Charles Joseph Pullen

6614397, Sep 2, 2003

Nov 14, 2001

10/001398

Charles A. Pullen - Bellevue WA
Henry V. VonJouanne - Woodinville WA
Andrew W. Houck - Woodinville WA

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

G01S 302

342456, 340945, 340959, 340961

A system and method are provided for automatically alerting a flight crew of an airplane when takeoff is attempted on a wrong runway. Identification data for an origin runway from which takeoff of an airplane is desired is entered via an operator interface. Stored position data for the origin runway is retrieved. Sensed position data for the airplane is input from a plurality of sensors. The stored position data for the origin runway is compared with the sensed position data for the airplane. A determination is made whether the sensed position of the airplane is within a predetermined position difference from the stored position of the origin runway, and a determination is made whether takeoff is attempted. An indication of wrong runway is provided when takeoff is attempted and the sensed position of the airplane is greater than the predetermined position difference away from the stored position of the origin runway.

7177731, Feb 13, 2007

Mar 10, 2004

10/798749

Gordon R. A. Sandell - Bothell WA, US
Peter D. Gunn - Bellevue WA, US
Charles A. Pullen - Bellevue WA, US

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

G01C 23/00
G06F 17/00

701 3, 701 14, 340961, 340945

Systems and computer-implemented methods for handling incoming aircraft operation instructions are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes receiving from a source off-board an aircraft an instruction for a change in a characteristic of the aircraft during operation (e. g. , a change in heading, altitude or air speed of the aircraft). The method can further include automatically determining whether or not at least a portion of the instruction is to be implemented once a condition is met. If at least a portion of the instruction is to be implemented once a condition is met, the method can further include automatically carrying out a first course of action. If implementation of at least a portion of the instruction is not predicated upon fulfilling a condition is met, the method can further include automatically carrying out a second course of action different than the first course of action. Carrying out the first course of action can include determining what condition must be met and then presenting an indication to an operator of the aircraft before, after, or both before and after the condition is met.

7363119, Apr 22, 2008

Mar 10, 2004

10/798588

Gordon R. A. Sandell - Bothell WA, US
Peter D. Gunn - Bellevue WA, US
Charles A. Pullen - Bellevue WA, US
John Wiedemann - Bothell WA, US

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

G01C 23/00

701 3, 701 4, 701 14, 340971, 244175, 345 22, 345 11

Systems and methods for handling incoming aircraft operation instructions are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes receiving from a source off-board an aircraft an instruction for changing a characteristic of the aircraft, and automatically displaying at least a portion of the instruction at a first display location. In response to receiving a first input signal directed by an operator onboard the aircraft, the method can further include displaying at least a target portion of the instruction at a second display location, without the instruction being manually regenerated, and without the instruction becoming part of a flight plan list. In response to receiving a second input signal directed by an operator, the method can further include displaying at least a target portion of the instruction at a third display location, again without the instruction being manually regenerated.

59560193, Sep 21, 1999

Sep 28, 1993

8/128985

Eric S. Bang - Seattle WA
Rebecca S. Mowry - Millcreek WA
Charles A. Pullen - Mercer Island WA

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

G09G 500

345173

A cursor control device (20) suitable for use with a computer-controlled display (66) is disclosed. The cursor control device (20) includes a touch-pad controller (24) and interface electronics (22) that produce cursor control output signals (40) suitable for controlling the location of a cursor on the computer-controlled display (66). The touch-pad controller (24) includes a housing (28) having: (i) a base (39); (ii) a surface (41) that slopes upwardly from the base (39); and a pair of side walls (43) that extend from the base (39) to the sloped surface (41). The slope angle is greater than 10. degree. , and preferably is greater than 20. degree. A touch sensitive pad (26) mounted in the sloped surface (41) senses the location of an object, such as a finger pressing against the touch sensitive pad (26). Further, a thumb switch (30) is mounted in one side wall (43) of the housing (28). The interface electronics (28) are coupled to the touch sensitive pad (26) and to the thumb switch (30) and determine the location and movement (distance and direction) of an object pressing against the touch sensitive pad (26) and the status of the thumb switch (30), The previously mentioned cursor control output signals (40) are produced by the interface electronics (22) based on the object location and movement determinations.