Aircraft inceptor apparatus and aircraft flight control system

US12006023B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Lilium eAircraft GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Rodrigo Rizzi STARR · Munich, DE
• Robert Fox · Hoffman Estates, US
• Markus SCHERDEL · Amstetten, DE
• Alex Gomes · Chicago, US
• Vincente MARTÍNEZ MARTÍNEZ · Gilching, DE
• Fabio Wilson RODRIGUES · Talbert, US
• Rogério DE CERQUEIRA LARIO · Munich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 17, 2022
• Grant date: Jun 11, 2024
• Expiry date: Jul 10, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05G2009/04774
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An inceptor apparatus for an aircraft having a primary inceptor member provided in the form of a stick member having a grip portion, at which the stick member can be gripped by a pilot's hand, and a secondary inceptor member provided at an upper portion of the primary inceptor member and having an actuating portion, at which the secondary inceptor member can be manually actuated by a pilot's thumb. Both inceptor members have associated a respective sensor assembly which is provided to generate electronic flight control signals or commands in response to at least one of i) pivoting movements of the respective inceptor member around each of two independent maneuvering axes associated to the inceptor member, ii) forces acting on or via the respective inceptor member in pivoting directions with respect to each of the maneuvering axes, and iii) lateral flexing or bending of the respective inceptor member.