Patents by Inventor Dennis L. Stevenson
Dennis L. Stevenson 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).
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Patent number: 9086692Abstract: A system and method for creating and incorporating a function block within a process control system enables a user of the process control system to generate a function block by combining a plurality of files selected from a group of files provided by the manufacturer of the process control system to form a source code file associated with the function block. The user can modify the function block source code file to include a procedure, routine or algorithm that is not provided by the manufacturer and can send the modified source code file to the manufacturer for validation. If the function block source code file is validated, a security measure such as a digital signature is provided to the user that enables the user to incorporate the function block within the process control system.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2010Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Ken Beoughter, Brandon Hieb, Terrence L. Blevins, Dennis L. Stevenson
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Patent number: 8788071Abstract: A configuration system uses process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant to assist in configuring, organizing, and changing the control and display activities within the process plant. Access to the items may be controlled by associating access control data with the items. The configuration system may also use objects that represent, or may be capable of representing, one or more steps to be performed by entities in the process plant. Access to these objects may be controlled by associating access control data with the objects. The access control data may indicate whether users or certain users may be able to, for example, view or modify all or some data associated with the process plant items or the objects.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2011Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.Inventors: John Michael Lucas, Arthur Webb, Mark J. Nixon, Larry Oscar Jundt, Jian Li, Dennis L. Stevenson, Michael George Ott, Herschel O. Koska, Robert Burke Havekost
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Patent number: 8671460Abstract: A process control system includes module-level attributes that may be used to control access for writing information to unit module objects and module objects. A security check process examines the module-level attributes, which may include OPERMODE and OPERLOCK attributes, the values of which determine whether information may be written to unit module objects or module objects. The values of the module-level attributes may be controlled based on whether a particular module object is being used by the process control system.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2000Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.Inventors: Robert B. Havekost, David L. Deitz, Dennis L. Stevenson, William G. Irwin, Michael G. Ott
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Patent number: 8473087Abstract: A version control system helps to keep track of versions of process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant. The process plant items may comprise, for example, module objects which may be capable of specifically representing process entities of the process plant. These module objects may be created from module class objects which may be capable of generically representing process entities of the process plant. Version data is stored and associated with a module object. The version data may comprise data indicative of a version of a module class object that was used to create the module object. The version data may also comprise data indicative of a version of the module object. Configuration systems, version control systems, viewing systems, debugging systems, run-time monitoring systems, asset management systems, etc., may examine or permit viewing of the version control data associated with an item.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2010Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.Inventors: John Michael Lucas, Arthur Webb, Mark J. Nixon, Larry Oscar Jundt, Jian Li, Dennis L. Stevenson, Michael George Ott, Herschel O. Koska, Robert Burke Havekost
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Patent number: 8185871Abstract: An apparatus having a programmable processor and a memory for performing a plurality of user-selectable control functions includes a database for storing a plurality of items associated with each of the control functions. The items include, for each function, at least one procedure for performing an action associated with the control function and a specification of at least one state associated with the control function. The apparatus further includes software routines stored on the memory and adapted to be executed by the processor that facilitate selection of a procedure in the database, that access the database and cause performance of the selected procedure to achieve the state specified therein, and that monitor at least one resource associated with the action of the procedure and, based thereon, determine whether the specified state has been achieved.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2004Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Michael G. Ott, Larry O. Jundt, John Michael Lucas, Dennis L. Stevenson, Nancy Stevenson, legal representative
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Publication number: 20110224808Abstract: A configuration system uses process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant to assist in configuring, organizing, and changing the control and display activities within the process plant. Access to the items may be controlled by associating access control data with the items. The configuration system may also use objects that represent, or may be capable of representing, one or more steps to be performed by entities in the process plant. Access to these objects may be controlled by associating access control data with the objects. The access control data may indicate whether users or certain users may be able to, for example, view or modify all or some data associated with the process plant items or the objects.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2011Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: J. Michael Lucas, Arthur Webb, Mark J. Nixon, Larry O. Jundt, Jian Li, Dennis L. Stevenson, Michael G. Ott, Herschel O. Koska, II, Robert B. Havekost
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Patent number: 7971052Abstract: A configuration system uses process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant to assist in configuring, organizing, and changing the control and display activities within the process plant. Access to the items may be controlled by associating access control data with the items. The configuration system may also use objects that represent, or may be capable of representing, one or more steps to be performed by entities in the process plant. Access to these objects may be controlled by associating access control data with the objects. The access control data may indicate whether users or certain users may be able to, for example, view or modify all or some data associated with the process plant items or the objects.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2009Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.Inventors: John Michael Lucas, Arthur Webb, Mark J. Nixon, Larry Oscar Jundt, Jian Li, Dennis L. Stevenson, Michael George Ott, Herschel O. Koska, Robert Burke Havekost
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Publication number: 20110009985Abstract: A system and method for creating and incorporating a function block within a process control system enables a user of the process control system to generate a function block by combining a plurality of files selected from a group of files provided by the manufacturer of the process control system to form a source code file associated with the function block. The user can modify the function block source code file to include a procedure, routine or algorithm that is not provided by the manufacturer and can send the modified source code file to the manufacturer for validation. If the function block source code file is validated, a security measure such as a digital signature is provided to the user that enables the user to incorporate the function block within the process control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2010Publication date: January 13, 2011Applicant: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Ken Beoughter, Brandon Hieb, Terrence L. Blevins, Dennis L. Stevenson
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Patent number: 7822495Abstract: A system and method for creating and incorporating a function block within a process control system enables a user of the process control system to generate a function block by combining a plurality of files selected from a group of files provided by the manufacturer of the process control system to form a source code file associated with the function block. The user can modify the function block source code file to include a procedure, routine or algorithm that is not provided by the manufacturer and can send the modified source code file to the manufacturer for validation. If the function block source code file is validated, a security measure such as a digital signature is provided to the user that enables the user to incorporate the function block within the process control system.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2002Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Ken Beoughter, Brandon Hieb, Terrence L. Blevins, Dennis L. Stevenson
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Publication number: 20100228373Abstract: A version control system helps to keep track of versions of process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant. The process plant items may comprise, for example, module objects which may be capable of specifically representing process entities of the process plant. These module objects may be created from module class objects which may be capable of generically representing process entities of the process plant. Version data is stored and associated with a module object. The version data may comprise data indicative of a version of a module class object that was used to create the module object. The version data may also comprise data indicative of a version of the module object. Configuration systems, version control systems, viewing systems, debugging systems, run-time monitoring systems, asset management systems, etc., may examine or permit viewing of the version control data associated with an item.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2010Publication date: September 9, 2010Applicant: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: J. Michael Lucas, Arthur Webb, Mark J. Nixon, Larry O. Jundt, Jian Li, Dennis L. Stevenson, Michael G. Ott, Herschel O. Koska, II, Robert B. Havekost
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Patent number: 7729792Abstract: A version control system helps to keep track of versions of process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant. The process plant items may comprise, for example, module objects which may be capable of specifically representing process entities of the process plant. These module objects may be created from module class objects which may be capable of generically representing process entities of the process plant. Version data is stored and associated with a module object. The version data may comprise data indicative of a version of a module class object that was used to create the module object. The version data may also comprise data indicative of a version of the module object. Configuration systems, version control systems, viewing systems, debugging systems, run-time monitoring systems, asset management systems, etc., may examine or permit viewing of the version control data associated with an item.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2006Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.Inventors: J. Michael Lucas, Arthur Webb, Mark J. Nixon, Larry O. Jundt, Jian Li, Dennis L. Stevenson, Michael G. Ott, Herschel O. Koska, Robert B. Havekost
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Publication number: 20090287321Abstract: A configuration system uses process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant to assist in configuring, organizing, and changing the control and display activities within the process plant. Access to the items may be controlled by associating access control data with the items. The configuration system may also use objects that represent, or may be capable of representing, one or more steps to be performed by entities in the process plant. Access to these objects may be controlled by associating access control data with the objects. The access control data may indicate whether users or certain users may be able to, for example, view or modify all or some data associated with the process plant items or the objects.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2009Publication date: November 19, 2009Applicant: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: J. Michael Lucas, Arthur Webb, Mark J. Nixon, Larry O. Jundt, Jian Li, Dennis L. Stevenson, Michael G. Ott, Herschel O. Koska, II, Robert B. Havekost
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Patent number: 7526347Abstract: A configuration system uses process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant to assist in configuring, organizing, and changing the control and display activities within the process plant. Access to the items may be controlled by associating access control data with the items. The configuration system may also use objects that represent, or may be capable of representing, one or more steps to be performed by entities in the process plant. Access to these objects may be controlled by associating access control data with the objects. The access control data may indicate whether users or certain users may be able to, for example, view or modify all or some data associated with the process plant items or the objects.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2004Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.Inventors: J. Michael Lucas, Arthur Webb, Mark J. Nixon, Larry O. Jundt, Jian Li, Dennis L. Stevenson, Michael G. Ott, Herschel O. Koska, Robert B. Havekost
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Patent number: 7519083Abstract: A process control routine may include a first internal function block for executing a control operation based on an input signal and an information conduit communicatively connected to the first internal function block. The information conduit may have an output adapted to provide the input signal to the first internal function block. The process control routine may further include an external function block communicatively connected to the information conduit and adapted to generate the input signal such that the output signal is directly provided to the information conduit prior to the execution of the control operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2004Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.Inventors: Dennis L. Stevenson, Vasiliki Tzovla, Larry O. Jundt, Dan D. Christensen, Steve L. Dienstbier
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Patent number: 7117052Abstract: A version control system helps to keep track of versions of process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant. The process plant items may comprise, for example, module objects which may be capable of specifically representing process entities of the process plant. These module objects may be created from module class objects which may be capable of generically representing process entities of the process plant. Version data is stored and associated with a module object. The version data may comprise data indicative of a version of a module class object that was used to create the module object. The version data may also comprise data indicative of a version of the module object. Configuration systems, version control systems, viewing systems, debugging systems, run-time monitoring systems, asset management systems, etc., may examine or permit viewing of the version control data associated with an item.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.Inventors: J. Michael Lucas, Arthur Webb, Mark J. Nixon, Larry O. Jundt, Jian Li, Dennis L. Stevenson, Michael G. Ott, Herschel O. Koska, Robert B. Havekost
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Patent number: 6871299Abstract: A hierarchical failure management technique uses an integrated equipment hierarchy to automatically pass failure information from control modules to unit modules. Each control module collects failure information and generates a composite failure code by mathematically combining the failure information collected by that module. Modules which are currently needed by a phase of the unit module to carry out a process automatically send respective failure codes to the unit module. The unit module selects the worst failure code from a list of failure codes within the unit module and compares the selected worst failure code to a predetermined threshold value to determine whether the process should continue.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2001Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.Inventors: Robert B. Havekost, David L. Deitz, Dennis L. Stevenson, William G. Irwin
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Patent number: 6868538Abstract: An apparatus having a programmable processor and a memory for performing a plurality of user-selectable control functions includes a database for storing a plurality of items associated with each of the control functions. The items include, for each function, at least one procedure for performing an action associated with the control function and a specification of at least one state associated with the control function. The apparatus further includes software routines stored on the memory and adapted to be executed by the processor that facilitate selection of a procedure in the database, that access the database and cause performance of the selected procedure to achieve the state specified therein, and that monitor at least one resource associated with the action of the procedure and, based thereon, determine whether the specified state has been achieved.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2000Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Dennis L. Stevenson, Michael G. Ott, Stephen G. Hammack
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Publication number: 20050027376Abstract: A configuration system uses process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant to assist in configuring, organizing, and changing the control and display activities within the process plant. Access to the items may be controlled by associating access control data with the items. The configuration system may also use objects that represent, or may be capable of representing, one or more steps to be performed by entities in the process plant. Access to these objects may be controlled by associating access control data with the objects. The access control data may indicate whether users or certain users may be able to, for example, view or modify all or some data associated with the process plant items or the objects.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2004Publication date: February 3, 2005Applicant: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: J.Michael Lucas, Arthur Webb, Mark Nixon, Larry Jundt, Jian Li, Dennis L. Stevenson, Michael G. Ott, Herschel Koska, Robert Havekost
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Publication number: 20040213285Abstract: A process control routine may include a first internal function block for executing a control operation based on an input signal and an information conduit communicatively connected to the first internal function block. The information conduit may have an output adapted to provide the input signal to the first internal function block. The process control routine may further include an external function block communicatively connected to the information conduit and adapted to generate the input signal such that the output signal is directly provided to the information conduit prior to the execution of the control operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2004Publication date: October 28, 2004Inventors: Dennis L. Stevenson, Vasiliki Tzovla, Larry O. Jundt, Dan D. Christensen, Steve L. Dienstbier
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Patent number: 6738388Abstract: A process controller that is communicatively coupled to an external field device via a communication network uses a shadow function block disposed within a process controller to enable implementation of a control routine that uses both an internal function block disposed within the process controller and an external function block disposed within the external field device. The shadow function block includes a communication port that communicates with the external function block via the communication network to thereby receive data pertaining to the external function block, a memory that stores the received data according to a configuration protocol of the internal function block and an output that provides the stored external function block data to the internal function block according to the configuration protocol of the internal function block.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1998Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.Inventors: Dennis L. Stevenson, Vasiliki Tzovla, Larry O. Jundt, Dan D. Christensen, Steve L. Dienstbier