Patents by Inventor Charles J. Key

Charles J. Key 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).

  • On wing test of transponder by ACAS
    Patent number: 11209525
    Abstract: A system and method for on-wing test of an aircraft transponder involves configuring a self-test feature to the transponder's corresponding onboard ACAS to verify the on-board transponder system conforms to each of a plurality of required tests of an aviation oversight authority standard for operation. Once this test is initiated, the ACAS initiates this transponder test interrogating the transponder via a low power signal causing the transponder to reply accordingly. The ACAS performs each required test to ensure proper transponder function and alerts a user with a failure indication and stores each result should the transponder fail any of the plurality of tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J. Key, Randy H. Jacobson
  • On Wing Test of Transponder by ACAS
    Publication number: 20210103025
    Abstract: A system and method for on-wing test of an aircraft transponder involves configuring a self-test feature to the transponder's corresponding onboard ACAS to verify the on-board transponder system conforms to each of a plurality of required tests of an aviation oversight authority standard for operation. Once this test is initiated, the ACAS initiates this transponder test interrogating the transponder via a low power signal causing the transponder to reply accordingly. The ACAS performs each required test to ensure proper transponder function and alerts a user with a failure indication and stores each result should the transponder fail any of the plurality of tests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Charles J. Key, Randy H. Jacobson