Patents by Inventor Troy Nichols

Troy Nichols 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).

  • Publication number: 20100131481
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for locating an item in a window displayed on a display device. The method initializes by receiving a user input when no item is selected within the window. In response to receiving the user input, the method further comprises graphically indicating a search mode on the display device and searching a database associated with the window for an element that satisfies the user input. If an element in the database satisfies the user input, the method further comprises graphically indicating the element in the window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: John G. Suddreth, Troy Nichols
  • Publication number: 20100082184
    Abstract: A method and system is provided for displaying aircraft symbology. The method includes displaying (302, 502, 702, 902, 1002) a symbol (202) for a first aircraft in a predetermined format, processing (304, 504, 704, 904, 1004) data related to flight conditions of the first aircraft and a second aircraft, determining (306, 506, 706, 906, 1006) a format for the display of the second aircraft based on the processed data, and displaying (308, 508, 708, 908, 1008) a symbol (212, 214, 216, 412, 416, 612, 614, 616, 812, 814, 816) for the second aircraft in accordance with the determined format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Troy Nichols, John G. Suddreth
  • Publication number: 20100082187
    Abstract: A display system for an aircraft includes a processing unit configured to determine a touchdown point for the aircraft and to supply display commands associated with the touchdown point; and a display device coupled the processing unit and configured to receive the display commands and operable to render symbology representing the touchdown point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Troy Nichols, Michael C. Little
  • Publication number: 20100070109
    Abstract: Methods and systems for displaying a digital terrain to a user of a vehicle are provided. First, second, and third actual terrain data points are received. The third actual terrain data point is between the first and second actual terrain data points. If the third actual terrain data point is above a line interconnecting the first and second actual terrain data points, the first actual terrain data point is modified such that the third actual terrain data point is not above a line interconnecting said modified first actual terrain data point and the second actual terrain data point. A digital terrain is displayed to the user of the vehicle. The digital terrain includes a first digital terrain data point corresponding to the modified first actual terrain data point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Michael C. Little, Troy A. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20100036548
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a display device that is viewable by a user of an aircraft are provided. A first image is caused to be displayed on the display device. The first image is at least representative of a field of view from on-board the aircraft of an actual terrain. A second image is rendered over the first image on the display device. The second image includes a vertical position indicator indicating a vertical position of the aircraft relative to a selected flight path. The vertical position indicator is moved in a pitch direction on the display device in response to the aircraft moving relative to the actual terrain. The pitch direction corresponds to a change in the pitch of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Troy Nichols, Mike Little, Xavier Henry, Ivan Sandy Wyatt
  • Publication number: 20090319103
    Abstract: A display system and method for an aircraft simultaneously displays the terrain under the flight plan, or under the current track of the aircraft, as both a two-dimensional lateral situation view image and as a perspective vertical situation view image. This provides improved tactical flight planning, and that does not erroneously show the flight plan passing through the displayed terrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: David B. Dwyer, Troy A. Nichols, Mathew Hilbert, Michael C. Little
  • Publication number: 20090312893
    Abstract: A display system and method for an aircraft simultaneously displays the terrain under the flight plan, or under the current track of the aircraft, as both a two-dimensional lateral situation view image and as a perspective vertical situation view image. This provides improved tactical flight planning, and that does not erroneously show the flight plan passing through the displayed terrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: David B. Dwyer, Troy A. Nichols, Mathew Hilbert, Michael C. Little
  • Patent number: 7603209
    Abstract: A display system and method for an aircraft simultaneously displays the terrain under the flight plan, or under the current track of the aircraft, as both a two-dimensional lateral situation view image and as a perspective vertical situation view image. This provides improved tactical flight planning, and that does not erroneously show the flight plan passing through the displayed terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Dwyer, Troy A. Nichols, Matthew Hilbert, Michael C. Little
  • Patent number: 7295901
    Abstract: An avionics system includes a display device that is viewable by a user of an aircraft and a processor in operable communication with the display device. The processor is configured to display a digital terrain having a digital landmark thereon on the display device, the digital terrain being representative of an actual terrain and the digital landmark being representative of an actual landmark on the actual terrain, and display a plurality of position indicators over the digital terrain such that a line extending through the plurality of position indicators intersects the digital landmark, the position indicators being a fixed digital terrain distance apart as measured over the digital terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Little, Troy A. Nichols
  • Patent number: 7209070
    Abstract: A vertical situation display (“VSD”) system according to the invention generates a terrain image that represents a profile view of terrain elevation relative to the position of an aircraft traveling above the terrain. The VSD system generates the VSD image such that the terrain image is biased toward the lower elevation region of the VSD screen, thus making efficient use of the available display area. The VSD image is also generated such that it is continuous across the lateral range of the VSD, thus ensuring that terrain is shown in the VSD at all practical times, depending upon the available range and any priority display rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Gilliland, Troy A. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20060077092
    Abstract: A vertical situation display (“VSD”) system according to the invention generates a terrain image that represents a profile view of terrain elevation relative to the position of an aircraft traveling above the terrain. The VSD system generates the VSD image such that the terrain image is biased toward the lower elevation region of the VSD screen, thus making efficient use of the available display area. The VSD image is also generated such that it is continuous across the lateral range of the VSD, thus ensuring that terrain is shown in the VSD at all practical times, depending upon the available range and any priority display rules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Inventors: William Gilliland, Troy Nichols
  • Publication number: 20050182528
    Abstract: A display system and method for an aircraft simultaneously displays the terrain under the flight plan, or under the current track of the aircraft, as both a two-dimensional lateral situation view image and as a perspective vertical situation view image. This provides improved tactical flight planning, and that does not erroneously show the flight plan passing through the displayed terrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Inventors: David Dwyer, Troy Nichols, Matthew Hilbert, Michael Little
  • Patent number: 5167623
    Abstract: A multilumen catheter having a distal portion with a soft tip and reduced cross-section. The multilumen catheter of the present invention includes a flexible, elongated first catheter tube and a flexible, elongated, dual-lumen catheter tube which has a first and second lumens integrally formed and is disposed within the first catheter tube. The cross-section of the dual-lumen catheter tube is smaller than that of the first catheter tube and therefore, an independent, single lumen is defined in the space between the first catheter tube and the dual-lumen catheter tube. The dual-lumen catheter tube extends beyond the distal end of the first catheter tube thereby providing an overall reduced cross-section of the distal portion of the present multilumen catheter. Furthermore, the dual-lumen catheter tube may be formed from a softer material than that of the first cathether tube thereby providing a softer distal portion of the present multilumen catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: The Kendall Company
    Inventors: James P. Cianci, James R. Gross, David C. Beattie, Troy Nichols