Patents by Inventor Brian Rockwell

Brian Rockwell 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: 11061563
    Abstract: A system and method for activation of chart data via touchscreen enables a pilot to touch a system generated hotspot within the flight chart displayed on the touchscreen and thereby affecting a change in an aircraft system. The system overlays a hotspot over chart data within the flight chart and associates the hotspot and hotspot data with the chart data. Upon reception of a pilot command of selection of the hotspot, the system verifies the pilot command and interfaces with the aircraft systems to make the change in frequency, navigation, and path of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Nielsen, Brian Rockwell
  • Publication number: 20210208779
    Abstract: A system and method for activation of chart data via touchscreen enables a pilot to touch a system generated hotspot within the flight chart displayed on the touchscreen and thereby affecting a change in an aircraft system. The system overlays a hotspot over chart data within the flight chart and associates the hotspot and hotspot data with the chart data. Upon reception of a pilot command of selection of the hotspot, the system verifies the pilot command and interfaces with the aircraft systems to make the change in frequency, navigation, and path of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Nielsen, Brian Rockwell
  • Patent number: 10138802
    Abstract: Techniques for learning endstop position(s) of an actuator for a wastegate valve include detecting a learn condition and, in response to detecting the learn condition, performing a learn procedure for the actuator endstop position(s). The learn procedure includes commanding the actuator to a desired position past the endstop position corresponding to a fully-closed wastegate valve while rate-limiting a velocity of the actuator. When the difference reaches its maximum allowed value and the velocity falls below a fraction of its rate limit, the endstop position is learned. When the wastegate valve is requested open, the actuator is then controlled using the learned endstop position. Reference stiffness for a fully-closed wastegate valve could be obtained, and subsequent stiffness checks could then be periodically performed and, if less than the reference stiffness, a duty cycle of the actuator could be increased during open-loop control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Inventors: Ayman Ismail, Brian Rockwell, John R Bucknell, Ethan E Bayer
  • Publication number: 20180045131
    Abstract: A control system includes an ignition system configured to generate spark within a cylinder of an engine and a controller. The controller is configured to obtain a target angle of the crankshaft for an approximately 50% mass fraction burn (MFB50) and predict an ignition angle to achieve the target MFB50 angle, the ignition angle indicating an advance or retardation of spark timing. Using a combustion model, the controller is configured to generate a modeled MFB50 angle based on the predicted ignition angle and, based on the target and modeled MFB50 angles and the predicted ignition angle, determine a relationship between MFB50 angle and ignition angle. The controller is also configured to control the ignition system using the determined relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: Brian Rockwell
  • Publication number: 20160305312
    Abstract: Techniques for learning endstop position(s) of an actuator for a wastegate valve include detecting a learn condition and, in response to detecting the learn condition, performing a learn procedure for the actuator endstop position(s). The learn procedure includes commanding the actuator to a desired position past the endstop position corresponding to a fully-closed wastegate valve while rate-limiting a velocity of the actuator. When the difference reaches its maximum allowed value and the velocity falls below a fraction of its rate limit, the endstop position is learned. When the wastegate valve is requested open, the actuator is then controlled using the learned endstop position. Reference stiffness for a fully-closed wastegate valve could be obtained, and subsequent stiffness checks could then be periodically performed and, if less than the reference stiffness, a duty cycle of the actuator could be increased during open-loop control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Ayman Ismail, Brian Rockwell, John R. Bucknell, Ethan E. Bayer