optical signal transmits the Quality of Service (QOS) attribute of the first forward channel; The first optical fiber is operably connected to the second VTLC at the second end to receive the second optical signal output by the second VTLC and propagate the second optical signal to the first end; and A second LTVC disposed on the operator panel above - the second LTVC is operably connected to a first end of the first optical fiber to receive the second optical signal, and the second LTVC is configured to output a QOS voltage representing the QOS attribute of the first forward channel; A safety signaling system further comprising: the second optical signal thus providing a first backhaul channel.
In Paragraph 7, The first VTLC and the second LTVC are provided by a first bidirectional modular transceiver placed on the operator panel; A safety signaling system in which the second VTLC and the first LTVC are provided by a second bidirectional modular transceiver deployed in the remote interface.
In paragraph 1, It further includes a third VTLC deployed on the operator panel—the third VTLC is configured to output a third optical signal of a predetermined third optical frequency representing a network message—and; The second optical fiber is operably connected to the third VTLC at the first end to receive the third optical signal output by the third VTLC and propagate the third optical signal to the second end; A third LTVC is positioned at the remote interface, and the third LTVC is operably connected to a second end of the second optical fiber to receive the third optical signal, and the third LTVC is configured to output a third voltage representing the network message when receiving the third optical signal; A fourth VTLC is deployed on the remote interface, and the fourth VTLC is configured to output a fourth optical signal of a predetermined fourth optical frequency, wherein the fourth optical frequency is different from the third optical frequency, and the fourth optical signal transmits another network message; The second optical fiber is operably connected to the fourth VTLC at the second end to receive the fourth optical signal output by the fourth VTLC and propagate the fourth optical signal to the first end; The fourth LTVC is positioned on the operator panel, and the fourth LTVC is operably connected to the first end of the second optical fiber to receive the fourth optical signal, and the fourth LTVC is configured to output another network voltage representing the other network message; Thus, the third and fourth optical signals together provide a pair of bidirectional network communication channels, a safety signaling system.
In Paragraph 9, The third VTLC and the third LTVC are provided by a third bidirectional modular transceiver deployed on the operator panel; The above-mentioned fourth VTLC and the above-mentioned fourth LTVC are a safety signaling system provided by a fourth bidirectional modular transceiver deployed in the remote interface.
As a safety signaling system, Operator Panel - The above operator panel is, A human-machine interface (HMI) that sets the value of the first operator safety condition to either Status=VOTE or Status=NO VOTE; A first bidirectional optical transceiver configured to be connected to a first optical fiber, A second bidirectional optical transceiver configured to be connected to a second optical fiber, and An operator panel control circuit unit operably connected between the above HMI and the above first bidirectional optical transceiver, wherein the panel control circuit unit activates the above first bidirectional optical transceiver to transmit a continuous wave (CW) optical signal to the connected first optical fiber only while the HMI sets the value of the above first operator safety condition to state=VOTE; and Remote interface - The above remote interface is, A third bidirectional optical transceiver configured to be connected to the first optical fiber, A fourth bidirectional optical transceiver configured to be connected to the second optical fiber, and A remote interface control circuit unit operably connected to the third bidirectional optical transceiver, wherein the interface control circuit unit sets the value of the first received safety condition to state=VOTE only while the CW optical signal is received by the third bidirectional optical transceiver; A safety signaling system comprising: a remote interface control circuit that determines the current value of a first remote safety condition using the value of the first received safety condition.
In Paragraph 11, A first network interface circuit portion disposed on the above-mentioned operator panel and operably connected to the above-mentioned third bidirectional optical transceiver; It further includes a second network interface circuit portion disposed at the remote interface and operably connected to the fourth bidirectional optical transceiver; A safety signaling system configured such that the third and fourth bidirectional transceivers transmit network messages to each other through a connected second optical fiber and relay the network messages to an external source.
In Paragraph 12, The above remote interface control circuit further includes a latch subcircuit operably attached to the second bidirectional optical transceiver to monitor the received CW optical signal; The above latch subcircuit is configured to output an error value to the remote interface control circuit when it detects an interruption of the received CW optical signal; The remote interface control circuit is further configured to set the current value of the first remote safety condition to state=NO VOTE regardless of the current value of the first received safety condition when receiving the error value from the latch subcircuit; A safety signaling system, wherein the remote interface control circuit is further configured to maintain the current value of the first remote safety condition as state=NO VOTE until the latch subcircuit is reset.

Description

System and method for safety signaling using optical fibers Cross-reference regarding related applications This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/497,085 filed on April 19, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference. Technology field The following disclosure relates to a safety protocol over optical fiber capable of providing critical arm and abort signals with perfect determinism (i.e., no firmware or software in the loop) without latency at distances of up to 20 km or more. This is important for any remote weapon system. In one embodiment, the safety signaling system is suitable for signaling a high-energy laser weapon system (HELWS). Safety signaling systems are generally used to limit the functions of weapon systems whose operation could be dangerous to nearby personnel or potential targets. These weapon systems may include missiles, rockets, firearms, gun systems, and anti-aircraft systems. In many cases, the user responsible for the safety signaling system is located remotely from the weapon system. Due to the inherent danger of weapon systems, it is critical for the safety signaling system to operate at the fastest possible speed and reliability to interrupt the weapon system's operation with great confidence and minimal delay when necessary. Conventional safety signaling systems relying on electrical connections may have their effective range limited by signal degradation caused by, for example, resistive voltage loss, cross-interference with nearby wires, and/or radio frequency interference (RFI) and/or electromagnetic interference (EMI). Therefore, there is a need for a safety signaling system that enables remote signaling to weapon systems over longer distances with great confidence and minimal delay. For a more complete understanding, please refer to the following description along with the attached drawings: FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a single-channel safety signaling system according to one embodiment; FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a three-channel safety signaling system according to a different embodiment; FIG. 3 illustrates a front right perspective view of an operator control panel of a 3-channel safety signaling system according to an additional embodiment; FIG. 4 shows a front left perspective view of the operator control panel of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the front right side of the operator control panel; and Figure 6 shows a front left exploded view of the operator control panel. Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a single-channel system ("SSOF system") (100) for safety signaling using optical fibers is illustrated. The SSOF system (100) includes a safety operator panel (102) and a remote system interface (104) connected by one or more optical fibers (106). The remote system interface (104) may be placed at any remote system (108) to be signaled by the SSOF system (100) or locally. The safety operator panel (102) may be placed remotely at a location where safety signaling from the remote system (108) to the remote system is to be initiated. It is preferable that the SSOF system (100) be used only for safety signaling to the remote system (108). That is, the remote system generally has its own control system separate from the SSOF system. The safety operator panel (102) of the SSOF system (100) may be positioned at any optically accessible distance from the remote system interface (104). As used herein, the term “optically accessible” means a distance between the safety operator panel (102) and the remote interface (104) such that there is no substantial signal loss in the optical fiber (106). As used herein, signal loss is considered “substantial” to the SSOF system (100) when the signal loss alters the reliability of the remote interface (104) in accurately receiving the intended signal sent from the operator safety panel (102). In many cases, the safety operator panel (102) may be positioned away from the remote system interface (104), which is optically accessible and electrically distant. As used herein, the term “electrically remote” means a distance between the safety operator panel (102) and the remote interface (104) where the electrical connection, e.g., copper wire (if any), results in substantial signal loss from any of length-related resistance, cross-interference, RFI, or EFI. In a preferred embodiment, each optical fiber (106) will be a single continuous optical fiber connected end-to-end between the safety operator panel (102) and the remote interface (104) without any inline optical amplifiers or repeaters. If possible, it is preferable to avoid using inline optical amplifiers or repeaters in the optical fiber (106) because such devices cause signal delay, impose power requirements, and degrade the inherent reliability of the SSOF system (100). In some embodiments, each optical fiber (106) is a single continuous optical fiber with a length of at least 10 km from end to end without any in