Patents by Inventor David A. Vasko

David A. Vasko 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: 20180059653
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable medium may include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, may receive a first set of data associated with a user, receive a second set of data associated with one or more lockout procedures performed by the user, receive a request to actuate a locking mechanism of an electronic lock configured to prevent a machine in an industrial automation application from being operational, and send a signal to the electronic lock to actuate the locking mechanism when the second set of data indicates that the lockout procedures have been performed by the user and the data corresponds to an authorized user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Jimi R. Michalscheck, Kelly A. Michalscheck, Jessica L. Korpela, Kyle K. Reissner, David A. Vasko, John J. Jauquet, Matthew R. Ericsson, Andrew Wilber
  • Patent number: 9904785
    Abstract: An industrial controller resistant to malicious attacks may provide a graduated response employing the elements of the control system to reduce access to the control system, log data, and announce intrusion based on a dynamically evolving assessment of the severity of any detected security issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sujeet Chand, David A. Vasko, Timothy Patrick Boppre, David A. Snyder, Alex Laurence Nicoll, Brian J. McMullen, Daniel B. Seger, John B. Dart
  • Patent number: 9898607
    Abstract: A template for implementing a control system with security features provides a generic control program and device programs for distribution to one or more industrial controllers and associated control devices together with matching security programs for distribution to the control devices, the security programs providing for the generation of security thumbprints indicating the state of the control devices. The template may also be associated with a security-monitoring program that can receive and process the security thumbprints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sujeet Chand, David A. Vasko, Brian J. McMullen, Daniel B. Seger
  • Patent number: 9898001
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium includes computer instructions configured to receive image data from an apparatus, wherein the image data comprises a person within a proximity to an industrial automation device, determine whether the person is wearing a set of personal protection equipment (PPE) based on the image data, disable one or more operations of the industrial automation device when the person is not wearing the set of PPE, and track a usage of the set of PPE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kelly A. Michalscheck, Jimi R. Michalscheck, Jessica L. Korpela, Kyle K. Reissner, David A. Vasko, Matthew W. Fordenwalt, John J. Jauquet, Matthew R. Ericsson, Andrew Wilber
  • Patent number: 9841736
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that facilitates employing safety within an industrial environment. An enhancing component can implement at least one of a security level, authentication, authorization, or an access right to a validated action to at least one of the controller or the controller engine instance. The enhancing component can further separate two or more entities within the industrial environment, the first entity related to process control and the second entity related to process safety. Additionally, the enhancing component can employ at least one of a backup controller or a backup controller engine instance in the event of at least one of a software error or a hardware error within the industrial environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Grgic, Subbian Govindaraj, Kenwood H. Hall, Robert J. Kretschmann, Charles M. Rischar, Raymond J. Staron, David A. Vasko
  • Patent number: 9838832
    Abstract: Techniques to facilitate linking a control device to a specific industrial asset in an industrial automation environment are disclosed herein. In at least one implementation, an initiating link is established between a mobile device and a target device (e.g., the target device being selected from one or more industrial assets discovered within a close-range initiating range of a proximity communication system of the mobile device). This initiating link can be established using Near Field Communications (NFC), QR code, an optical indicator, and/or other means. The initiating link enables and is used to establish a functional link between the target device and a control device. The functional link can include a larger range, higher performance networking connection. In some implementations a secondary communication device serves as proxy for the target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Vasko, Ronald Bliss
  • Patent number: 9817391
    Abstract: An industrial control system providing security against tampering or modification generates periodic state thumbprints defining a state of control elements that may be forwarded to a security or safety appliance for comparison to a benchmark thumbprint indicating no tampering. The transmitted state thumbprint may capture not only programs but also configuration and environmental states of the control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sujeet Chand, David A. Vasko, Timothy Patrick Boppre, David A. Snyder, Alex Laurence Nicoll, Brian J. McMullen, Daniel B. Seger, John B. Dart, Timothy F. Roback, Paul G. Kucharski, Kevin Colloton
  • Patent number: 9805460
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system may include a multi-purpose sensor coupled to a machine operating in an industrial environment. The multi-purpose sensor may include a camera that obtains a first and second set of image data including images of the machine and an environment surrounding the machine. The first set of image data is associated with a baseline of the machine and the environment, and the second set of image data is acquired subsequent to when the first set is acquired. The system may include a computing device that may include a processor to receive the first and second set of image data, determine baseline positions of objects in the first set, determine subsequent positions of the objects in the second set, determine whether the subsequent positions vary from the baseline positions, and perform an action when the subsequent positions vary from the baseline positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jimi R. Michalscheck, Kelly A. Michalscheck, Jessica L. Korpela, Kyle K. Reissner, David A. Vasko, Matthew W. Fordenwalt, John J. Jauquet, Matthew R. Ericsson, Andrew Wilber
  • Patent number: 9804590
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable medium may include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, may receive a first set of data associated with a user, receive a second set of data associated with one or more lockout procedures performed by the user, receive a request to actuate a locking mechanism of an electronic lock configured to prevent a machine in an industrial automation application from being operational, and send a signal to the electronic lock to actuate the locking mechanism when the second set of data indicates that the lockout procedures have been performed by the user and the data corresponds to an authorized user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jimi R. Michalscheck, Kelly A. Michalscheck, Jessica L. Korpela, Kyle K. Reissner, David A. Vasko, John J. Jauquet, Matthew R. Ericsson, Andrew Wilber
  • Patent number: 9804576
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method for performing industrial automation control may include detecting, via a sensor system, positions and/or motions of a human in an industrial automation system, determining at least one derivative value from the detected positions and/or motions, and determining a possible automation command and an undesirable condition based upon the detected positions and/or motions and the at least one derivative value. The method may then include implementing a control and/or notification action based upon the determined possible automation command and the undesired condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Steven J. Scott, Thong T. Nguyen, David A. Vasko, Marco Wishart, Travis Tidwell
  • Patent number: 9798319
    Abstract: In an industrial control setting, different components can have information that can be valuable to various entities, such as other components, technicians, and the like. A decision can be made as to what information should be available to entities and a determination can be made if the information should be published in a directory or be discoverable. Security can be taken into account in determining if information should be published and decision making can employ adaptive learning, such that a publish and/or discovery decision criterion can be modified based on the learning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: David A. Vasko, Raymond J. Staron, Charles Martin Rischar, Kenwood H. Hall, Subbian Govindaraj, Robert J. Kretschmann, Michael D. Kalan, Paul R. D'Mura, Taryl J. Jasper, Eugene Liberman
  • Publication number: 20170195827
    Abstract: Techniques to facilitate linking a control device to a specific industrial asset in an industrial automation environment are disclosed herein. In at least one implementation, an initiating link is established between a mobile device and a target device (e.g., the target device being selected from one or more industrial assets discovered within a close-range initiating range of a proximity communication system of the mobile device). This initiating link can be established using Near Field Communications (NFC), QR code, an optical indicator, and/or other means. The initiating link enables and is used to establish a functional link between the target device and a control device. The functional link can include a larger range, higher performance networking connection. In some implementations a secondary communication device serves as proxy for the target device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: David A. VASKO, Ronald BLISS
  • Patent number: 9665091
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a manifold apparatus may include a number of housings. The housings may receive an electrical or a fluid conduit. The manifold apparatus may also include an actuation mechanism of each of the number of housings configured to control a supply of electricity or fluid from the respective electrical or fluid conduit to one or more industrial automation equipment, and a locking mechanism including a number of armatures. Each of the number of armatures is associated with a respective housing of the plurality of housings, and each of the number of armatures is configured to physically prevent a respective actuation mechanism of the respective housing from changing states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Jauquet, Jimi R. Michalscheck, Kelly A. Michalscheck, Jessica L. Korpela, Kyle K. Reissner, David A. Vasko, Matthew W. Fordenwalt, Matthew R. Ericsson, Andrew Wilber
  • Publication number: 20160359873
    Abstract: A template for implementing a control system with security features provides a generic control program and device programs for distribution to industrial controller and associated control devices together with matching security programs for distribution to the control devices, the security program providing for the generation of security thumbprints indicating the state of the control devices. The template may also be associated with a security-monitoring program that can receive and process the security thumbprints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Sujeet Chand, David A. Vasko, Brian J. McMullen, Daniel B. Seger
  • Publication number: 20160357177
    Abstract: An industrial control system hardened against malicious activity monitors highly dynamic control data to develop a dynamic thumbprint that can be evaluated to detect deviations from normal behavior of a type that suggest tampering or other attacks. Evaluation of the dynamic thumbprint may employ a set of ranges defining normal operation and reflecting known patterns of interrelationship between dynamic variables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Sujeet Chand, David A. Vasko, Timothy Patrick Boppre, David A. Snyder, Alex Laurence Nicoll, Brian J. McMullen, Daniel B. Seger, John B. Dart
  • Publication number: 20160357176
    Abstract: An industrial control system providing security against tampering or modification generates periodic state thumbprints defining a state of control elements that may be forwarded to a security or safety appliance for comparison to a benchmark thumbprint indicating no tampering. The transmitted state thumbprint may capture not only programs but also configuration and environmental states of the control element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Sujeet Chand, David A. Vasko, Timothy Patrick Boppre, David A. Snyder, Alex Laurence Nicoll, Brian J. McMullen, Daniel B. Seger, John B. Dart, Timothy F. Roback, Paul G. Kucharski, Kevin Colloton
  • Publication number: 20160359825
    Abstract: An industrial controller resistant to malicious attacks may provide a graduated response employing the elements of the control system to reduce access to the control system, log data, and announce intrusion based on a dynamically evolving assessment of the severity of any detected security issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Sujeet Chand, David A. Vasko, Timothy Patrick Boppre, David A. Snyder, Alex Laurence Nicoll, Brian J. McMullen, Daniel B. Seger, John B. Dart
  • Patent number: 9498885
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method for performing industrial automation control in an industrial automation system. As such, the method may include detecting, via a sensor system, positions and/or motions of a human. The method may then include determining a possible automation command corresponding to the detected positions and/or motions. After determining the possible automation command, the method may implement a control and/or notification action based upon the detected positions and/or motions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Scott, Thong T. Nguyen, David A. Vasko, Michael Gasperi, David D. Brandt
  • Publication number: 20160282828
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable medium may store computer instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to receive an input associated with placing a piece of industrial automation equipment offline, determine whether the input corresponds to one or more regulations associated with placing the piece of industrial automation equipment offline, display a first set of instructions regarding how to place the piece of industrial automation equipment offline when the input corresponds to the one or more regulations, and display a second set of instructions regarding how to place the piece of equipment offline when the input does not correspond to the one or more regulations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: John J. Jauquet, Jimi R. Michalscheck, Kelly A. Michalscheck, Jessica L. Korpela, Kyle K. Reissner, David A. Vasko, Matthew W. Fordenwalt, Matthew R. Ericsson, Andrew Wilber
  • Publication number: 20160284144
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable medium may include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, may receive a first set of data associated with a user, receive a second set of data associated with one or more lockout procedures performed by the user, receive a request to actuate a locking mechanism of an electronic lock configured to prevent a machine in an industrial automation application from being operational, and send a signal to the electronic lock to actuate the locking mechanism when the second set of data indicates that the lockout procedures have been performed by the user and the data corresponds to an authorized user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Jimi R. Michalscheck, Kelly A. Michalscheck, Jessica L. Korpela, Kyle K. Reissner, David A. Vasko, John J. Jauquet, Matthew R. Ericsson, Andrew Wilber