Patents by Inventor Robert P. Smith

Robert P. Smith 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: 10738811
    Abstract: A clinch fastener with a single-element, unitary construction that does not require the preassembly of parts. The fastener provides a clamp load after installation and is fully formed by stamping the part from sheet metal. The fastener provides the necessary rigidity for a clinch attachment shank with the resilience of a head that will provide a residual clamp load to the attached panels. The fastener attaches two panels face-to-face by extending through aligned apertures in the panels. A shank undercut receives the cold flow of material from the second bottom panel while the panels are clamped against a resilient dome-shaped head of the fastener. The fastener may include a central axial well that receives the tip of a press punch during installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Penn Engineering & Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Michael J. Mahoney, Robert P. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170009793
    Abstract: A clinch fastener with a single-element, unitary construction that does not require the preassembly of parts. The fastener provides a clamp load after installation and is fully formed by stamping the part from sheet metal. The fastener provides the necessary rigidity for a clinch attachment shank with the resilience of a head that will provide a residual clamp load to the attached panels. The fastener attaches two panels face-to-face by extending through aligned apertures in the panels. A shank undercut receives the cold flow of material from the second bottom panel while the panels are clamped against a resilient dome-shaped head of the fastener. The fastener may include a central axial well that receives the tip of a press punch during installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Michael J. Mahoney, Robert P. Smith
  • Patent number: 8560239
    Abstract: A method is provided for modifying navigation information on a control display unit which has at least one entry field and a plurality of display lines. The method includes at least receiving a plurality of delete command entries, receiving a display line selection, determining the number of delete command entries, identifying a navigation route segment displayed in the selected display line, wherein the navigation route segment displayed in the selected display line comprises at least a first navigation route segment, deleting the first navigation route segment, deleting navigation route segments which follow the first navigation route segment in sequential order until the number of deleted navigation route segments equals the number of delete command entries received, and displaying the navigation information. A system which executes the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Robert P. Smith, Roglenda R. Bowe, Andrew D. Neff
  • Patent number: 8471727
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for displaying forecast weather products in relation to a planned flight path of an air vehicle. The method, apparatus and computer program product may display a representation of future weather conditions along with the planned flight path of the air vehicle and a representation of the anticipated location of the air vehicle during the time period during which the future weather forecast is valid in order to provide context for the future weather information. Additionally, the method, apparatus and computer program product may display the weather information as well as information regarding the time period during which the weather information is valid in a graphical manner that is intuitive to the crew of the air vehicle so as not to distract or otherwise increase the workload upon the crew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Batsakes, Robert P. Smith, David E. Stulken
  • Patent number: 8428872
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for receiving and displaying a taxiway navigation route on a control display unit having at least one entry field and a plurality of display lines. A plurality of taxi route segments are received from an entry field. The plurality of taxi route segments include at least a first taxi route segment and a second taxi route segment. The taxi route segments are assigned to separate display lines in the order in which the taxi route segments were received to form a taxiway navigation route. The taxi route segments are displayed on the control display unit in the order in which the taxi route segments were received. The display line in which the first taxi route segment is to be assigned can be selected. In addition, navigation data corresponding to the taxi route segments can be identified, retrieved, and assigned to the respective taxi route segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Robert P. Smith, Roglenda R. Bowe, Andrew D. Neff
  • Patent number: 8417396
    Abstract: A method of operating an air traffic control system may include receiving, by a control system, an instruction from a control system user. The method may further include providing, by the control system, the instruction to an airplane via a data link between the control system and a system of the airplane. In addition, the method may include adjusting, by the airplane system, at least one airplane control to correspond to the instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: William L. Goodman, Syed T. Shafaat, John A. Brown, Jennifer L. Gertley, Robert P. Smith
  • Patent number: 8130121
    Abstract: A method identifies turbulence information from turbulence data generated by a set of remote aircraft based on a request to form identified turbulence information. The turbulence information is identified in response to the request received at an aircraft to view the turbulence information. The identified turbulence information is displayed on a display device in the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert P. Smith, David E. Stulken, Peter J. Batsakes
  • Publication number: 20120010763
    Abstract: A method of operating an air traffic control system may include receiving, by a control system, an instruction from a control system user. The method may further include providing, by the control system, the instruction to an airplane via a data link between the control system and a system of the airplane. In addition, the method may include adjusting, by the airplane system, at least one airplane control to correspond to the instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: William L. Goodman, Syed T. Shafaat, John A. Brown, Jennifer L. Gertley, Robert P. Smith
  • Patent number: 8046159
    Abstract: A method of receiving an instruction by an airplane from a control system includes facilitating, by the airplane, a user of a system of the airplane in accepting or rejecting the instruction. The instruction may be received by the airplane via a data link between the control system and the airplane system. If the instruction is accepted, the method may further include loading, by the airplane, the instruction into the airplane system and/or adjusting, by the airplane, at least one airplane control to correspond to the instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: William L. Goodman, Syed T. Shafaat, John A. Brown, Jennifer L. Gertley, Robert P. Smith
  • Patent number: 7953661
    Abstract: Personal qualified dividend income (QDI) is calculated for one or more investors for mutual fund dividend distributions made to accounts of the investors from one or more mutual funds. Personal QDI information may be automatically generated and provided to investors. A similar process may be performed for brokerage accounts that hold individual stocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: The Vanguard Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Dori Laskin, Michael A. Bray, Thomas J. Cresswell, Deanna J. Flores, Andrea A. Gasser, Mary H. Pichola, Robert P. Smith
  • Publication number: 20110102192
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for displaying forecast weather products in relation to a planned flight path of an air vehicle. The method, apparatus and computer program product may display a representation of future weather conditions along with the planned flight path of the air vehicle and a representation of the anticipated location of the air vehicle during the time period during which the future weather forecast is valid in order to provide context for the future weather information. Additionally, the method, apparatus and computer program product may display the weather information as well as information regarding the time period during which the weather information is valid in a graphical manner that is intuitive to the crew of the air vehicle so as not to distract or otherwise increase the workload upon the crew.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Batsakes, Robert P. Smith, David E. Stulken
  • Publication number: 20110046869
    Abstract: A method of receiving an instruction by an airplane from a control system includes facilitating, by the airplane, a user of a system of the airplane in accepting or rejecting the instruction. The instruction may be received by the airplane via a data link between the control system and the airplane system. If the instruction is accepted, the method may further include loading, by the airplane, the instruction into the airplane system and/or adjusting, by the airplane, at least one airplane control to correspond to the instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: William L. Goodman, Syed T. Shafaat, John A. Brown, Jennifer L. Gertley, Robert P. Smith
  • Publication number: 20100315265
    Abstract: A method identifies turbulence information from turbulence data generated by a set of remote aircraft based on a request to form identified turbulence information. The turbulence information is identified in response to the request received at an aircraft to view the turbulence information. The identified turbulence information is displayed on a display device in the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Robert P. Smith, David E. Stulken, Peter J. Batsakes
  • Patent number: 7848877
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for receiving, by an airplane, one or more clearances and/or instructions from a control system via a data link between the control system and a system of the airplane, are described herein. The system of the airplane may then facilitate a user in accepting or rejecting at least one of the received one or more clearances and/or instructions, and if accepted, may load the clearance and/or instructions and/or adjust controls to correspond to the clearance and/or instructions. Further, the system of the airplane may be adapted to display at least instructions indicia of whether the received instructions are met to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: William L. Goodman, Syed T. Shafaat, John A. Brown, Jennifer L. Gertley, Robert P. Smith
  • Publication number: 20090157303
    Abstract: A method is provided for modifying navigation information on a control display unit which has at least one entry field and a plurality of display lines. The method includes at least receiving a plurality of delete command entries, receiving a display line selection, determining the number of delete command entries, identifying a navigation route segment displayed in the selected display line, wherein the navigation route segment displayed in the selected display line comprises at least a first navigation route segment, deleting the first navigation route segment, deleting navigation route segments which follow the first navigation route segment in sequential order until the number of deleted navigation route segments equals the number of delete command entries received, and displaying the navigation information. A system which executes the method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: SAMUEL T. CLARK, ROBERT P. SMITH, ROGLENDA R. BOWE, ANDREW D. NEFF
  • Publication number: 20090157300
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for receiving and displaying a taxiway navigation route on a control display unit having at least one entry field and a plurality of display lines. A plurality of taxi route segments are received from an entry field. The plurality of taxi route segments include at least a first taxi route segment and a second taxi route segment. The taxi route segments are assigned to separate display lines in the order in which the taxi route segments were received to form a taxiway navigation route. The taxi route segments are displayed on the control display unit in the order in which the taxi route segments were received. The display line in which the first taxi route segment is to be assigned can be selected. In addition, navigation data corresponding to the taxi route segments can be identified, retrieved, and assigned to the respective taxi route segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Robert P. Smith, Roglenda R. Bowe, Andrew D. Neff
  • Publication number: 20080143557
    Abstract: A system for conveying a gate assignment at an airfield to an air crew in an aircraft includes: (a) a ground station; (b) a mobile station carried with the aircraft and configured for communicative coupling with the ground station; and (c) a display unit carried with the aircraft and coupled with the mobile station. The ground station transmits the gate assignment to the mobile station. The display unit receives the gate assignment from the mobile station and presents a graphic representation of the gate assignment to the air crew.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: BOEING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE
    Inventor: Robert P. Smith
  • Publication number: 20080114504
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for receiving, by an airplane, one or more clearances and/or instructions from a control system via a data link between the control system and a system of the airplane, are described herein. The system of the airplane may then facilitate a user in accepting or rejecting at least one of the received one or more clearances and/or instructions, and if accepted, may load the clearance and/or instructions and/or adjust controls to correspond to the clearance and/or instructions. Further, the system of the airplane may be adapted to display at least instructionsindicia of whether the received instructions are met to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: William L. Goodman, Syed T. Shafaat, John A. Brown, Jennifer L. Gertley, Robert P. Smith
  • Patent number: 7058663
    Abstract: A process of accessing data in a database, inputting the accessed data to a form, using the form with the accessed data by a first user, monitoring the database to detect changes to the accessed data by a second user while the form is being used by the first user, updating the accessed data in the form while being used by the first user in accordance with rules corresponding to the detected changes, and displaying update status of the accessed data in accordance with the updating. The update status can indicate if the accessed data has not been changed since the first user began using the accessed data; if the first user has changed the accessed data; and if the second user has changed the accessed data while the first user is using the accessed data. The process can be implemented in a standalone processing device or in a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventors: James A. Johnston, Robert P. Smith
  • Patent number: D803037
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: PEM Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Maloney, Robert P. Smith