Patents by Inventor Andrew Billings

Andrew Billings 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: 12350979
    Abstract: A method of configuring a tire monitoring device including, at the tire monitoring device: entering a configuration mode; responsive to entering the configuration mode, transmitting a first message to a second device, the message indicating that the second device should transmit configuration data to the tire monitoring device; receiving configuration data from the second device in response to the first message; and configuring the tire monitoring device based on the configuration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Bill
  • Patent number: 12350981
    Abstract: An aircraft tire monitoring device including a wireless communication interface and configured to operate in a first mode in which the wireless communication interface is periodically activated and available for connection to a remote device with a first interval between activations, and a second mode in which the wireless communication interface is periodically activated and available for connection to the remote device with a second interval between activations. The second interval between activations is different to the first interval between activations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Bill
  • Publication number: 20250214384
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of exchanging cryptographic parameters in a network of tire monitoring devices, the method including broadcasting, from each tire monitoring device to a plurality of other tire monitoring devices, a message comprising a cryptographic parameter generated by that respective tire monitoring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Publication date: July 3, 2025
    Inventors: Andrew BILL, Stephan MARWEDEL, Erik-Oliver BLASS, Christelle DUCHOSSOY
  • Patent number: 12311706
    Abstract: A tire monitor 11 includes a sensor device 12 arranged to detect an operating parameter of a tire and a protective housing 14 for the device, the device being retained on a ring 15 having spaced end portions 16a, 16b, the ring being resiliently radially biased. The provision of a retaining ring facilitates installation of the tire monitor within a tire assembly, so that the sensor device can directly monitor the operating parameter of the tire. The protective housing protects the sensor device from impact, vibration and temperature extremes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Bill
  • Patent number: 12296626
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are disclosed in which an indication given by at least one tyre monitoring device is confirmed by input received from another source is disclosed. The method includes causing, by the control device, at least one tyre monitoring device mounted on a wheel to measure a tyre pressure and to indicate a status using an indicator provided on the tyre monitoring device; receiving, from the at least one tyre monitoring device, data representative of the status of the at least one tyre monitoring device; receiving input representative of the status indicated on the indicator of the at least one tyre monitoring device; comparing the received data representative of the status with the received input representative of the status; and taking action based on the result of the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Bill
  • Patent number: 12296629
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of predicting a tire gas temperature of an aircraft tire including receiving data of a plurality of measurements of temperature with associated times after a landing event, the data measured by a tire monitoring device affixed to an aircraft wheel; selecting a temperature profile from a plurality of predetermined temperature profiles based on the received data, the plurality of temperature profiles representing heating and cooling under different conditions; and predicting a future tire gas temperature based on the selected temperature profile and the received data. Another method includes: receiving data of a plurality of measurements of temperature with associated times, the data measured by a tire monitoring device affixed to an aircraft wheel; determining a gradient of the temperature from the data; and predicting a future tire gas temperature using the gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Bill
  • Patent number: 12296628
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus for measuring a property of a wheel assembly is disclosed including at least one sensor configured to acquire measurement data; and a mounting member attached to the at least one sensor. The mounting member is configured to engage with a wheel such as to retain the sensor on the wheel within an enclosed space formed by the wheel and a tire mounted on the wheel. The mounting member is further configured to enable the sensor to move around the circumference of the wheel when the mounting member is engaged with the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Bill
  • Patent number: 12269301
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of tire maintenance including: receiving data of a plurality of tire gas pressure measurements each measurement having an associated time; analyzing the received data to determine maintenance information, wherein the maintenance information comprises at least one of: an inflation event, a maximum pressure, a minimum pressure and a tire replacement event; and providing an indication based the determined maintenance information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Bill
  • Patent number: 12269304
    Abstract: A method of determining a status of a tyre monitoring device that includes a power supply. The method includes determining a value indicative of consumption of the power supply, determining a status of the tyre monitoring device based on the value indicative of consumption of the power supply, and providing an indication based on the determined status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignees: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED, MEGGITT SA
    Inventors: Andrew Bill, Alessandro Fichera, Kevin Stanley-Adams
  • Patent number: 12269303
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of predicting tire pressure of a tire of an aircraft, the method including obtaining first data indicative of an inflation pressure of the tire, obtaining second data indicative of a brake temperature of a brake associated with an aircraft wheel to which the tire is mounted, obtaining third data indicative of a gas temperature of the tire, and obtaining fourth data indicative of one or more predicted operational conditions of the aircraft during a future time period. The method includes determining, based at least in part on the first, second, third and fourth data, predicted tire pressure characteristics of the tire during the future time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Bill, Michael Orford
  • Publication number: 20250108671
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprising determining, based on a first signal indicative of a pressure in a tire of a wheel of an aircraft and a second signal indicative of a deformation of the tire, a determined load on the wheel, and causing an action to be performed based on the determined load on the wheel. Also a system for an aircraft, the system comprising a monitoring system configured to detect pressure and deformation of a tire of a wheel of the aircraft, and a controller configured to determine, on the basis of the pressure and deformation detected by the monitoring system, load on the wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Andrew BILL, Michael ORFORD, Sukhpreet BLACK, Rodrigo JIMENEZ
  • Publication number: 20250091725
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprising determining, on the basis of a change in pressure in a tire of a wheel of an aircraft, whether a transition between Weight on Wheels and Weight off Wheels has occurred at the wheel. Also disclosed is a system for an aircraft, the system comprising a tire pressure monitoring system configured to detect pressure in a tire of a wheel of the aircraft and output a signal indicative of the pressure detected, and a controller configured to receive the signal and determine, on the basis of the signal, whether a transition between Weight on Wheels and Weight off Wheels has occurred at the wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Andrew BILL, Michael ORFORD
  • Patent number: 12170895
    Abstract: A method of copying data from a first device to a second device, each device including a wireless communication interfaces having a maximum range, is disclosed. The first device and the second device are separated by a distance greater than the maximum range. The method includes: transmitting, by the first device, the data to a third device positioned within the maximum range of the first device; receiving the data at the third device and storing the data in a memory of the third device; moving the third device to a physical location within the maximum range of the second device; and transmitting, by the third device, the data to the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Bill
  • Patent number: 12162316
    Abstract: A tyre monitoring device, tyre monitoring system and method including a wireless interface having range determining capability and a processor. The processor: receives a command via the wireless interface from a second device of the tyre monitoring system; determines a range to the second device; and executes the command if the range to the second device is less than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignees: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED, MEGGITT SA
    Inventors: Andrew Bill, Kevin Stanley-Adams, Christophe Blouët
  • Patent number: 12165438
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of aircraft tire maintenance is disclosed including the steps of receiving data of a plurality of pressure and temperature measurements, each of the plurality of pressure and temperature measurements having an associated time stamp; determining stable points in the plurality of pressure and temperature measurements; and using the stable points for determining tire maintenance. A computer readable medium with instructions to implement the method and a processing system to implement the method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Bill
  • Patent number: 12115819
    Abstract: A computer implemented method of determining a tire pressure is disclosed including the steps of receiving data of a recent stable point comprising both a tire gas pressure and a temperature; receiving data of a desired temperature, at which a current pressure is desired to be determined; and determining the current pressure based on the data of the recent stable point and the desired temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Bill
  • Patent number: 12109850
    Abstract: A tire monitoring device configured to be mounted on a wheel and including: a pressure sensor for sensing an inflation pressure of a tire on the wheel; a wireless communication interface configured to receive data indicative of a command to indicate tire pressure, wherein the wireless communication interface is configured to communicate with at least one other tire monitoring device; a storage storing a predetermined pressure value; an indicator configured to provide a first indication and a second indication, wherein the first indication is different from the second indication; and a processing system configured to operate the indicator to provide the first indication or the second indication responsive to receipt of the command to indicate tire pressure, and based at least in part on the inflation pressure and the predetermined pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignees: Airbus Operations Limited, Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Andrew Bill, Timo Warns
  • Patent number: 12065001
    Abstract: A tire inflation optimization apparatus configured to determine an optimum inflation pressure for a tire installed on an aircraft is disclosed. The apparatus includes a memory and a controller. The memory stores information relating tire gas properties to aircraft schedule parameters and a reference pressure for the tire. The controller is configured to receive future schedule information indicative of a future flight schedule for the aircraft and to determine an optimum inflation pressure for the tire based on the received future schedule information, the stored information relating tire gas properties to aircraft schedule parameters, and the stored reference pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Bill
  • Patent number: 12058751
    Abstract: Restricting commands for a tire monitoring device including controlling entry into a configuration mode and restricting operation based on detection of an abnormal command pattern. The method includes, at a tire monitoring device: receiving a configuration request from a first device for the tire monitoring device to operate in a configuration mode, the configuration request provided using a first wireless communication protocol; responsive to receipt of the configuration request, initiating communication using a second wireless communication protocol; establishing successful communication using the second wireless protocol; and entering the configuration mode responsive to establishing successful communication using the second wireless communication protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Bill
  • Patent number: 12023968
    Abstract: A method for initialising a tyre monitoring device including a wireless communication interface and tyre monitoring devices and systems using the method are disclosed. The method includes operating the tyre monitoring device in a first mode, in the first mode the tyre monitoring device is only responsive to an initialisation instruction received over the wireless communication interface from the second device; receiving an initialisation instruction over the wireless communication interface while operating in the first mode; and, responsive to the initialisation instruction, operating the tyre monitoring device in a second mode in which the tyre monitoring device is responsive to instructions received over the wireless communication interface. The first mode draws lower power than the second mode so power draw prior to initialisation, for example while storage awaiting use, is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Bill