Patents by Inventor Mark Marvin

Mark Marvin 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: 11828856
    Abstract: A portable locator includes a locator housing having a display head that supports a display. A GPS module includes a frame and an antenna arm extending from a side margin of the frame. The frame defines a display aperture such that the frame is removably installable on the display head of the portable locator with the display visible through the display aperture. An electrical interface provides for electrical communication with the portable locator with the frame removably installed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Merlin Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Marvin, Brian Kelly
  • Patent number: 11820498
    Abstract: An emergency collective actuator includes an actuator motor to produce an actuation force and an actuator linkage that directly engages a friction control lever that is pivotally supported on the collective stick of a helicopter to apply the actuation force directly to the friction control lever such that the actuation force initially disengages the friction control and then reduces the adjustable pitch toward a minimum collective pitch position. The actuator can include a clutch that slips to allow the pilot to overcome the actuation force and that slips responsive to an engagement of the friction control by the pilot, but otherwise the clutch co-rotates with the motor shaft to bias the adjustable pitch toward a minimum collective pitch position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Merlin Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Marvin, John E. Mercer, Derek Vetter
  • Patent number: 11591078
    Abstract: A helicopter autopilot system includes an inner loop for attitude hold for the flight of the helicopter including a given level of redundancy applied to the inner loop. An outer loop is configured for providing a navigation function with respect to the flight of the helicopter including a different level of redundancy than the inner loop. An actuator provides a braking force on a linkage that serves to stabilize the flight of the helicopter during a power failure. The actuator is electromechanical and receives electrical drive signals to provide automatic flight control of the helicopter without requiring a hydraulic assistance system in the helicopter. The autopilot can operate the helicopter in a failed mode of the hydraulic assistance system. A number of flight modes are described with associated sensor inputs including rate based and true attitude modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Merlin Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Mercer, Nicholas Albion, Mark Bartel, Marc Feifel, Mark Marvin
  • Publication number: 20210245871
    Abstract: A helicopter autopilot system includes an inner loop for attitude hold for the flight of the helicopter including a given level of redundancy applied to the inner loop. An outer loop is configured for providing a navigation function with respect to the flight of the helicopter including a different level of redundancy than the inner loop. An actuator provides a braking force on a linkage that serves to stabilize the flight of the helicopter during a power failure. The actuator is electromechanical and receives electrical drive signals to provide automatic flight control of the helicopter without requiring a hydraulic assistance system in the helicopter. The autopilot can operate the helicopter in a failed mode of the hydraulic assistance system. A number of flight modes are described with associated sensor inputs including rate based and true attitude modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: John E. Mercer, Nicholas Albion, Mark Bartel, Marc Feifel, Mark Marvin
  • Patent number: 11067700
    Abstract: A portable locator includes a locator housing having a display head that supports a display. A GPS module includes a frame and an antenna arm extending from a side margin of the frame. The frame defines a display aperture such that the frame is removably installable on the display head of the portable locator with the display visible through the display aperture. An electrical interface provides for electrical communication with the portable locator with the frame removably installed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Merlin Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Marvin, Brian Kelly
  • Publication number: 20210179264
    Abstract: An emergency collective actuator includes an actuator motor to produce an actuation force and an actuator linkage that directly engages a friction control lever that is pivotally supported on the collective stick of a helicopter to apply the actuation force directly to the friction control lever such that the actuation force initially disengages the friction control and then reduces the adjustable pitch toward a minimum collective pitch position. The actuator can include a clutch that slips to allow the pilot to overcome the actuation force and that slips responsive to an engagement of the friction control by the pilot, but otherwise the clutch co-rotates with the motor shaft to bias the adjustable pitch toward a minimum collective pitch position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Mark Marvin, John E. Mercer, Derek Vetter
  • Patent number: 10926872
    Abstract: A helicopter autopilot system includes an inner loop for attitude hold for the flight of the helicopter including a given level of redundancy applied to the inner loop. An outer loop is configured for providing a navigation function with respect to the flight of the helicopter including a different level of redundancy than the inner loop. An actuator provides a braking force on a linkage that serves to stabilize the flight of the helicopter during a power failure. The actuator is electromechanical and receives electrical drive signals to provide automatic flight control of the helicopter without requiring a hydraulic assistance system in the helicopter. The autopilot can operate the helicopter in a failed mode of the hydraulic assistance system. A number of flight modes are described with associated sensor inputs including rate based and true attitude modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Merlin Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Mercer, Nicholas Albion, Mark Bartel, Marc Feifel, Mark Marvin
  • Patent number: 10919622
    Abstract: An emergency collective actuator includes an actuator motor to produce an actuation force and an actuator linkage that directly engages a friction control lever that is pivotally supported on the collective stick of a helicopter to apply the actuation force directly to the friction control lever such that the actuation force initially disengages the friction control and then reduces the adjustable pitch toward a minimum collective pitch position. The actuator can include a clutch that slips to allow the pilot to overcome the actuation force and that slips responsive to an engagement of the friction control by the pilot, but otherwise the clutch co-rotates with the motor shaft to bias the adjustable pitch toward a minimum collective pitch position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Merlin Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Marvin, John E. Mercer, Derek Vetter
  • Patent number: 10843796
    Abstract: An autopilot system includes an actuator arrangement that receives control signals to influence the flight of the helicopter in a selected one of a plurality of different flight modes. A control stick input arrangement allows flight mode selection and control with no more than a particular one of the pilot's hands in the engaged position on the stick and without moving the hand away from the engaged position. A slaved gyro output signal is based on no more than the set of sensor outputs used by the autopilot such that an autopilot display presents autopilot flight mode information while displaying a slaved gyro output. The autopilot provides for pilot selection of one of a subset of the plurality of flight modes which is customized based on a current flight status of the helicopter. An automatic autorotation mode is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Merlin Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Marvin, Marc Feifel, Nicholas Albion, John E. Mercer
  • Publication number: 20190352003
    Abstract: A helicopter autopilot system includes an inner loop for attitude hold for the flight of the helicopter including a given level of redundancy applied to the inner loop. An outer loop is configured for providing a navigation function with respect to the flight of the helicopter including a different level of redundancy than the inner loop. An actuator provides a braking force on a linkage that serves to stabilize the flight of the helicopter during a power failure. The actuator is electromechanical and receives electrical drive signals to provide automatic flight control of the helicopter without requiring a hydraulic assistance system in the helicopter. The autopilot can operate the helicopter in a failed mode of the hydraulic assistance system. A number of flight modes are described with associated sensor inputs including rate based and true attitude modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: John E. Mercer, Nicholas Albion, Mark Bartel, Marc Feifel, Mark Marvin
  • Patent number: 10464662
    Abstract: An autopilot actuator includes first and second motors each including a rotatable motor output shaft such that either one or both of the motors can drive an actuator output shaft. An autopilot main unit enclosure is removably mounted to the helicopter proximate to a cyclic control and commonly houses autopilot actuators as well as main autopilot electronics. A cyclic vibration isolator is removably supported by an actuator shaft for co-rotation and coupled to the cyclic control to attenuate a cyclic vibration frequency at the actuator shaft while output rotations of the actuator shaft below a resonant frequency are coupled to the cyclic control. A force limited link includes first and second ends and a variable length between. The force limited link having a relaxed length when less than an unseating force is applied and the variable length changes when an applied force exceeds the unseating force to permit pilot override.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Merlin Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Mercer, Marc Feifel, Mark Marvin, Nicholas Albion
  • Patent number: 10351231
    Abstract: A helicopter autopilot system includes an inner loop for attitude hold for the flight of the helicopter including a given level of redundancy applied to the inner loop. An outer loop is configured for providing a navigation function with respect to the flight of the helicopter including a different level of redundancy than the inner loop. An actuator provides a braking force on a linkage that serves to stabilize the flight of the helicopter during a power failure. The actuator is electromechanical and receives electrical drive signals to provide automatic flight control of the helicopter without requiring a hydraulic assistance system in the helicopter. The autopilot can operate the helicopter in a failed mode of the hydraulic assistance system. A number of flight modes are described with associated sensor inputs including rate based and true attitude modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Merlin Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Mercer, Nicholas Albion, Mark Bartel, Marc Feifel, Mark Marvin
  • Publication number: 20180364362
    Abstract: A portable locator includes a locator housing having a display head that supports a display. A GPS module includes a frame and an antenna arm extending from a side margin of the frame. The frame defines a display aperture such that the frame is removably installable on the display head of the portable locator with the display visible through the display aperture. An electrical interface provides for electrical communication with the portable locator with the frame removably installed thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Marvin, Brian Kelly
  • Publication number: 20180346110
    Abstract: An autopilot actuator includes first and second motors each including a rotatable motor output shaft such that either one or both of the motors can drive an actuator output shaft. An autopilot main unit enclosure is removably mounted to the helicopter proximate to a cyclic control and commonly houses autopilot actuators as well as main autopilot electronics. A cyclic vibration isolator is removably supported by an actuator shaft for co-rotation and coupled to the cyclic control to attenuate a cyclic vibration frequency at the actuator shaft while output rotations of the actuator shaft below a resonant frequency are coupled to the cyclic control. A force limited link includes first and second ends and a variable length between. The force limited link having a relaxed length when less than an unseating force is applied and the variable length changes when an applied force exceeds the unseating force to permit pilot override.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: John E. Mercer, Marc Feifel, Mark Marvin, Nicholas Albion
  • Patent number: 10124882
    Abstract: A pilot control interface and method are described for selective control of an autopilot system by a pilot of an aircraft in which the autopilot system is installed. The pilot control interface includes a passive network that is selectively switchable between a plurality of states across an output interface that is made up of no more than two conductors that are in electrical communication with the autopilot system. Modification of a current autopilot flight mode can be performed incrementally or continuously based on respective momentary and continuous pilot input actuations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Merlin Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos E. Golborne, Ray E. Debs, Mark Marvin, John E. Mercer
  • Patent number: 10059441
    Abstract: An autopilot actuator includes first and second motors each including a rotatable motor output shaft such that either one or both of the motors can drive an actuator output shaft. An autopilot main unit enclosure is removably mounted to the helicopter proximate to a cyclic control and commonly houses autopilot actuators as well as main autopilot electronics. A cyclic vibration isolator is removably supported by an actuator shaft for co-rotation and coupled to the cyclic control to attenuate a cyclic vibration frequency at the actuator shaft while output rotations of the actuator shaft below a resonant frequency are coupled to the cyclic control. A force limited link includes first and second ends and a variable length between. The force limited link having a relaxed length when less than an unseating force is applied and the variable length changes when an applied force exceeds the unseating force to permit pilot override.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: MERLIN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: John E. Mercer, Marc Feifel, Mark Marvin, Nicolas Albion
  • Publication number: 20180208303
    Abstract: An emergency collective actuator includes an actuator motor to produce an actuation force and an actuator linkage that directly engages a friction control lever that is pivotally supported on the collective stick of a helicopter to apply the actuation force directly to the friction control lever such that the actuation force initially disengages the friction control and then reduces the adjustable pitch toward a minimum collective pitch position. The actuator can include a clutch that slips to allow the pilot to overcome the actuation force and that slips responsive to an engagement of the friction control by the pilot, but otherwise the clutch co-rotates with the motor shaft to bias the adjustable pitch toward a minimum collective pitch position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Marvin, John E. Mercer, Derek Vetter
  • Patent number: 9957041
    Abstract: An emergency collective actuator includes an actuator motor to produce an actuation force and an actuator linkage that directly engages a friction control lever that is pivotally supported on the collective stick of a helicopter to apply the actuation force directly to the friction control lever such that the actuation force initially disengages the friction control and then reduces the adjustable pitch toward a minimum collective pitch position. The actuator can include a clutch that slips to allow the pilot to overcome the actuation force and that slips responsive to an engagement of the friction control by the pilot, but otherwise the clutch co-rotates with the motor shaft to bias the adjustable pitch toward a minimum collective pitch position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Merlin Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Marvin, John E. Mercer, Derek Vetter
  • Publication number: 20180093763
    Abstract: A helicopter autopilot system includes an inner loop for attitude hold for the flight of the helicopter including a given level of redundancy applied to the inner loop. An outer loop is configured for providing a navigation function with respect to the flight of the helicopter including a different level of redundancy than the inner loop. An actuator provides a braking force on a linkage that serves to stabilize the flight of the helicopter during a power failure. The actuator is electromechanical and receives electrical drive signals to provide automatic flight control of the helicopter without requiring a hydraulic assistance system in the helicopter. The autopilot can operate the helicopter in a failed mode of the hydraulic assistance system. A number of flight modes are described with associated sensor inputs including rate based and true attitude modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: John E. Mercer, Nicolas Albion, Mark Bartel, Marc Feifel, Mark Marvin
  • Patent number: D827466
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: MERLIN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Marvin, Brian Kelly