Abstract: A security system adapted for use on an aircraft to prevent unauthorized access into a cockpit area of the aircraft via a cockpit door. The system includes a keypad accessible by individuals in a cabin area of the aircraft. A logic system is in communication with the keypad and also with a switch disposed inside the cockpit. Occupants of the cockpit, via the switch, have the ability to manually unlock the cockpit door, to deny the request for entry, or to do nothing, in which case the door will be automatically unlocked after the expiration of a predetermined time interval. A pressure sensor in communication with the controller allows the electronic door locking member to be automatically overridden, and the door immediately opened, in the event of a decompression condition occurring in the cockpit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rotary code-based control for command systems. A flight deck module comprises a knob connected to a shaft; a plurality of sensors affixed to a surface of a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board connected to the shaft; and a carrier platter. The carrier platter is connected to the shaft and a plurality of sources is affixed onto a first side of the carrier platter in an arcuate orientation (such as in a circular fashion along the circumference of the carrier platter or spanning a sector of a circle).

Abstract: An integrated communication system in an aircraft is provided. The system includes a plurality of solid state flight deck modules in an integrated flight deck panel, wherein the solid state flight deck modules include a microcontroller for interfacing with at least one data bus controller via a local bus; and a light emitting diode (LED) module for controlling backlit illumination of the integrated flight deck panel. The controller sends information to plural solid state flight deck modules via local buses and uses a system bus to communicate with aircraft subsystems. The controller also uses a central power supply module to supply regulated power to the plural solid state flight deck modules. Furthermore, at least one solid state flight deck module includes an integrated panel brightness control module, master brightness control module and/or a master dim and test control module.

Abstract: Method and system on an aircraft for converting plural data inputs and plural data outputs from a parallel format to a serial format is provided. The system includes an integrated software module that accepts plural variable number of inputs and generates a plural variable number of outputs; an analog input processing module that receives plural analog inputs, converts the analog inputs to digital data and sends the digital data to the integrated software module; a digital input processing module that receives discrete digital inputs and transfers the digital inputs to the integrated software module; a digital output module that receives data from the integrated software module; and an analog output module that receives digital data from the integrated software module and converts the digital data into analog data by using a digital to analog converter.

Abstract: Method and system on an aircraft for converting plural data inputs and plural data outputs from a parallel format to a serial format is provided. The system includes an integrated software module that accepts plural variable number of inputs and generates a plural variable number of outputs; an analog input processing module that receives plural analog inputs, converts the analog inputs to digital data and sends the digital data to the integrated software module; a digital input processing module that receives discrete digital inputs and transfers the digital inputs to the integrated software module; a digital output module that receives data from the integrated software module; and an analog output module that receives digital data from the integrated software module and converts the digital data into analog data by using a digital to analog converter.

Abstract: A security system adapted for use on an aircraft to prevent unauthorized access into a cockpit area of the aircraft via a cockpit door. The system includes a keypad accessible by individuals in a cabin area of the aircraft. A logic system is in communication with the keypad and also with a switch disposed inside the cockpit. Occupants of the cockpit, via the switch, have the ability to manually unlock the cockpit door, to deny the request for entry, or to do nothing, in which case the door will be automatically unlocked after the expiration of a predetermined time interval. No amount of tampering with the keypad or destruction of the keypad can unlock the cockpit door if the cockpit occupants decide to deny a request for entry via appropriate positioning of the switch. A pressure sensor in communication with the controller allows the door to be automatically unlocked in the event of a decompression condition occurring in the cockpit.