Patents by Inventor Robert B. Wood

Robert B. Wood 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: 11500457
    Abstract: A display system includes an interface unit, a head worn display in wireless communication with the interface unit, and a first tracker sensor remote from a head of a user and configured to wirelessly sense a head pose and provide first head tracking data to the interface unit. The interface unit is remote from the head worn display. The display system also includes a second tracker sensor associated with the head of the user and configured to provide second head tracking data associated with the head pose to the head worn display. The interface unit is configured to receive the second head tracking data from the head worn display via at least one wireless link and provide video information for display on the head worn display via the at least one wireless link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Wood, Eric P. Stratton, Kenneth A. Zimmerman, Gary J. Albert, Robert D. Brown, Bruce Hufnagel
  • Publication number: 20210407306
    Abstract: A flight management system includes a communications system configured to receive weather data from a remote source, a display system configured to generate an output for a flight display of an aircraft, and at least one processor with a non-transitory processor-readable medium storing processor-executable code. The output includes weather information based on the received weather data. The processor-executable code causes the processor to receive a user input from a user interface element of the aircraft where the user input requests updated weather information. The processor-executable code causes the processor to retrieve, via the communications system and in response to the user input, updated weather data from the remote source; calculate a departure or arrival performance flight parameter based at least in part on the updated weather data; and provide, via the display system, an output for the flight display of the aircraft where the output includes the flight parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Nielsen, Bradley R. Thompson, Ricky M. Kannothra, Carlo L. Tiana, Robert B. Wood, David L. Flanders, Lu Bai
  • Publication number: 20210341995
    Abstract: A display system includes an interface unit, a head worn display in wireless communication with the interface unit, and a first tracker sensor remote from a head of a user and configured to wirelessly sense a head pose and provide first head tracking data to the interface unit. The interface unit is remote from the head worn display. The display system also includes a second tracker sensor associated with the head of the user and configured to provide second head tracking data associated with the head pose to the head worn display. The interface unit is configured to receive the second head tracking data from the head worn display via at least one wireless link and provide video information for display on the head worn display via the at least one wireless link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Robert B. Wood, Eric P. Stratton, Kenneth A. Zimmerman, Gary J. Albert, Robert D. Brown, Bruce Hufnagel
  • Patent number: 11142340
    Abstract: An apparatus interfaces with a light stanchion associated with a runway. The apparatus can include a first interface for attaching to the light stanchion, second interface for attaching to runway light, and a radar reflective member. The radar reflective member can be a corner reflector. The radar reflector can be part of set of reflectors arranged in accordance with visual approach slope indications or precision approach path indications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo L. Tiana, Robert B. Wood, David L. Flanders, Lu Bai
  • Patent number: 11099636
    Abstract: A display system includes an interface unit, a head worn display in wireless communication with the interface unit, and a first tracker sensor remote from a head of a user and configured to wirelessly sense a head pose and provide first head tracking data to the interface unit. The interface unit is remote from the head worn display. The display system also includes a second tracker sensor associated with the head of the user and configured to provide second head tracking data associated with the head pose to the head worn display. The interface unit is configured to receive the second head tracking data from the head worn display via at least one wireless link and provide video information for display on the head worn display via the at least one wireless link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Wood, Eric P. Stratton, Kenneth A. Zimmerman, Gary J. Albert, Robert D. Brown, Bruce Hufnagel
  • Patent number: 10928510
    Abstract: An apparatus is for use with an aircraft radar system having a radar antenna. The apparatus includes processing electronics configured to cause the radar antenna to emit radar pulses having a pulse width less than 6 microseconds and configured to receive radar data associated with signals associated with the radar antenna. The radar data is processed to identify centroids associated with indications of the runway lights for a runway in the radar data. A best fit analysis of the centroids is used to identify a runway centerline associated with the runway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Wood, Carlo L. Tiana, Jeffery A. Finley, Gregg A. Walt, Irina R. Sandu
  • Patent number: 10775881
    Abstract: A computer system with one or more cameras monitors the head poses produced by a head-tracking system and produces a pass/fail indication that the head poses are reliable in a high assurance environment. The system may identify individual fiducials and independently verifying that they conform to the computed pose; and/or compute a location of fiducials as would be observed by a single verification camera and compare the computed locations to actual observed locations. The verification camera may be part of a second head-tracking system, utilized while not operating in its ordinary capacity. The computer system may also calibrate the head-tracking system to account for temperature and pressure fluctuations and perform image stabilization before the image frames are passed to the head-tracking system for processing by observing separate fiducials in fixed locations relative to the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston J. Lahr, Carlo L. Tiana, Robert B. Wood, Gary J. Albert
  • Patent number: 10732407
    Abstract: A display, such as a fixed head up display, can be configured as a near eye display. Display can be used in the environment of the user. Display includes an image source fixed with the environment and a combiner system. The combiner system is configured to be disposed at a near eye location with respect to the user. The combiner system includes at least one diffraction grating member. The diffraction grating member has an input and for receiving an image from the image source and a combiner end for receiving light from the real world scene. The image received at the input end and the light received from the outside scene are provided to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Wood, Robert D. Brown
  • Patent number: 10616463
    Abstract: A system, a camera, and a method. The system may include a light device and a camera. The light device may be configured to emit light having a lighting frequency defined by on states and off states of the light device. The camera may be in view of the emitted light. The camera may have an image acquisition frequency configured to capture all images during the on states of the light device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Johannessen, Jefferey M. McKee, Robert B. Wood
  • Patent number: 10580389
    Abstract: A system may include a structure, a head wearable device, emitters, receivers, and a processor. The emitters may be configured to emit signals and may be implemented on at least one of the structure or the head wearable device. The receivers may be configured to receive at least some of the signals from the emitters, to detect at least one signal property including signal intensity of the received signals, and to output information of the at least one signal property as signal data. The receivers may be implemented on at least one of the structure or the head wearable device. A processor may be configured to: receive the signal data from the receivers; determine a position and an orientation of the head wearable device based on the signal data; and output image or symbolic data to the head wearable device to be displayed by the head wearable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo L. Tiana, Robert B. Wood
  • Patent number: 10540007
    Abstract: A method for providing a display on a head-worn display includes receiving imagery from one or more sensors configured to capture details of an environment surrounding an aircraft, receiving a current gaze of a user of the head-worn display, and processing the imagery. Processing the imagery comprises identifying one or more attributes of the imagery. The method further includes identifying at least two layers of the imagery. At least one of the at least two layers has a different resolution than another layer. The method further includes determining a priority of each of the at least two layers based on the one or more attributes and the current gaze of the user. The method further includes transmitting one or more of the at least two layers to the head-worn display based on the determined priority of the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventors: Carlo L. Tiana, Weston J. Lahr, Robert B. Wood
  • Publication number: 20190174042
    Abstract: A system, a camera, and a method. The system may include a light device and a camera. The light device may be configured to emit light having a lighting frequency defined by on states and off states of the light device. The camera may be in view of the emitted light. The camera may have an image acquisition frequency configured to capture all images during the on states of the light device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Eric Johannessen, Jefferey M. McKee, Robert B. Wood
  • Patent number: 9870603
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring integrity of image sensing devices are disclosed. The method may include: obtaining a characterized noise pattern of an image sensing device; determining whether an image generated by the image sensing device is misaligned with an actual scene based on the characterized noise pattern of the image sensing device; in response to the image being determined to be misaligned with the actual scene, discarding or re-aligning the image; and in response to the image being determined to be aligned with the actual scene, presenting the image to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter H. Bold, Weston J. Lahr, Jared R. Prink, Nathaniel S. Kowash, Robert B. Wood
  • Publication number: 20170255257
    Abstract: A method for providing a display on a head-worn display includes receiving imagery from one or more sensors configured to capture details of an environment surrounding an aircraft, receiving a current gaze of a user of the head-worn display, and processing the imagery. Processing the imagery comprises identifying one or more attributes of the imagery. The method further includes identifying at least two layers of the imagery. At least one of the at least two layers has a different resolution than another layer. The method further includes determining a priority of each of the at least two layers based on the one or more attributes and the current gaze of the user. The method further includes transmitting one or more of the at least two layers to the head-worn display based on the determined priority of the layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo L. Tiana, Weston J. Lahr, Robert B. Wood
  • Patent number: 9733349
    Abstract: An apparatus is for use with an aircraft radar system having a radar antenna. The apparatus comprises processing electronics are configured to receive radar data associated with the radar antenna of the system. The processing electronics are also configured to detect periodic data associated with runway lights in the radar data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Wood, Carlo L. Tiana, Nathaniel S. Kowash, Richard D. Jinkins, Richard M. Rademaker
  • Patent number: 9715067
    Abstract: A head up display include an image source, and a waveguide. The waveguide has a first diffraction grating and a first end and a second diffraction grating at a second end. The waveguide is positioned as a combiner and allows viewing of an outside scene and information from the image source. The first and second diffraction gratings are surface relief gratings having a high index of modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Brown, Kurt A. Stahl, Robert B. Wood, Lincoln J. Burns
  • Patent number: 9674413
    Abstract: An enhanced vision system can be used on a vehicle such as an aircraft. The vision system includes a lens, a sensor array and a chromic layer disposed between the lens and the sensor array. A method can protect a focal plane array associated with an enhanced vision or other sensor from solar exposure. The method includes providing a focal plane sensor array and providing at least one photochromic layer in front of the focal plane array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo L. Tiana, Robert D. Brown, Robert B. Wood
  • Patent number: 9177204
    Abstract: A system for enhancing an image displayed on a display unit of an aircraft is shown and described. The system includes an enhanced vision system that detects a scene and enhances the scene for display on the display unit. The enhanced vision system includes a sensor having a filter configured to filter out all but at least one narrowband spectrum of light from the scene to detect elements of a first color. The enhanced vision system causes remaining content of the scene to be removed from the filter output for completing the detection of the elements of the first color. The enhanced vision system enhances the elements of the first color on the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo L. Tiana, Robert B. Wood
  • Patent number: 9000350
    Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a method of detecting a pulsing signal, comprising: detecting the pulsing signal using a first sensor device acquiring data at a first time interval; and detecting the pulsing signal using a second sensor device acquiring data at a second time interval; wherein the second time interval overlaps a portion of the first time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo L. Tiana, Nathaniel S. Kowash, Robert B. Wood
  • Patent number: 8917191
    Abstract: A system for controlling an image displayed on a display unit of an aircraft is shown and described. The system includes an enhanced vision system that detects elements of an approach lighting system for display on the display unit. The system also includes a synthetic vision system that uses a database of navigation information and a determined aircraft location to generate synthetic display elements representing the approach lighting system. Display electronics of the system cause the detected elements from the enhanced vision system to be simultaneously displayed on the display unit within a same scene as the generated synthetic display elements from the synthetic vision system. Advantageously, the simultaneous display allows a pilot viewing the display unit to check for whether information provided by the enhanced vision system matches information provided by the synthetic vision system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo L. Tiana, Kenneth A. Zimmerman, Robert B. Wood