Patents Assigned to Rockwell Collins, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11645434
    Abstract: A method for testing platforms (e.g., live, virtual, and/or constructive platforms associated with autonomous aircraft systems and their component subsystems) in a live/virtual/constructive (LVC) environment. In embodiments, the method includes determining, via a testbed engine, the development state of a platform component under test. The method includes retrieving a test to be executed, the test including test conditions to be applied to the component. The method includes determining whether the component is enabled to respond to the test conditions. The method includes, if the component is enabled to respond to the test conditions, executing the test while monitoring the component to detect a first output response and a second output response. The method includes identifying, via the testbed engine, at least one change in the development state of the component by comparing the first and second output responses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Angus L. McLean, Jaclyn A. Hoke, Scott S. Rediger, Joshua R. Bertram
  • Patent number: 11647550
    Abstract: A participating unit (PU; e.g., radio system, communications node) for a fourth generation (4G) automatic link establishment (ALE) network is disclosed. The PU initiates a link quality analysis (LQA) exchange with a callee PU of the network by transmitting a link request. The caller PU receives in response to the link request a link confirmation including callee-side LQA data for the reception of the link request, performing LQA measurements based on the reception. In response to the link request, the caller PU terminates the LQA exchange by transmitting to the callee PU a link termination including encoded caller-side LQA data, so data from both sides of the exchange is stored by both PUs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Ho Ting Cheng
  • Patent number: 11646962
    Abstract: A system and method for hybrid any-cast (unicast, multicast and anycast) routing in a mobile ad hoc communication network (MANET) is disclosed. In embodiments, each communication node of the MANET may implement on-demand routing functions whereby the node does not establish or maintain routes to destination nodes unless there is active communication, discovering routes via flooding of data packets in transit. Each communication node may select, or may transition from on-demand to, proactive routing functions. Proactive nodes first establish routes to clusters of other proactive nodes by flooding, and receiving acknowledgments from, the other proactive nodes. Each cluster of proactive nodes maintains routes within the cluster and establishes communication routes outside the cluster by flooding and relaying of routing status messages via clusterhead and gateway nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: T j T. Kwon, Robert W. Hartney
  • Patent number: 11640765
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed. The system includes a computer readable medium having non-transitory computer readable program code embodied therein for risk-aware contingency flight re-planning. The computer readable instructions include instructions, which when executed by a computer device or processors, perform and direct the step of receiving a preplanned route, receiving a risk tolerance level from a decision maker, receiving input from a database, receiving an indication of an en route risk to the vehicle, determining an association of an exposure cost with at least one of a plurality of 4-D paths, ranking the plurality of 4-D paths based on the association of the exposure cost, and displaying a portion of the plurality of 4-D paths to the decision maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith M. Allen
  • Patent number: 11640289
    Abstract: A system and method for deploying software is disclosed. The system includes an architecture for deploying simulation software as a service. The architecture includes a client layer. The client layer includes an edge device, a resource manager, an update framework, a firewall, and a key management system. The architecture further includes a control layer communicatively coupled to the client layer, wherein a portion of the control layer is configured within a server. The control layer includes an application programming interface, one or more containers, wherein at least one of the one or more containers is a simulation processing container. The control layer further includes an orchestration node, a continuous integration tool, one or more processors, and a content delivery network module. The architecture further includes a data layer communicatively coupled to the one or more containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Rishabh Kaushik, Jeanette M. Ling, Abhishek Verma
  • Patent number: 11637211
    Abstract: A system is disclosed that includes an electronic package. The electronic package includes a package base couplable to a host substrate, and a package lid mechanically coupled to the package base that includes one or more transparent lid areas, configured to permit transmission of light. The electronic package further includes a thermal spreader bonded on a first side to a first side of the package lid. The thermal spreader includes one or more transparent spreader areas that are configured to allow transmission of light through the thermal spreader. The electronic package further includes one or more integrated circuits bonded to a second side of the thermal spreader that communicatively coupled to the host substrate. The electronic package further includes one or more optical paths that include at least one of the one or more transparent spreader areas configured adjacent to at least one of the transparent lid areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross K. Wilcoxon, Reginald D. Bean, Russell C. Tawney, Bret W. Simon
  • Patent number: 11635528
    Abstract: A navigation satellite receiver system is disclosed. The system includes a host receiver. The host receiver includes a user interface, a module connector, and a controller coupled to the user interface and the module connector. The system further includes a receiver module operably coupled to the receiver module. The receiver module includes an antenna configured to receive one or more satellite navigation signal. The receiver module further includes an interface receiver card operably coupled to the module antenna. The interface receiver card is configured to process the one or more navigation signals. The receiver module further includes a host connector communicatively coupled to the interface receiver card and is configured to couple to the module connector. The module includes a housing configured to receive and protect the interface receiver card, the antenna, and the host connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: James K. Weighton, Kenneth Cogan, Benjamin Graubard, Troy V. Mundt, Jimmey Stultz, Meraj Choudhury
  • Patent number: 11638344
    Abstract: A circuit board is disclosed that has a pre-warming function. The circuit board includes a substrate and one or more conductive paths embedded in the substrate. The one or more electrically conductive paths include a logic control circuit containing a heating element and a temperature-sensitive element configured to control the heating element and deliver an input when the temperature-sensitive element has reached a threshold temperature. The one or more electrically conductive paths further includes a heater power circuit configured to deliver power to the logic control circuit. The one or more electrically conductive paths further includes an operational power circuit configured to switch off power to the heater power circuit and switch on power to the operational power circuit upon a delivery of the input from the logic control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Amos Veltkamp
  • Patent number: 11636772
    Abstract: A system and method for cooperative aerial vehicle collision avoidance provides an ESA-based sensor network capable of high-resolution threat proximity measurements and cooperative and non-cooperative collision avoidance in the full spherical volume surrounding an aerial vehicle. The system incorporates a plurality of ESA panels onto the airframe where the conical scan volumes overlap leaving no gaps in spherical proximity coverage. The resulting received data is stitched together between the neighboring ESA panels and used to determine a position and vector for each threat aerial vehicle within range. The data is transmitted through a cooperative collision avoidance network to nearby aerial vehicles, and presented to the autopilot and flight crew to increase situational awareness. The system determines a maneuver for the aerial vehicle and a maneuver for the threat aerial vehicle based on relative maneuvering capabilities to maintain desired separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob G. Teague, James B. West
  • Patent number: 11631808
    Abstract: A system may include an array of interconnected memristors. Each memristor may include a first electrode, a second electrode, and a memristor material positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode. The system may further include a controller communicatively coupled to the array of interconnected memristors. The controller may be configured to tune the array of interconnected memristors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle B. Snyder, Nathaniel P. Wyckoff, Brandon C. Hamilton, Bruce Rowenhorst, Steven J. Wiebers
  • Patent number: 11632143
    Abstract: A system may include a software-defined radio (SDR) configured to communicate over multiple channels by using a beyond line of sight (BLOS) waveform. The SDR may be configured to transmit encrypted communications over some or all of the multiple channels to a satellite and on to at least one radio access node (RAN). The SDR may be configured to receive encrypted communications over some or all of the multiple channels from the at least one RAN via the satellite. At least one of the multiple channels may use a spreading factor greater than 256. The SDR may be configured to simultaneously transmit and receive encrypted communications over the multiple channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: John V. Thommana, Jeffrey Grundmeyer, Lizy Paul
  • Patent number: 11626286
    Abstract: Systems and methods for custom photolithography masking via a precision dispense apparatus and process are disclosed. Methods include creating a toolpath instruction for depositing opaque onto a substrate, programming a precision dispense apparatus to execute the created toolpath instruction, and causing the precision dispense tool to deposit opaque material onto the substrate to form the photomask. The substrate may be an optically transparent plate or film or may be an electronic substrate where the opaque material is deposited directly onto a photoresist coating. Capabilities of the systems and methods disclosed herein extend to 3D substrates and custom photolithography masking, among others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Jenny Calubayan, Richard Korneisel, Nathaniel P. Wyckoff, Brandon C. Hamilton, Kyle B. Snyder
  • Patent number: 11624841
    Abstract: A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver can include a code generator, a signal correlator circuit, and a processor. The code generator can generate samples of a plurality of ranging codes associated with corresponding GNSS transmitters. The signal correlator circuit can receive, according to a first clock rate, samples of a signal from a GNSS transmitter, and update, according to a second clock rate and a time division multiplexing scheme, cross-correlation values indicative of cross-correlations between the signal and a subset of the plurality of ranging codes. The second clock rate can be equal to at least multiple times the first clock rate. The signal correlator circuit can determine final results of the cross-correlation values based on the updating of the cross-correlation values, and a processor can identify the GNSS transmitter among the plurality of GNSS transmitters based on the final results of the cross correlation values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Acheson, Thomas V. Dewulf
  • Patent number: 11621500
    Abstract: An antenna array includes a printed circuit board including printed circuit board elements circumferentially disposed at locations on a surface of the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board elements are disposed in opposing pairs at diametrically opposite locations and include a first member and a second member. The first member intersects the second member which is curved. The antenna array can be an ultra-ultra wide band (UUWB) wavelength scaled array (WSA) tightly coupled dipole array (TCDA) active electronically scanned array (AESA) aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. West, Matilda G. Livadaru
  • Patent number: 11621219
    Abstract: An electronic assembly is disclosed. The electronic assembly includes a primary die, comprising a bulk layer, an integrated circuitry layer, a metal layer, a first redistribution layer, and a first attachment layer. The primary die further includes at least one aligned through-hole in the bulk layer and integrated circuitry layer. The electronic assembly further includes a secondary die physically coupled to the primary die via a second attachment layer. The electronic assembly further includes an interconnect header that includes plurality of interconnect filaments configured to electrically couple the first redistribution layer to one of the at least one metal layer via the at least one bulk layer through-hole and the at least one integrated circuitry through-hole. The interconnect header is generated by applying an electrically conductive filaments on a plurality of wafers, thinning the wafers, stacking and attaching the wafers into a wafer stack, and dicing the wafer stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Reginald D. Bean, Bret W. Simon
  • Patent number: 11622297
    Abstract: An Aircraft Communication and Addressing Reporting System (ACARS) compatible transmitter is disclosed. In embodiments, the transmitter receives outbound (e.g., downlink or uplink) ACARS messages from aircraft end systems and compresses the header/trailer (H/T) and/or text payloads of ACARS blocks (e.g., text messages) or ACARS acknowledgements (ACK)) prior to transmission. For example, the transmitter compresses ACARS blocks by removing fixed markers and encoding variable fields. The transmitter parses incoming text payloads to determine their character distribution and selects a radix alphabet including the ASCII characters used in the text payload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Stevens, Alain J. M. Bothorel
  • Patent number: 11621737
    Abstract: A system with an acoustic filter array for analog processing of radio signals above 8 GHz includes a receiver and a downconverter to down-convert an incoming signal into an intermediate frequency range (IF). Downconverter includes suppression of local oscillator image. An active manifold splits the IF signal into separate parallel feeds into individual acoustic filter elements in an acoustic filter array. Acoustic filter array provides individually channelized IF outputs. Each IF manifold feed and corresponding acoustic filter output channel is associated with an analog-to-digital converter or system switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Orion Davies, Russell D. Wyse, Jonathan A. Lovseth
  • Patent number: 11613802
    Abstract: A shadow mask for a substrate is disclosed. The shadow mask includes a frame circumscribing a surface of the substrate. The shadow mask further includes one or more island mask features within the surface of the substrate, configured to block a deposition of a material onto at least a portion of the surface of the substrate. The shadow mask further includes one or more crossbeams coupling one or more island mask features to the frame at an elevation relative to the substrate. The one or more cross beams are configured to permit deposition of a material onto the substrate surface underneath the one or more crossbeams. In some instances, the shadow mask is manufactured through an additive manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Korneisel, Nathaniel P. Wyckoff
  • Patent number: 11617218
    Abstract: Cellular communications, such as 5G cellular, may be a primary link between cell phones and a base station. Such cellular communications may be desirable, due to a high link rate. When the cellular communications are denied, a tactical waveform may be used to bridge communications between the cell phones and the base station. The tactical waveform may be transmitted between tactical radios coupled with the cell phones. The tactical radios may include an application layer coupled with an application layer of the cell phone, such that an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) of the cell phone may remain unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: John V. Thommana, Lizy Paul
  • Patent number: 11613395
    Abstract: A baggage labeling system is disclosed. The baggage labeling system includes a baggage labeling module. The baggage labeling module includes a housing, a workstation interface, a controller communicatively coupled to the workstation interface. a baggage sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, a conveyor system communicatively coupled to the controller and configured to move a baggage item. The baggage labeling module includes a printing assembly communicatively coupled to the controller. The printing assembly includes a printer head configured to print a label directly onto the baggage item and a positioning arm mechanically coupled to the printer head configured to rotate the positioning arm relative to at least one plane, or translate the positioning arm relative to a first axis. The baggage labeling system further includes a workstation communicatively coupled to the baggage labeling module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanith Kurumpilavu Subramanian, Chandana Rao