Patents Assigned to Rockwell Collins, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12388480
    Abstract: Techniques for selecting frequencies of operation are described. HF signals may land at the receiver node with power levels dependent upon the transmit frequency. The frequency with the highest power level at the receiver node may be selected when the receiver node is not subject to interfering. The receiver node may be unable to receive a desired signal if an interfering signal has a signal level which is higher than the desired signal. The transmitter node may select a frequency which has a receiver signal level which is higher than the interfering signal for the selected frequency. The receiver node may then receive the transmit signal at the selected frequency even when subject to interfering from the interferer node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: John V. Thommana, Joseph Splean, II
  • Patent number: 12381310
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of antenna assemblies for integration with aircraft lighting systems. The antenna assemblies in some embodiments include a ground plane, a patch antenna positioned on the ground plane, and a radome covering the patch antenna. The patch antenna and radome are configured as an annular ring for positioning around a light fixture received through a center opening through each of the ground plane, patch antenna, and radome such that the antenna assembly can mount and connect to the aircraft utilizing the light fixture aperture without the need for a separate antenna aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph T. Graf, James B. West
  • Patent number: 12381802
    Abstract: A system and method for tactical routing of directional communications identifies directional communications links from a transmitting (Tx) node to a receiving (Rx) node of a multi-node network. Within the network environment, the Tx node identifies deadzones, or areas wherein directional communications links between the Tx and Rx nodes may be constrained. The Tx node assigns each identified directional communications link a link cost; constrained links are assigned a higher cost than unconstrained links. Based on the assigned link costs (and other link cost information received from other network nodes), the Tx node constructs an optimal transmission route to the desired Rx node, the transmission route comprising a sequence one of more directional links selected to optimally fulfill mission objectives (e.g., minimal aggregate link cost).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Hageman, Tj T. Kwon
  • Patent number: 12372980
    Abstract: Autonomous systems increase the robustness and safety of current aircraft and to support simplified vehicle, reduced crew, and single pilot operations. The autonomous systems aid air crews in their handling of non-normal, high workload, aircraft upset scenarios. The upset scenarios include the recovery from attitudes outside of the normal operating envelope that even the most robust automatic flight control systems currently in service today do not support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Perich, Brandon J. Burnett, Juan M. Segal, Andrew R. Markofski, Samuel E. Ferdon, Thomas M. Scanlon, John W. Roltgen, Dale E. McPherson
  • Patent number: 12374230
    Abstract: A system collects air samples at altitude and shares data among aircraft in a network. The system includes an antenna with an antenna housing; the housing defines air inlets and outlets. While in flight, air samples are collected through the inlets, processed via sensors, and allowed to flow through to the outlet. Air quality data, including, but not limited to, contrail humidity, gas content, and particle density and size, may be transmitted to other aircraft in a network via the antenna. Air quality measurements are geolocated and correlated from different platforms at different altitudes. A data model or machine learning artificial intelligence may utilize the geolocated air quality data to make certain predictions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: James P Mitchell, Sitaram Ramaswamy, Philip Harris
  • Patent number: 12375208
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing the efficiency of an avalanche relay scheme is disclosed. The system and method include a plurality of networked nodes communicating in a slot and subslot scheme, with transmissions of a first signal from a first subslot relayed in subsequent subslots. The method and system include transmitting an initial transmission that includes the first signal, and then continuing to transmit at least one of a retransmitted portion of the first signal, or a transmission of an algorithmically related signal based on the first signal. The receiving node combines the first signal with the retransmitted portion of the first signal or the algorithmically related signal to determine if the initial transmission is valid. Upon a determination that the initial transmission is valid, the relay node retransmits the initial transmission in a future subslot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Jorgenson, Robert W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 12371185
    Abstract: An operator safety system (OSS) monitors the physiological well-being of an aircraft pilot or vehicle operator, and has engaged and disengaged operational states (the engaged state associated with active monitoring). The OSS includes a smart engage/disengage system incorporating presence sensors (e.g., visual, seat-based) installed in the cockpit or control area of the vehicle. When the presence sensors determine that the pilot/operator is no longer present in their seat but the OSS is still engaged, the OSS prompts the operator to disengage the OSS (e.g., via single-touch display interface or remotely to a mobile device). When the presence sensors determine that the operator is present or seated, but the OSS is disengaged, the OSS prompts the operator to re-engage the OSS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher L George, Arjun Harsha Rao, Timothy J. Wittkop, Wade T. Johnson, Peggy Wu, Michael P. Matessa
  • Patent number: 12367779
    Abstract: A system may include a display and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to: obtain a Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM); extract information from the NOTAM, the information including information of a runway displaced threshold of the runway and/or a landing distance available on the runway; generate a NOTAM file including the information; update runway overrun awareness and alerting system (ROAAS) data to include a current runway displaced threshold value and a current landing distance available value based on the information of the NOTAM file; generate a ROAAS image, wherein the ROAAS image graphically and/or textually depicts a view indicative of the current runway displaced threshold value and the current landing distance available value; and output the ROAAS image to the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl H. Bode
  • Patent number: 12366625
    Abstract: A system may include a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) including a plurality of nodes. Each of the plurality of nodes is configured to transmit communication data packets and transmit beacons. Each of the plurality of nodes has passive spatial awareness. A first node has information of own node velocity, own node orientation, and a destination. The first node may be configured to: calculate a direct line or an arc from the first node to the destination; utilize passive spatial awareness; assess possible relay routes beyond the communication range and within the beacon range of the first node; determine a next relay node that is on one of the possible relay routes wherein the one of the possible relay routes may be closest to the direct line or the arc without being determined to be part of a dead-end route; and transmit a communication data packet to the next relay node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Tj T. Kwon, William B. Sorsby, Eric J. Loren
  • Patent number: 12366655
    Abstract: A system including a radar system. The radar system may include a transmit antenna, a receive antenna, and a controller. The controller may be configured to: determine or obtain information indicative of at least one of a phase of flight or an environmental condition; determine or obtain information indicative of a mission associated with the determined phase of flight and/or environmental condition; and based at least on the determined mission and the determined phase of flight and/or the environmental condition, tune radar parameters of the radar system to values to fulfill the determined mission associated with the determined phase of flight and/or environmental condition. The radar system may be reprogrammable by tuning the radar parameters to operate over any of a collection of phases of flight, any of a collection of environmental conditions, and any of a collection of missions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian O. Helfrecht, Luca Manica, Carlo L. Tiana
  • Patent number: 12367780
    Abstract: A safety monitor arranged to: receive a flight plan comprising a plurality of waypoints for an aircraft to follow on a flight mission; receive hazard data corresponding to one or more hazards; generate an aircraft occupancy region comprising a four-dimensional volume corresponding to a range of possible spatial and temporal coordinates for the aircraft along the flight plan; generate a hazard occupancy region comprising a four-dimensional volume corresponding to a range of possible spatial and temporal coordinates associated with the one or more hazards; and determine whether there is an overlap between the four-dimensional volume of the aircraft occupancy region and the hazard occupancy region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonardo Mangeruca, Marco Marazza, Stefano Minopoli
  • Patent number: 12367776
    Abstract: A system may include a radio and a processor. The processor may be configured to: obtain information of a flight plan; obtain a command and control (C2) communication plan; and output instructions to operate the radio to connect with at least one given antenna of at least one given radio tower at a given time according to the C2 communication plan. The radio may be configured to connect with the at least one given antenna of the at least one given radio tower at the given time according to the C2 communication plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Boe A. Svatek, Abhishek Dharmesh Rane, Paul A. Lenhardt, Nicholas J. Liberko
  • Patent number: 12361304
    Abstract: A system and method for developing an artificial intelligence (AI) taxonomy is disclosed. The system includes a cognitive engine configured to perform deep learning processes, and includes a controller. The controller includes a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor. The memory stores executable instructions, which when executable by the processors, causes the processor to collect one or more metrics from node packets received from at least one node, generate a keyword based on the one or more metrics, generate a key phrase based on the keyword in combination with another one of the one or more metrics, and generate a sentence from the key phrase, wherein the key phrase is used for communication with at least one of a plurality of network AI entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: George F. Elmasry, Paul S. Corwin
  • Publication number: 20250227837
    Abstract: A circuit board system includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A plurality of plated through holes (PTHs) are defined through the PCB from the first side to the second side. A respective pad is defined at each end of each PTH of the plurality of PTHs. The PCB includes circuit traces electrically interconnecting among the plurality of PTHs for forming PCB circuitry. A coverlay is adhered with an adhesive layer to the first side of the PCB for insulating voltages among the plurality of PTHs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2024
    Publication date: July 10, 2025
    Applicant: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Bauer, Robert C. Cooney
  • Patent number: 12355572
    Abstract: A method of transmitting a message from a sender to a receiver is provided, wherein the communication between the sender and receiver is performed using a hybrid automatic-repeat-request protocol. Artificial noise is added digitally to a first data packet in order to trigger transmission of a second data packet. Corresponding artificial noise is added digitally to the second data packet such that the receiver device can process the data packets together to remove the introduced artificial noise and extract the desired message. Also disclosed are methods where artificial noise is added to a predetermined set of plural data packets in a similar fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Luca Manica, Goran Djuknic, Marco Carloni
  • Patent number: 12347139
    Abstract: A system and method for high integrity head pose estimation receives a 2D image including medium-density fiducials and low-density fiducials. The system then detects the medium-density fiducials and compares them with a 3D constellation to form an initial head pose estimate. The initial head pose estimate is then checked for possible alternative correspondences. A selection from a set of candidate initial head pose estimates is made to determine. The selected head pose estimate then has search areas established for the medium-density fiducials and low-density fiducials. The system then determines whether or not the head pose is valid and accurate based on whether or not the fiducials appear in their respective search areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Boggs, William T. Kirchner, Gavin P. Haentjens, Kurt I. Jaeger, Brandon E. Wilson
  • Patent number: 12345992
    Abstract: A system includes an optical transmission layer configured to allow a first luminance of illuminated images output from a display to pass through the optical transmission layer at a given time and to allow a second luminance of the illuminated images output from the display to pass through the optical transmission layer at another given time. The second luminance is one of dimmer or brighter than the first luminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Tracy J. Barnidge
  • Patent number: 12347762
    Abstract: An electronic assembly is disclosed. The electronic assembly includes a first attachment layer, a second attachment layer, a first interposer redistribution layer, a second interposer redistribution layer, at least one of a thermal spreader layer or a thermal management layer, and an interposer cavity. The interposer further includes an interconnect header fixed within the interposer cavity comprising a plurality of interconnect filaments configured to electrically couple to at least one of the first interposer redistribution layer or the second interposer redistribution layer. The interconnect header is generated by applying electrically conductive filaments on a plurality of wafers, thinning the wafers, stacking the wafers, attaching the wafers into a wafer stack, and dicing the wafer stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collin Inc.
    Inventor: Reginald D. Bean
  • Patent number: 12347060
    Abstract: A system and method for channeled processing of head-frame and earth-frame symbology for display by a head worn display (HWD) receives image data associated with a head pose (e.g., based on a head-centered or earth-centered reference frame) and generates both head-frame and earth-frame symbology. The head-frame and earth-frame symbology sets are each encoded according to different color ranges or values by image rendering processors in communication with the HWD. The HWD tracker processors receive the image data and color range encoded symbology and the HWD pose augmentation processors adjust either the head-frame or earth-frame symbology according to the associated head pose data (bypassing the other symbology set) before returning the pose-adjusted symbology to the tracker processors for generation of an output image for display by the HWD wherein color encoding is removed from the symbology sets (e.g., head-frame/adjusted earth-frame, or earth-frame/adjusted head-frame).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Jared R. Prink, Troy D. Driscoll
  • Patent number: 12341566
    Abstract: A system and method for modifying symbology displayed on a head worn display (HWD) based on a quality-of-service value is disclosed. The system includes a head worn display configured to display symbology, a tracking camera, a controller, and a tracking processing unit configured to receive inputs form the tracking camera and transmit a signal quality value to the controller. The controller includes processors and memory with instructions that when executed by the processors, cause the processors to display the symbology on the display, determine a quality-of-service value based on at least the signal quality value, and modify at least one symbol of the symbology based on the quality-of-service value from a default symbol to a degraded symbol if the quality-of-service value changes from a high-quality value to a low-quality value. The system may also receive sensor signals from other sensors, and use the sensor signal to determine the quality-of-service value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander D. Reid, William T. Kirchner, Christopher M. Boggs, Brandon E. Wilson, Troy D. Driscoll