Patents by Inventor Christian R. Butikofer

Christian R. Butikofer 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).

  • Publication number: 20220035347
    Abstract: An asset management system used in a process control plant or other control system includes a database that stores asset data for each of a plurality of devices within the plant and a viewing system that accesses the asset data to provide statistical information to a user pertaining to the plant assets. The asset management system enables a user to define and store one or more projects within the plant and a set of plant assets associated with each of the projects. Thereafter, the asset management system performs statistical analyses on the assets within one or more of the defined projects and presents, to a user via a user interface, raw and statistical information pertaining to the assets within the project. The analysis engine may determine the device states or health statuses of the assets associated with the project and may present statistical and/or historical information regarding the number or percentage of assets within the project that are in a particular state or status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Fred G. Middendorf, William F. L'Huillier, Scott N. Hokeness, Darren L. Halzle, Christian R. Butikofer, Matthew D. Heiler
  • Patent number: 11150635
    Abstract: An asset management system used in a process control plant or other control system includes a database that stores asset data for each of a plurality of devices within the plant and a viewing system that accesses the asset data to provide statistical information to a user pertaining to the plant assets. The asset management system enables a user to define and store one or more projects within the plant and a set of plant assets associated with each of the projects. Thereafter, the asset management system performs statistical analyses on the assets within one or more of the defined projects and presents, to a user via a user interface, raw and statistical information pertaining to the assets within the project. The analysis engine may determine the device states or health statuses of the assets associated with the project and may present statistical and/or historical information regarding the number or percentage of assets within the project that are in a particular state or status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Fred G. Middendorf, William F. L'Huillier, Scott N. Hokeness, Darren L. Halzle, Christian R. Butikofer, Matthew D. Heiler
  • Patent number: 10481627
    Abstract: Multi-functional field maintenance (FM) tools that connect to process control devices, such as FOUNDATION Fieldbus and Highway Addressable Remote Transducer devices, can automatically detect and simultaneously identify communications, troubleshoot connections, and supply power in a process control plant. Simplifying the troubleshooting process, by guiding a user of a multi-functional FM tool through recommended troubleshooting steps, while simultaneously detecting and correcting issues reduces the number of tools required to maintain process control devices, reduces the risk of damage, and improves efficiency by minimizing production downtime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Christian R. Butikofer, Anthony Ferguson, Christopher P. Kantzes, Jon Westbrock, Thinh D. Le, Alden C. Russell, III, Alan R. Dewey, Mehul Rajeshbhai Dalal, Todd M. Toepke
  • Publication number: 20190101898
    Abstract: An asset management system used in a process control plant or other control system includes a database that stores asset data for each of a plurality of devices within the plant and a viewing system that accesses the asset data to provide statistical information to a user pertaining to the plant assets. The asset management system enables a user to define and store one or more projects within the plant and a set of plant assets associated with each of the projects. Thereafter, the asset management system performs statistical analyses on the assets within one or more of the defined projects and presents, to a user via a user interface, raw and statistical information pertaining to the assets within the project. The analysis engine may determine the device states or health statuses of the assets associated with the project and may present statistical and/or historical information regarding the number or percentage of assets within the project that are in a particular state or status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Fred G. Middendorf, William F. L'Huillier, Scott N. Hokeness, Darren L. Halzle, Christian R. Butikofer, Matthew D. Heiler
  • Publication number: 20180024582
    Abstract: Multi-functional field maintenance (FM) tools that connect to process control devices, such as FOUNDATION Fieldbus and Highway Addressable Remote Transducer devices, can automatically detect and simultaneously identify communications, troubleshoot connections, and supply power in a process control plant. Simplifying the troubleshooting process, by guiding a user of a multi-functional FM tool through recommended troubleshooting steps, while simultaneously detecting and correcting issues reduces the number of tools required to maintain process control devices, reduces the risk of damage, and improves efficiency by minimizing production downtime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Christian R. Butikofer, Anthony Ferguson, Christopher P. Kantzes, Jon Westbrock, Thinh D. Le, Alden C. Russell, III, Alan R. Dewey, Mehul Rajeshbhai Dalal, Todd M. Toepke
  • Patent number: 8310449
    Abstract: A touch interface that includes a plurality of push-buttons, each of which has a first stage portion and a second stage portion. A display screen displays a plurality of display items each of which is associated with a corresponding one of the push-buttons. Activation of the first stage portion of one of the push-buttons causes the corresponding display item on the screen to highlight thereby indicating to the user that the push-button associated with that display item is being pressed, without launching a function associated with the display item. This allows the user to determine whether or not he is pressing the correct push-button prior to activating a function without taking his eyes off of the display screen. If the user is satisfied that he is contacting the correct push-button, the user can then activate the second stage portion and thereby launch the function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Christian R. Butikofer