Patents by Inventor Francis Boyer

Francis Boyer 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: 4882845
    Abstract: A gyroscopic artificial horizon comprises a gyroscope suspended in a gimbal ount which has an inner frame and an outer frame pivoted, one within the other, about two orthogonal axes. It also comprises a device for sensing the spatial position of the axis of the gyroscope and for displaying this position in the form of an artificial horizon. To simplify the mechanical structure and to increase the reliability of the gyroscopic artificial horizon, the device for sensing and displaying the spatial position of the gyroscope axis comprises a luminous display screen rotationally coupled to the outer frame of the gimbal mount. It further comprise a sensor for sensing the angular position of the inner frame relative to the outer frame and a processor device adapted to display this angular position on the screen in the form of an artificial horizon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: Societe Francaise d'Equipements pour la Navigation Aerienne S.F.E.N.A.
    Inventor: Francis Boyer
  • Patent number: 4862149
    Abstract: Device for visualizing failures for gyroscopic instruments comprising, inendently of the size of the indicator which incorporates it, an intuitive warning means accounting simultaneously for the supply of the liability and for the speed conformity of the gyroscope to the required values. It comprises two complementary display zones in the rolling dial (5 and 6) made up by means of elements of liquid crystals presenting an opaque appearance in the presence of a supply voltage and showing a color required in the absence of a supply voltage. One of the zones (5) is comprised of a single active element informing of the disappearance of the supply while the other zone (6) is comprised of a plurality of juxtaposed active elements, which are progressively switched and which give a synoptic perception of the speed reduction of the gyroscopic top of the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Societe Francaise D'Equipments pour la Navigation Aerienne S.F.E.N.A.
    Inventor: Francis Boyer
  • Patent number: 4053893
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for indicating e geographical position of a piloted vehicle equipped with a computer, the method comprising the steps of using a geographical map or a portion of map, approximately orientated, without regard to its method of folding and its dimensions; identifying and transmitting to the computer at any desired moment, basic information such as reference of alignment on a meridian of the map-references of magnetic declination and scale of said map, co-ordinates of at least one radio-navigation transmitter chosen on the map, co-ordinates of at least one objective to be reached on the map, co-ordinates of at least one possible intermediate point on the route; indicating on said map at any instant under the control of the computer which also receives the variable radio-navigation information from the transmitter selected, the geographical position of the vehicle, the above identification and indication steps being effected by the use of a single organiza
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1977
    Assignee: Societe Francaise d'Equipements pour la Navigation Aerienne S.F.E.N.A.
    Inventor: Francis Boyer