Patents by Inventor Thomas R. Elliott

Thomas R. Elliott 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).

  • Altitude capture mode for aircraft automatic flight control system
    Patent number: 4377848
    Abstract: An automatic pilot apparatus, for controlling an aircraft during the execution of a maneuver to capture a predetermined altitude, utilizes an altitude control law formula and signal which define a circular flight path intercepting the predetermined altitude and which result in a normal acceleration force on the aircraft. A signal representative of the normal acceleration force is utilized to generate a predictive pitch command signal which is combined with the control law signal to generate a pitch attitude command signal, thereby allowing the aircraft to smoothly capture the predetermined altitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1983
    Assignee: Sperry Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Flannigan, Jack E. Emfinger, Thomas R. Elliott