Patents by Inventor Eric Thomas Bird

Eric Thomas Bird 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: 10183743
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reconfiguring flight control of an aircraft during a failure while the aircraft is flying. The method and apparatus provide a control law that is software-implemented and configured to automatically send flight control data to a mixing/mapping matrix. The method and apparatus also provide a reconfiguration management tool configured to communicate with the mixing/mapping matrix in order to safely transfer authority from a failed actuator to a back-up actuator. The method and apparatus also provide a sensor management tool for providing input to the reconfiguration management tool in order to smooth any transient conditions that may occur during reconfiguration. The method and apparatus provide for a way of smoothing any possible transient situation that might otherwise occur by employment of a fader, the fader being used to gradually convert positioning of failed actuators and positioning of reconfigured actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Shyhpyng Jack Shue, John James Corrigan, Eric Thomas Bird, Tommie Lynn Wood, Alan Carl Ewing
  • Publication number: 20180093762
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reconfiguring flight control of an aircraft during a failure while the aircraft is flying. The method and apparatus provide a control law that is software-implemented and configured to automatically send flight control data to a mixing/mapping matrix. The method and apparatus also provide a reconfiguration management tool configured to communicate with the mixing/mapping matrix in order to safely transfer authority from a failed actuator to a back-up actuator. The method and apparatus also provide a sensor management tool for providing input to the reconfiguration management tool in order to smooth any transient conditions that may occur during reconfiguration. The method and apparatus provide for a way of smoothing any possible transient situation that might otherwise occur by employment of a fader, the fader being used to gradually convert positioning of failed actuators and positioning of reconfigured actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Shyhpyng Jack Shue, John James Corrigan, Eric Thomas Bird, Tommie Lynn Wood, Alan Carl Ewing
  • Patent number: 9701404
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reconfiguring flight control of an aircraft during a failure while the aircraft is flying. The method and apparatus provide a control law that is software-implemented and configured to automatically send flight control data to a mixing/mapping matrix. The method and apparatus also provide a reconfiguration management tool configured to communicate with the mixing/mapping matrix in order to safely transfer authority from a failed actuator to a back-up actuator. The method and apparatus also provide a sensor management tool for providing input to the reconfiguration management tool in order to smooth any transient conditions that may occur during reconfiguration. The method and apparatus provide for a way of smoothing any possible transient situation that might otherwise occur by employment of a fader, the fader being used to gradually convert positioning of failed actuators and positioning of reconfigured actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Shyhpyng Jack Shue, John James Corrigan, Eric Thomas Bird, Tommie Lynn Wood, Alan Carl Ewing
  • Publication number: 20140316615
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reconfiguring flight control of an aircraft during a failure while the aircraft is flying. The method and apparatus provide a control law that is software-implemented and configured to automatically send flight control data to a mixing/mapping matrix. The method and apparatus also provide a reconfiguration management tool configured to communicate with the mixing/mapping matrix in order to safely transfer authority from a failed actuator to a back-up actuator. The method and apparatus also provide a sensor management tool for providing input to the reconfiguration management tool in order to smooth any transient conditions that may occur during reconfiguration. The method and apparatus provide for a way of smoothing any possible transient situation that might otherwise occur by employment of a fader, the fader being used to gradually convert positioning of failed actuators and positioning of reconfigured actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Shyhpyng Jack Shue, John James Corrigan, Eric Thomas Bird, Tommie Lynn Wood, Alan Carl Ewing
  • Patent number: 8763950
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reconfiguring flight control of an aircraft during a failure while the aircraft is flying. The method and apparatus provide a control law that is software-implemented and configured to automatically send flight control data to a mixing/mapping matrix. The method and apparatus also provide a reconfiguration management tool configured to communicate with the mixing/mapping matrix in order to safely transfer authority from a failed actuator to a back-up actuator. The method and apparatus also provide a sensor management tool for providing input to the reconfiguration management tool in order to smooth any transient conditions that may occur during reconfiguration. The method and apparatus provide for a way of smoothing any possible transient situation that might otherwise occur by employment of a fader, the fader being used to gradually convert positioning of failed actuators and positioning of reconfigured actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Texron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Shyhpyng Jack Shue, John James Corrigan, Eric Thomas Bird, Tommie Lynn Wood, Alan Carl Ewing
  • Publication number: 20140005862
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reconfiguring flight control of an aircraft during a failure while the aircraft is flying. The method and apparatus provide a control law that is software-implemented and configured to automatically send flight control data to a mixing/mapping matrix. The method and apparatus also provide a reconfiguration management tool configured to communicate with the mixing/mapping matrix in order to safely transfer authority from a failed actuator to a back-up actuator. The method and apparatus also provide a sensor management tool for providing input to the reconfiguration management tool in order to smooth any transient conditions that may occur during reconfiguration. The method and apparatus provide for a way of smoothing any possible transient situation that might otherwise occur by employment of a fader, the fader being used to gradually convert positioning of failed actuators and positioning of reconfigured actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Shyhpyng Jack Shue, John James Corrigan, Eric Thomas Bird, Tommie Lynn Wood, Alan Carl Ewing
  • Patent number: 8523102
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reconfiguring flight control of an aircraft during a failure while the aircraft is flying. The method and apparatus provide a control law that is software-implemented and configured to automatically send flight control data to a mixing/mapping matrix and a reconfiguration management tool configured to communicate with the mixing/mapping matrix in order to safely transfer authority from a failed actuator to a back-up actuator. A sensor management tool is provided for input to the reconfiguration management tool in order to smooth any transient conditions that may occur during reconfiguration. The method and apparatus provide for a way of smoothing any possible transient situation that might otherwise occur by employment of a fader, the fader being used to gradually convert positioning of failed actuators and positioning of reconfigured actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Shyhpyng Jack Shue, John James Corrigan, Eric Thomas Bird, Tommie Lynn Wood, Alan Carl Ewing
  • Publication number: 20110180656
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reconfiguring flight control of an aircraft during a failure while the aircraft is flying. The method and apparatus provide a control law that is software-implemented and configured to automatically send flight control data to a mixing/mapping matrix and a reconfiguration management tool configured to communicate with the mixing/mapping matrix in order to safely transfer authority from a failed actuator to a back-up actuator. A sensor management tool is provided for input to the reconfiguration management tool in order to smooth any transient conditions that may occur during reconfiguration. The method and apparatus provide for a way of smoothing any possible transient situation that might otherwise occur by employment of a fader, the fader being used to gradually convert positioning of failed actuators and positioning of reconfigured actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Shyhpyng Jack Shue, John James Corrigan, Eric Thomas Bird, Tommie Lynn Wood, Alan Carl Ewing