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.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 10, 1987
Filed:
Jul. 01, 1982
John P Centala, Marion, IA (US);
Kenneth W McElreath, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Rockwell International Corporation, El Segundo, CA (US);
Abstract
A system and technique is disclosed which enables an aircraft to naturally respond to pilot inputs during automatic flight control of aircraft attitude or course and to smoothly return to that attitude or course following pilot maneuvers. The aircraft attitude control channels of an aircraft control system are held at a predetermined attitude reference by an automatic flight control system or programmed to follow a particular navigational course by a flight director guidance system. The aircraft control stick is coupled to disconnect the predetermined pitch and roll attitude from flight control following a stick movement of a predetermined distance or the application of a predetermined force to the stick so that the AFCS or flight director guidance system no longer attempts to hold the set attitude or navigational course. The control stick commands an angular rate of change proportional to the magnitude of the pilot's stick displacement or force. Upon release of the force and return of the aircraft control stick to a neutral position, a 'fly through' fading circuit smoothly returns the aircraft to its original attitude or navigational course.