Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a gun weapon interface unit developed to fire and control the gun unit (e.g. M-197 gun unit) of aircrafts (e.g. AH-1S Cobra helicopter). More specifically, the present invention relates to a gun weapon interface unit which communicates with a mission computer, thus enables all commands and status information to be digitally transmitted to the mission computer, and which, when the mission computer fails, can be controlled by means of the discrete control signals coming from the pilot mission grips.

Background of the Invention

In the state of the art applications, firing and power management of the gun unit in aircrafts, e.g. helicopters, are enabled by using many distributed equipment and relays on the helicopter. Since the interfaces of the signals used for control purposes are comprised of analog and discrete signals, cable lengths and weights increase and thus control of the gun unit becomes more difficult and complicated. Increase in complexity decreases system reliability and safety. In the prior art, failure of the equipment and relays, which are used for firing and controlling the gun unit and which are arranged in a distributed manner at different areas of the helicopter, cause increase in the repairing time of the helicopters and thus the time of them remaining on the land. Problems Solved by the Invention

The objective of the present invention is to provide a gun weapon interface unit which enables to fire and control the gun weapon unit of the aircrafts. In one embodiment of the invention, all of the peripheral equipment and relays used for controlling and firing the gun system are collected in the gun weapon interface unit. This way, cable lengths and weights are reduced. By means of the fact that all of the peripheral equipment and relays are collected in a single unit, repairing time is reduced and the helicopter's active time is increased. Reliability and safety of the gun unit is enhanced by applying a solution which is reduced to a single unit instead of a complex and distributed architecture. Moreover, the gun weapon interface unit communicates with a mission computer via MIL-STD-1760D data bus and transmits all of the commands and status information digitally to the mission computer and thus control of the gun unit is facilitated.

The gun weapon interface unit of the present invention is designed in compliance with the environmental requirements determined by military standards (MIL- HDBK-5400, MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-704 and MIL-STD-461).

Detailed Description of the Invention

A gun weapon interface unit developed to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the gun weapon interface unit.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the interface card.

The components in the figures are given reference numbers as follows:

1. Gun weapon interface unit 2. Interface card

2.1. Control circuit

2.2. Signal conditioning circuit

2.3. Resolver interface circuit

2.4. Communication circuit

2.5. Test circuit

3. Power card

4. Main board

5. Filter circuit

6. Data interface

7. Power interface

8. Communication interface

9. Test interface

B. External computer

G. Mission computer

H. Aircraft

K. Mission grip

T. Gun unit A gun weapon interface unit (1), which enables to control and fire the gun units (T) of the aircrafts (H), basically comprises

at least one interface card (2), which is adapted to generate control signals according to the discrete control and condition signals coming to it and to transmit these signals to the gun unit (T) that will be controlled; and to generate position information from the data coming from the gun unit (T) position sensors and to transmit these information to the gun unit (T) that will be directed; and to establish data communication with a mission computer (G),

at least one power card (3) which is adapted to supply the required power, - at least one main board (3) on which the interface card (2) and the power card (4) are mounted, at least one filter circuit (5) which is adapted to avoid electromagnetic interference from power lines,

at least one data interface (6) which provides a connection interface for receiving data from the pilot mission grip (K), aircraft (H) and/or gun unit (T) and sending data to the gun unit (T),

at least one power interface (7) which provides power inlet to supply power to the power card (3),

at least one communication interface (8) which provides a connection interface for communication with a mission computer (G),

- at least one test interface (9) which provides a connection interface for testing the unit via an external computer (B).

The gun weapon interface unit (1) of the present invention is comprised of a box shaped body, interface connections and three electronic cards. These cards are the interface card (2), the power card (4) and the main board (3) on which the former cards are mounted (Figure 1).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the interface card (2) includes thereon a control circuit (2.1), a signal conditioning circuit (2.2), a resolver interface circuit (2.3), a communication circuit (2.4) and a test circuit (2.5) (Figure 2).

The signal conditioning circuit (2.2) located in the interface card (2) converts the discrete control and condition signals coming from the pilot mission grip (K), aircraft (H) and/or gun unit (T) via a data interface (6) into digital data and sends them to the control circuit (2.1) comprising a controller. Similarly, it converts the digital data output from the control circuit (2.1) to discrete control signals and sends them to the gun unit (T) that will be controlled.

The resolver interface circuit (2.3) converts the position information coming from the azimuth and elevation resolver sensors (i.e. angle sensors) located in the gun unit (T) via the data interface (6) into digital data and sends them to the control circuit (2.1). Furthermore, it converts the digital position error data, which comes from the control circuit (2.1) and is required to direct the gun unit (T), to resolver information and transmits it to the gun unit (T).

The communication circuit (2.4) enables the gun weapon interface unit (1) and the mission computer (G) to communicate with each other via the communication interface (8) (preferably via the MIL-STD-1760D data bus).

The test circuit (2.5) enables the gun weapon interface unit (1) to be tested or software to be loaded thereon by means of an external computer (B) via a test interface (9). There are two RS-232 communication channels provided for testing or software loading. Additionally, there are provided two boundary scan lines for software loading.