Instrumentation and control circuit having multiple, dissimilar sources for supplying warnings, indications, and controls and an integrated cabin pressure control system valve incorporating the same

A circuit for supplying one or more signals representative of an aircraft cabin environment, comprising:

• a first pressure sensor operable to sense aircraft cabin pressure and supply a first pressure signal representative thereof;
• a second pressure sensor dissimilar from the first pressure sensor and operable to sense aircraft cabin pressure and supply a second pressure signal representative thereof;
• a digital signal conditioning circuit coupled to receive the first pressure signal and operable, in response thereto, to supply a first digital pressure signal;
• an analog signal conditioning circuit coupled to receive the second pressure signal and operable, in response thereto, to supply an analog pressure signal;
• and
• a processor coupled to receive the analog pressure signal and the digital pressure signal and operable, in response thereto, to supply a signal in a first data transmission format that is representative of cabin pressure altitude.

A controller circuit for controlling the position of a valve to thereby control cabin pressure in an aircraft, the controller circuit comprising:

• a first pressure sensor operable to sense aircraft cabin pressure and supply a first pressure signal representative thereof;
• a second pressure sensor dissimilar from the first pressure sensor and operable to sense aircraft cabin pressure and supply a second pressure signal representative thereof;
• a digital signal conditioning circuit coupled to receive the first pressure signal and operable, in response thereto, to supply a first digital pressure signal;
• an analog signal conditioning circuit coupled to receive the second pressure signal and operable, in response thereto, to supply an analog pressure signal;
• and
• a processor coupled to receive the analog pressure signal and the digital pressure signal and operable, in response thereto, to supply (i) a signal in a first data transmission format that is representative of cabin pressure altitude and (ii) the valve actuation signal.

A method of determining cabin pressure altitude in an aircraft cabin, comprising:

• determining cabin pressure using a first pressure determination method;
• determining cabin pressure using a second pressure determination method that is different from the first pressure determination method;
• and
• determining cabin pressure altitude based on the cabin pressure determined using at least one of the first and the second pressure determination methods.

In an aircraft cabin pressure control system having an outflow valve that is used to control cabin pressure in an aircraft, a method of controlling outflow valve position, comprising:

• determining the cabin pressure using a first pressure determination method;
• determining the cabin pressure using a second pressure determination method that is different from the first pressure determination method;
• determining cabin pressure altitude based on the cabin pressure determined using at least one of the first and the second pressure determination methods;
• and
• controlling the position of the outflow valve based on the determined cabin pressure altitude.