Patents by Inventor Randall A. Greene
Randall A. Greene 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).
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Patent number: 11479364Abstract: An electronic aircraft control system and an electronic aircraft control method are provided. In some embodiments, the aircraft control system includes a motor including a rotating shaft, a lever including an axis of rotation, the lever connected to the rotating shaft, wherein the position of the lever is not maintained by a mechanical clutch during normal operations. In some embodiments, the aircraft control system includes a fail-safe system for maintaining mechanical friction of the lever in an event of a failure, a sensor identifying a position of the lever, and a transmitter transmitting the lever position to a controller, the controller adjusting an aircraft performance device based on the received lever position. In some embodiments, the motor provides a torque on the lever. In some embodiments, the fail-safe system includes shear pins configured to break when a sufficient amount of manual torque is applied to the lever.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2018Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: Safe Flight Instrument, LLCInventors: Michael J. Lambton, Louis C. Simons, Randall A. Greene
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Publication number: 20220144448Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel methods of determining and/or adjusting warning thresholds for an aircraft safety system. One exemplary method of adjusting warning thresholds for an aircraft safety system includes determining an acceptable vertical speed range for an aircraft during takeoff or landing and measuring the aircraft's indicated airspeed and true airspeed. The method further includes determining the relationship between the indicated airspeed and the true airspeed, and using such relationship to adjust the acceptable vertical speed range.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2021Publication date: May 12, 2022Applicant: Safe Flight Instrument, LLCInventors: Randall A. Greene, Patrick T. Morgan, Louis C. Simons
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Publication number: 20210371083Abstract: An aircraft control system includes: a motor with a rotating shaft; a pilot control input; a linear actuator connecting the pilot control input to the rotating shaft; a sensor identifying a position of the pilot control input; and a transmitter transmitting the pilot control input position to a controller, the controller adjusting an aircraft performance device based on the received pilot control input position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2019Publication date: December 2, 2021Applicant: Safe Flight lnstrument CorporationInventors: Michael LAMBTON, Louis SIMONS, Randall A. GREENE
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Patent number: 10336467Abstract: A warning method for an aircraft includes receiving a first parameter indicative of an aircraft's flight path, calculating a stable approach value based on the first parameter, receiving a second parameter indicative of the aircraft's turbulence, calculating a turbulence factor based on the second parameter, calculating a safe landing value based on the stable approach value and the turbulence factor, comparing the safe landing value to a threshold value, and providing an aircraft warning when the safe landing value fails to meet the threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Safe Flight Instrument CorporationInventors: Randall A. Greene, Shawn P. Beyer, Robert D. Teter
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Publication number: 20190176997Abstract: An electronic aircraft control system and an electronic aircraft control method are provided. In some embodiments, the aircraft control system includes a motor including a rotating shaft, a lever including an axis of rotation, the lever connected to the rotating shaft, wherein the position of the lever is not maintained by a mechanical clutch during normal operations. In some embodiments, the aircraft control system includes a fail-safe system for maintaining mechanical friction of the lever in an event of a failure, a sensor identifying a position of the lever, and a transmitter transmitting the lever position to a controller, the controller adjusting an aircraft performance device based on the received lever position. In some embodiments, the motor provides a torque on the lever. In some embodiments, the fail-safe system includes shear pins configured to break when a sufficient amount of manual torque is applied to the lever.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2018Publication date: June 13, 2019Applicant: Safe Flight Instrument CorporationInventors: Michael J. LAMBTON, Louis C. SIMONS, Randall A. GREENE
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Patent number: 10269252Abstract: A collision warning method includes receiving a collision risk indication from a traffic collision avoidance system of an aircraft, receiving a preset altitude, comparing the preset altitude and an altitude associated with the collision risk indication, and providing a warning in the aircraft when the preset altitude and the altitude associated with the collision risk are within a threshold.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2015Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Safe Flight Instrument CorporationInventor: Randall A. Greene
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Patent number: 9828113Abstract: An aircraft tailstrike warning method includes identifying a first value representing an aircraft angle of attack, identifying a second value representing a maximum aircraft angle of attack, identifying a difference between the first value and the second value, and providing a tailstrike warning when the difference between the first value and the second value is less than a threshold amount.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2013Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: SAFE FLIGHT INSTRUMENT CORPORATIONInventors: Randall A. Greene, Shawn Beyer
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Publication number: 20170305573Abstract: A warning method for an aircraft includes receiving a first parameter indicative of an aircraft's flight path, calculating a stable approach value based on the first parameter, receiving a second parameter indicative of the aircraft's turbulence, calculating a turbulence factor based on the second parameter, calculating a safe landing value based on the stable approach value and the turbulence factor, comparing the safe landing value to a threshold value, and providing an aircraft warning when the safe landing value fails to meet the threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2017Publication date: October 26, 2017Applicant: Safe Flight Instrument CorporationInventors: Randall A. GREENE, Shawn P. BEYER, Robert D. TETER
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Patent number: 9701422Abstract: A warning method for an aircraft includes receiving a first parameter indicative of an aircraft's flight path, calculating a stable approach value based on the first parameter, receiving a second parameter indicative of the aircraft's turbulence, calculating a turbulence factor based on the second parameter, calculating a safe landing value based on the stable approach value and the turbulence factor, comparing the safe landing value to a threshold value, and providing an aircraft warning when the safe landing value fails to meet the threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2016Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Safe Flight Instrument CorporationInventors: Randall A. Greene, Shawn P. Beyer, Robert D. Teter
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Patent number: 9637243Abstract: An aircraft lift transducer may include a vane, actuator, an LC circuit, and a processor. The vane may be positioned on the leading edge of a wing of the aircraft, where the angle defined by the chord of the wing and the vane changes when the aircraft angle of attack changes. The actuator may be associated with the vane and change position when the angle defined by the vane and the chord changes. The LC circuit may include an induction coil spaced from the actuator and an oscillator. The oscillation frequency of the LC circuit may change when the position of the actuator changes. The processor may receive the change in the oscillation frequency and may determine a corresponding change in an available lift of the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2013Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Safe Flight Instrument CorporationInventors: Joseph S. Tiseo, Randall A. Greene
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Publication number: 20170103661Abstract: A collision warning method includes receiving a collision risk indication from a traffic collision avoidance system of an aircraft, receiving a preset altitude, comparing the preset altitude and an altitude associated with the collision risk indication, and providing a warning in the aircraft when the preset altitude and the altitude associated with the collision risk are within a threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2015Publication date: April 13, 2017Inventor: Randall A. GREENE
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Publication number: 20170057657Abstract: A helicopter stall warning method includes receiving an airspeed of the helicopter, determining a stall airspeed based on multiple factors associated with the helicopter, the multiple factors comprising ambient temperature near the helicopter, the helicopter's altitude, and the helicopter's gross weight, determining a stall warning threshold derived from the stall airspeed, and providing a tactile warning through a collective helicopter control when the helicopter's airspeed meets or exceeds the stall warning threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Inventor: Randall A. GREENE
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Patent number: 9580186Abstract: A helicopter stall warning method includes receiving an airspeed of the helicopter, determining a stall airspeed based on multiple factors associated with the helicopter, the multiple factors comprising ambient temperature near the helicopter, the helicopter's altitude, and the helicopter's gross weight, determining a stall warning threshold derived from the stall airspeed, and providing a tactile warning through a collective helicopter control when the helicopter's airspeed meets or exceeds the stall warning threshold.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2016Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: SAFE FLIGHT INSTRUMENT CORPORATIONInventor: Randall A. Greene
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Patent number: 9546003Abstract: A pitch command display method includes identifying touchdown of an aircraft, identifying a first value representing an actual pitch reduction rate of the aircraft, identifying a second value representing a target pitch reduction rate of the aircraft, determining a difference between the first value and the second value, and displaying a pitch command when the difference between the first value and second value is greater than a threshold amount and the aircraft has touched down.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: SAFE FLIGHT INSTRUMENT CORPORATIONInventors: Randall A. Greene, Shawn P. Beyer
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Publication number: 20170008642Abstract: A warning method for an aircraft includes receiving a first parameter indicative of an aircraft's flight path, calculating a stable approach value based on the first parameter, receiving a second parameter indicative of the aircraft's turbulence, calculating a turbulence factor based on the second parameter, calculating a safe landing value based on the stable approach value and the turbulence factor, comparing the safe landing value to a threshold value, and providing an aircraft warning when the safe landing value fails to meet the threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2016Publication date: January 12, 2017Applicant: Safe Flight Instrument CorporationInventors: Randall A. GREENE, Shawn P. BEYER, Robert D. TETER
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Publication number: 20170008639Abstract: A warning method for an aircraft includes receiving a first parameter indicative of an aircraft's flight path, calculating a stable approach value based on the first parameter, receiving a second parameter indicative of the aircraft's turbulence, calculating a turbulence factor based on the second parameter, calculating a safe landing value based on the stable approach value and the turbulence factor, comparing the safe landing value to a threshold value, and providing an aircraft warning when the safe landing value fails to meet the threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2016Publication date: January 12, 2017Applicant: Safe Flight Instrument CorporationInventors: Randall A. GREENE, Shawn P. BEYER, Robert D. TETER
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Patent number: 9409649Abstract: A controller for determining when icing conditions are present on an outside surface of an aircraft may include a first input receiving a moisture condition on a windshield of the aircraft, a second input receiving an outside temperature, and an output that provides an icing condition determined as a function of the first input and the second input. The moisture condition can be provided by a moisture sensor positioned on an interior surface of the windshield and the windshield may include a heating system.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2012Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: SAFE FLIGHT INSTRUMENT CORPORATIONInventors: Randall A. Greene, Peter R. Cordes, Robert D. Teter
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Publication number: 20160159494Abstract: A pitch command display method includes identifying touchdown of an aircraft, identifying a first value representing an actual pitch reduction rate of the aircraft, identifying a second value representing a target pitch reduction rate of the aircraft, determining a difference between the first value and the second value, and displaying a pitch command when the difference between the first value and second value is greater than a threshold amount and the aircraft has touched down.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: June 9, 2016Applicant: SAFE FLIGHT INSTRUMENT CORPORATIONInventors: Randall A. GREENE, Shawn P. BEYER
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Patent number: 9346552Abstract: An autothrottle retard initiation method includes receiving an aircraft's ground speed, receiving the aircraft's vertical speed, determining autothrottle retard initiation height based on the aircraft's ground speed, the aircraft's vertical speed, and an aircraft vertical landing speed factor, receiving the aircraft's height above ground, and initiating autothrottle retard when the aircraft's height above ground and the autothrottle retard initiation height are equal.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2014Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Safe Flight Instrument CorporationInventors: Randall A. Greene, Shawn P. Beyer
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Publication number: 20160033300Abstract: In one embodiment, an aircraft display system includes a first module that identifies a label in an ARINC 429 communication between a flight director and a display, a second module that removes flight director data from the ARINC 429 communication, the flight director data associated with the label, and a third module that inserts substitute data in the ARINC 429 communication. The display receives the substitute data before an error is detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2014Publication date: February 4, 2016Inventors: Randall A. GREENE, Robert D. TETER, Louis SIMONS