Patents by Inventor John R. Figie

John R. Figie 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).

  • Patent number: 10840647
    Abstract: A shielded connector includes a body with a socket adapted to receive a cable termination plug. Connector contacts in the socket mate with contacts of the cable plug. Connector pins project from the body and are operably coupled to the connector contacts in the socket. An electrically conductive shield covers part of the body and includes (i) a first shield part; and (ii) a second shield part physically disconnected from the first shield part and electrically isolated from the first shield part such that an open space separates the first shield part from the second shield part. The first shield part includes a cable shield contact located adjacent the socket that electrically mates with the EMI shield termination contact of the plug. The first and second shield parts further include respective first and second shield connector pins to physically and electrically connect the shield with an associated printed circuit board for dissipation of electrical charges from the first and second shield parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Figie
  • Publication number: 20190379164
    Abstract: A shielded connector includes a body with a socket adapted to receive a cable termination plug. Connector contacts in the socket mate with contacts of the cable plug. Connector pins project from the body and are operably coupled to the connector contacts in the socket. An electrically conductive shield covers part of the body and includes (i) a first shield part; and (ii) a second shield part physically disconnected from the first shield part and electrically isolated from the first shield part such that an open space separates the first shield part from the second shield part. The first shield part includes a cable shield contact located adjacent the socket that electrically mates with the EMI shield termination contact of the plug. The first and second shield parts further include respective first and second shield connector pins to physically and electrically connect the shield with an associated printed circuit board for dissipation of electrical charges from the first and second shield parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Figie
  • Patent number: 9899953
    Abstract: A system to detect a ground fault at the output of an inverter section prior to powering up a motor drive system is disclosed. A low voltage power supply is connected to the DC bus prior to connecting the input power source to the rectifier section. If a ground fault exists, the voltage potential on the DC bus causes conduction through one of the freewheeling diodes connected in parallel to the power switching device on the output of the inverter section. A fault detection circuit generates a signal corresponding to the presence of the low voltage potential when the low voltage is applied to the DC bus. If a ground fault is present at the output of one of the inverter sections, the motor drive system prevents the AC voltage from being applied to the rectifier section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Figie, Zoran Vrankovic, Mark A. Gries, Craig Winterhalter, Gennadi Sizov
  • Publication number: 20170373630
    Abstract: A system to detect a ground fault at the output of an inverter section prior to powering up a motor drive system is disclosed. A low voltage power supply is connected to the DC bus prior to connecting the input power source to the rectifier section. If a ground fault exists, the voltage potential on the DC bus causes conduction through one of the freewheeling diodes connected in parallel to the power switching device on the output of the inverter section. A fault detection circuit generates a signal corresponding to the presence of the low Voltage potential when the low voltage is applied to the DC bus. If a ground fault is present at the output of one of the inverter sections, the motor drive system prevents the AC voltage from being applied to the rectifier section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: John R. Figie, Zoran Vrankovic, Mark A. Gries, Craig Winterhalter, Gennadi Sizov
  • Patent number: 8961218
    Abstract: A field installable backshell connector for a shielded cable provides an EMI shield around control signal conductors and a plastic connector of the cable and also provides a mechanical terminal of the cable. The backshell connector provides a low impedance ground path from the cable shield to a connector socket. The connector socket includes a plastic connector header that is shielded by a grounded metal shroud. When connected to the socket, the backshell is abutted with the connector socket shroud to complete the low impedance ground path from the cable shield in order to shunt electrical noise introduced on the cable shield, connector backshell and shroud to ground to resist electrical interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Figie
  • Publication number: 20140213102
    Abstract: A field installable backshell connector for a shielded cable provides an EMI shield around control signal conductors and a plastic connector of the cable and also provides a mechanical terminal of the cable. The backshell connector provides a low impedance ground path from the cable shield to a connector socket. The connector socket includes a plastic connector header that is shielded by a grounded metal shroud. When connected to the socket, the backshell is abutted with the connector socket shroud to complete the low impedance ground path from the cable shield in order to shunt electrical noise introduced on the cable shield, connector backshell and shroud to ground to resist electrical interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: John R. Figie
  • Patent number: 8684764
    Abstract: A field installable backshell connector for a shielded cable provides an EMI shield around control signal conductors and a plastic connector of the cable and also provides a mechanical terminal of the cable. The backshell connector provides a low impedance ground path from the cable shield to a connector socket. The connector socket includes a plastic connector header that is shielded by a grounded metal shroud. When connected to the socket, the backshell is abutted with the connector socket shroud to complete the low impedance ground path from the cable shield in order to shunt electrical noise introduced on the cable shield, connector backshell and shroud to ground to resist electrical interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Figie
  • Publication number: 20130344740
    Abstract: A field installable backshell connector for a shielded cable provides an EMI shield around control signal conductors and a plastic connector of the cable and also provides a mechanical terminal of the cable. The backshell connector provides a low impedance ground path from the cable shield to a connector socket. The connector socket includes a plastic connector header that is shielded by a grounded metal shroud. When connected to the socket, the backshell is abutted with the connector socket shroud to complete the low impedance ground path from the cable shield in order to shunt electrical noise introduced on the cable shield, connector backshell and shroud to ground to resist electrical interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: John R. Figie
  • Patent number: 8523602
    Abstract: A field installable backshell connector for a shielded cable provides an EMI shield around control signal conductors and a plastic connector of the cable and also provides a mechanical terminal of the cable. The backshell connector provides a low impedance ground path from the cable shield to a connector socket. The connector socket includes a plastic connector header that is shielded by a grounded metal shroud. When connected to the socket, the backshell is abutted with the connector socket shroud to complete the low impedance ground path from the cable shield in order to shunt electrical noise introduced on the cable shield, connector backshell and shroud to ground to resist electrical interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Figie
  • Publication number: 20120276778
    Abstract: A field installable backshell connector for a shielded cable provides an EMI shield around control signal conductors and a plastic connector of the cable and also provides a mechanical terminal of the cable. The backshell connector provides a low impedance ground path from the cable shield to a connector socket. The connector socket includes a plastic connector header that is shielded by a grounded metal shroud. When connected to the socket, the backshell is abutted with the connector socket shroud to complete the low impedance ground path from the cable shield in order to shunt electrical noise introduced on the cable shield, connector backshell and shroud to ground to resist electrical interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventor: John R. FIGIE
  • Patent number: 7706136
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that facilitates expanding upon an existing universal serial bus (USB). A base component can include a USB host to provide connectivity to at least one device. An expansion module can physically connect in a vertical position to a backside of the base component to provide a replication of the USB host which can allow a device to connect therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary D. Dotson, John R. Figie, Shawn D. Cloran, Andrew P. Kaufman, Daniel V. Lang
  • Patent number: 5872561
    Abstract: Driving circuitry for a switch matrix provides a reset voltage to all rows of the matrix in between scans to recharge switch capacitance. Column detection circuitry is disabled in between scans so that column driving circuitry may also `reset` the charge on capacitors reducing the scan time and/or allowing a greater number of switch elements, element size, or EMI suppressing capacitances. Pull-up resistors are supplemented or eliminated through the use of active current sourcing and sinking for the drivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company, LLC
    Inventors: John R. Figie, Gary Dan Dotson