IMA As the name indicates, an aircraft with

IMA has avionics systems that are

INTEGRATED integrated and modular.

MODULAR Integrated means that multiple functions

AVIONICS are combined into a single piece of
equipment.

Modular refers to a design method that

allows the system to be divided into
separate, replaceable modules.

The term Avionics itself derives from

aviation electronics, and it refers to
electronic systems used in aircraft.
 Integrated modular avionics (IMA)
Integrated modular avionics (IMA) are real-time computer
network airborne systems. This network consists of a number of
computing modules capable of supporting numerous applications
of differing criticality levels.
The Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) concept, which replaces
numerous separate processors and line replaceable units (LRU)
with fewer, more centralized processing units,
An IMA operator can upgrade software without having to upgrade
the hardware, and vice versa.
 HISTORY
Initially, avionics systems were discrete, stand-alone
systems. This means that each system was separate.

Traditionally, on non-IMA aircraft, each avionics system

had its own separate indicator and its own separate
controls. As more and more avionics systems were
developed and installed in aircraft, more indicators and
controls had to be installed. Instrument panels became
more complex and crowded.
 HISTORY

In addition, as more avionics systems were developed and installed,

more LRUs (line replaceable units) were installed in avionics
compartments.
More wiring was needed to interconnect these LRUs with their associated
cockpit controls and indicators.
More electrical power was needed to operate the systems.
Each additional indicator, LRU, and wire that is installed on an aircraft
takes up space and adds weight.
 ADVANTAGES OF IMA

Aircraft with IMA can realize reductions in the bulk, space, and
weight of their avionics systems.

Also, the overall reliability of the avionics can be improved, as

less components are required.

Ease of fault isolation, and additional facilities such as BITE

(built-in-test-equipment).
 ADVANTAGES OF IMA
The use of integrated indicators saves space and weight, and it
streamlines pilot workload by reducing the number of indicators that
must be scanned during flight.

Much more information can be displayed on one instrument, or in a

smaller area, which ergonomically creates an easier workload for the
pilot.

The integration concept reduces the total number of LRUs needed.

Often, the same kind of data processing circuitry is required for
different avionics functions.
ADVANTAGES OF IMA
Using elements common to different
computer modules makes
maintenance of the computer less
expensive. Since the same part (or
card) can be used in any of the IMA
computers, inventory in the shop is
smaller. The advantage is less
expensive maintenance,
DIGITAL The word ‘bus’ is a contraction of the
DATA Greek word ‘omnibus’ and the word simply
BUS means ‘to all’.Thus, in the context of
computers and digital systems,‘bus’ refers
to a system that permits interconnection
and data exchange between the devices
in a complex system.

“Digital data buses are used to transfer

information from one piece of
equipment to another.”
 DIGITAL DATA BUS
Data transfer systems connect various digital circuits using
electrical or light energy. Copper wire is used for the
transmission of electrical data and fiber optical cable is used
to transmit digital light energy.

There are two main advantages to optical data transmission;

1- fiber cable weighs less than copper cable.
2- digital light signals are not susceptible to electromagnetic
interference.
Bus terminology
Bus systems can be either unidirectional (one way) or bidirectional (two
way).

Serial data transmission: one bit of data transmitted at a time. This type of
system often referred to as time sharing, because each transmitted signal
shares the wires for a short time interval.

Parallel data transmission (continuous type transmission): requiring two

wires (or one wire and ground) for each signal to be sent.Often 8, 16 or 32
bits of data appear as a group on a number of data lines at the same time.
 Bus terminology

Multiplexer: A circuit used to convert parallel data

into serial data.

Demultiplexer: A circuit used to convert serial data

into a parallel format.

Because of the constraints imposed by conductor

length and weight, all practical aircraft bus systems
are based on serial (rather than parallel) data
transfer.
ARINC Specifications
Aeronautical Radio Incorporated (ARINC): is a corporation
established by foreign and domestic airlines, aircraft manufacturers,
and transport companies. The purpose of this organization is to aid
in the standardization of aircraft system.

ARINC specifications have been established for digital flight data

recorders (ARINC 573), inertial navigation systems (ARINC
561), digital information transfer systems (ARINC 429, 629, and
664), and various other aircraft communication and navigation
systems.
 ARINC 429
ARINC 429 employs a unidirectional data bus standard known as
Mark 33 Digital Information Transfer System (DITS). Messages
are transmitted in packets of 32-bits at a bit rate of either 12 or
100 kilobits per second (referred to as low and high bit rate
respectively). Because the bus is unidirectional, separate ports,
couplers and cables will be required when an LRU wishes to be
able to both transmit and receive data.
 ARINC 629 is another digital data bus format that offers
ARINC 629 more flexibility and greater speed than the 429 system.
ARINC 629 permits up to 120 devices to share a
bidirectional serial data bus, which can be up to 100 m
long. The bus can be either a twisted wire pair or a fiber-
optic cable. ARINC 629 has two major improvements
over the 429 system. First, there is a substantial weight
Savings. The 429 system requires a separate wire pair
for each data transmitter. Second, the 629 bus operates
at speeds up to 2 Mbits/s; the 429 is capable of only 100
kbits/s.
ARINC 664

The latest ARINC data bus specification is known as AMC 664. This bus standard
is based on an Airbus Industries pro• prietary data bus known as AFDX (Avionics
Full-duple%

thud Ethernet). Although there are slight differences "Awn AFDX and ARINC 664,
for the most part they can thought-of as the same and this text will refer only to
IN(' 664. The AFDX/664 data bus specification is cur-ly used on the latest
commercial aircraft: the Airbus INC) and Boeing B-787. Also, similar Ethernet-type
data standards are used by various manufacturers on propri-systems such as the
Garmin G-1000. The ARINC 664 Is typically used as the "backbone" data transfer
system On easily transfer data created in other formats such as INC 429. The
ARINC 664 standard is similar to the IFFE Mute of Electrical and Electronics