Patents by Inventor Chuong B. Tran

Chuong B. Tran 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: 8752789
    Abstract: A method for controlling control surfaces. A position limit is identified for movement of a control surface based on a load limit set for the control surface and a number of vehicle current operation parameters to form an identified position limit. Responsive to receiving a command to move the control surface on a vehicle to a new position, the control surface is commanded to move to a position within the identified position limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Chuong B. Tran, Kioumars Najmabadi, Edward E. Coleman, David W. Grubb
  • Patent number: 8342445
    Abstract: A method for controlling control surfaces. A position limit is identified for movement of a control surface based on a load limit set for the control surface and a number of vehicle current operation parameters to form an identified position limit. Responsive to receiving a command to move the control surface on a vehicle to a new position, the control surface is commanded to move to a position within the identified position limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Chuong B. Tran, Kioumars Najmabadi, Edward E. Coleman, David W. Grubb
  • Publication number: 20100078518
    Abstract: A method for controlling control surfaces. A position limit is identified for movement of a control surface based on a load limit set for the control surface and a number of vehicle current operation parameters to form an identified position limit. Responsive to receiving a command to move the control surface on a vehicle to a new position, the control surface is commanded to move to a position within the identified position limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Chuong B. Tran, Kioumars Najmabadi, Edward E. Coleman, David W. Grubb
  • Patent number: 7191985
    Abstract: Vibrations due to excitation of the natural modes of an aircraft's body are suppressed by an active multi-axis modal suppression system. Dedicated sensors are positioned in the aircraft at optimal locations for sensing modal induced vibrations. The sensor produced signals are processed through control logic which, in response thereto, and in response to aircraft inertial, velocity and altitude related signals produces output control signals. The control signals effect control surface deployment creating forces to suppress the natural mode induced vibrations on multiple geometric axis's. More particularly, a symmetric and anti-symmetric control surface deployments are used on one or more geometric axis'to damp lateral, longitudinal, vertical and most importantly torsional vibrational modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kioumars Najmabadi, Chuong B. Tran, John Koon-Hung Ho
  • Patent number: 6915989
    Abstract: Vibrations due to excitation of the natural modes of an aircraft's body are suppressed by an active multi-axis modal suppression system. Dedicated sensors are positioned in the aircraft at optimal locations for sensing modal induced vibrations. The sensor produced signals are processed through control logic which, in response thereto, and in response to aircraft inertial, velocity and altitude related signals produces output control signals. The control signals effect control surface deployment creating forces to suppress the natural mode induced vibrations on multiple geometric axis's. More particularly, symmetric and anti-symmetric control surface deployments are used on one or more geometric axis's to damp lateral, longitudinal, vertical and most importantly torsional vibrational modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kioumars Najmabadi, Chuong B. Tran, John Koon-Hung Ho
  • Publication number: 20030205644
    Abstract: Vibrations due to excitation of the natural modes of an aircraft's body are suppressed by an active multi-axis modal suppression system. Dedicated sensors are positioned in the aircraft at optimal locations for sensing modal induced vibrations. The sensor produced signals are processed through control logic which, in response thereto, and in response to aircraft inertial, velocity and altitude related signals produces output control signals. The control signals effect control surface deployment creating forces to suppress the natural mode induced vibrations on multiple geometric axis's. More particularly, symmetric and anti-symmetric control surface deployments are used on one or more geometric axis's to damp lateral, longitudinal, vertical and most importantly torsional vibrational modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: Kioumars Najmabadi, Chuong B. Tran, John Koon-Hung Ho
  • Patent number: 5860625
    Abstract: An aircraft modal suppression system which recognizes that the frequency and phase of the body bending mode varies when the weight of the aircraft differs from the design gross weight. An active damper notch filter which is tabulated as a function of aircraft gross weight is utilized, thereby enabling not only the frequency, but also the width and depth of the notch filter to vary according to the gross weight of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Chuong B. Tran, Stephen White
  • Patent number: 5839697
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for determining the amount of turn coordination gain in an aircraft yaw damper during a turn maneuver is disclosed. The yaw damper includes inputs from the inertial reference units of the aircraft and also from the flight management computer of the aircraft. The flight management computer provides to the yaw damper a signal indicative of the position of the flaps of the aircraft. The yaw damper includes a turn coordination gain box that receives the flap position signal and outputs a turn coordination gain value, dependent upon the flap position. Generally, the turn coordination gain value increases as the flap position is more extended. The precise turn coordination gain value for each flap position is dependent upon the particular aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Chuong B. Tran
  • Patent number: 5833173
    Abstract: An aircraft modal suppression system which recognizes that the frequency and phase of the body bending mode varies when the weight of the aircraft differs from the design gross weight. An active damper notch filter which is tabulated as a function of aircraft gross weight is utilized, thereby enabling not only the frequency, but also the width and depth of the notch filter to vary according to the gross weight of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Chuong B. Tran, Stephen White
  • Patent number: 5667166
    Abstract: An aircraft modal suppression system which recognizes that the frequency and phase of the body bending mode varies when the weight of the aircraft differs from the design gross weight. An active damper notch filter which is tabulated as a function of aircraft gross weight is utilized, thereby enabling not only the frequency, but also the width and depth of the notch filter to vary according to the gross weight of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Chuong B. Tran, Stephen White
  • Patent number: 5452865
    Abstract: An aircraft modal suppression system which recognizes that the frequency and phase of the body bending mode varies when the weight of the aircraft differs from the design gross weight. An active damper notch filter which is tabulated as a function of aircraft gross weight is utilized, thereby enabling not only the frequency, but also the width and depth of the notch filter to vary according to the gross weight of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Chuong B. Tran, Stephen White
  • Patent number: 5072893
    Abstract: Accelerations due to excitation of the natural modes of an aircraft's body are suppressed by an active suppression system. Dedicated accelerometers are positioned in the aircraft at optimal locations for sensing modal induced lateral accelerations. The accelerometer produced signals are processed through control logic which, in response thereto, and in response to aircraft velocity and altitude related signals produces output control signals. The control signals effect rudder deployment creating forces to suppress the natural mode induced accelerations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991