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The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Patent No.:

US 12420921 B1

PDFFull Text
Date of Patent:
Sep. 23, 2025

Filed:

Jul. 16, 2024

Hybrid power systems for different modes of flight

Applicant:

Kitty Hawk Corporation, Palo Alto, CA (US);

Inventors:

Pranay Sinha, Sunnyvale, CA (US);

Damon Vander Lind, Alameda, CA (US);

Assignee:

Kitty Hawk Corporation, Palo Alto, CA (US);

Attorney:

Van Pelt, Yi & James LLP

Primary Examiner:

Medhat Badawi

Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64C 29/00 (2006.01); B60L 50/64 (2019.01); B60L 53/00 (2019.01); B64C 13/48 (2006.01); B64C 27/82 (2006.01); B64C 39/12 (2006.01); B64D 27/02 (2006.01); B64D 27/31 (2024.01); B64D 27/34 (2024.01); B64D 27/40 (2024.01); B64D 31/06 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/46 (2024.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B64C 29/0016 (2013.01); B60L 50/64 (2019.02); B60L 53/00 (2019.02); B64C 13/48 (2013.01); B64C 27/82 (2013.01); B64C 29/0033 (2013.01); B64C 39/12 (2013.01); B64D 27/026 (2024.01); B64D 27/31 (2024.01); B64D 27/34 (2024.01); B64D 27/402 (2024.01); B64D 31/06 (2013.01); G05D 1/101 (2013.01); G05D 1/46 (2024.01); B60L 2200/10 (2013.01); B64C 2027/8209 (2013.01);
Abstract

A first power source includes a high discharge rate battery and a second power source includes a high energy battery. An electronically activated switch switches between the first power source and the second power source in response to a control signal from a power controller. If the electronically activated switch fails, it fails with one of the first power source and the second power source in an open circuit position and with the other one of the first power source and the second power source in a closed circuit position. The power controller generates the control signal, including by: during a vertical landing associated with a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle, generating the control signal to switch from the high energy battery to the high discharge rate battery independent of a measured current.

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