Patents by Inventor Wendi M. DeWitt

Wendi M. DeWitt 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).

  • Aircraft tailstrike avoidance system
    Patent number: 6761336
    Abstract: An aircraft flight control system is provided for reducing the likelihood of an aircraft tailstrike. The flight control system includes a pitch command provided to a pitch control device for altering the aircraft's pitch attitude. The improvement is a system of altering the pitch command to avoid an aircraft tailstrike. The improvement includes determining a current tailskid closure rate and a current tail height; comparing the current tailskid closure rate with a threshold closure rate to determine an excess closure rate amount; and adding an incremental nose-down pitch command with the pitch command to avoid a potential aircraft tailstrike. The threshold closure rate is dependent upon the current tailskid height. The incremental nose-down pitch command is calculated as a function of the excess closure rate amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Boeing Company
    Inventors: Wendi M. DeWitt, David P. Eggold, Monte R. Evans, Mithra M. K. V. Sankrithi, Stephen L. Wells
  • Aircraft tailstrike avoidance system
    Patent number: 6422517
    Abstract: An improvement to an aircraft flight control system is provided for reducing the likelihood of an aircraft tailstrike. The flight control system includes a pitch command provided to a pitch control device for altering the aircraft's pitch attitude. The improvement is a system of altering the pitch command to avoid an aircraft tailstrike. The improvement includes determining a current tailskid closure rate and a current tail height; comparing the current tailskid closure rate with a threshold closure rate to determine an excess closure rate amount; and adding an incremental nose-down pitch command with the pitch command to avoid a potential aircraft tailstrike. The threshold closure rate is dependent upon the current tailskid height. The incremental nose-down pitch command is calculated as a function of the excess closure rate amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Boeing Company
    Inventors: Wendi M. DeWitt, David P. Eggold, Monte R. Evans, Mithra M. K. V. Sankrithi, Stephen L. Wells
  • Aircraft tailstrike avoidance system
    Publication number: 20020066829
    Abstract: An aircraft flight control system is provided for reducing the likelihood of an aircraft tailstrike. The flight control system includes a pitch command provided to a pitch control device for altering the aircraft's pitch attitude. The improvement is a system of altering the pitch command to avoid an aircraft tailstrike. The improvement includes determining a current tailskid closure rate and a current tail height; comparing the current tailskid closure rate with a threshold closure rate to determine an excess closure rate amount; and adding an incremental nose-down pitch command with the pitch command to avoid a potential aircraft tailstrike. The threshold closure rate is dependent upon the current tailskid height. The incremental nose-down pitch command is calculated as a function of the excess closure rate amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Applicant: Boeing Company
    Inventors: Wendi M. DeWitt, David P. Eggold, Monte R. Evans, Mithra M.K.V. Sankrithi, Stephen L. Wells