Patents by Inventor Douglas M. McCormick

Douglas M. McCormick 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: 10684756
    Abstract: A display interfacing system and an automated graphics system enable presentation of a second picture within a first picture of an avionics display. The first picture provides broad information pertaining to navigating an aircraft vehicle within a specified region. The broad information may include a flight plan map, and the specified region may be navigated using a VOR radial displayed on the flight plan map. The second picture provides clarifying information about an aspect of the first picture. Interaction with the second picture may also provide clarifying information about an aspect of the second picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Helppi, Evie R. Johnson, Douglas M. McCormick
  • Patent number: 10082439
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the center of gravity of an aircraft includes receiving flight plan information regarding a flight plan of an aircraft indicative of planned events to occur during operation of the aircraft; predicting a center of gravity of the aircraft during operation of the aircraft based on the flight plan information; plotting a center of gravity curve based on the predicted center of gravity of the aircraft on a display, the center of gravity curve including a plurality of markers, each marker corresponding to one of the planned events, the location of each marker on the center of gravity curve indicating when during the operation of the aircraft the event is planned to occur, one of the events indicating an in-flight event; and updating the plotted center of gravity curve in real-time during operation of the aircraft based on an actual center of gravity of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Helppi, Douglas M. McCormick, Marc Ayala
  • Patent number: 9984578
    Abstract: A system and related methods for digital map enabled search pattern generation by a flight management system retrieves from a digital map a set of pattern points corresponding to a selected search pattern parameter, such as a coastline, boundary, lateral terrain feature, or manmade structure, and a designated search area. The flight management system generates a sequence of waypoints based on the set of pattern points and a variable search radius, the sequence of waypoints optimizing efficient coverage of the search pattern parameter. The flight management system generates a full search pattern based on the generated sequence of waypoints; the generated search pattern may be approved or evaluated by the FMS, or forwarded to a rerouter for modification according to terrain avoidance factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Myren, Douglas M. McCormick, Benjamin M. Helppi, Christina M. Martinez, Evie R. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20170323570
    Abstract: A system and related methods for digital map enabled search pattern generation by a flight management system retrieves from a digital map a set of pattern points corresponding to a selected search pattern parameter, such as a coastline, boundary, lateral terrain feature, or manmade structure, and a designated search area. The flight management system generates a sequence of waypoints based on the set of pattern points and a variable search radius, the sequence of waypoints optimizing efficient coverage of the search pattern parameter. The flight management system generates a full search pattern based on the generated sequence of waypoints; the generated search pattern may be approved or evaluated by the FMS, or forwarded to a rerouter for modification according to terrain avoidance factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Jason A. Myren, Douglas M. McCormick, Benjamin M. Helppi, Christina M. Martinez, Evie R. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20170315706
    Abstract: A display interfacing system and an automated graphics system enable presentation of a second picture within a first picture of an avionics display. The first picture provides broad information pertaining to navigating an aircraft vehicle within a specified region. The broad information may include a flight plan map, and the specified region may be navigated using a VOR radial displayed on the flight plan map. The second picture provides clarifying information about an aspect of the first picture. Interaction with the second picture may also provide clarifying information about an aspect of the second picture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Helppi, Evie R. Johnson, Douglas M. McCormick
  • Patent number: 9652989
    Abstract: Methods and systems for integration of symbology and flight planning information in a flight management system are disclosed. A method may include: receiving a portion of a flight plan from an auxiliary flight management system; receiving graphical data for the portion of the flight plan from the auxiliary flight management system; integrating the portion of the flight plan received from the auxiliary flight management system into at least one additional portion of the flight plan managed by a primary flight management system to produce an integrated flight plan; and displaying the integrated flight plan to a user, wherein the portion of the flight plan received from the auxiliary flight management system is displayed at least partially based on the graphical data for the portion of the flight plan received from the auxiliary flight management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Myren, Christina M. Martinez, Benjamin M. Helppi, Douglas M. McCormick, Evie R. Johnson