Abstract: A predictor algorithm for an actuator control is provided in a servo-actuator system. The predictor algorithm receives a signal representative of the torque motor current supplied to the servovalve controlling the actuator and uses that signal to predict the change in actuator position over a single time interval. If the measured actuator position for the previous time interval is within the maximum value and the minimum value for that time interval, then the next maximum and minimum values are calculated by adding the predicted change to the previous measured signal. If the measured actuator signal for the previous time interval is outside the maximum and minimum values for that time interval, then the next maximum and minimum values are calculated by adding the predicted change to the previous maximum and minimum values. A fault is indicated when the measured signal falls outside the maximum and minimum values for a predetermined number of time intervals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for selecting a valid signal from a plurality of redundant sensor signals wherein the sensor signals may include a plurality of measured and modelled signals. The invention comprises a circuit for generating a plurality of first pass/fail signals by performing a series of tests on the sensor signals. The invention further comprises circuitry for assigning a plurality of weighted values to each of the measured sensor signals according to the first and second pass/fail signals wherein the second pass/fail signals are initialized as pass signals. The invention further comprises of circuitry for summing the weighted values for each measured sensor signal and generating second pass/fail signals for each measured sensor signal. The invention also includes circuitry for assigning selection flags to each sensor signal according to the first and second pass/fail signals and circuitry for selecting the valid signal from the selection flags.

Abstract: A control system for operating an actuator in a mechanical system, such as an aircraft turbine engine, employs redundant electronic control channels for increased operational safety in the event of a failure of one of the control channels. In accordance with the reliability or integrity of the various components of the system, a network of triplex redundant electronic control units connects with duplex redundant input driver ports of a servo actuator, the network including a converter of triplex to duplex wherein the converter employs a duplex section of electronic circuits. The control units may include a schedule or memory addressed by a set of input parameters or variables for outputting a desired value of output parameter or variable. The converter includes a fan-in circuit by which signals of the three control units are applied to two power amplifiers for driving the two input sections of the servo actuator.