Patents by Inventor Erik Oltheten

Erik Oltheten 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: 11623736
    Abstract: An aircraft includes an electronically controlled engine (ECE) and a first and a second throttle control assembly. The first throttle control assembly includes a first throttle fly button configured to command a FLY mode and a first throttle idle button configured to command an IDLE mode. The second throttle control assembly includes a second throttle fly button configured to command the FLY mode and a second throttle idle button configured to command the IDLE mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Oltheten, Darren Gregory Lang, Charles Eric Covington
  • Publication number: 20220033064
    Abstract: An aircraft includes an electronically controlled engine (ECE) and a first and a second throttle control assembly. The first throttle control assembly includes a first throttle fly button configured to command a FLY mode and a first throttle idle button configured to command an IDLE mode. The second throttle control assembly includes a second throttle fly button configured to command the FLY mode and a second throttle idle button configured to command the IDLE mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Oltheten, Darren Gregory Lang, Charles Eric Covington
  • Patent number: 10145708
    Abstract: A power safety system is configured to provide power information in an aircraft. The power safety system includes a power safety instrument having a power required indicator and a power available indicator, each being located on a display. A position of the power required indicator and the power available indicator represent the power available and power required to perform a hover flight maneuver. The power safety system may be operated in a flight planning mode or in a current flight mode. The power safety system uses at least one sensor to measure variables having an effect on the power required and the power available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: James M. McCollough, Erik Oltheten, Nicholas Lappos
  • Publication number: 20170307401
    Abstract: A power safety system is configured to provide power information in an aircraft. The power safety system includes a power safety instrument having a power required indicator and a power available indicator, each being located on a display. A position of the power required indicator and the power available indicator represent the power available and power required to perform a hover flight maneuver. The power safety system may be operated in a flight planning mode or in a current flight mode. The power safety system uses at least one sensor to measure variables having an effect on the power required and the power available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: James M. McCollough, Erik Oltheten, Nicholas Lappos
  • Patent number: 9663243
    Abstract: A power safety system is configured to provide power information in an aircraft. The power safety system includes a power safety instrument having a power required indicator and a power available indicator, each being located on a display. A position of the power required indicator and the power available indicator represent the power available and power required to perform a hover flight maneuver. The power safety system may be operated in a flight planning mode or in a current flight mode. The power safety system uses at least one sensor to measure variables having an effect on the power required and the power available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: James M. McCollough, Erik Oltheten, Nicholas Lappos
  • Patent number: 9630724
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a gauge display prioritization system comprises a priority engine and an output engine. The priority engine is operable to receive a measurement from a first sensor associated with a first aircraft component and a measurement from a second sensor associated with a second aircraft component, select a prioritization criterion based on the received measurements, and select one priority measurement from the received measurements based on the prioritization criterion. The output engine is operable to instruct a gauge disposed within a cockpit to display information representative of the one priority measurement to a pilot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Oltheten, Aaron Halverson
  • Publication number: 20160272342
    Abstract: A power safety system is configured to provide power information in an aircraft. The power safety system includes a power safety instrument having a power required indicator and a power available indicator, each being located on a display. A position of the power required indicator and the power available indicator represent the power available and power required to perform a hover flight maneuver. The power safety system may be operated in a flight planning mode or in a current flight mode. The power safety system uses at least one sensor to measure variables having an effect on the power required and the power available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: James M. McCollough, Erik Oltheten, Nicholas Lappos
  • Patent number: 9352849
    Abstract: A power safety system is configured to provide power information in an aircraft. The power safety system includes a power safety instrument having a power required indicator and a power available indicator, each being located on a display. A position of the power required indicator and the power available indicator represent the power available and power required to perform a hover flight maneuver. The power safety system may be operated in a flight planning mode or in a current flight mode. The power safety system uses at least one sensor to measure variables having an effect on the power required and the power available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: James M. McCollough, Erik Oltheten, Nicholas Lappos
  • Publication number: 20150321769
    Abstract: A power safety system is configured to provide power information in an aircraft. The power safety system includes a power safety instrument having a power required indicator and a power available indicator, each being located on a display. A position of the power required indicator and the power available indicator represent the power available and power required to perform a hover flight maneuver. The power safety system may be operated in a flight planning mode or in a current flight mode. The power safety system uses at least one sensor to measure variables having an effect on the power required and the power available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: James M. McCollough, Erik Oltheten, Nicholas Lappos
  • Patent number: 9096325
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of managing pilot and copilot control of engine power in an aircraft includes receiving, from a first pilot input device, a first signal representative of a pilot selection of an increase power position or a decrease power position and receiving, from a second pilot input device, a second signal representative of a pilot selection of an increase power position or a decrease power position. One of the first signal and the second signal is prioritized. An aircraft engine is then instructed to change power output based on the prioritized signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Oltheten, James M. McCollough, Peter F. Scheidler, Jeffery S. Greenwood
  • Publication number: 20150142215
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of managing pilot and copilot control of engine power in an aircraft includes receiving, from a first pilot input device, a first signal representative of a pilot selection of an increase power position or a decrease power position and receiving, from a second pilot input device, a second signal representative of a pilot selection of an increase power position or a decrease power position. One of the first signal and the second signal is prioritized. An aircraft engine is then instructed to change power output based on the prioritized signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Oltheten, James M. McCollough, Peter F. Scheidler, Jeffrey S. Greenwood
  • Patent number: 9035802
    Abstract: A power safety system is configured to provide power information in an aircraft. The power safety system includes a power safety instrument having a power required indicator and a power available indicator, each being located on a display. A position of the power required indicator and the power available indicator represent the power available and power required to perform a hover flight maneuver. The power safety system may be operated in a flight planning mode or in a current flight mode. The power safety system uses at least one sensor to measure variables having an effect on the power required and the power available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: James M. McCollough, Erik Oltheten, Nicholas Lappos
  • Publication number: 20140246537
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a gauge display prioritization system comprises a priority engine and an output engine. The priority engine is operable to receive a measurement from a first sensor associated with a first aircraft component and a measurement from a second sensor associated with a second aircraft component, select a prioritization criterion based on the received measurements, and select one priority measurement from the received measurements based on the prioritization criterion. The output engine is operable to instruct a gauge disposed within a cockpit to display information representative of the one priority measurement to a pilot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Erik Oltheten, Aaron Halverson
  • Publication number: 20130120165
    Abstract: A power safety system is configured to provide power information in an aircraft. The power safety system includes a power safety instrument having a power required indicator and a power available indicator, each being located on a display. A position of the power required indicator and the power available indicator represent the power available and power required to perform a hover flight maneuver. The power safety system may be operated in a flight planning mode or in a current flight mode. The power safety system uses at least one sensor to measure variables having an effect on the power required and the power available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: James M. McCollough, Erik Oltheten, Nicholas Lappos
  • Patent number: 7414544
    Abstract: A power situation indicator configured to provide power information in a rotorcraft is presented. The power situation indicator includes a detection unit configured to detect a current value of each of a plurality of control parameters, each of the plurality of control parameters including a pre-determined operating limit; a calculation unit configured to normalize on a common power scale (a) the current value and (b) the pre-determined operating limit of each of the plurality of control parameters, and a display unit configured to dynamically display on the common power scale a first moveable indicator and a second moveable indicator. The first moveable indicator is driven by one of the plurality of control parameters having the highest normalized current value and the second moveable indicator is driven by one of the plurality of control parameters having its normalized current value that is the closest to its corresponding normalized pre-determined operating limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Oltheten, Jeffery Erwin
  • Publication number: 20060287778
    Abstract: A power situation indicator configured to provide power information in a rotorcraft is presented. The power situation indicator includes a detection unit configured to detect a current value of each of a plurality of control parameters, each of the plurality of control parameters including a pre-determined operating limit; a calculation unit configured to normalize on a common power scale (a) the current value and (b) the pre-determined operating limit of each of the plurality of control parameters, and a display unit configured to dynamically display on the common power scale a first moveable indicator and a second moveable indicator. The first moveable indicator is driven by one of the plurality of control parameters having the highest normalized current value and the second moveable indicator is driven by one of the plurality of control parameters having its normalized current value that is the closest to its corresponding normalized pre-determined operating limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Oltheten, Jeffery Erwin