Patents by Inventor Timothy N. Schaeffer

Timothy N. Schaeffer 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: 11625351
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for flexible input/output signaling over a same signaling channel are described. A programmable interface circuit includes a signaling channel that can be adapted, prior to use or during operation, for transmission and/or reception of different types of analog and digital signals. The interface circuit can be used for communications between an isolating communication controller and components of a machine that use diverse signaling types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Opteon Corporation
    Inventors: T. Eric Hopkins, Timothy N. Schaeffer, Jeffrey Cho
  • Publication number: 20220156212
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for flexible input/output signaling over a same signaling channel are described. A programmable interface circuit includes a signaling channel that can be adapted, prior to use or during operation, for transmission and/or reception of different types of analog and digital signals. The interface circuit can be used for communications between an isolating communication controller and components of a machine that use diverse signaling types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Opteon Corporation
    Inventors: T. Eric Hopkins, Timothy N. Schaeffer, Jeffrey Cho
  • Publication number: 20210373520
    Abstract: A dynamic environment (e.g., an automated industrial process) has multiple conditions in response to which corresponding actions are required, and comprises various equipment, control device(s) to control the equipment, and one or more sensors to generate input signal(s) representing a monitored condition of the environment. A control system for the environment comprises a master processor and one or more co-processors, wherein the master processor configures a given co-processor to evaluate only a first subset of conditions expected to occur in the environment within a specified time period (e.g., less than a response time of the master processor), and to provide first control information representing an action to be taken if a particular condition of the first subset is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Mark J. Frazer, T. Eric Hopkins, Timothy N. Schaeffer
  • Patent number: 11182326
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for flexible input/output signaling over a same signaling channel are described. A programmable interface circuit includes a signaling channel that can be adapted, prior to use or during operation, for transmission and/or reception of different types of analog and digital signals. The interface circuit can be used for communications between an isolating communication controller and components of a machine that use diverse signaling types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: OPTEON CORPORATION
    Inventors: T. Eric Hopkins, Timothy N. Schaeffer, Jeffrey Cho
  • Publication number: 20210232524
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for flexible input/output signaling over a same signaling channel are described. A programmable interface circuit includes a signaling channel that can be adapted, prior to use or during operation, for transmission and/or reception of different types of analog and digital signals. The interface circuit can be used for communications between an isolating communication controller and components of a machine that use diverse signaling types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Opteon Corporation
    Inventors: T. Eric Hopkins, Timothy N. Schaeffer, Jeffrey Cho
  • Patent number: 10983493
    Abstract: A dynamic environment (e.g., an automated industrial process) has multiple conditions in response to which corresponding actions are required, and comprises various equipment, control device(s) to control the equipment, and one or more sensors to generate input signal(s) representing a monitored condition of the environment. A control system for the environment comprises a master processor and one or more co-processors, wherein the master processor configures a given co-processor to evaluate only a first subset of conditions expected to occur in the environment within a specified time period (e.g., less than a response time of the master processor), and to provide first control information representing an action to be taken if a particular condition of the first subset is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Opteon Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Frazer, T. Eric Hopkins, Timothy N. Schaeffer
  • Publication number: 20200150612
    Abstract: A dynamic environment (e.g., an automated industrial process) has multiple conditions in response to which corresponding actions are required, and comprises various equipment, control device(s) to control the equipment, and one or more sensors to generate input signal(s) representing a monitored condition of the environment. A control system for the environment comprises a master processor and one or more co-processors, wherein the master processor configures a given co-processor to evaluate only a first subset of conditions expected to occur in the environment within a specified time period (e.g., less than a response time of the master processor), and to provide first control information representing an action to be taken if a particular condition of the first subset is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Mark J. Frazer, T. Eric Hopkins, Timothy N. Schaeffer
  • Publication number: 20190041819
    Abstract: A dynamic environment (e.g., an automated industrial process) has multiple conditions in response to which corresponding actions are required, and comprises various equipment, control device(s) to control the equipment, and one or more sensors to generate input signal(s) representing a monitored condition of the environment. A control system for the environment comprises a master processor and one or more co-processors, wherein the master processor configures a given co-processor to evaluate only a first subset of conditions expected to occur in the environment within a specified time period (e.g., less than a response time of the master processor), and to provide first control information representing an action to be taken if a particular condition of the first subset is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Mark J. Frazer, T. Eric Hopkins, Timothy N. Schaeffer
  • Patent number: 10101720
    Abstract: A dynamic environment (e.g., an automated industrial process) has multiple conditions in response to which corresponding actions are required, and comprises various equipment, control device(s) to control the equipment, and one or more sensors to generate input signal(s) representing a monitored condition of the environment. A control system for the environment comprises a master processor and one or more co-processors, wherein the master processor configures a given co-processor to evaluate only a first subset of conditions expected to occur in the environment within a specified time period (e.g., less than a response time of the master processor), and to provide first control information representing an action to be taken if a particular condition of the first subset is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Opteon Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Frazer, T. Eric Hopkins, Timothy N. Schaeffer
  • Publication number: 20170023918
    Abstract: A dynamic environment (e.g., an automated industrial process) has multiple conditions in response to which corresponding actions are required, and comprises various equipment, control device(s) to control the equipment, and one or more sensors to generate input signal(s) representing a monitored condition of the environment. A control system for the environment comprises a master processor and one or more co-processors, wherein the master processor configures a given co-processor to evaluate only a first subset of conditions expected to occur in the environment within a specified time period (e.g., less than a response time of the master processor), and to provide first control information representing an action to be taken if a particular condition of the first subset is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Mark J. Frazer, T. Eric Hopkins, Timothy N. Schaeffer
  • Patent number: 9494926
    Abstract: A dynamic environment (e.g., an automated industrial process) has multiple conditions in response to which corresponding actions are required, and comprises various equipment, control device(s) to control the equipment, and one or more sensors to generate input signal(s) representing a monitored condition of the environment. A control system for the environment comprises a master processor and one or more co-processors, wherein the master processor configures a given co-processor to evaluate only a first subset of conditions expected to occur in the environment within a specified time period (e.g., less than a response time of the master processor), and to provide first control information representing an action to be taken if a particular condition of the first subset is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Opteon Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Frazer, T. Eric Hopkins, Timothy N. Schaeffer
  • Patent number: 9459607
    Abstract: A dynamic environment (e.g., an automated industrial process) has multiple conditions in response to which corresponding actions are required, and comprises various equipment, control device(s) to control the equipment, and one or more sensors to generate input signal(s) representing a monitored condition of the environment. A control system for the environment comprises a master processor and one or more co-processors, wherein the master processor configures a given co-processor to evaluate only a first subset of conditions expected to occur in the environment within a specified time period (e.g., less than a response time of the master processor), and to provide first control information representing an action to be taken if a particular condition of the first subset is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Opteon Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Frazer, T. Eric Hopkins, Timothy N. Schaeffer
  • Patent number: 4218754
    Abstract: A control system for high speed printers including a low speed microprocessor that processes data input by a one-time serial operation on the data bytes to direct printing operations into a virtual image memory that is a map of the printing sequence for an entire line. A map of the character printing program for each print position is transferred for each character into a print control memory so that printing can proceed as though a large scale high speed computer was in charge of the printing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1980
    Assignee: Data Printer Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy N. Schaeffer