Patents by Inventor Donald J. Whalen

Donald J. Whalen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9584791
    Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for correcting misaligned images are disclosed. A system may be comprised of a source of first model data, a source of second model data, and an image generator (“IG”). The IG may be configured to perform a method comprised of receiving first model data representative of a first three-dimensional model; determining feature data of one or more first features located in an outside scene; receiving second model data representative of a second three-dimensional model in which one or more second features are located in the outside scene; determining differences data representative of feature differences between at least one first feature and at least one second feature; and applying the differences data to one or more pixel data sets, where such modification may be based upon a comparison between one or more first features and one or more correlating second features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Whalen, Brad A. Walker, Scott E. Schultz
  • Patent number: 9489575
    Abstract: A system and method for providing sensor-based navigation correction of a GPS-sensed position of an aircraft includes a synthetic vision system. The synthetic vision system captures a visual image of the surrounding area via image sensors and generates a location model based on the image. A georeference engine compares the location model to static high-resolution terrain and obstacle databases to determine a corrected position of the aircraft. The georeference engine then updates the GPS-sensed position with the corrected position, transmitting the corrected position to the combiner. The combiner generates for display an enhanced image based on the visual image and the corrected position of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Whalen, Brad A. Walker, Scott E. Schultz, Ronald E. Heberlein, David I. Han
  • Patent number: 7765037
    Abstract: A method for displaying a runway incursion for an aircraft includes electronically gathering traffic information data from a traffic information system, employing a runway incursion algorithm to the traffic information data to detect a collision hazard, automatically calculating incursion data, and displaying the incursion data. A runway incursion detection system has a display unit, a computer and a software product that enables methodology herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J. Bagge, Donald J. Whalen
  • Patent number: 7570178
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a traffic display for an aircraft, which includes a vertical traffic indicator. The vertical traffic indicator includes flight levels, depicted utilizing differing visual patterns to represent the current flight level as well as available and unavailable flight levels for transit. The vertical traffic indicator includes aircraft indicators positioned in relation to flight levels to indicate attitude. The aircraft indicators may also include status indicators indicating separation standards, vertical trend, intent, or whether an aircraft is a reference aircraft for an ITP. The traffic display provides clear and intuitive means of understanding the flying environment related to the performance of the ITP, increasing situational awareness and simplifying the ITP. The traffic display is specifically advantageous for performance of an ITP, but may be integrated with displays including terrain, weather, flight plan waypoints, or TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) traffic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Whalen, Sethu R. Rathinam
  • Patent number: 7412324
    Abstract: The present invention is a flight management system with precision merging that may determine a rejoin turn location based upon a heading to allow proper spacing between an aircraft and an identified target aircraft. The flight management system may monitor for deviation from assigned airspace, winds, turn radius and desired airport speed profile for the approach to further refine a turn-back location. Advantageously, a delay in landing of the target aircraft may not affect the landing approach of other aircraft. This may result in more accurate spacing between aircraft which are closer to the allowed separation minima and may provide an increase in capacity especially in high-density areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J. Bagge, Donald J. Whalen, Bechara J. Mallouk