Patents by Inventor Robert T. Seminole

Robert T. Seminole 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: 9377784
    Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying to a tilt rotor aircraft pilot an optimum nacelle position and/or automatically controlling movement of the nacelles for the pilot. An automatic nacelle conversion function employs an active flight director speed mode to provide a current desired speed and a final speed. When the automatic nacelle conversion function is in a passive (uncoupled) mode of operation, the pilot follows visual cues, manually achieving the commanded nacelle position by rotating a thumbwheel. When in an active (coupled) mode of operation, the automatic nacelle conversion function provides a fully automatic nacelle controller requiring no pilot input. This automatic nacelle controller provides a variable nacelle rate along with several angle versus speed schedules tailored for different guidance speed modes and a wide range of aircraft configurations. The automatic nacelle conversion function is improved though the inclusion of altitude, rate of climb, and deceleration rate commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jacob Kowalski, Ivan Grill, Robert T. Seminole
  • Publication number: 20160026190
    Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying to a tilt rotor aircraft pilot an optimum nacelle position and/or automatically controlling movement of the nacelles for the pilot. An automatic nacelle conversion function employs an active flight director speed mode to provide a current desired speed and a final speed. When the automatic nacelle conversion function is in a passive (uncoupled) mode of operation, the pilot follows visual cues, manually achieving the commanded nacelle position by rotating a thumbwheel. When in an active (coupled) mode of operation, the automatic nacelle conversion function provides a fully automatic nacelle controller requiring no pilot input. This automatic nacelle controller provides a variable nacelle rate along with several angle versus speed schedules tailored for different guidance speed modes and a wide range of aircraft configurations. The automatic nacelle conversion function is improved though the inclusion of altitude, rate of climb, and deceleration rate commands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jacob Kowalski, Ivan Grill, Robert T. Seminole