Patents by Inventor Joseph J. Cieri

Joseph J. Cieri 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: 6529032
    Abstract: An input/output (I/O) port designed for electrical interconnection with multiple similar ports includes an input read circuit, an output drive circuit, and a circuit to control the port for input or output mode by electrically disconnecting the output drive circuit from the port. Also included is a back drive current protection circuit placed in series in between an external I/O line and the input read and output drive circuits which blocks backdrive currents from other active processors when the processor that includes the protection circuit is in a powered down state while still allowing full input/output functionality in a powered up state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ancil B. Cruickshank, A. Alan Tuten, Michael G. Smith, Joseph J. Cieri, Ronald E. Gareis
  • Patent number: 5093804
    Abstract: The invention disclosed is useful in an I/O system of a programmable controller and provides a method and circuitry by which control and diagnostic information is exchanged between a control unit of an I/O module and a plurality of input/output points of the I/O module. A control signal is generated in the control unit in the form of sequential pulse frames such that the control information is defined by a series of pulse width modulated pulses. Each frame includes a no-pulse time period following the review of pulses to mark the end of a frame. Each I/O point receives a control signal of its own and generates a clock pulse in response to each pulse. The clock pulse initiates a sampling of the corresponding pulse and simultaneously initiates return of a diagnostic signal value to the central unit. Thus, the control signal provides for sampling of its own content and provides for a return of a diagnostic data bit for each control bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Cieri, Mark J. Kocher, Ronald E. Gareis, Kenneth M. Holet, Michael J. Tuso
  • Patent number: 4872136
    Abstract: The invention disclosed is useful in an I/O system of a programmable controller and provides a method and circuitry by which control and diagnostic information is exchanged between a control unit of an I/O module and a plurality of input/output points thereof. A control signal is generated in the control unit in the form of sequential pulse frames such that the control information is defined by a series of pulse width modulated pulses. Each frame includes a no-pulse time period following the review of pulses to mark the end of a frame. Each I/O point receives a control signal of its own and generates a clock pulse in response to each pulse. The clock pulse initiates a sampling of the corresponding pulse and simultaneously initiates return of a diagnostic signal value to the central unit. Thus, the control signal provides for sampling of its own content and provides for a return of a diagnostic data bit for each control bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Ge Fanuc Automation North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Cieri, Mark J. Kocher, Ronald E. Gareis, Kenneth M. Holet, Michael J. Tuso
  • Patent number: 4799052
    Abstract: A method of determining access on an electronic serial bus by implicit token passing. The serial bus receives and transmits data between a plurality of devices. Each device has a receiver for receiving data to the serial bus, a transmitter for transmitting data to the serial bus, a bus idle timer for detecting an idle condition on the bus, and a bus access timer for controlling access to the serial bus. Each device is assigned a unique bus address. The bus access timer of each device is loaded with a value representative of each device's own unique bus address and the unique bus address of the transmitting device. The bus access timer starts a count upon receiving an end of transmission condition from the transmitting device and stops upon receiving a start of transmission condition from the transmitting device. When a bus access timer of a device reaches a predetermined value, the device of the timed out bus access timer is given access to the bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy P. Near, Joseph J. Cieri, Kenneth M. Holet