Patents by Inventor Michael D. Bills

Michael D. Bills 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: 10793260
    Abstract: Aircraft and methods and systems for controlling performance of an aircraft. The methods and systems allow the aircraft to meet a performance requirement using a set of aircraft flight data and actuators connected to control surfaces. Performance data for primary and secondary actuators are obtained to select between a primary control law for controlling the primary control surface, a secondary control law for controlling the secondary control surface, and a blended control law that controls the primary and secondary control surfaces together. If the primary control surface cannot meet the aircraft performance requirement using the primary control law, the blended control law is implemented if the primary and secondary control surfaces can be used together to meet the performance requirement; otherwise the secondary control surface is used, using the secondary control law, to meet the aircraft performance requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Paul C. Strefling, Michael D. Bills, Bruce Mays Fritchman, John Koon-hung Ho, Kioumars Najmabadi, Edward E. Coleman, Thomas C. Ramsey, Jr., Steven Cook Stone, Paul J. Cline
  • Patent number: 10600259
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating flight control systems of aircrafts are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a flight control system including a processor to: based on data from first and second sensors, determine first and second values; based on the first and second values, determine a location of a jam in the flight control system, the location of the jam being determined based on a summation of the first and second values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Neal V. Huynh, Robert S. Eick, Thomas G. Heineman, Michael D. Bills, Patrick M. Fahey, John C. Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20180300970
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating flight control systems of aircrafts are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a flight control system including a processor to: based on data from first and second sensors, determine first and second values; based on the first and second values, determine a location of a jam in the flight control system, the location of the jam being determined based on a summation of the first and second values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Neal V. Huynh, Robert S. Eick, Thomas G. Heineman, Michael D. Bills, Patrick M. Fahey, John C. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 10002472
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating flight control systems of aircrafts are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a flight control system including a processor to: based on data from first and second sensors, determine first and second values; based on the first and second values, determine a location of a jam in the flight control system, the location of the jam being determined based on a summation of the first and second values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Neal V. Huynh, Robert S. Eick, Thomas G. Heineman, Michael D. Bills, Patrick M. Fahey, John C. Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20160328891
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating flight control systems of aircrafts are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a flight control system including a processor to: based on data from first and second sensors, determine first and second values; based on the first and second values, determine a location of a jam in the flight control system, the location of the jam being determined based on a summation of the first and second values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Neal V. Huynh, Robert S. Eick, Thomas G. Heineman, Michael D. Bills, Patrick M. Fahey, John C. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 9437056
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating flight control systems of aircrafts are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a flight control system including a first sensor and a second sensor. The example apparatus also includes a processor to, based on data from the first and second sensors, determine first and second input values and, based the input values, determine an approximate location of a jam in the flight control system of an aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Neal V. Huynh, Robert S. Eick, Thomas G. Heineman, Michael D. Bills, Patrick M. Fahey, John C. Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20160104331
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating flight control systems of aircrafts are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a flight control system including a first sensor and a second sensor. The example apparatus also includes a processor to, based on data from the first and second sensors, determine first and second input values and, based the input values, determine an approximate location of a jam in the flight control system of an aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Neal V. Huynh, Robert S. Eick, Thomas G. Heineman, Michael D. Bills, Patrick M. Fahey, John C. Nicholas