Patents by Inventor Michael James Armstrong

Michael James Armstrong 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: 11947862
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to streaming interactive content from a native application executing at an artificial reality (XR) device into an artificial reality environment and/or to nearby XR device(s). A shell environment at an XR system can manage the software components of the system. The shell environment can include a shell application and a three-dimensional shell XR environment displayed to a user. An additional application, natively executing at the XR system, can provide a host version of content and a remote version of content. A two-dimensional virtual object displayed in the shell XR environment can display the host version of the content, and the remote version of the content can be streamed to a remote XR system. The remote XR system can display the remote content within another two-dimensional virtual object, for example in another shell XR environment displayed by the remote XR system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Lindo, Agustin Fonts, Michael James Armstrong, Nandit Tiku, Biju Mathew, Rukmani Ravisundaram, Bryce Masatsune Matsumori
  • Patent number: 11273921
    Abstract: A system is described that includes a turbine engine including an engine fan including one or more variable-pitch blades driven by a shaft, which rotates at a rotational speed which depends on a pitch of the one or more variable-pitch blades of the engine fan. The system further includes a generator configured to produce alternating-current (AC) electricity at a particular frequency relative to the rotational speed of the shaft. The system also includes a propulsor, which includes a propulsor motor and a propulsor fan. The propulsor motor is configured to drive, based on the AC electricity produced by the generator, the propulsor fan. The system includes a controller configured to control the particular frequency of the AC electricity by at least controlling the pitch of the one or more variable-pitch blades of the engine fan and thereby the rotational speed of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael James Armstrong
  • Publication number: 20210387742
    Abstract: A propulsion system is described that includes an electrical bus, a generator configured to provide electrical power to the electrical bus, a plurality of propulsors configured to provide thrust by simultaneously being driven by the electrical power at the electrical bus, and a controller. The controller is configured to synchronize a rotational speed of an individual propulsor from the plurality of propulsors with a rotational speed of the generator after the individual propulsor has become unsynchronized with the rotational speed of the generator by controlling at least one of the rotational speed of the generator, nozzle area of the individual propulsor, or a pitch angle of the individual propulsor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Michael James Armstrong, Mark Jon Blackwelder
  • Patent number: 11104447
    Abstract: A propulsion system is described that includes an electrical bus, a generator configured to provide electrical power to the electrical bus, a plurality of propulsory configured to provide thrust by simultaneously being driven by the electrical power at the electrical bus, and a controller. The controller is configured to synchronize a rotational speed of an individual propulsor from the plurality of propulsory with a rotational speed of the generator after the individual propulsor has become unsynchronized with the rotational speed of the generator by controlling at least one of the rotational speed of the generator, nozzle area of the individual propulsor, or a pitch angle of the individual propulsor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James Armstrong, Mark Jon Blackwelder
  • Patent number: 10988035
    Abstract: An alternating current type electric propulsion system is described that includes an AC generator and a plurality of propulsors electrically coupled to the AC generator. A first propulsor from the plurality of propulsors includes a first motor that drives a first fan of the first propulsor at a first speed. A second propulsor from the plurality of propulsors comprises a second motor that drives a second fan of the second propulsor at a second speed that is different than the first speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Michael James Armstrong, Mark Jon Blackwelder, David John Howard Eames, Ellis Fui Hen Chong
  • Publication number: 20200377219
    Abstract: A system is described that includes a turbine engine including an engine fan including one or more variable-pitch blades driven by a shaft, which rotates at a rotational speed which depends on a pitch of the one or more variable-pitch blades of the engine fan. The system further includes a generator configured to produce alternating-current (AC) electricity at a particular frequency relative to the rotational speed of the shaft. The system also includes a propulsor, which includes a propulsor motor and a propulsor fan. The propulsor motor is configured to drive, based on the AC electricity produced by the generator, the propulsor fan. The system includes a controller configured to control the particular frequency of the AC electricity by at least controlling the pitch of the one or more variable-pitch blades of the engine fan and thereby the rotational speed of the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventor: Michael James Armstrong
  • Patent number: 10689082
    Abstract: A distributed propulsion system is described that includes at least one turbine engine including an engine shaft and at least one mechanically driven propulsor, wherein a propulsor shaft of the at least one mechanically driven propulsor is not co-axial with the engine shaft of the at least one turbine engine and is driven by the engine shaft of the at least one turbine engine. The distributed propulsion system further includes at least one generator driven by rotation of at least one of the engine shaft of the at least one turbine engine or the propulsor shaft of the at least one mechanically driven propulsor. The distributed propulsion system also includes at least one electrically driven propulsor, wherein a propulsor motor of the at least one electrically driven propulsor drives a propulsor fan of the at least one electrically driven propulsor based on electricity produced by the at least one generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael James Armstrong
  • Patent number: 10676198
    Abstract: A system includes at least one compressor, at least two turbines, and at least two combustors, each fluidically coupled to a respective turbine of the at least two turbines and configured to receive compressed fluid from the at least one compressor. The system further includes at least two motor-generators, each operably coupled to a respective turbine of the at least two turbines and configured to convert electrical energy to mechanical energy to drive a respective propulsor to which the respective motor-generator is operably coupled and to convert mechanical energy from the respective turbine to electrical energy. The system further includes at least two propulsors, each operably coupled to a respective turbine of the at least two turbines and configured to be driven by the respective turbine, a respective motor-generator to which the respective propulsor is operably coupled via the respective turbine, or both the respective turbine and the respective motor-generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Klemen, Michael James Armstrong
  • Patent number: 10661911
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an optionally hybrid power system that may operate either as a traditional power system, deriving power from a single power source, or as a hybrid power system, deriving power from multiple types of power sources. An example optionally hybrid power system may include a gas turbine engine and one or more electric motors. When configured as a traditional power system the optionally hybrid power system may derive all power from the gas turbine engine. However, when configured as a hybrid power system, the one or more motors may be coupled to the optionally hybrid power system to supplement the power produced by the gas turbine engine. Additionally, an operator interface that may control the optionally hybrid power system may select from a plurality of operating modes that depend on the configuration of the optionally hybrid power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James Armstrong, Richard K. Keller
  • Patent number: 10654578
    Abstract: A propulsion system is described that includes an AC generator configured to produce AC current, and a plurality of propulsors configured to receive the AC current from the AC generator and provide thrust based on the AC current from the AC generator. The propulsion system further includes an AC distribution system configured to deliver a first portion of the AC current to a first group of propulsors from the plurality of propulsors, and a second subsystem configured to deliver a second portion of the AC current to a second group of propulsors from the plurality of propulsors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James Armstrong, Mark Jon Blackwelder
  • Patent number: 10647438
    Abstract: A system is described that includes a turbine engine including an engine fan including one or more variable-pitch blades driven by a shaft, which rotates at a rotational speed which depends on a pitch of the one or more variable-pitch blades of the engine fan. The system further includes a generator configured to produce alternating-current (AC) electricity at a particular frequency relative to the rotational speed of the shaft. The system also includes a propulsor, which includes a propulsor motor and a propulsor fan. The propulsor motor is configured to drive, based on the AC electricity produced by the generator, the propulsor fan. The system includes a controller configured to control the particular frequency of the AC electricity by at least controlling the pitch of the one or more variable-pitch blades of the engine fan and thereby the rotational speed of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael James Armstrong
  • Patent number: 10640225
    Abstract: A distributed propulsion system includes a first propulsor and a second propulsor, a first generator configured to generate a first AC current, and a second generator configured to generate a second AC current. The system includes a power regulation circuit. The power regulation circuit includes a first current path that includes a first power electronics circuit, a second current path that includes a second power electronics circuit, a third current path that bypasses the first and second power electronics circuits, and a fourth current path that bypasses the first and second power electronics circuits. The power regulation circuit also includes a plurality of switches configured to selectively couple each respective input to a respective selected output to cause a respective current to flow from the respective input to the respective selected output via one of the first current path, second current path, third current path, or fourth current path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James Armstrong, Andrew Mark Bollman, David Loder
  • Patent number: 10566120
    Abstract: A superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) device having a plurality of interwoven windings provides for alternative discharge paths for energy stored as magnetic fields in the windings in response to an open-circuit winding fault in one of the windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Michael James Armstrong, Andrew Mark Bollman
  • Publication number: 20200047897
    Abstract: An alternating current type electric propulsion system is described that includes an AC generator and a plurality of propulsors electrically coupled to the AC generator. A first propulsor from the plurality of propulsors includes a first motor that drives a first fan of the first propulsor at a first speed. A second propulsor from the plurality of propulsors comprises a second motor that drives a second fan of the second propulsor at a second speed that is different than the first speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Michael James Armstrong, Mark Jon Blackwelder, David John Howard Eames, Ellis Fui Hen Chong
  • Publication number: 20190329897
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an optionally hybrid power system that may operate either as a traditional power system, deriving power from a single power source, or as a hybrid power system, deriving power from multiple types of power sources. An example optionally hybrid power system may include a gas turbine engine and one or more electric motors. When configured as a traditional power system the optionally hybrid power system may derive all power from the gas turbine engine. However, when configured as a hybrid power system, the one or more motors may be coupled to the optionally hybrid power system to supplement the power produced by the gas turbine engine. Additionally, an operator interface that may control the optionally hybrid power system may select from a plurality of operating modes that depend on the configuration of the optionally hybrid power system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Michael James Armstrong, Richard K. Keller
  • Patent number: 10442542
    Abstract: An alternating current type electric propulsion system is described that includes an AC generator and a plurality of propulsors electrically coupled to the AC generator. A first propulsor from the plurality of propulsors includes a first motor that drives a first fan of the first propulsor at a first speed. A second propulsor from the plurality of propulsors comprises a second motor that drives a second fan of the second propulsor at a second speed that is different than the first speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Michael James Armstrong, Mark Jon Blackwelder, David John Howard Eames, Ellis Fui Hen Chong
  • Patent number: 10364037
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an optionally hybrid power system that may operate either as a traditional power system, deriving power from a single power source, or as a hybrid power system, deriving power from multiple types of power sources. An example optionally hybrid power system may include a gas turbine engine and one or more electric motors. When configured as a traditional power system the optionally hybrid power system may derive all power from the gas turbine engine. However, when configured as a hybrid power system, the one or more motors may be coupled to the optionally hybrid power system to supplement the power produced by the gas turbine engine. Additionally, an operator interface that may control the optionally hybrid power system may select from a plurality of operating modes that depend on the configuration of the optionally hybrid power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James Armstrong, Richard K. Keller
  • Patent number: 10364744
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine may include a deep heat recovery system, such as a deep heat recovery super critical carbon dioxide (sCO2) system. The deep heat recovery system may include two-stage cooling of the working fluid (such as carbon dioxide—CO2) where at least one of cooling stages is recuperative by transferring heat from the working fluid to a flow of compressed air being supplied to a combustor included in the gas turbine engine. The deep heat recovery system may operate in a supercritical cycle, or in a transcritical cycle depending on the temperature to which the working fluid is cooled during a second stage of the two-stage cooling. The second stage of the two-stage cooling includes working fluid-to-air heat rejection where the air is ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Vaisman, Michael James Armstrong, Thomas E. Bastnagel
  • Patent number: 10243355
    Abstract: An electric propulsion system is described that includes at least one branch for distributing electrical power, provided by a power source, to one or more loads. The at least one branch is partitioned into one or more zones and comprises a plurality of branch isolation devices that are configured to isolate the at least one branch from the power source in response to a fault current at the at least one branch. In addition, the at least one branch comprises a respective pair of zone isolation devices for each respective zone from the one or more zones. The respective pair of zone isolation devices for each respective zone is configured to isolate the respective zone from the at least one branch, during a test of the at least one branch for identifying which of the one or more zones is a source of the fault current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Michael James Armstrong, Andrew Mark Bollman
  • Publication number: 20190009920
    Abstract: A distributed propulsion system includes a first propulsor and a second propulsor, a first generator configured to generate a first AC current, and a second generator configured to generate a second AC current. The system includes a power regulation circuit. The power regulation circuit includes a first current path that includes a first power electronics circuit, a second current path that includes a second power electronics circuit, a third current path that bypasses the first and second power electronics circuits, and a fourth current path that bypasses the first and second power electronics circuits. The power regulation circuit also includes a plurality of switches configured to selectively couple each respective input to a respective selected output to cause a respective current to flow from the respective input to the respective selected output via one of the first current path, second current path, third current path, or fourth current path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Michael James Armstrong, Andrew Mark Bollman, David Loder