Patents by Inventor Andrew W. Houck

Andrew W. Houck 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: 9731814
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for identifying air data for an aircraft. The lift for the aircraft is identified. The number of surface positions for the aircraft is identified. The angle of attack during flight of the aircraft is identified. A synthetic dynamic pressure is computed from the lift, the number of surface positions, and the angle of attack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Melville Duncan Walter McIntyre, Andrew W. Houck, Russell T. Bridgewater, Robert Erik Freeman, Paul Salo, Douglas L. Wilson, Jonathan K. Moore
  • Publication number: 20140330455
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for identifying air data for an aircraft. The lift for the aircraft is identified. The number of surface positions for the aircraft is identified. The angle of attack during flight of the aircraft is identified. A synthetic dynamic pressure is computed from the lift, the number of surface positions, and the angle of attack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Melville Duncan Walter MCINTYRE, Andrew W. HOUCK, Russell T. BRIDGEWATER, Robert Erik FREEMAN, Paul SALO, Douglas L. WILSON, Jonathan K. MOORE
  • Patent number: 7679529
    Abstract: A method and a system for indicating a target idle running speed, a predicted core speed, a predicted time to running, current engine state or automation modes of an operating aircraft engine, and indicating that the current core speed of the aircraft engine is less than a target idle running speed or is abnormally decreasing towards a target idle running speed. The indicators may be visual or aural. The visual indicators may include graphical or numeric symbols indicating the target idle running speed, the direction of core speed change, the predicted core speed at some future time, or current engine state or automation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Andrew W. Houck, Joseph A. Sikora, Roglenda R. Bowe
  • Publication number: 20080136677
    Abstract: A method and a system for indicating a target idle running speed, a predicted core speed, a predicted time to running, current engine state or automation modes of an operating aircraft engine, and indicating that the current core speed of the aircraft engine is less than a target idle running speed or is abnormally decreasing towards a target idle running speed. The indicators may be visual or aural. The visual indicators may include graphical or numeric symbols indicating the target idle running speed, the direction of core speed change, the predicted core speed at some future time, or current engine state or automation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Andrew W. Houck, Joseph A. Sikora, Roglenda R. Bowe
  • Patent number: 6614397
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for automatically alerting a flight crew of an airplane when takeoff is attempted on a wrong runway. Identification data for an origin runway from which takeoff of an airplane is desired is entered via an operator interface. Stored position data for the origin runway is retrieved. Sensed position data for the airplane is input from a plurality of sensors. The stored position data for the origin runway is compared with the sensed position data for the airplane. A determination is made whether the sensed position of the airplane is within a predetermined position difference from the stored position of the origin runway, and a determination is made whether takeoff is attempted. An indication of wrong runway is provided when takeoff is attempted and the sensed position of the airplane is greater than the predetermined position difference away from the stored position of the origin runway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Charles A. Pullen, Henry V. VonJouanne, Andrew W. Houck
  • Patent number: 6571155
    Abstract: A navigation performance based flight path deviation display assembly includes a display and a display processor capable of generating an image upon the display. The image includes at least one flight path scale comprising a reference point bounded by end markers extending in at least one of a lateral and vertical direction. The display also includes at least one moveable deviation pointer disposed on the flight path scales. Additionally, the image includes a representation of at least one extendable navigation error disposed on the flight path scale, and extending from at least one of the end markers toward the reference point based upon an actual navigation performance (ANP) and the RNP for the aircraft. The image may also include at least one moveable intersecting flight path pointer disposed on the flight path scales.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael H. Carriker, Darcy L. Hilby, Andrew W. Houck, H. Rolan Shomber, Tom E. Tarleton
  • Publication number: 20030090420
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for automatically alerting a flight crew of an airplane when takeoff is attempted on a wrong runway. Identification data for an origin runway from which takeoff of an airplane is desired is entered via an operator interface. Stored position data for the origin runway is retrieved. Sensed position data for the airplane is input from a plurality of sensors. The stored position data for the origin runway is compared with the sensed position data for the airplane. A determination is made whether the sensed position of the airplane is within a predetermined position difference from the stored position of the origin runway, and a determination is made whether takeoff is attempted. An indication of wrong runway is provided when takeoff is attempted and the sensed position of the airplane is greater than the predetermined position difference away from the stored position of the origin runway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Charles A. Pullen, Henry V. VonJouanne, Andrew W. Houck
  • Publication number: 20030004619
    Abstract: A navigation performance based flight path deviation display assembly includes a display and a display processor capable of generating an image upon the display. The image includes at least one flight path scale comprising a reference point bounded by end markers extending in at least one of a lateral and vertical direction. The display also includes at least one moveable deviation pointer disposed on the flight path scales. Additionally, the image includes a representation of at least one extendable navigation error disposed on the flight path scale, and extending from at least one of the end markers toward the reference point based upon an actual navigation performance (ANP) and the RNP for the aircraft. The image may also include at least one moveable intersecting flight path pointer disposed on the flight path scales.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael H. Carriker, Darcy L. Hilby, Andrew W. Houck, H. Rolan Shomber, Tom E. Tarleton
  • Patent number: 5703774
    Abstract: A numerical input to a computer, such as an input of runway altitude to an aircraft control system, is controlled by a switch having five positions as follows: "off" for maintaining the current value, "slow increment" for increasing the value slowly, "fast increment" for increasing the value more quickly, "slow decrement" for slow decrease in the value, and "fast decrement" for faster decrease in the value. A processor monitors the current switch position. Depending on the period that a particular position is selected, the value fed to the control system and shown on a display can be "bumped" unit by unit (small units for a "slow" selection, and large units for a "fast" selection) or scrolled up or down at a rate which accelerates. Bumping is achieved by toggling the knob quickly from the off, or the next closest position, to the desired slow or fast position. Scrolling or "continuous slew" is selected by maintaining the switch in the desired slow or fast position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Andrew W. Houck, Stephen R. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 5689251
    Abstract: An air data computer outputs a data stream indicative of measured airspeed of an aircraft, for use in generating a display of airspeed to a pilot. To correct for the inherent processing delay, a correction factor is added to the data stream, so that the display is more closely related to the actual airspeed of the aircraft at the time of the display. The correction factor can be calculated by determining the average rate of change of airspeed during a preceding time interval and multiplying the average rate of change by the processing delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Andrew W. Houck, Melville D. W. McIntyre