Patents by Inventor Melvin D. McFarland

Melvin D. McFarland 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: 4517639
    Abstract: In a triplex redundant digital control system, one of three computer units is selected for controlling a digital flight control system by using fault scoring and selection logic circuitry that responds to discrete signals produced by the computer units that represent both self-test and cross-test information on the health of the three available units. The self-test and cross-test discrete information signals are received and processed by the selection logic circuit in accordance with a fault-scoring scheme in which the self-test scores are accorded different and, in particular, greater weight than the cross-test scores and a computer unit exhibiting the lowest combined self- and cross-test fault score is selected as the computer in control. The circuitry also includes memory devices for storing the fault scores associated with previous fault conditions so that a previously unfailed computer unit is selected over a previously failed but currently healthy computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Philip J. Ferrell, Alan D. Stern, Melvin D. McFarland