Patents Examined by Benjamin P. Lee
  • Patent number: 11834145
    Abstract: A system for supporting a camera during aerial photography or videography includes a gimbal, a platform, a first flywheel, an onboard electronics module and a link rod with a longitudinal axis. The gimbal includes an inner ring external to and concentric with the link rod and coupled thereto for relative rotation about the longitudinal axis, a middle ring external to and concentric with the inner ring and coupled thereto for relative pivoting about a second axis nearly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and an outer ring external to and concentric with the middle ring and coupled thereto for relative pivoting about a third axis perpendicular to the second axis. The platform is provided to the outer ring. The first flywheel is mounted at a first position on the platform so as to balance with a camera at a second position and an onboard electronics module at a third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventor: Samuel A Johnson
  • Patent number: 11834187
    Abstract: A drive unit includes an engine such as a turbofan engine and a nacelle which includes, on the outside around an annular stream of fresh air, starting from upstream, an air inlet, front side covers, a thrust reverser having reversal gratings and movable rear covers. The front side covers surround the reversal gratings of the thrust reverser when it is closed, and the movable rear covers retreat with said gratings to open the reverser. The engine includes lifting points that form heavy-duty attachment points intended to receive handling clevis for lifting and transporting the drive unit. The lifting points are two upper lifting points arranged on the engine, each on one side of the engine radially behind the front side covers above the horizontal diameter (D) of the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: Safran Nacelles, Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Patrick Boileau, Bruno Beutin
  • Patent number: 11828555
    Abstract: A sub-mass projectile for a standard, unmodified firearm, comprising a core formed from a malleable core material with at least a portion of the core material being a non-metal material. The core has a lower mass than a standard projectile for the standard, unmodified firearm. An outer surface associated with the core has a diameter that is sized less than an outer diameter of a standard cartridge and larger than an inner diameter of a standard, unmodified barrel bore of the standard, unmodified firearm such that the outer surface associated with the core contacts the inner diameter of the standard, unmodified barrel bore to generate forces in the firearm that approximate operational forces of a standard mass projectile on the standard, unmodified firearm during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Inventor: William D. Reilly
  • Patent number: 11815333
    Abstract: An intensity adapting optical aiming system that automatically adjusts the intensity of the reticle to adapt to the light condition of the external light. The aiming system may be mounted to a weapon and the external light may be a weapon mounted light. The aiming system may include an illuminateable reticle and a light connector for transmitting light from the external light to the reticle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventor: Christopher Noskowicz
  • Patent number: 11814195
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an innovative thermal design concept of tailoring the absorptance and emittance of a coating—namely silicon oxide (SiOx) coated aluminized Kapton—as a radiator coating for small, nano-satellite (i.e., CubeSat) thermal management. The present invention improves on the thermal design of existing satellites, by: a) thermally coupling all components to the baseplate to eliminate the need for heater power for the battery; b) using all six sides of the CubeSat as radiators by changing the wall material from fiberglass to aluminum; c) using a different ratio of absorptance to emittance for each side by tailoring the SiOx thickness; d) having a high emittance for the wall interior and components; and e) eliminating the need for MLIs. The elimination of the MLIs reduces the volume and increases the clearance to minimize the risk for solar array deployment and cost of the thermal control subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventor: Michael Choi
  • Patent number: 11807406
    Abstract: Avalanches often trap people under the snow. Although nearly all avalanche victims survive the initial avalanche, asphyxiation will occur after about fifteen minutes if rescuers do not know where to dig to uncover avalanche victims. Drones can include unique hardware and software that enables them to search for avalanche victims and mark the locations of avalanche victims to quickly and accurately notify rescuers where to dig through the snow to save avalanche victims from asphyxiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventor: Owen Charles Wengreen
  • Patent number: 11810465
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes one or more processors individually or collectively configured to assess a location of the UAV, calculate a distance between the UAV and a flight-restricted region using the location of the UAV, assess whether the distance falls within a first distance threshold, and instruct the UAV to take a flight response measure selected from (1) a first flight response measure when the distance falls within the first distance threshold, and (2) a second flight response measure different from the first flight response measure when the distance falls outside the first distance threshold. The first flight response measure at least includes causing the UAV to descend or hover over a location. A rate at which the UAV descends is determined based on the location of the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mingyu Wang, Tao Wang, Jianyu Song
  • Patent number: 11801946
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring air gaps between opposing surfaces of two structural components. In one application, such measurements are used to fabricate a shim that fills the air gap between two structural members, such as parts of an aircraft. The resonant inductive coupling-based sensing system has the capability to remotely measure an air gap using an on-board transmit system. Furthermore, the system has the capability to switch between multiple inductor-capacitor sets such as to simultaneously measure air gaps across an area so that a better profile of the air gap can be determined. The resonant inductive coupling-based gap sensor is configured as signal generating and signal sensing electronics printed or mounted on respective flexible substrates to provide a flexible and portable measurement solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John E. Rogers, Robert Alan Smith
  • Patent number: 11787575
    Abstract: A system and method for management of propulsors for an electric aircraft, where the electric aircraft is configured to transition between a hover state and a fixed-wing flight state. The electric aircraft may include at least one set of a plurality of propulsors coupled to the electric aircraft. A flight controller may be coupled to the electric aircraft and configured to detect a state transition of the electric aircraft from the hover state to the fixed-wing flight state and send a parking command to the at least one set of a plurality of propulsors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher J. Woodall, Riley Griffin, Herman Wiegman
  • Patent number: 11772334
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to manufacturing a balloon envelope for use in a stratospheric balloon system. For instance, a stream of polyethylene mixture us extruded through an extruder in order to orient molecules of polymer chains of polyethylene and to provide an oriented film. The oriented film is passed through an electron beam and thereby crosslinking the polymer chains to provide a cross-linked film. The cross-linked film is heat sealed to form the balloon envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Aeroster International, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Roach, Jacques Gagne
  • Patent number: 11772597
    Abstract: Provided is a drone with an airbag with which it is possible to prevent the danger of injuring a person when a crashed drone collides with the person. A first airbag 11 is provided in a state surrounding a drone 9 within the horizontal plane. The first airbag 11 is held by a first holding part 10 provided on a central mounting part 2. The first airbag 11 is installed in the first holding part 10 in a folded state, the first airbag 11 being inflatable so as to project outward by gas being supplied. The first airbag 11 is capable of expanding before impacting another object such as a person and surrounding the drone 9 in the horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: MATSUYA R&D CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hidetaka Goto
  • Patent number: 11767112
    Abstract: An aircraft is configured for thrust-borne lift in a vertical takeoff and landing flight mode and wing-borne lift in a forward flight mode. The aircraft includes an airframe having a first wing and a first payload station. A distributed propulsion system that is coupled to the airframe includes a plurality of propulsion assemblies configured to provide vertical thrust in the vertical takeoff and landing flight mode and forward thrust in the forward flight mode. A control system is operably associated with the distributed propulsion system and is operable to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies. A payload module is configured to be transported by the airframe from a pickup location to a delivery location. The payload module is magnetically coupled to the first payload station during transportation and, responsive to a command from the control system, is magnetically decoupled from the first payload station at the delivery location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: John Richard McCullough, Paul K. Oldroyd
  • Patent number: 11760511
    Abstract: A transport device for transporting an unmanned aerial vehicle and methods for using the transport device are described herein. An example embodiment of the transport device includes: a carriage configured to engage the unmanned aerial vehicle; a plurality of engagement arms movably attached to the carriage and movable between a first locking position and a second locking position, each of the plurality of engagement arms, and configured to maintain engagement of the unmanned aerial vehicle by the carriage when in the first locking position; and a handle adapter having a first end configured for attachment to the carriage and a second end configured to receive an extension member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: The ADT Security Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua Bradshaw, Trevor Greenberg, Michael Lavway, Johnnie Donnell Singletary, Christopher Anthony Smith
  • Patent number: 11760485
    Abstract: A remotely controlled unmanned aerial device for use in proximity or in contact with high voltage powerlines, includes an unmanned aerial vehicle and an electrically conductive shield forming part of or operatively coupled to so as to encapsulate the unmanned aerial vehicle. When in the presence of a high voltage powerline, the unmanned aerial vehicle either when bonded-on or within the corresponding magnetic fields of the powerline, so as to transfer the powerline potential in whole or in part to the unmanned aerial vehicle, electrically energizes the conductive shield around the unmanned aerial vehicle while leaving components of the unmanned aerial vehicle within the shield substantially electrically unaffected by the voltage potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Quanta Associates, L.P.
    Inventors: David Karl Wabnegger, Daniel Neil O'Connell
  • Patent number: 11760493
    Abstract: An aircraft humidification system includes a first duct configured to guide a first air stream, and a second duct configured to guide a second air stream, the second duct including a humidifier for humidifying the air stream in the second duct. A first conduit directs part of the second air stream to the first duct. The first conduit includes a first conduit inlet leading into the first duct and a first conduit outlet extending from the second duct. A second conduit directs part of the first air stream to the second duct, the second conduit including a second conduit inlet leading into the second duct and a second conduit outlet extending from the first duct. The first conduit outlet is arranged downstream of the humidifier, the second conduit inlet is arranged downstream of the first conduit outlet and the first conduit inlet is arranged downstream of the second conduit outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: CTT SYSTEMS AB
    Inventors: Robert Helin, Johan Spång
  • Patent number: 11753147
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the state of an unmanned aircraft includes a first communication unit, a second communication unit that can be integrated within the aircraft, a state transmission unit that can be integrated within the aircraft for transferring state data of the aircraft, a receiving unit integrated within the aircraft for receiving control commands, a computing unit assigned to the aircraft for validating the state of the aircraft, and an external control and monitoring unit connected to the computing unit. The computing unit executes a simulation model of the aircraft, which is based on numerical integration of a system of equations with a simulation state vector. The computing unit sends a warning signal to the control and monitoring unit on the occurrence of one or repeated instances of a model error correction term exceeding specified interval limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Hunkel
  • Patent number: 11754367
    Abstract: A brace for stabilizing a handheld device such as a handgun against a user's forearm includes a vertically elongated body adapted to detachably engage a portion of the handheld device, and an arm pivotably connected to a portion of the body. The pivotable arm is selectably moveable between a stowed position wherein the arm is vertically aligned with the body, and a deployed position wherein the arm provides a surface against which a user's forearm is removably receivable to stabilize the handheld device when the body is engaged with the handheld device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: GEAR HEAD WORKS, LLC
    Inventor: Johnson Paul Reavis, III
  • Patent number: 11753164
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a release launching system that is operative to receive and retain a drone or other payload in a protected launcher. The launcher helps to reduce the drag of the payload and to protect the payload from environmental factors. The payload is launched when a force initially separates the payload from the launcher and exposes a force generating mechanism. The force generating mechanism may be within the body portion of the device and generate an additional force to assist in separating the payload from the launcher. The payload may be launched using a biasing and fastening mechanism, which may include detachably coupling bracket, to allow for the separation of the payload from the launcher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Anduril Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Robert Alley, Jesse Owen Williams, Matthew Gordon Brasher
  • Patent number: 11754380
    Abstract: A lightweight energetic weapons pod 2 that integrates to unmanned aerial systems 1 that enables the operator the ability to engage targets without flight degradation. The device utilizes an energetic weapons pod 2 that may be reloaded to support sustained combat operations. The ability of the device to function as intended is based on explosive mitigation compression zones and recoilless configurations that allow drone survivability during detonation events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TETAC INC.
    Inventor: Mark Benson
  • Patent number: 11731771
    Abstract: A restraint arrangement for an inflatable slide may comprise a releasable restraint and a yoke coupled to the releasable restraint. The yoke may comprise a first strap and a second strap. A first dampener may be coupled to the first strap. A second dampener may be coupled to the second strap. The first dampener and the second dampener may deform in response to a tensile load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy C. Haynes, Daniel Bahena