Patents by Inventor Daniel B. Rippon

Daniel B. Rippon 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: 20240146497
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for configuring time synchronization in a network. The system includes a time signal source to provide a common time signal to multiple configurable communication devices and a network controller in a control plane, in communication with the multiple configurable communication devices. The network controller is configured to receive time signal source information and to receive device configuration information for a first configurable communication device. The network controller is also configured to determine settings for time signal distribution and to transmit the settings to the multiple configurable communication devices to cause the first configurable communication device to transmit the time signal from the time signal source in a data plane for consumption by the multiple configurable communication devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Rhett Smith, Lance G. Dice, Jason A. Dearien, Robert Meine, Daniel B. Rippon
  • Publication number: 20240146647
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for operating a configurable communication device. A network controller includes a communication interface to interface with multiple communication devices and a memory storing instructions. The network controller also includes a processor, that when executing the instructions, is configured to determine that a configurable communication device of the plurality of communication devices is to operate in a first control plane type of multiple control plane types configurable to be used by the configurable communication device. The processor is also configured to operate the configurable communication device using the first control plane type and to receive an indication that the configurable communication device is to switch to a second control plane type. Moreover, the processor is configured to cause the configurable communication device to switch to the second control plane type and operate the configurable communication device using the second control plane type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Bradetich, Rhett Smith, Daniel B. Rippon
  • Publication number: 20240146641
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for operating a configurable communication device. Operating the configurable communication device includes operating the configurable communication device using a first network architecture control plane type. Then, an indication is received to switch at least part of the configurable communication device to using a second network architecture control plane type. In response to the indication, the configurable communication device operates the at least part of the configurable communication device in a hybrid mode utilizing both the first and second network architecture control plane types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Bradetich, Rhett Smith, Daniel B. Rippon
  • Publication number: 20240146649
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for configuring communication of a communication network in accordance with a configuration file from the hosts that are on the network. The system may include a network controller that receives a configuration file and determines a configuration of the data plane in accordance with information in the configuration file. The network controller may generate communication flows and send instructions to programmable network devices to implement communication among data consuming/producing devices in accordance with the configuration file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance G. Dice, Rhett Smith, Jason A. Dearien, Robert Meine, Daniel B. Rippon
  • Patent number: 11309975
    Abstract: An optically powered Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antenna may use a fiber-optic link to receive optical power and transmit an optical signal that contains a common time signal from one or more satellites, which may allow long-distance power and signal transmission with high efficiency and reliability. The common time signal may be used to synchronize intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) of an electric power delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel B. Rippon
  • Publication number: 20210250103
    Abstract: An optically powered Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antenna may use a fiber-optic link to receive optical power and transmit an optical signal that contains a common time signal from one or more satellites, which may allow long-distance power and signal transmission with high efficiency and reliability. The common time signal may be used to synchronize intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) of an electric power delivery system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel B. Rippon
  • Patent number: 10459025
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for reducing startup times of line-mounted fault detectors. A line-mounted fault detector may comprise a power harvesting subsystem and an energy storage subsystem configured to store electrical energy. A fast-start power coupling subsystem may receive power from the energy storage subsystem in a startup state and provide power to a subset of components. A DC-DC converter subsystem may start up after a voltage of the energy storage subsystem exceeds a threshold. A control subsystem may transition the line-mounted fault detector to an operating state once the DC-DC converter has started and may de-energize the fast-start power coupling subsystem. The control system may enable a flow of electrical energy from the DC-DC converter to the fast-start subsystem. A fault detection subsystem in electrical communication with the DC-DC converter subsystem may communicate an indication of a fault via an RF transmitter subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Rippon, Raymond W. Rice
  • Publication number: 20190310303
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for reducing startup times of line-mounted fault detectors. A line-mounted fault detector may comprise a power harvesting subsystem and an energy storage subsystem configured to store electrical energy. A fast-start power coupling subsystem may receive power from the energy storage subsystem in a startup state and provide power to a subset of components. A DC-DC converter subsystem may start up after a voltage of the energy storage subsystem exceeds a threshold. A control subsystem may transition the line-mounted fault detector to an operating state once the DC-DC converter has started and may de-energize the fast-start power coupling subsystem. The control system may enable a flow of electrical energy from the DC-DC converter to the fast-start subsystem. A fault detection subsystem in electrical communication with the DC-DC converter subsystem may communicate an indication of a fault via an RF transmitter subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Rippon, Raymond W. Rice
  • Patent number: 9425652
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a variety of various systems and method for adaptive holdover time error estimation. In one embodiment a system may include a local time source configured to generate a local time signal and an external time source interface configured to receive an external time signal. A time source subsystem may be configured to compare the local time signal and the external time signal and to determine a temperature-dependent signal drift rate of the local time signal relative to the external time signal. The time source subsystem may be a time-dependent signal drift rate of the local time signal relative to the external time signal. A holdover subsystem may detect a loss of reception of the external time signal during a holdover period and may estimate a total maximum error based on an estimated maximum time-dependent error and an estimated maximum temperature-dependent error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Rippon, Shankar V. Achanta
  • Publication number: 20150364953
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a variety of various systems and method for adaptive holdover time error estimation. In one embodiment a system may include a local time source configured to generate a local time signal and an external time source interface configured to receive an external time signal. A time source subsystem may be configured to compare the local time signal and the external time signal and to determine a temperature-dependent signal drift rate of the local time signal relative to the external time signal. The time source subsystem may be a time-dependent signal drift rate of the local time signal relative to the external time signal. A holdover subsystem may detect a loss of reception of the external time signal during a holdover period and may estimate a total maximum error based on an estimated maximum time-dependent error and an estimated maximum temperature-dependent error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel B. Rippon, Shankar V. Achanta