David John Frank

US Patent:

7924172, Apr 12, 2011

Filed:

Aug 24, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/895365

Inventors:

Paul A. Swearingen - Marion IA, US
David A. Frank - North Liberty IA, US

Assignee:

Rockwell Collins, Inc. - Cedar Rapids IA

International Classification:

G01C 21/00

US Classification:

340972, 340945, 340971, 340980

Abstract:

A synthetic vision system (SVS) for an aircraft, including a user input device for receiving runway correction commands from a user. The runway correction commands are in response to discrepancies observed by the user between an observed runway position in the real world and a synthetic vision runway position depicted on an electronic display device. The user input device provides runway corrections. An SVS computer is operatively connected to the electronic display device for providing SVS image data to the electronic display device in response to received runway parameter data. A runway parameter server device (RPSD) is operatively connected to the user input device and to the SVS computer for receiving the runway corrections from the user input device and providing the runway parameter data, including any corrected data provided by the user, to the SVS computer. A runway parameter database is operatively connected to the RPSD for receiving correction data from the RPSD and providing corrected data to the RPSD. The user input device provides the capability of stewing the synthetic vision runway position to the observed real-world runway position when the synthetic vision runway position is observed to be misaligned, the corrected data being subsequently used to provide enhanced runway environment information for taxi operations.

US Patent:

8094188, Jan 10, 2012

Filed:

Apr 1, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/080120

Inventors:

Roger L. Yum - Marion IA, US
Travis S. VanDerKamp - Marion IA, US
David A. Frank - North Liberty IA, US

Assignee:

Rockwell Collins, Inc. - Cedar Rapids IA

International Classification:

H04N 7/18
G06F 12/00

US Classification:

348113, 340974

Abstract:

A present novel and non-trivial system, apparatus, and method for enhancing an image presented to the pilot on an aircraft display unit. Locations of visible and invisible objects related to aviation such as airports, navigation aids and facilities, and airspace are enhanced by providing location highlighters of the objects. Data representative of the terrain and location of objects located in a scene outside the aircraft are retrieved from one or more data sources. An image generating processor generates an image data set representative of a three-dimensional perspective of a scene outside the aircraft, wherein the image data set is determined as a function of the terrain data and highlighter data associated with the location data. The image data set may be provided to a Head-Down Display unit, Head-Up Display unit, or both for display.

US Patent:

8099234, Jan 17, 2012

Filed:

Jul 3, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/217342

Inventors:

David A. Frank - North Liberty IA, US
Daniel Y. Chiew - Marion IA, US
Travis S. VanDerKamp - Marion IA, US

Assignee:

Rockwell Collins, Inc. - Cedar Rapids IA

International Classification:

G01C 21/30

US Classification:

701208

Abstract:

A present novel and non-trivial system, apparatus, and method for presenting information to the pilot on an aircraft display unit employed in a synthetic vision system (“SVS”), an enhanced vision system (“EVS”), or combined system. Information regarding the locations of visible and invisible objects related to aviation such as airports, navigation aids and facilities, and airspace are provided by location markers. Data representative of the terrain and location of objects depicted in a scene outside the aircraft are retrieved from one or more data sources. An image generating processor generates an image data set representative of a three-dimensional perspective view of a scene outside the aircraft, wherein the image data set is determined as a function of the terrain data and location marker data associated with the location data. The image data set may be provided to a Head-Down Display unit, a Head-Up Display unit, or both.

US Patent:

8159416, Apr 17, 2012

Filed:

Aug 6, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/890534

Inventors:

Roger L. Yum - Marion IA, US
Daniel Y. Chiew - Marion IA, US
David A. Frank - North Liberty IA, US

Assignee:

Rockwell Collins, Inc. - Cedar Rapids IA

International Classification:

G09G 5/00
G01C 21/00
G01C 23/00

US Classification:

345 8, 340980, 340973

Abstract:

The present disclosure is directed to a dynamic field of view (FOV) for a synthetic vision system (SVS) scene. The FOV within the SVS scene may switch between a FOV conformal to the real world outside of a vehicle and a wider FOV when beneficial. In an aircraft, for example, generating the SVS scene with the narrower FOV may be optimal during flight, while on the ground a wider FOV may improve situational awareness during taxiing. Determination of the airborne or grounded status of the aircraft may be based on speed, altitude, user input, or a received signal. Although the foregoing has been described within a particular context, the present disclosure is not limited to this scenario and may be applied to any vehicle in any situation where dynamically changing between a narrower FOV and a wider FOV is beneficial.

US Patent:

8200378, Jun 12, 2012

Filed:

Sep 30, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/569919

Inventors:

Daniel Y. Chiew - Marion IA, US
David A. Frank - North Liberty IA, US

Assignee:

Rockwell Collins, Inc. - Cedar Rapids IA

International Classification:

G05D 1/06

US Classification:

701 4, 701 15, 701 16, 701408, 701468

Abstract:

A present novel and non-trivial system, module, and method for presenting NOTAM information are disclosed. A plurality of sources may be used for providing navigation data, terrain data, NOTAM data, and object data. After receiving this data, a NOTAM display generating processor may generate a NOTAM image data set as a function of the navigation data, terrain data, NOTAM data, and object data. The NOTAM image data set may be representative of NOTAM information presented in a three-dimensional perspective of a scene outside an aircraft, where NOTAM information may comprise non-textual NOTAM information, textual NOTAM information, or both. After being generated, the NOTAM image data set may be provided to a presentation system where NOTAM information may be presented on at least one tactical display unit such as a head-down display unit and/or a head-up display unit.

US Patent:

8244418, Aug 14, 2012

Filed:

Jul 3, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/217457

Inventors:

David A. Frank - North Liberty IA, US
Lu Zhang - Beaverton OR, US

Assignee:

Rockwell Collins, Inc. - Cedar Rapids IA

International Classification:

G01W 1/00
G08B 21/00

US Classification:

701 14, 701301, 701436

Abstract:

A weather awareness and warning system (“WAWS”) provides aircraft position data and weather data input to a weather alert (“WA”) processor from a navigation system and a datalink system. The weather data contains three-dimensional delineations of a defined weather area. The WA processor determines an aircraft alert position and a weather alert zone; if the aircraft alert position falls within or penetrates the weather alert zone, the WA processor generates an alert signal and provides a weather alert signal to an alerting system comprising of visual alert(s) displayed on a display unit such as an HDD unit or a HUD unit, or an aural alert sounded by an aural alert unit. The aircraft alert position and weather alert zone could be determined by the WA processor by executing an algorithm(s) embedded in software containing the disclosed embodiments and methods.

US Patent:

20170264252, Sep 14, 2017

Filed:

Mar 13, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/457431

Inventors:

Chris J. Day - Santa Rosa CA, US
David Frank - Santa Rosa CA, US
Michael Glasbrener - Santa Rosa CA, US

International Classification:

H03F 1/32
H03F 3/24
H03F 3/45
H03F 3/195

Abstract:

For broadband data communication, a data signal voltage at a signal input node can be converted to an output signal current at a signal output node. A first transistor device can contribute to the output signal current, with its transconductance or other gain reduced to accommodate larger signal swings, at which a second transistor can turn on and increase an effective resistance value of at least a portion of a gain degeneration resistor associated with the first transistor device. The second transistor can also contribute to the output signal current to help maintain or enhance an overall gain between the signal input node and the signal output node. Multiple secondary stages, push-pull arrangements, buffer amplifier configurations (which may or may not contribute to current in the gain degeneration resistor), input and output transformers, negative feedback to help reduce component variability, and frequency modification circuits or components are also described.