| Rosemount Aerospace Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120123704 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING BLOCKED PITOT-STATIC PORTS - An avionics system and process for detecting pneumatic blockages having an air pressure measurement system including a first sensor positioned in association with the air inlet of an air probe component. The air pressure measurement system having a second sensor positioned in association with the air inlet for detecting air pressure in which the second sensor has a frequency response higher than that of the first sensor. An air data computer is coupled to each of the first and second sensors being configured and operable to calculate a first aircraft movement measurement using detected air pressure from the first sensor and is further operative to determine if the first sensor is faulty or if the air inlet is blocked in dependence upon the frequency content and amplitude of the output from the second sensor. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120121385 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR FORCED AIR COOLING OF ELECTRONIC FLIGHT BAGS - An electronic flight bag computer (EFB) includes a housing defining first and second compartments that are fluidly isolated from and in thermal communication with one another. The first compartment contains electronic components connected to a user interface on an exterior portion of the housing for providing interactive flight related computation functions to a user. The second compartment contains a forced convection cooling component in thermal communication with the electronic components. The forced convection cooling component directs a flow of cooling fluid into the second compartment to convey heat produced by the electronic components out of the housing, such that the cooling fluid in the second compartment remains fluidly isolated from the electronic components in the first compartment of the housing. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120118075 | STATIC PORT APPARATUS - A static port apparatus for an aircraft having a static plate having inner and outer surfaces for fixture on the aircraft. The static plate including a first set of a plurality of port apertures and at least a second set of a plurality of port apertures. Each port aperture of the second set of port apertures is coaxially positioned with respect to each port aperture of the first set of port apertures. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120105828 | Passive optical gaseous emissions sensor - A probe assembly for measuring the concentration of exhaust's emissions in a turbine engine. The probe assembly including a first probe member configured and operable to passively generate a beam of light wherein the wavelength of the beam of light is contingent upon the configuration of the first probe member. A second probe member positioned in the probe assembly to receive the beam of light generated by the first probe member, the second probe member configured and operable to attenuate the light passively generated from the first probe member contingent upon the gaseous species present in the exhaust emissions of the turbine engine. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120096943 | MEMS GYROS WITH QUADRATURE REDUCING SPRINGS - Spring set configurations that include an advantageous combination of spring geometries are disclosed. Spring elements having curved and straight sections, orientation of spring element anchor points with respect to the common radius, orientation of spring element segments with respect to a specific axis, balance of the length of spring elements about the common radius, and mass balance about the common radius can be used to mitigate unwanted out of plane motion. The spring set provides planar motion while reducing undesired out of plane motion making MEMS devices substantially insensitive to the process-induced etch angle variations of the spring elements. The spring set can be used in a MEMS gyro device which maintains the desired resonant modes and consistently low quadrature error even with process variations in manufacturing causing undesirable etch angles. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120055103 | Compression mounted window assembly - A compression mounted window assembly is disclosed that includes a circular window having opposed front and rear planar surfaces and an outer periphery having forward and rearward chamfered edge surfaces, a compressible gasket circumscribing the outer periphery of the window, a housing with a portal having an annular seat for accommodating the window circumscribed by the gasket, wherein the annular seat has a first chamfered abutment surface corresponding to the forward chamfered edge surface of the window, an annular bezel operatively associated with the housing for compressively retaining the window assembly within the annular seat of the portal, and structure for securing the bezel to the housing, wherein the bezel has a second chamfered abutment surface corresponding to the rearward chamfered edge surface of the window. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120043978 | CAPACITIVE SENSORS FOR MONITORING LOAD BEARING ON PINS - A sensor for monitoring external loads acting on a pin assembly includes a pin having an axial interior bore defined therein and having a length defined from a first end to an opposed second end thereof. A core pin is mounted axially within the interior bore of the pin spaced radially inwardly from the interior bore for relative displacement with respect to the pin. A capacitor is provided having an inner capacitor plate mounted to the core pin, and an outer capacitor plate mounted to the pin, such that relative displacement of the core and the pin due to external loading on the pin results in relative displacement of the inner and outer capacitor plates. The capacitor is configured and adapted to be connected to an electrical circuit to produce signals indicative of external loading on the pin based on relative displacement of the inner and outer capacitor plates. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120024073 | High temperature capacitive static/dynamic pressure sensors and methods of making the same - Disclosed are capacitive pressure probes or sensors for high temperature applications. The capacitive pressure sensors of the present invention include, inter alia, a sapphire diaphragm which is disposed within an interior sensing chamber of the probe housing and has a first electrode formed on a central portion thereof. The central portion of the diaphragm and the first electrode are adapted and configured to deflect in response to pressure variations encountered within an interior sensing chamber and by the pressure sensor. A sapphire substrate which has a second electrode formed thereon is fused to the sapphire diaphragm about its periphery to form a sapphire stack and to define a reference chamber therebetween. Prior to fusing the sapphire diaphragm to the sapphire substrate, all contact surfaces are chemically treated and prepared using plasma activation, so as to create a bonding layer and to reduce the temperature required for the fusion. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120017675 | Systems and Methods for Liquid Level Sensing Having a Differentiating Output - A liquid level sensing system including a housing configured to hold a liquid, a first temperature sensor connected to the housing and configured to output a first signal representing a first temperature measured at the first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor connected to the housing and configured to output a second signal representing a second temperature measured at the second temperature sensor, and a circuit configured to receive the first and second signals as input and to provide an output signal proportional to the time rate of change of the difference between the first signal and the second signal. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20110282595 | THERMAL ICING CONDITIONS DETECTOR - A sensor for detecting icing conditions in an airstream includes a flow housing mounted on an aircraft and in which one or more probes are mounted. At least one of the probes subjected to impingement of the airstream and liquid moisture droplets in such airstream. The heat removal, or cooling effect on the probe in the airstream carrying liquid droplets is determined. A temperature signal indicating the airstream temperature is combined with signals from the at least one probe for determining whether or not icing conditions are present. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110270576 | Method to detect angle sensor performance degradation through dither monitoring - A method for detecting angle sensor performance degradation in a flow angle measurement device in moving platform, such as aircraft and watercraft, as well as stationary platforms. Sensor dither in a flow angle measurement device is used to detect operational performance degradation of the sensor as a result of dynamic response changes caused by damaged or degraded mechanical components. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110256652 | METHOD FOR FORMING A TRANSDUCER - A method for forming a transducer including the step of providing a semiconductor-on-insulator wafer including first and second semiconductor layers separated by an electrically insulating layer, wherein the first layer is formed or provided by hydrogen ion delamination of a starting wafer. The method further includes doping the first layer to form a piezoresistive film and etching the piezoresistive film to form at least one piezoresistor. The method also includes depositing or growing a metallization layer on the semiconductor-on-insulator wafer, the metallization layer including an electrical connection portion that is located on or is electrically coupled to the piezoresistor. The method includes removing at least part of the second semiconductor layer to form a diaphragm, with the at least part of the piezoresistor being located on the diaphragm, and joining the wafer to a package by melting a high temperature braze material or a glass frit material. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110106475 | Total Air Temperature Probe and Method for Reducing De-Icing/Anti-Icing Heater Error - A method of reducing de-icing heater error (DHE) in total air temperature (TAT) probes is provided. Using the method, a nominal DHE function is obtained for a particular type of TAT probe, with the nominal DHE function having been derived from a plurality of TAT probes of the particular type. A probe specific correction coefficient is calculated for an individual TAT probe of the particular type as a function of a measured DHE at a first airflow and a predicted DHE at the first airflow. The predicted DHE at the first airflow is determined using the nominal DHE function derived from the plurality of TAT probes of the particular type. The probe specific correction coefficient is then stored for later use, or used to determine DHE with the individual TAT probe over a range of airflows as a function of the probe specific correction coefficient. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110106331 | IMPENDING ICING PROBE WITH THERMAL ISOLATION PEDESTAL - In an icing condition detection system, a circuit provides an output representing impending icing conditions as a function of power consumption of a single element detector. A thermal isolation pedestal includes a detector support end that supports the single element detector and an opposite strut mounting end. A thermal isolation controller controls a thermal isolation pedestal temperature to thermally isolate the single element detector from a strut mounting end. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110068230 | DETECTING ICE PARTICLES - Systems and methods for detecting ice particle accumulation is disclosed herein. In one exemplary implementation, a method for detecting ice is described in which a parameter within an interior volume of a heated conduit is measured. The method also includes detecting the presence of an accumulation of ice particles based on the parameter measured within the interior volume of the heated conduit. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110019188 | In-Flight Multiple Field of View Detector for Supercooled Airborne Water Droplets - An airborne multiple field-of-view water droplet sensor includes an illumination portion and a detection portion. The illumination portion includes a first optical beam emitter configured to output a light beam. The detection portion includes a kaleidoscope configured to channel a first portion of the backscattered light towards an inner reflective surface of a circle-to-line converter, a multiple field of view subsystem having at least a first detector configured to receive light reflected by the circle-to-line converter, and a single field-of-view subsystem configured to receive a second portion of the backscattered light, the second portion not having been reflected by the circle-to-line converter. The single field-of-view subsystem may include a dual channel circular polarization detector for distinguishing between liquid water droplets and ice crystals based on information in the single field-of-view. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110018741 | Mechanical latch locking detection sensors - The invention provides a sensor for determining when a latch for securing an engine cowl on an aircraft is secured by detecting the proximity of a latch hook and a latch pin. The sensor includes a resonant circuit configured and adapted to transmit a status signal when the latch is in a secured state. The sensor also includes a means for conveying status information of the latch to a location remote from the latch based on the status signal, the conveying means being operably connected to the resonant circuit. The invention also provides a method of determining when a latch is open or secured by detecting the proximity of a latch hook and a latch pin. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110013664 | ASPIRATED ENHANCED TOTAL AIR TEMPERATURE PROBE - A total air temperature probe includes an inlet through which airflow enters a primary airflow passage through the probe. A sensor flow passage is connected to the primary flow passage. Bleed ports extend between the primary airflow passage and a cross-port which extends laterally across the probe. An aspiration aperture in the cross-port couples the cross-port to an internal cavity of a strut of the probe. The aspiration aperture can be centered within the cross-port to provide symmetrical deicing heater error behavior of the probe during changes in angle of attack. An aspiration tube couples the internal cavity of the probe to a pressure source. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20100328877 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR FORCED AIR COOLING OF ELECTRONIC FLIGHT BAGS - An electronic flight bag computer (EFB) includes a housing defining first and second compartments that are fluidly isolated from and in thermal communication with one another. The first compartment contains electronic components connected to a user interface on an exterior portion of the housing for providing interactive flight related computation functions to a user. The second compartment contains a forced convection cooling component in thermal communication with the electronic components. The forced convection cooling component directs a flow of cooling fluid into the second compartment to convey heat produced by the electronic components out of the housing, such that the cooling fluid in the second compartment remains fluidly isolated from the electronic components in the first compartment of the housing. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100296162 | Membrane grating for beam steering device and method of fabricating same - A method of fabricating a membrane structure for a diffractive phased array assembly is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a wafer having a body and at least a membrane layer and a backside layer disposed on opposite faces of the body, forming a grating pattern on a surface of the membrane layer, and forming a window through the wafer to expose a back surface of the membrane, thereby allowing light to pass through the membrane. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100206991 | DETECTING ICE PARTICLES - Systems and methods for detecting ice particle accumulation is disclosed herein. In one exemplary implementation, a method for detecting ice is described in which a parameter within an interior volume of a heated conduit is measured. The method also includes detecting the presence of an accumulation of ice particles based on the parameter measured within the interior volume of the heated conduit. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100140373 | High temperature seal assembly for optical sensor - A seal assembly for an optical sensor employed in a high temperature environment is disclosed which includes an elongated metal guide tube having a distal end portion defining an open distal end and an inner rear wall, a sapphire window disposed within the distal end portion of the metal guide tube, the sapphire window having a rear end surface abutting the inner rear wall of the distal end portion of the metal guide tube, and a platinum mounting sleeve for securing the sapphire window to the metal guide tube, the platinum mounting sleeve having one portion joined to the metal guide tube and another portion joined to the sapphire window. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100128455 | FARADAY CAGE FOR CAMERA - A camera includes an electrically conductive housing defined by exterior walls and an interior cavity. The exterior walls of the housing have a lens opening and a connector opening formed therein. An imaging device is disposed within the interior cavity of the housing and communicates with the lens opening. A printed wiring board (PWB) is disposed within the interior cavity of the housing separating the imaging device from the connector opening. The PWB has an electrically conductive chassis plane operatively connected to the exterior walls of the housing so that the chassis plane and the housing form at least a partial Faraday cage around the imaging device. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100116047 | THERMAL ICING CONDITIONS DETECTOR - A sensor for detecting icing conditions in an airstream includes a flow housing mounted on an aircraft and in which one or more probes are mounted. At least one of the probes subjected to impingement of the airstream and liquid moisture droplets in such airstream. The heat removal, or cooling effect on the probe in the airstream carrying liquid droplets is determined. A temperature signal indicating the airstream temperature is combined with signals from the at least one probe for determining whether or not icing conditions are present. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100085239 | Device and method for detecting a target using a high speed sampling device - Devices and methods for detecting a target using a logic circuit for increasing the accuracy and speed at which targets can be detected in security and surveillance applications. A commercially available field programmable gate array may be used as the logic device. In one embodiment, the Multigigabit Transfer port (MGT) of the field programmable gate array is locked to an external clock. The coupling of the MGT port to an external clock increases the rate at which the received signal is sampled, without having to use the device in the oversampling mode. By doing so, the field programmable gate array is able to sample at least eight times faster than the actual transfer rate, which increases the speed and accuracy by which a target can be detected. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100079136 | Blade tip clearance measurement sensor and method for gas turbine engines - An electromagnetic field sensor assembly for blade tip clearance measurement in a gas turbine engine is disclosed that includes a ceramic sensor body, a multi-layered wire coil wound about a distal end portion of the sensor body for producing an electromagnetic field, a ceramic well enclosing the sensor body and the coil, and a metallic housing surrounding the well and having an open distal end. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100071375 | Apparatus for observing combustion conditions in a gas turbine engine - A fuel injector for a gas turbine combustor is disclosed which includes a fuel nozzle for issuing fuel into the combustor for combustion, at least one photodetector responsive to flame radiation indicative of an OH chemiluminescence peak, and at least one photodiode responsive to flame radiation indicative of a CH chemiluminescence peak. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100047491 | TRANSIENT LIQUID PHASE EUTECTIC BONDING - A structure including a first structural component, a second structural component and a bonding structure bonding the first and second structural components together, where the bonding structure contains a hypoeutectic solid solution alloy. The hypoeutectic solid solution alloy may be a gold-germanium solid solution alloy, a gold-silicon solid solution alloy or a gold-tin solid solution alloy. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100045965 | LIDAR SYSTEM USING A PSEUDO-RANDOM PULSE SEQUENCE - A light detection and ranging system includes a transmitter transmitting a transmitted light pulse timing sequence, with pseudo-random timing and including a plurality of light pulses, toward a target. An optical receiver receives a reflected light pulse timing sequence including a plurality of light pulses from the target. An electronic control unit identifies a time delay between the transmitted light pulse timing sequence and the reflected light pulse timing sequence as a function of a correlation between the transmitted and reflected light pulse timing sequences. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100018326 | Coriolis effect mass flow meter and gyroscope - A Coriolis effect device includes a housing defining an interior chamber having a central axis, an inlet, an outlet, a leading disc and a trailing disc. Each disc is supported for oscillatory movement within the interior chamber of the housing. The leading disc defines a leading flow path in fluid communication with the inlet and interior chamber, wherein a portion of the leading flow path extends radially with respect to the central axis. The trailing disc is axially spaced from the leading disc. The trailing disc defines a trailing flow path in fluid communication with the interior chamber and the outlet, wherein a portion of the trailing flow path extends radially with respect to the central axis. A phase difference between leading and trailing oscillating signals picked up from the disc movement can be used to determine a mass flow rate of fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20090288485 | High bandwidth inertial measurement unit - An inertial measurement unit is disclosed which includes a system of gyros for sensing angular rates, a system of accelerometers for sensing angular accelerations, an integrator for deriving gyro-less angular rates from the sensed angular accelerations, and a complimentary filter for blending the sensed angular rates and the gyro-less angular rates to produce a virtual angular rate output for the inertial measurement unit. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090177326 | Heater control architecture for an ice protection system - A heater control structure for an ice protection system is disclosed that includes a first multi-role logic block having a first scheduler to schedule the operation of an array of heaters and a first controller to control a first group of heaters within the array of heaters, wherein the first scheduler communicates with a first private data bus and the first controller communicates with a second private data bus, and wherein the first scheduler and the first controller communicate with one another over a first pair of inter-channel data busses. The structure further includes a second multi-role logic block having a second controller to control a second group of heaters within the array of heaters and a second scheduler to schedule the operation of the array of heaters, wherein the second controller communicates with the first private data bus and the second scheduler communicates with the second private data bus, and wherein the second controller and the second scheduler communicate with one another over a second pair of inter-channel data busses. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090141349 | Apparatus for observing combustion conditions in a gas turbine engine - A fuel injector for a gas turbine combustor is disclosed which includes a feed arm having a flange for mounting the injector within the combustor and a fuel nozzle depending from the feed arm for injecting fuel into the combustor for combustion. An optical sensor array is operatively associated with the fuel nozzle for observing combustor flame characteristics. The optical sensor array includes a plurality of sapphire rods positioned to be close enough to the combustor flame to oxidize soot deposits thereon. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090123158 | LIGHT DETECTION AND RANGING SYSTEM - A light detection and ranging system includes a mirror unit rotating around a scan axis. The mirror unit includes a receiving portion and a transmitting portion offset by an angle about the scan axis relative to a surface plane of the receiving portion. Respective centroids of the receiving and transmitting portions are positioned at a common point on the scan axis while the receiving and transmitting portions rotate around the scan axis. A transmitter transmits a light pulse toward the mirror unit. The transmitting portion is positioned to reflect the light pulse toward a target. A receiver is positioned to reflect the light pulse reflected from the target toward the receiver. The angle offset compensates for a change between a cone of illumination of the transmitting portion and a field-of-view of the receiving portion resulting from the rotation of the mirror unit. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090109048 | Wireless surface acoustic wave-based proximity sensor, sensing system and method - The subject invention is related to wireless proximity sensor and sensing system for detecting the position of an object. The system includes a transceiver for providing wireless communication with a passive wireless surface acoustic wave (SAW) proximity sensor. The wireless proximity sensor receives a wireless signal from the transceiver, which powers the SAW device and in turn transmits a signal back to the transceiver that includes information about the position of an object. The wireless proximity sensor uses one or more SAW devices with a sensing element made of magnetostrictive material, in conjunction with one or more magnets and one or more targets that are positioned relative to an object. The movement of the target(s) in relation to the proximity sensor operatively produces a mechanical response due to the shift in the magnetic field of the sensing element. The sensing element in turn enhances the magnetic field of the SAW device to which it is attached, and this information is transmitted to the transceiver as information about the position of an object. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090095842 | Power distribution architecture for an ice protection system - An ice protection system for a vehicle is disclosed which includes a plurality of de-ice power distribution units positioned proximate to a leading edge surface of the vehicle that is susceptible to ice accretion, at least two anti-ice power distribution units located within the vehicle, spaced from the de-ice power distribution units, and a point of power regulation located within the vehicle, spaced from the power distribution units, from which power is fed to the power distribution units through independent feeder wire bundles so as to distribute line current across the system in a manner that optimizes wire weight. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090078846 | Force sensing clevis insert - A sensor includes a clevis insert for reception within a first bore of a clevis. The clevis insert is configured to accommodate a latch pin. A strain sensing element is operatively associated with the clevis insert for detecting mechanical strain imparted to the clevis insert when a force acts on the clevis insert through the pin. The invention also provides a method of retrofitting a cowl latch assembly. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090049927 | Force balanced impeller flow meter for mass flow rate control - A force balanced mass flow meter is disclosed that includes a cylindrical sensor housing having an interior bore, an impeller body supported for axial rotation within the interior bore of the sensor housing, and including structure for converting fluid inertia into flow induced torque when fluid flows relative to the impeller body, a proximity sensor for measuring a rotation angle of the impeller body relative to the sensor housing, an electromagnet for generating a magnetic field about the sensor housing to prevent rotation of the impeller body, electronics for determining electrical values from the proximity sensor when fluid flows relative to the impeller body and a controller for controlling current supplied to the electromagnet in response to electrical values determined from the proximity sensor, to generate a magnetic field sufficient to prevent impeller rotation. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090003408 | THERMAL ICING CONDITIONS DETECTOR - A sensor for detecting icing conditions in an airstream includes a flow housing mounted on an aircraft and in which one or more probes are mounted. At least one of the probes subjected to impingement of the airstream and liquid moisture droplets in such airstream. The heat removal, or cooling effect on the probe in the airstream carrying liquid droplets is determined. A temperature signal indicating the airstream temperature is combined with signals from the at least one probe for determining whether or not icing conditions are present. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20080285620 | Aspirated Enhanced Total Air Temperature Probe - A total air temperature probe includes an inlet through which airflow enters a primary airflow passage through the probe. A sensor flow passage is connected to the primary flow passage. Bleed ports extend between the primary airflow passage and a cross-port which extends laterally across the probe. An aspiration aperture in the cross-port couples the cross-port to an internal cavity of a strut of the probe. The aspiration aperture can be centered within the cross-port to provide symmetrical deicing heater error behavior of the probe during changes in angle of attack. An aspiration tube couples the internal cavity of the probe to a pressure source. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080278715 | SCANNING LADAR WITH ADJUSTABLE OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS - A LADAR has adjustable operational parameters to accommodate surveillance of a particular site. The LADAR includes a controller, a laser source governed by the controller to generate a laser beam pulsed at a pulse repetition rate, an optical scanner, a first set of optics, a first drive assembly governed by the controller, a second drive assembly governed by the controller, a light detector, a second set of optics for guiding laser echo pulses, and a processor coupled to the light detector to accommodate surveillance of the particular site. | 11-13-2008 |
