Patents by Inventor Samuel T. Clark

Samuel T. Clark 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: 8786467
    Abstract: A method and a system for displaying an airport or runway moving map with traffic information on a display screen in the cockpit or flight deck of an aircraft. Symbology representing surface and near-surface aircraft and surface vehicle traffic and associated traffic data are filtered to prevent or limit clutter on the display screen. Traffic symbology is automatically and manually filtered to display only relevant traffic. Traffic data is selectively displayed and displayed as/when relevant or needed. The displayed traffic information may be derived from automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, traffic information system-broadcast, automatic dependent surveillance-rebroadcast, traffic collision avoidance system or other source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Roglenda R. Bowe, Stephen Bernard Ortman, Jean Marie Crane
  • Patent number: 8700234
    Abstract: A method of an aircraft communicating a current position status, a current movement status, a current intent, and/or an intended future path, position, or intent of the aircraft may include the aircraft generating explicit first ownship information related to the current position status and/or the current movement status, or current intent of the aircraft, and/or a flight management or other aircraft system of the aircraft generating information related to the intended future path, position, or intent of the aircraft. The aircraft may transmit the explicit first ownship information and/or the second information using an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast system transmitter. An airborne and/or ground receiver may receive the transmitted information related to the explicit first ownship information and/or the second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Syed Taji Shafaat, Samuel T. Clark
  • Patent number: 8600651
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media described herein provide for filtering relevant traffic from sensed or received traffic information for display, enhancement, or alerting, without requiring knowledge of runway, taxiway, or taxi route locations at an airport. Traffic information is sensed or received regarding nearby aircraft or other vehicles and is filtered using one or more filtering strategies to determine a subset of relevant traffic for which to display traffic indicators and/or traffic data on a display unit in the aircraft. The subset of relevant traffic may be further tested for convergence or potential convergence and filtered using one or more additional filtering strategies to determine traffic having critical traffic conditions for which to enhance the display of the traffic indicators on the display unit or to alert the flight crew of the critical traffic conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Roglenda R. Bowe
  • 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: 8502701
    Abstract: Technologies are described herein for displaying runway status information to a pilot in an aircraft. In one aspect of the present disclosure, a runway status display module displays a runway status indicator indicating the runway status information at a fixed scale independent of a scale of the map on a map display. In another aspect, the runway status indicator is displayed on a non-map display indicating the runway status of the runway. In another aspect, the runway status indicator is displayed at a position independent from a depiction of the runway on the aircraft display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Juliana Joo-Hong Goh, Samuel T. Clark, Jill M. Martins, Roglenda R. Bowe
  • 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: 8386167
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media described herein provide for the display of taxi route control point information in conjunction with an alphanumeric taxi route display in an aircraft. Taxi route data is received and compared with airport map information to determine any taxi route control points along the taxi route. Information associated with the taxi route control points is then collected and displayed on a display unit of the aircraft in conjunction with an alphanumeric display of the taxi route. The information associated with the taxi route control points may include ATC clearance information, runway and taxiway status information, runway orientation information, runway and taxiway traffic information, or taxi route information such as distance remaining to the taxi route control point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Keith L. Johnson, Andrew D. Neff, Roglenda R. Bowe
  • Patent number: 8306745
    Abstract: Methods and systems for presenting a current position of a vehicle on a moving map display are provided. The method includes determining a current position and a path of travel of the vehicle, determining a current position of at least one of a second vehicle, an object, and an area of interest wherein determining a current position of the second vehicle includes determining a path of travel of the second vehicle, and displaying a depiction of the vehicle and at least a portion of the at least one of the second vehicle, the object, and the area of interest at a first range setting. The method further includes automatically changing from the first range setting to a second range setting based on at least one of an approach autorange activation, an offscale traffic activation, and an offscale object or area of interest autorange activation, and displaying the ownship depiction and at least a portion of the at least one of the second vehicle, the object, and the area of interest at the second range setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, William L. Goodman, Roglenda R. Bowe, Michael P. Snow
  • Patent number: 8264378
    Abstract: Technologies are described herein for providing enhanced center and range control on an aircraft display. According to embodiments, a display mode is selected to display a map on the aircraft display. A range input for displaying the map in the selected display mode at a desired range and a centering input for centering on a predefined map location on the aircraft display are received. The range input and the centering input associated with the selected display mode are then stored. When the selected display mode is deselected and then reselected, the map is displayed on the aircraft display in the selected display mode according to at least one of the stored range input and the centering input associated with the selected display mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jill M. Martins, Samuel T. Clark, Juliana J. Goh, Roglenda R. Bowe
  • Publication number: 20120130624
    Abstract: A method and a system for displaying an airport or runway moving map with traffic information on a display screen in the cockpit or flight deck of an aircraft. Symbology representing surface and near-surface aircraft and surface vehicle traffic and associated traffic data are filtered to prevent or limit clutter on the display screen. Traffic symbology is automatically and manually filtered to display only relevant traffic. Traffic data is selectively displayed and displayed as/when relevant or needed. The displayed traffic information may be derived from automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, traffic information system-broadcast, automatic dependent surveillance-rebroadcast, traffic collision avoidance system or other source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Roglenda R. Bowe, Stephen Bernard Ortman, Jean Marie Crane
  • Patent number: 8180562
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for building, creating, or otherwise specifying an airport ground taxi navigation route for an aircraft from an input of the route is disclosed. The apparatus includes a keypad, voice recognition device, or other entry device, a processor, a display screen, and a navigation map database. A crewmember on the aircraft uses the entry device to enter all or part of the ground navigation taxi route. The entry device converts the received route information into an input text string, either with or without delimiters. The system parses the input text string by extracting characters or substrings from the input text string. A database lookup component searches the map database to find a route component that matches the character or substring. If the system finds a matching route component, it determines if the matching route component is continuous with the taxi route. The system adds the matching route component to the taxi route and displays any discontinuity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Roglenda R. Bowe, Wayne R. Jones
  • Publication number: 20110125399
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media described herein provide for filtering relevant traffic from sensed or received traffic information for display, enhancement, or alerting, without requiring knowledge of runway, taxiway, or taxi route locations at an airport. Traffic information is sensed or received regarding nearby aircraft or other vehicles and is filtered using one or more filtering strategies to determine a subset of relevant traffic for which to display traffic indicators and/or traffic data on a display unit in the aircraft. The subset of relevant traffic may be further tested for convergence or potential convergence and filtered using one or more additional filtering strategies to determine traffic having critical traffic conditions for which to enhance the display of the traffic indicators on the display unit or to alert the flight crew of the critical traffic conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Roglenda R. Bowe
  • Publication number: 20110090096
    Abstract: Technologies are described herein for displaying runway status information to a pilot in an aircraft. In one aspect of the present disclosure, a runway status display module displays a runway status indicator indicating the runway status information at a fixed scale independent of a scale of the map on a map display. In another aspect, the runway status indicator is displayed on a non-map display indicating the runway status of the runway. In another aspect, the runway status indicator is displayed at a position independent from a depiction of the runway on the aircraft display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Juliana Joo-Hong Goh, Samuel T. Clark, Jill M. Martins, Roglenda R. Bowe
  • Patent number: 7908082
    Abstract: Methods and systems for presenting a current position of a vehicle on a moving map display are provided. The method includes determining a current position and a path of travel of the vehicle, determining a current position of at least one of a second vehicle, an object, and an area of interest wherein determining a current position of the second vehicle includes determining a path of travel of the second vehicle, and displaying a depiction of the vehicle and at least a portion of the at least one of the second vehicle, the object, and the area of interest at a first range setting. The method further includes automatically changing from the first range setting to a second range setting based on at least one of an approach autorange activation, an offscale traffic activation, and an offscale object or area of interest autorange activation, and displaying the ownship depiction and at least a portion of the at least one of the second vehicle, the object, and the area of interest at the second range setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, William L. Goodman, Roglenda R. Bowe, Michael P. Snow
  • Publication number: 20100283636
    Abstract: Momentary multi-state/mode information switches, (e.g., all, some, or no information), and control switches (e.g., on, auto, off), are disclosed in accordance with an embodiment. In one implementation, ‘some’ information display involves intermediate ‘filtered’ or otherwise processed levels of information, that may dynamically change as a function of time, position, circumstance, or other logic. In addition, state or mode information may be selected manual or could be selected utilizing more sophisticated automatic state/mode changes. In a corresponding/similar implementation, ‘auto’ control involves the use/processing of ownship and traffic information that may dynamically change as a function of time, position, circumstance, or other logic. The benefits of such switches are increased functionality within the same switch space as a conventional on-off momentary pushbutton switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Samuel T. CLARK, Roglenda R. BOWE
  • Patent number: 7796055
    Abstract: Systems and methods for runway status indication and related traffic information displays and filtering are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method for displaying runway status includes defining a monitored volume for each of one or more runways, determining a runway status for each of the one or more runways based on at least one of a state of at least one traffic vehicle and a monitoring vehicle state with respect to each monitored volume. The method continues with selecting at least one runway status for display based on the state of the monitoring vehicle. The method then presents the at least one runway status within the monitoring vehicle. In an additional embodiment, each monitored volume is based on a length of a corresponding runway, a width of the corresponding runway, and a predetermined altitude above the corresponding runway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Michael P. Snow, Roglenda R. Bowe, Howard F. Au
  • Patent number: 7755516
    Abstract: A aircraft traffic display system, aircraft including the display system and a method of displaying aircraft and vehicle traffic in the display system. The system includes an ownship location finder determining ownship location and maps, including airport maps stored in map storage. A traffic information collector collecting information on airport and other traffic. A local display displays ownship on a moving map at a selected range and all airport traffic within range, or a filtered subset thereof. An off-scale traffic processor monitors off-scale traffic beyond the selected range and identifies of-interest off-scale traffic. The local display also provides an indication of any of interest off-scale traffic. The indication may visibly indicate status (e.g., air or ground) of respective said off-scale traffic and may include traffic specific information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Roglenda R. Bowe, Taji Shafaat, Michael P. Snow
  • Publication number: 20100125403
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media described herein provide for the display of taxi route control point information in conjunction with an alphanumeric taxi route display in an aircraft. Taxi route data is received and compared with airport map information to determine any taxi route control points along the taxi route. Information associated with the taxi route control points is then collected and displayed on a display unit of the aircraft in conjunction with an alphanumeric display of the taxi route. The information associated with the taxi route control points may include ATC clearance information, runway and taxiway status information, runway orientation information, runway and taxiway traffic information, or taxi route information such as distance remaining to the taxi route control point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Keith L. Johnson, Andrew D. Neff, Roglenda R. Bowe
  • Patent number: 7679529
    Abstract: A method and a system for indicating a target idle running speed, a predicted core speed, a predicted time to running, current engine state or automation modes of an operating aircraft engine, and indicating that the current core speed of the aircraft engine is less than a target idle running speed or is abnormally decreasing towards a target idle running speed. The indicators may be visual or aural. The visual indicators may include graphical or numeric symbols indicating the target idle running speed, the direction of core speed change, the predicted core speed at some future time, or current engine state or automation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Andrew W. Houck, Joseph A. Sikora, Roglenda R. Bowe
  • Patent number: RE41396
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for the efficient entry and display of ground taxi routes on an electronic airport map display. The system may include a touchscreen entry device, a display device, a computer, a map database, a vehicle position sensor and a transmitter/receiver. The system may be configured to check the ground taxi entries to ensure that each successive segment is contiguous with the last or next segment, and any gaps or discontinuities in the displayed taxi instructions may be annunciated. An intelligent display of next possible segments may be incorporated into the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Wayne R. Jones, Michael P. Snow, Eddie J. Trujillo