Patents by Inventor John D. McNeill

John D. McNeill 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).

  • Virtualized generic equipment model data and control router for factory automation
    Patent number: 7031783
    Abstract: An interface between an automation host and a plurality of tools is used to perform a processing step. The interface includes a single communications and process behavioral connection interface to the automation host. The interface also includes a plurality of virtual host interfaces. Each virtual host interface from the plurality of virtual host interfaces provides a communications and process behavioral interface to one of the tools in the plurality of tools. The automation host can control and coordinate operation of all tools in the plurality of tools via the single communications and process behavioral connection interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. O'Grady, Joel Taylor, Ryo Takeda, Nobuhiko Yoshimura, John D. McNeill, Donald F. Shafer, Janet Gilmore, Patrick Doane
  • Intelligent logic activity resolution
    Patent number: 6665650
    Abstract: Intelligent logic activity resolution (ILAR) is provided for a process. Upon a first trigger event being received, a first subset of conditions of the process is detected. The first subset of conditions is selected based on the first trigger event. When the first subset of conditions match predetermined values, a first state is entered. When the first subset conditions do not match the predetermined values, additional conditions are checked. On the basis of the checked additional conditions, a new state is selected for entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. O'Grady, Jr., Pierre Gauthier, Donald F. Shafer, John D. McNeill
  • Virtualized generic equipment model data and control router for factory automation
    Publication number: 20030004586
    Abstract: An interface between an automation host and a plurality of tools is used to perform a processing step. The interface includes a single communications and process behavioral connection interface to the automation host. The interface also includes a plurality of virtual host interfaces. Each virtual host interface from the plurality of virtual host interfaces provides a communications and process behavioral interface to one of the tools in the plurality of tools. The automation host can control and coordinate operation of all tools in the plurality of tools via the single communications and process behavioral connection interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: William T. O'Grady, Joel Taylor, Ryo Takeda, Nobuhiko Yoshimura, John D. McNeill, Donald F. Shafer, Janet Gilmore, Patrick Doane
  • Dispenser for toilet rolls
    Patent number: 4998681
    Abstract: A toilet roll dispenser comprising a casing having a loading compartment which has a lid openable to enable a toilet roll to be loaded therein and a dispensing compartment to enable paper to be dispensed from a toilet roll. A locking means is provided to prevent the lid being opened when there is a toilet roll present in the loading compartment. Means is also provided to inhibit a toilet roll being removed from the dispensing compartment until substantially all of the paper has been dispensed from the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Inventor: John D. McNeill