초록 ▼

A system and method for interconnecting analog legacy stores to both legacy and modern aircraft. One aspect of the invention provides for a dual mode launcher having a first interface for interfacing with a modern aircraft and a second interface for interfacing with a legacy aircraft. Either the fir

A system and method for interconnecting analog legacy stores to both legacy and modern aircraft. One aspect of the invention provides for a dual mode launcher having a first interface for interfacing with a modern aircraft and a second interface for interfacing with a legacy aircraft. Either the first or the second interface is connected to the aircraft depending on the hardware platform supported by the aircraft. Signals received from either interface are converted to digital and placed on a digital input/output bus and converted to analog for use by the store. Likewise, signals transmitted by the store to the aircraft are converted to digital and placed on the digital input/output bus for transmission to the aircraft. The signals are further acted upon depending upon which interface is connected to the dual mode launcher assembly. The dual mode launcher provides seamless operation of the store interface regardless of which type of aircraft is equipped to carry the analog store.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A dual mode launcher comprising: a first interface for receiving a digital control signal for operation in a first standard mode from an associated aircraft; a second interface for receiving an analog control signal for operation in a second mode from the associated aircraft,

What is claimed is: 1. A dual mode launcher comprising: a first interface for receiving a digital control signal for operation in a first standard mode from an associated aircraft; a second interface for receiving an analog control signal for operation in a second mode from the associated aircraft, wherein the second mode is a predetermined mode based upon a hardware configuration of an associated weapon store and wherein, the dual mode launcher is operative in the first standard mode when the first interface is connected to the associated aircraft and the dual mode launcher is operative in the second mode when the second interface is coupled to the associated aircraft; and firmware selectively operable between the first standard mode and the second mode to facilitate communication between the associated aircraft and the associated store through a store interface based upon connection of the first or second interface to the associated aircraft. 2. The dual mode launcher of claim 1, further comprising a means for providing information originating from the associated store for use by the associated aircraft through the first interface. 3. The dual mode launcher of claim 1, wherein the first interface is electrically connected in parallel to the second interface. 4. The dual mode launcher of claim 1, wherein the first interface and the second interface are communicatively coupled to a bus. 5. The dual mode launcher of claim 1, wherein the digital control signal received through the first interface corresponds to an analog signal for use by the associated store. 6. The dual mode launcher of claim 1, wherein information originating from the associated store includes video information. 7. The dual mode launcher of claim 6, wherein the video information received from the associated store is converted to RS-170 video data for use by a user in the associated aircraft. 8. The dual mode launcher of claim 1, wherein information originating from the associated store includes a status signal corresponding to a physical state of the associated store. 9. The dual mode launcher of claim 1, wherein the firmware for converting includes an analog to digital converter. 10. The dual mode launcher of claim 1, wherein the first mode is compatible with a digital mode. 11. The dual mode launcher of claim 10, wherein the first interface includes a first connector and the second interface includes a second connector, wherein either the first connector or the second connector is used to communicatively couple the dual mode launcher to the associated aircraft. 12. The dual mode launcher of claim 11, wherein the non-communicatively coupled connector corresponding to either the first or second connector is stored within the dual mode launcher. 13. A dual mode launcher for launching an associated store from an associated aircraft, the dual mode launcher comprising: a dual mode launcher assembly for launching an associated store from an associated aircraft; a first interface for operation in a first standard mode and a second interface for operation in a second mode, wherein the first and second interfaces are housed in at least a portion of the dual mode launcher assembly, wherein the first interface and the second interface are capable of exchanging information between the launcher and an associated aircraft having a hardware configuration, wherein when the first interface is communicatively coupled to the associated aircraft, the first mode is operative and when the second interface is communicatively coupled to the associated aircraft the second mode is operative; the assembly further including a store interface for communicatively coupling the launcher to the associated store, in order to exchange information between the dual mode launcher and the associated store. 14. The dual mode launcher of claim 13, wherein the information includes control information. 15. The dual mode launcher of claim 13, wherein the information includes status information related to the associated store. 16. The dual mode launcher of claim 13, wherein the information includes video information. 17. The dual mode launcher of claim 16, wherein the video information is in a digital format. 18. The dual mode launcher of claim 17, wherein the digital format is RS-170. 19. The dual mode launcher of claim 13, wherein the launcher and the assembly are integral. 20. The dual mode launcher of claim 13, wherein the launcher and the assembly are removably attached. 21. The dual mode launcher of claim 13, wherein the associated store is a missile. 22. The dual mode launcher of claim 21, wherein the associated store is a Maverick missile. 23. A method for communicating information between an associated aircraft and an associated store, the method comprising: communicatively coupling a dual mode launcher having a digital interface, an analog interface and a store interface to an associated aircraft having a hardware configuration, wherein either a digital connector associated with the digital interface or an analog connector associated with the analog interface is coupled to the aircraft based on the hardware configuration of the associated aircraft; communicatively coupling the dual mode launcher to an associated store through the store interface, wherein the store interface is capable of exchanging information between the dual mode launcher and the associated store, receiving information from either the digital or the analog interface that is communicatively coupled to the associated aircraft; converting the received data from the associated aircraft to analog signals provided to the associated store; and converting analog signals originating from the associated store to digital signals provided to the associated aircraft. 24. A method for communicating information between an associated aircraft and an associated store, the method comprising: communicatively coupling a dual mode launcher having a digital interface, an analog interface and a store interface to an associated aircraft having a hardware configuration, wherein either the digital interface or the analog interface is coupled to the aircraft based on the hardware configuration or the associated aircraft; receiving at least one analog signal from an associated analog store, wherein the at least one analog signal relates to a physical characteristic of the associated analog store; converting at least one of the at least one analog signal received from the associated analog store to at least one digital signal corresponding to the physical characteristic of the associated store; and translating the at least one digital signal corresponding to the physical characteristic of the store for use by the associated aircraft having a digital interface. 25. A method for communicating information between an associated aircraft and an associated analog store, the method comprising: communicatively coupling a dual mode launcher having a digital interface, an analog interface and a store interface to an associated aircraft having a hardware configuration, wherein either the digital interface or the analog interface is coupled to the aircraft based on the hardware configuration or the associated aircraft; receiving information in the form of at least one digital signal from the associated aircraft; converting the at least one digital signal received from the associated aircraft to a least one analog signal; and translating the at least one analog signal corresponding to the information received from the associated aircraft for use by an associated analog store.