Patents by Inventor John C. Frank

John C. Frank 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: 8160757
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for providing optimum multi-map overlay in a flight deck navigation display of an aircraft. The method includes outputting absolute terrain data to the navigation display for display by the navigation display. The method further includes receiving a threshold elevation input, the threshold elevation input including a threshold elevation. The method further includes receiving relative terrain data. The method further includes, when the aircraft is located below the threshold elevation, overlaying the relative terrain data onto the absolute terrain data based on the received threshold elevation input. Further, the absolute terrain data and the relative terrain data are concurrently displayed by the navigation display, the displayed relative terrain data being overlaid onto the displayed absolute terrain data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Frank, Craig D. Pettit, James R. McGinnis
  • Patent number: 7965202
    Abstract: A present novel and non-trivial system, module, and method for presenting an abbreviated pathway on a tactical display unit. A processor generates an image data set representative of a pathway and a three-dimensional perspective scene outside the aircraft using terrain data, first location highlighter data, and second location highlighter data, where the first location highlighter data corresponds to the active flight path and second location highlighter data corresponds to a subsequent flight path. After being presented to a display system, an image represented in the image data set is presented on a tactical display unit, whereby an abbreviated pathway appears superimposed against the three-dimensional perspective scene outside the aircraft, where location highlighters are used for the depiction of the pathway comprising of at least one enhanced boundary of the active path, the second waypoint, the third waypoint, and the flight path formed between the second and third waypoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Y. Chiew, Travis S. VanDerKamp, John C. Frank
  • Patent number: 7724155
    Abstract: An avionics display is disclosed. A synthetic rendering of terrain is created using stored terrain data. A horizon line is overlaid upon the synthetic rendering of terrain. The horizon line represents zero degrees pitch attitude in a direction of travel of an aircraft in which the avionics display is installed. The horizon line is configured to move in response to attitude-changing movement of the aircraft. An attitude cue is overlaid upon the synthetic rendering of terrain and depicted on first and second sides of the horizon line such that the synthetic rendering of terrain remains substantially visible. The attitude cue has a first appearance on the first side of the horizon line and a second appearance on the second side of the horizon line. The first appearance is visually contrasted from the second appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric N. Anderson, John C. Frank, Craig D. Pettit, Sarah Barber, Matthew Carrico