Patents by Inventor Robert K. Menzel

Robert K. Menzel 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: 7869385
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for testing the bus interface assembly in order to determine if the bus interface assembly is configured to interface with a data bus between an aircraft and a store. If the bus interface assembly is determined not to be properly configured, a troubleshooting routine can be deployed to more specifically identify a malfunction of the bus interface assembly, thereby facilitating the repair of the bus interface assembly. Moreover, the system and method may also program the bus interface assembly. By providing the capability to test and troubleshoot and, in some instances, program the bus interface assembly, the bus interface assembly may be more readily deployed and the performance of the bus interface assembly may be assured, thereby promoting the reliability of the bus interface assembly and the associated communications transferred across the data bus between the aircraft and the store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James V. Leonard, Robert K. Menzel, Richard E. Meyer, Aaron L. Eggemeyer, William J. Ebert
  • Publication number: 20090109863
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for testing the bus interface assembly in order to determine if the bus interface assembly is configured to interface with a data bus between an aircraft and a store. If the bus interface assembly is determined not to be properly configured, a troubleshooting routine can be deployed to more specifically identify a malfunction of the bus interface assembly, thereby facilitating the repair of the bus interface assembly. Moreover, the system and method may also program the bus interface assembly. By providing the capability to test and troubleshoot and, in some instances, program the bus interface assembly, the bus interface assembly may be more readily deployed and the performance of the bus interface assembly may be assured, thereby promoting the reliability of the bus interface assembly and the associated communications transferred across the data bus between the aircraft and the store.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James V. Leonard, Robert K. Menzel, Richard E. Meyer, Aaron L. Eggemeyer, William J. Ebert
  • Patent number: 7353090
    Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring at least one data bus of an aircraft. The system includes an aircraft adapted to control the operation of stores of a second predetermined type (e.g., Harpoon Block I missiles). However, the aircraft is also capable of carrying a store of a first predetermined type (e.g., Harpoon Block II missiles), and capable of communicating with the store across a communication bus (e.g., MK-82 Digital Data Bus). The system also includes a bus monitor assembly capable of capturing data communications transferred across the communication bus between the aircraft and the store, the data communications being captured from the communication bus. The bus monitor assembly is also capable of preparing the data communications, and monitoring the communication bus across which the data communications are transferred, the communication bus being monitored based upon the prepared data communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James V. Leonard, Robert K. Menzel, Richard E. Meyer
  • Patent number: 6755372
    Abstract: An airborne missile launch system. The system includes a Harpoon aircraft command-launch control set (HACLCS) system, one or more Harpoon Block II missiles, and an interface controller coupled to the HACLCS system and the one or more Harpoon Block II missiles. The controller allows a user to create a missile profile mission. The controller combines the created missile profile mission with received positioning information. The missile(s) loads the combination into a navigation system of one of the Harpoon Block II missiles. The controller receives a mission-loaded signal upon completion of mission loading into one of the Harpoon Block II missiles, and converts the mission-loaded signal for interpretation by the HACLCS system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert K. Menzel, James A. Simms, James V. Leonard
  • Publication number: 20030111574
    Abstract: An airborne missile launch system. The system includes a Harpoon aircraft command-launch control set (HACLCS) system, one or more Harpoon Block II missiles, and an interface controller coupled to the HACLCS system and the one or more Harpoon Block II missiles. The controller allows a user to create a missile profile mission. The controller combines the created missile profile mission with received positioning information. The missile(s) loads the combination into a navigation system of one of the Harpoon Block II missiles. The controller receives a mission-loaded signal upon completion of mission loading into one of the Harpoon Block II missiles, and converts the mission-loaded signal for interpretation by the HACLCS system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Robert K. Menzel, James A. Simms, James V. Leonard
  • Patent number: 6349898
    Abstract: An interface between an aircraft and a precision-guided missile having automatic target recognition capability receives target image data and target location data from the aircraft, translates the data into formats usable by the missile, and downloads the target data to the missile at any time prior to launch of the missile. The interface includes a mission-planning unit and a terrain and elevation data storage unit enabling the air crew to call up terrain and elevation data on a visual display for planning a missile mission, and to transmit mission parameters to the missile during aircraft flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James V. Leonard, Robert K. Menzel, Richard E. Meyer, James A. Simms