Patents by Inventor Alex W. Stephens

Alex W. Stephens has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240161713
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing fault detection for input/output modules of industrial systems. One system includes a plurality of channel circuits for interfacing with industrial control equipment of an industrial system. The system also includes an electronic processor communicatively coupled to each channel circuit via a dedicated hardware communication channel. The electronic processor is configured to control a current load supply for at least one channel circuit included in the plurality of channel circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Daniel D. Judkins, Christopher D. Woggon, Alex W. Stephens
  • Publication number: 20240103498
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing remote channel reset for input/output modules of industrial systems. One system includes a plurality of channel circuits for interfacing with industrial control equipment of an industrial system. The system also includes an electronic processor communicatively coupled to each channel circuit via a dedicated hardware communication channel. The electronic processor is configured to control a power state for at least one channel circuit included in the plurality of channel circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Alex W. Stephens, Christopher D. Woggon, Daniel D. Judkins
  • Publication number: 20240012397
    Abstract: A non-transitory, computer-readable medium includes computer-executable instructions that, when executed, by one or more processors associated with a first input/output (I/O) component in an industrial automation system, cause the processors to perform operations. The first I/O component may operate in a single duplex (“suplex”) mode of operation. The operations include detecting a second I/O component in the industrial automation system, determining that a first hardware configuration, a first software configuration, or both, associated with the first I/O component is compatible with a second hardware configuration, a second software configuration, or both, associated with the second I/O component, and reconfiguring the first I/O component to operate in a duplex mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Alex W. Stephens, Joshua B. Boroff
  • Patent number: 11789433
    Abstract: A non-transitory, computer-readable medium includes computer-executable instructions that, when executed, by one or more processors associated with a first input/output (I/O) component in an industrial automation system, cause the processors to perform operations. The first I/O component may operate in a single duplex (“suplex”) mode of operation. The operations include detecting a second I/O component in the industrial automation system, determining that a first hardware configuration, a first software configuration, or both, associated with the first I/O component is compatible with a second hardware configuration, a second software configuration, or both, associated with the second I/O component, and reconfiguring the first I/O component to operate in a duplex mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex W. Stephens, Joshua B. Boroff
  • Publication number: 20230141240
    Abstract: A non-transitory, computer-readable medium includes computer-executable instructions that, when executed, by one or more processors associated with a first input/output (I/O) component in an industrial automation system, cause the processors to perform operations. The first I/O component may operate in a single duplex (“suplex”) mode of operation. The operations include detecting a second I/O component in the industrial automation system, determining that a first hardware configuration, a first software configuration, or both, associated with the first I/O component is compatible with a second hardware configuration, a second software configuration, or both, associated with the second I/O component, and reconfiguring the first I/O component to operate in a duplex mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Alex W. Stephens, Joshua B. Boroff