Patents by Inventor Richard D. Cropper

Richard D. Cropper 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: 10202193
    Abstract: Reconfigurable payload systems (RPS) and methods of configuring and using the same with operational load envelopes are disclosed that may be employed to enable external aircraft payloads to be rapidly interchanged or swapped out together with associated internal equipment within a given aircraft so as to modify or change payload capability of the aircraft, e.g., to meet a particular mission and/or to enable use of future payload types as they are developed. The RPS and associated methods may be implemented to allow multiple different payload systems to be swapped in and out on a given aircraft as required based on needs for a given mission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Integrated Systems L.P.
    Inventors: Ben D. Hodge, Timothy W. Troup, Richard D. Cropper, Brandy D. Stokes
  • Publication number: 20170267349
    Abstract: Reconfigurable payload systems (RPS) and methods of configuring and using the same with operational load envelopes are disclosed that may be employed to enable external aircraft payloads to be rapidly interchanged or swapped out together with associated internal equipment within a given aircraft so as to modify or change payload capability of the aircraft, e.g., to meet a particular mission and/or to enable use of future payload types as they are developed. The RPS and associated methods may be implemented to allow multiple different payload systems to be swapped in and out on a given aircraft as required based on needs for a given mission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Ben D. Hodge, Timothy W. Troup, Richard D. Cropper, Brandy D. Stokes
  • Patent number: 9676482
    Abstract: Reconfigurable payload systems (RPS) and methods of configuring and using the same are disclosed that may be employed to enable external aircraft payloads to be rapidly interchanged or swapped out together with associated internal equipment within a given aircraft so as to modify or change payload capability of the aircraft, e.g., to meet a particular mission and/or to enable use of future payload types as they are developed. The RPS and associated methods may be implemented to allow multiple different payload systems to be swapped in and out on a given aircraft as required based on needs for a given mission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Integrated Systems L.P.
    Inventors: Ben D. Hodge, Timothy W. Troup, Richard D. Cropper, Brandy D. Stokes
  • Patent number: 9669927
    Abstract: Reconfigurable payload systems (RPS) and methods of configuring and using the same with operational load envelopes are disclosed that may be employed to enable external aircraft payloads to be rapidly interchanged or swapped out together with associated internal equipment within a given aircraft so as to modify or change payload capability of the aircraft, e.g., to meet a particular mission and/or to enable use of future payload types as they are developed. The RPS and associated methods may be implemented to allow multiple different payload systems to be swapped in and out on a given aircraft as required based on needs for a given mission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Integrated Systems L.P.
    Inventors: Ben D. Hodge, Timothy W. Troup, Richard D. Cropper, Brandy D. Stokes
  • Publication number: 20160272319
    Abstract: Reconfigurable payload systems (RPS) and methods of configuring and using the same are disclosed that may be employed to enable external aircraft payloads to be rapidly interchanged or swapped out together with associated internal equipment within a given aircraft so as to modify or change payload capability of the aircraft, e.g., to meet a particular mission and/or to enable use of future payload types as they are developed. The RPS and associated methods may be implemented to allow multiple different payload systems to be swapped in and out on a given aircraft as required based on needs for a given mission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Ben D. Hodge, Timothy W. Troup, Richard D. Cropper, Brandy D. Stokes
  • Publication number: 20150210392
    Abstract: Reconfigurable payload systems (RPS) and methods of configuring and using the same with operational load envelopes are disclosed that may be employed to enable external aircraft payloads to be rapidly interchanged or swapped out together with associated internal equipment within a given aircraft so as to modify or change payload capability of the aircraft, e.g., to meet a particular mission and/or to enable use of future payload types as they are developed. The RPS and associated methods may be implemented to allow multiple different payload systems to be swapped in and out on a given aircraft as required based on needs for a given mission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Ben D. Hodge, Timothy W. Troup, Richard D. Cropper, Brandy D. Stokes