Patents by Inventor Thomas Bruce Meagher
Thomas Bruce Meagher 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).
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Patent number: 9256211Abstract: This invention relates to input channel diagnostics for an industrial process control system. The invention provides improved apparatus and methods relating to fault containment, overload protection and input channel diagnostics.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2012Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Rockwell Automation LimitedInventors: Thomas Bruce Meagher, Gerald Robert Creech
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Patent number: 8352051Abstract: An output module for an Industrial Process Control System that drives a load in a failsafe manner. The output module drives a load in response to a driving signal and includes a controller that generates a command signal and a drive enable signal in response to said driving signal. A keep alive circuit generates an active keep alive signal unless the drive enable signal is inactive. The output module includes a driver circuit that generates a drive signal in accordance with the command signal when the keep alive signal is active such that the load can be driven with a channel failsafe switch in response to the drive signal. The output module can be integrated into any of a number of industrial process control systems to enhance the operability of such systems.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2009Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Rockwell Automation LimitedInventor: Thomas Bruce Meagher
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Publication number: 20120146663Abstract: This invention relates to input channel diagnostics for an industrial process control system. The invention provides improved apparatus and methods relating to fault containment, overload protection and input channel diagnostics.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2012Publication date: June 14, 2012Inventors: Thomas Bruce Meagher, Gerald Robert Creech
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Patent number: 8199448Abstract: A system for protecting against reverse current flow in an output module of an Industrial Process Control System includes a transistor that is driven by a control signal and a current monitor arranged to monitor a current through the transistor. The system includes a processor that is arranged to receive the monitored current and to generate the control signal in dependence upon the monitored current. The processor is configured to turn off the transistor if a reverse current is detected in the transistor. Extension of the system provides a power feed combiner that is protected against reverse current flow.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2009Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Rockwell Automation LimitedInventor: Thomas Bruce Meagher
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Patent number: 8193817Abstract: Input channel diagnostics for an industrial process control system that provides improved apparatus and methods relating to fault containment, overload protection and input channel diagnostics. The input circuit includes one or more series resistors that have a total resistance that is at least two orders of magnitude greater than the magnitude of the resistance of a conditioned sensor signal source.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2009Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Rockwell Automation LimitedInventors: Thomas Bruce Meagher, Gerald Robert Creech
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Patent number: 8166362Abstract: This invention relates to fault detection in electrical circuits, in particular it relates to fault detection for a plurality of adjacent input circuits. The invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting a control or communication fault on an analogue circuit by simulating said analogue circuit using a simulated circuit comprising digital circuit components; the simulated circuit receiving a control input to provide a first output; and the analogue circuit receiving said control input to provide a second output; and setting an error condition when the first output and the second output differ.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2007Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: Rockwell Automation LimitedInventor: Thomas Bruce Meagher
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Patent number: 8125104Abstract: A power supply that is capable of supplying power to an input/output channel for an Industrial Process Control System. The power supply includes a primary voltage converter having a first voltage input and a second voltage output, and overvoltage protection components that prevent the second voltage from rising above a predetermined maximum. The power supply includes a first low dropout regulator that is connected to receive the second voltage and to generate a third voltage, a second low dropout regulator that is connected to receive the second voltage and to generate a fourth voltage, and a third low dropout regulator that is connected to receive the fourth voltage and to generate a fifth voltage. The power supply provides an over-voltage fault tolerant self-testable architecture, allows for compact low cost individual channel isolation and fault tolerant EMI/RFI filtration.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2009Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Rockwell Automation LimitedInventor: Thomas Bruce Meagher
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Patent number: 7948257Abstract: A method and system for testing and protecting the operability of an output module. An output channel includes a transistor having a gate, a source, and a drain. The output channel drives a load with a load voltage and a load current in dependence upon a gate drive signal applied to the gate. The system determines a voltage threshold and a current threshold and monotonically varies the gate drive signal from a starting value for a predetermined time interval while monitoring the load current and the load voltage. The system returns the gate drive signal to the starting value if any of the load voltage reaches the voltage threshold, the load current reaches the current threshold, or a predetermined time interval expires indicating the condition of the output module.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2009Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Bruce Meagher, Gerald Robert Creech, Robert Sidney Ord
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Patent number: 7917675Abstract: An industrial process control apparatus and method that includes a number of processors and a number of input/output modules. Each processor is connected to a plurality of the input/output modules by a unidirectional command line. Each input/output module is connected to a plurality of the processors by a unidirectional response line. The processors are arranged to issue an identifier request to all of the connected input/output modules and each input/output module is arranged to respond to the identifier request via the respective response line with a response that includes a unique identifier. Such a configuration allows each processor to identify the physical location of each respective input/output module.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2009Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth John Murphy, Linda Murphy, legal representative, Thomas Bruce Meagher, Philip John Agar, Ian David Wynne Jones, Gerald Robert Creech
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Patent number: 7747405Abstract: This invention relates to line frequency synchronisation for use in diagnostics for alternating current electrical circuits. The invention provides a method of synchronising measurement system frequency with an alternating current line frequency comprising the steps of: adjusting the frequency of the measurement system frequency using a frequency locked loop until the measurement system frequency is within a predetermined range of said alternating current line frequency; and when the measurement system frequency is within a predetermined range of said alternating current line frequency adjusting the phase and the frequency of the measurement system frequency using a phase and frequency locked loop.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2007Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: ICS TRIPLEX Technology Ltd.Inventors: Thomas Bruce Meagher, Kenneth John Murphy, Linda Murphy, legal representative
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Patent number: 7729098Abstract: This invention relates to fault detection in electrical circuits. The invention provides a switch for a fault tolerant digital output module comprising: an output transistor pair for enabling and disabling an alternating output current; and a current limiter for clamping the output current to a predetermined maximum value.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: ICS Triplex Technology LimitedInventors: Thomas Bruce Meagher, Kenneth John Murphy, Linda M Murphy, legal representative
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Publication number: 20100079129Abstract: A power supply that is capable of supplying power to an input/output channel for an Industrial Process Control System. The power supply includes a primary voltage converter having a first voltage input and a second voltage output, and overvoltage protection components that prevent the second voltage from rising above a predetermined maximum. The power supply includes a first low dropout regulator that is connected to receive the second voltage and to generate a third voltage, a second low dropout regulator that is connected to receive the second voltage and to generate a fourth voltage, and a third low dropout regulator that is connected to receive the fourth voltage and to generate a fifth voltage. The power supply provides an over-voltage fault tolerant self-testable architecture, allows for compact low cost individual channel isolation and fault tolerant EMI/RFI filtration.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2009Publication date: April 1, 2010Inventor: Thomas Bruce Meagher
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Patent number: 7688560Abstract: This invention relates to overload protection for a circuit driving a direct current (DC) load.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: ICS Triplex Technology LimitedInventors: Thomas Bruce Meagher, Kenneth John Murphy, Linda M. Murphy, legal representative
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Patent number: 7613974Abstract: This invention relates to fault detection in electrical circuits. The invention provides a method and apparatus for testing an input circuit by generating a periodic test signal having a predetermined phase and a predetermined amplitude; summing the test signal and an input signal to provide a summed signal; processing the summed signal to provide an output signal; generating an extracted test signal from the output signal; comparing the extracted test signal with a reference signal representing said periodic test signal; generating an error signal in dependence upon the result of said comparing step. The invention also provides a method and apparatus for testing a plurality of adjacent input circuits.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2007Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: ICS Triplex Technology LimitedInventor: Thomas Bruce Meagher
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Publication number: 20090234469Abstract: An output module for an Industrial Process Control System that drives a load in a failsafe manner. The output module drives a load in response to a driving signal and includes a controller that generates a command signal and a drive enable signal in response to said driving signal. A keep alive circuit generates an active keep alive signal unless the drive enable signal is inactive. The output module includes a driver circuit that generates a drive signal in accordance with the command signal when the keep alive signal is active such that the load can be driven with a channel failsafe switch in response to the drive signal. The output module can be integrated into any of a number of industrial process control systems to enhance the operability of such systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2009Publication date: September 17, 2009Inventor: THOMAS BRUCE MEAGHER
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Publication number: 20090219049Abstract: A method and system for testing and protecting the operability of an output module. An output channel includes a transistor having a gate, a source, and a drain. The output channel drives a load with a load voltage and a load current in dependence upon a gate drive signal applied to the gate. The system determines a voltage threshold and a current threshold and monotonically varies the gate drive signal from a starting value for a predetermined time interval while monitoring the load current and the load voltage. The system returns the gate drive signal to the starting value if any of the load voltage reaches the voltage threshold, the load current reaches the current threshold, or a predetermined time interval expires indicating the condition of the output module.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2009Publication date: September 3, 2009Inventors: Thomas Bruce Meagher, Gerald Robert Creech, Robert Sidney Ord
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Publication number: 20090198348Abstract: An industrial process control apparatus and method that includes a number of processors and a number of input/output modules. Each processor is connected to a plurality of the input/output modules by a unidirectional command line. Each input/output module is connected to a plurality of the processors by a unidirectional response line. The processors are arranged to issue an identifier request to all of the connected input/output modules and each input/output module is arranged to respond to the identifier request via the respective response line with a response that includes a unique identifier. Such a configuration allows each processor to identify the physical location of each respective input/output module.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2009Publication date: August 6, 2009Inventors: Kenneth John Murphy, Linda Murphy, Thomas Bruce Meagher, Philip John Agar, Ian David Wynne Jones, Gerald Robert Creech
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Publication number: 20090195256Abstract: This invention relates to input channel diagnostics for an industrial process control system. The invention provides improved apparatus and methods relating to fault containment, overload protection and input channel diagnostics.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2009Publication date: August 6, 2009Inventors: Thomas Bruce Meagher, Gerald Robert Creech
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Publication number: 20090195952Abstract: A system for protecting against reverse current flow in an output module of an Industrial Process Control System includes a transistor that is driven by a control signal and a current monitor arranged to monitor a current through the transistor. The system includes a processor that is arranged to receive the monitored current and to generate the control signal in dependence upon the monitored current. The processor is configured to turn off the transistor if a reverse current is detected in the transistor. Extension of the system provides a power feed combiner that is protected against reverse current flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2009Publication date: August 6, 2009Inventor: Thomas Bruce Meagher
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Patent number: 7504975Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for output current control. The invention provides an output module slice for controlling an output current comprising: an output field interface controller for controlling an input voltage to a first field effect transistor; an analogue to digital converter connected to read the current flowing through said first field effect transistor and to provide a digital signal dependent thereon to said output field interface controller.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2007Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: ICS Triplex Technology LimitedInventor: Thomas Bruce Meagher