Patents by Inventor Alan Paul Mathason

Alan Paul Mathason 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).

  • Programmable universal IO interface
    Patent number: 8924600
    Abstract: A system is provided that includes a controller that is configured to enable communication between one or more sensors and a processor. The controller includes a plurality of input-output (IO) ports each configured to couple to the one or more sensors. Moreover, each of the IO ports is configured to couple to a plurality of sensor types such that each IO port is configured to couple more than one sensor type. The controller also includes an interface configured to receive a selection of a selected mode from a plurality of modes each corresponding to a sensor type. Furthermore, the controller includes a switch block having a plurality of switches each configured to toggle a connection in the switch block according to the selected mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Milton Alley, Naresh Kesavan Rao, Alan Paul Mathason, Feng Chen, Stephen Emerson Douthit
  • PROGRAMMABLE UNIVERSAL IO INTERFACE
    Publication number: 20140281048
    Abstract: A system is provided that includes a controller that is configured to enable communication between one or more sensors and a processor. The controller includes a plurality of input-output (IO) ports each configured to couple to the one or more sensors. Moreover, each of the IO ports is configured to couple to a plurality of sensor types such that each IO port is configured to couple more than one sensor type. The controller also includes an interface configured to receive a selection of a selected mode from a plurality of modes each corresponding to a sensor type. Furthermore, the controller includes a switch block having a plurality of switches each configured to toggle a connection in the switch block according to the selected mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Milton Alley, Naresh Kesavan Rao, Alan Paul Mathason, Feng Chen, Stephen Emerson Douthit
  • Application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) disposed in input/output module connectable to programmable logic controller (PLC) based systems having plurality of connection paths
    Patent number: 8806085
    Abstract: An input/output module for use in an industrial control system and connectable to a programmable logic controller (PLC), the input/output module having an interface configured for an electrical connection to the PLC, a plurality of pins configured for connection to one of a plurality of peripherals, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) disposed in the I/O module and electrically coupled to a system controller, the ASIC having a plurality of connection paths, each path being configured for a function, and a switch block configured to reassign a signal from a first connection path of the plurality of connection paths to a second connection path of the plurality of connection paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: GE Intelligent Platforms, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Paul Mathason, Daniel Milton Alley, Stephen Emerson Douthit
  • INPUT/OUTPUT MODULE FOR PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER BASED SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20140047137
    Abstract: An input/output module for use in an industrial control system and connectable to a programmable logic controller (PLC), the input/output module having an interface configured for an electrical connection to the PLC, a plurality of pins configured for connection to one of a plurality of peripherals, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) disposed in the I/O module and electrically coupled to a system controller, the ASIC having a plurality of connection paths, each path being configured for a function, and a switch block configured to reassign a signal from a first connection path of the plurality of connection paths to a second connection path of the plurality of connection paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Alan Paul Mathason, Daniel Milton Alley, Stephen Emerson Douthit