Patents by Inventor Robert A. Armstrong

Robert A. 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: 11004348
    Abstract: A system and method operate to leverage high assurance positioning systems to determine a hybrid deviation from an expected position, altitude, and path to generate a lateral and vertical signal indicating deviation from a desired position. As a filtered or alternative to conventional precision landing systems, the hybrid positioning system receives sensor data from a plurality of sensors and compares the received sensor data to known values to determine a deviation of position and trajectory. Extending the capability of existing auto-land systems, relative-to-runway sensors and/or filtered high assurance hybrid solutions are employed as an alternative to conventional precision landing systems. The sensors provide position data that is compared to an expected position and path to provide deviations in lateral, vertical, and speed augmenting traditional RF-based systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston J. Lahr, Robert A. Armstrong, Carlo L. Tiana, Geoffrey A. Shapiro, Timothy R. Fannin, Keith A. Stover
  • Patent number: 8547456
    Abstract: A method for monitoring inactive pixels in a scene imaging system may include determining a location of at least one inactive pixel in a focal plane array. The method may include sensing an environment image based upon a surrounding environment of an aircraft. The method may include generating an image associated with the environment image. The method may include evaluating a location for one or more inactive pixels in the generated image in comparison to a location for the at least one inactive pixel in the focal plane array. The method may include determining whether a fault exists in image generation or image display based upon the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Zimmerman, Carlo L. Tiana, Robert B. Wood, Michael J. Oldham, Robert A. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 7961117
    Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein present novel and non-trivial system, module, and method for creating a variable FOV image presented on a HUD combiner unit. A processor receives navigation system data and data associated with eye position. A variable FOV image data set representative of navigation symbology is generated, where the image data set is determined by applying the navigation system and eye position data to an adaptive FOV function, where the function correlates eye position to an FOV image. The image data set is presented to a HUD system where an image represented in the image data set is displayed on a combiner unit, whereby the image FOV correlates to eye position. Furthermore, the processor may receive terrain data and generate a variable FOV image data set inclusive of data representative of a three-dimensional perspective scene outside an aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Zimmerman, Gary J. Albert, Robert A. Armstrong, Lance D. Walker
  • Patent number: 7564372
    Abstract: A head-up display (HUD) is disclosed. The HUD is provided on board an aircraft. The HUD comprises a projector and a combiner. The combiner enables viewing of the world outside of the combiner and also allows viewing of information provided from the projector. A computer is coupled to the projector and provides airport runway and taxiway symbols conformally mapped onto the combiner. Also provided on the combiner is a mapping of hold lines onto the combiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary C. Bailey, Kenneth A. Zimmerman, Louis J. Bailey, Robert A. Armstrong, John G. Wilson
  • Patent number: 7499794
    Abstract: A database defining at least one exclusion zone of airport is described. The database includes a computer-implemented memory configured to store and allow retrieval of a plurality of points, the points defining a boundary of an exclusion zone associated with an airport, the area being prohibited for aircraft travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary C. Bailey, Kenneth A. Zimmerman, Louis J. Bailey, John G. Wilson, Robert A. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 7382284
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system of aircraft surface operations guidance on a head up display. An aircraft surface operations guidance method includes the following steps. At time t1, a taxi guidance cue and a trend vector are displayed on a head up display of an aircraft. The taxi guidance cue represents a desired position of an aircraft control point of the aircraft at time t2. The trend vector represents a predicted path of the aircraft control point from time t1 to time t2 based on a state of the aircraft at time t1. The trend vector includes a tip representing a predicted position of the aircraft control point at time t2. The tip is maintained within the taxi guidance cue so that the aircraft control point may reach the desired position at time t2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Armstrong, John G. Wilson, Kenneth A. Zimmerman, Gary C. Bailey, Louis J. Bailey
  • Patent number: 7382288
    Abstract: A head-up display (HUD) is disclosed. The HUD is provided on board an aircraft. The HUD comprises a projector and a combiner. The combiner enables viewing of the world outside of the combiner and also allows viewing of information provided from the projector. A computer is coupled to the projector and provides airport runway and taxiway symbols conformally mapped onto the combiner. Also provided on the combiner is a mapping of virtual airport signs onto the combiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Wilson, Kenneth A. Zimmerman, Gary C. Bailey, Robert A. Armstrong, Louis J. Bailey
  • Patent number: 7342514
    Abstract: A head-up display (HUD) is disclosed. The HUD is provided on board an aircraft. The HUD comprises a projector and a combiner. The combiner enables viewing of the world outside of the combiner and also allows viewing of information provided from the projector. A computer is coupled to the projector and provides airport runway and taxiway symbols conformally mapped onto the combiner. Also provided on the combiner is a mapping of automatic dependent surveillance broadcast advisory information and traffic onto the combiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis J. Bailey, John G. Wilson, Gary C. Bailey, Kenneth A. Zimmerman, Robert A. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 7212920
    Abstract: The speed dependent variable display system for a computer-implemented moving-map vehicle display system includes a data conversion module for converting a vehicle speed input signal to a distance range value; and, an application module for utilizing the distance range value, vehicle position information, vehicle direction of movement information, and input geographical information to provide scaled output geographical information. The scaled output geographical information is utilized to provide a situational awareness display which is optimized in accordance with the vehicle's position, direction of movement and speed. A display apparatus receives the scaled output geographical information to provide an optimized situational awareness display for a moving-map vehicle display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary C. Bailey, Kenneth A. Zimmerman, Louis J. Bailey, John G. Wilson, Robert A. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 5311585
    Abstract: The problem of being unable to supply prescribed fair amounts of telephone traffic to each carrier in a foreign country is overcome by a) assigning a call to one of the carriers in a foreign country at the switch where the call originated b) including an indication of the identity of the assigned carrier with the call as the call is routed from the originating switch to an egress switch and c) retaining at the originating switch an indication of the carrier to which the call is currently assigned. The indication of the assigned carrier stays with the call until either the call is completed to the assigned carrier or it is determined that the call cannot be completed to the assigned carrier. This allows the originating switch to retain control over the assignment of a call to a carrier. Furthermore, the originating switch can cause all the routes from the originating switch to the originally assigned carrier to be tried before it allows another carrier to complete the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Robert A. Armstrong, Gail L. McDonald