Patents by Inventor Charles B. Dirks

Charles B. Dirks 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: 9903673
    Abstract: An intelligent ball sensor assembly for use with a heat exchanger system, includes a mechanically compliant ball having a recess formed therein. At least one sensor positioned on the ball is configured to gather selected information regarding a heat exchanger system. Signal conditioning control/transmission circuitry is operatively connected to the at least one sensor. A power source is operatively connected to the at least one sensor and the signal conditioning control/transmission circuitry. The sensor and the signal conditioning control/transmission circuitry cooperate to gather information about the status, health and efficiency of the heat exchanger system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Sentinel Diagnostics, LLC
    Inventors: Charles B. Dirks, Brian G. Jamieson, Michael A. Crocker
  • Patent number: 9523985
    Abstract: A method and system for dynamically personalizing an aircraft is provided. Users of an aircraft store their environmental preferences in a file on a storage device. When the users use the aircraft or ride on the aircraft, the aircraft computer system communicates with and uploads the users' files containing the users' environmental preferences. The aircraft computer system then implements the users' preferences by configuring a system of modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey J. Barnes, Stephen J. Timm, Bryan R. Vester, Charles B. Dirks, Richard G. Moore
  • Patent number: 8615337
    Abstract: The present examples provide circuits, systems, processes, and the like for providing precision course guidance, typically for improved positive course guidance below published minimum descent altitude or decision altitude, including just in time calculations of obstacle free flight paths. The calculated flight path may be presented in the context of a synthetic scene of the environment surrounding the aircraft. To provide precision course guidance, exemplary avionics systems, processes and the like, as described below may be utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick D. McCusker, Sarah Barber, Felix B. Turcios, Douglas A. Bell, Richard D. Jinkins, Timothy J. Etherington, Michael J. Krenz, Charles B. Dirks
  • Patent number: 8514104
    Abstract: An integrated system for providing minimum equipment decision support for an aircraft including means for procuring onboard aircraft data and providing a cockpit message. Minimum equipment list (MEL) constraints and offboard flight plan related information are procured. The onboard aircraft flight data, minimum equipment list constraints, and offboard flight plan related information are synthesized to enable holistic flight dispatch determinations within the current fault condition of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles B. Dirks, Monica A. Dunbar, Michael J. Krenz, Robert F. Dancer, Tony B. Vander Velden
  • Patent number: 8346411
    Abstract: An integrated system for providing a reporting point journey log display in an aircraft and for providing the automatic transfer and installation of a reporting point journey log in a ground retention application. The integrated system includes means for procuring and aggregating reporting point on-board aircraft data from aircraft systems. Means are provided for generating a reporting point cockpit message and readback script from the aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data. The aggregated reporting point onboard aircraft data is automatically transmitted to a receiving ground application for assembling the data into the form of a reporting point journey log. The reporting point journey log is installed into a ground storage application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles B. Dirks, Michael J. Krenz, Kevin Delaney, James L. Scheer, Joseph M. Costello
  • Patent number: 8223119
    Abstract: A system for providing a manipulatable graphical display comprising a user input device responsive to a user input, a cursor control device operably coupled to the user input device, and a menu engine operably coupled to the cursor control device. The cursor control device is further configured to process an output received from the user input device and generate a cursor image positioned on a display in response to the user output suitable for locking onto and tracing a path on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Krenz, Pamela K. Hahn, Bryan C. Schultz, Charles B. Dirks
  • Patent number: 8055395
    Abstract: A system for providing crosswind component information to a pilot of an aircraft is disclosed. The system is comprised of a navigation system; datalink system; devices for manual input of data; a crosswind component module consisting of, in part, a processor and database; and an indicating system consisting of, in part, a tactical display unit system of an aircraft. A navigation system may provide flight parameters for measured and intended flight data as inputs. Other data may also be provided from manual input devices and a datalink system as inputs. The processor of the crosswind component module receives the data, retrieves runway direction data, and determines the data of the crosswind components. An indicating system receives the data of the crosswind components and displays this information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles B. Dirks, Michael J. Krenz, Pamela K. Hahn, David W. Jennings, Tod J. Santel, Robert F. Dancer
  • Patent number: 7928927
    Abstract: A head worn head up display (HUD) system providing an enhanced head down view in an environment including a head worn device including a vision tracking device and a dynamic head down display. The head worn HUD system includes a computational platform for receiving vision tracking device signals from a vision tracking device of a head worn device and for generating head down display signals associated with a dynamic head down display. The computational platform processes and utilizes the vision tracking device signals and the generated head down display signals to provide output signals to the head worn device for output by the head worn device as superimposed visual steering cues to the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Krenz, Charles B. Dirks