Patents by Inventor Jeffrey A. Eldridge

Jeffrey A. Eldridge 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: 11002569
    Abstract: An example actuator control system includes a variable differential transformer (VDT) configured to measure displacement of a motor, and a motor controller configured to control the motor based on displacement data from the VDT. A circuit card assembly (CCA) interconnects the VDT to the motor controller. The CCA includes memory storing configuration data of the VDT, and the CCA is configured to provide the configuration data to the motor controller to calibrate the motor controller for use of the VDT. A method of configuring a motor controller is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Eldridge, Steven A. Avritch
  • Patent number: 10998116
    Abstract: An example actuator assembly includes an actuator configured to move a rod. A variable differential transformer (VDT) is situated adjacent to the actuator. The VDT includes a core coupled to the rod such that movement of the rod causes a corresponding movement of the core. A plurality of windings surround the core for measuring displacement of the core. A shield surrounds the plurality of windings and shields the plurality of windings from a magnetic field of the actuator. The shield having a maximum permeability of 50,000-500,000. A LVDT configuration method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Eldridge, Steven A. Avritch
  • Patent number: 10843792
    Abstract: A fly-by-wire system includes an electromechanical actuator which includes a plurality of electromechanical motors. Each of the plurality of electromechanical motors is configured and operable to exchange operating status information with the other redundant electromechanical motors within the actuator. Also, each one of the plurality of electromechanical actuators is configured and operable to automatically configure itself for optimal mode of operation based on the received operating status information of at least one of the other electromechanical motors. The fly-by-wire system further includes a flight control computer operatively connected to the plurality of electromechanical motors within the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Steven A. Avritch, Jeffrey A. Eldridge, David F. Dickie
  • Patent number: 10785073
    Abstract: A pulse width modulation signaling system includes a first control channel that is configured to receive a hardware Boolean command input from a first hardware status monitor, receive a software multi-bit command input from a first software system, and generate a first pulse width modulated signal that is representative of the Boolean command input and the software multi-bit command input. The hardware Boolean command input is a binary value of either a first state or a second state, the software multi-bit command input includes a binary value of either a first state or a second state, and the first pulse width modulated signal defines a duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Noll, Jeffrey A. Eldridge, Steven A. Avritch, Peter Martin Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20190310110
    Abstract: An example actuator control system includes a variable differential transformer (VDT) configured to measure displacement of a motor, and a motor controller configured to control the motor based on displacement data from the VDT. A circuit card assembly (CCA) interconnects the VDT to the motor controller. The CCA includes memory storing configuration data of the VDT, and the CCA is configured to provide the configuration data to the motor controller to calibrate the motor controller for use of the VDT. A method of configuring a motor controller is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Eldridge, Steven A. Avritch
  • Publication number: 20190267175
    Abstract: An example actuator assembly includes an actuator configured to move a rod. A variable differential transformer (VDT) is situated adjacent to the actuator. The VDT includes a core coupled to the rod such that movement of the rod causes a corresponding movement of the core. A plurality of windings surround the core for measuring displacement of the core. A shield surrounds the plurality of windings and shields the plurality of windings from a magnetic field of the actuator. The shield having a maximum permeability of 50,000-500,000. A LVDT configuration method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Eldridge, Steven A. Avritch
  • Publication number: 20190233087
    Abstract: A fly-by-wire system includes an electromechanical actuator which includes a plurality of electromechanical motors. Each of the plurality of electromechanical motors is configured and operable to exchange operating status information with the other redundant electromechanical motors within the actuator. Also, each one of the plurality of electromechanical actuators is configured and operable to automatically configure itself for optimal mode of operation based on the received operating status information of at least one of the other electromechanical motors. The fly-by-wire system further includes a flight control computer operatively connected to the plurality of electromechanical motors within the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Steven A. Avritch, Jeffrey A. Eldridge, David F. Dickie
  • Patent number: 10338539
    Abstract: An example actuator control system includes an actuator, a plurality of motors configured to cooperatively operate the actuator, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine an output signal for controlling active ones of the motors during a current update cycle based on a first gain value, an integral contribution from the current update cycle, and an integral contribution from a preceding update cycle. The controller is configured to, based on a quantity of the motors that is active differing between the current and preceding update cycles, scale the integral contribution from the preceding update cycle for the output signal determination based on the first gain value and a second gain value from the preceding update cycle. A method of controlling a plurality of actuator motors is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven A. Avritch, Jeffrey A. Eldridge, David F. Dickie
  • Patent number: 10328872
    Abstract: A method and control system that implements a particular aircraft harnessing for an aircraft is provided. The control system includes an effector Line-Replaceable Unit (LRU) including a first connection port, a second connection port, and a first interconnect wire internally connecting the first connection port and the second connection port, a first control LRU connected using a first harnessing to the effector LRU, and a second control LRU connected using a second harnessing to the effector LRU, wherein the first control LRU and the second control LRU are configured to communicate using the first interconnect wire in the effector LRU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Eldridge, Steven A. Avritch
  • Publication number: 20180001844
    Abstract: A method and control system that implements a particular aircraft harnessing for an aircraft is provided. The control system includes an effector Line-Replaceable Unit (LRU) including a first connection port, a second connection port, and a first interconnect wire internally connecting the first connection port and the second connection port, a first control LRU connected using a first harnessing to the effector LRU, and a second control LRU connected using a second harnessing to the effector LRU, wherein the first control LRU and the second control LRU are configured to communicate using the first interconnect wire in the effector LRU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Eldridge, Steven A. Avritch