Patents by Inventor Gregg Sichner
Gregg Sichner 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: 10649820Abstract: An improved system for handling events in an industrial control system is disclosed. A module in an industrial controller is configured to generate an event responsive to a predefined signal or combination of signals occurring. The event is transferred to an event queue for subsequent execution. The event queue may also be configured to store a copy of the state of the module at the time the event is generated. The event queue may hold multiple events and each event is configured to trigger at least one event task. Subsequent events that occur during execution of the event task are stored in the event queue for later execution. An event, or combination of events, may trigger execution of an event task within the module, within the controller to which the module is connected, or within multiple controllers.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2018Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Eric D. Decker, Kenwood H. Hall, Robert J. Kretschmann, Terence S. Tenorio, Scott A. Pierce, Bret S. Hildebran, Raymond R. Husted, Gregg Sichner, David M. Fort
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Publication number: 20180189119Abstract: An improved system for handling events in an industrial control system is disclosed. A module in an industrial controller is configured to generate an event responsive to a predefined signal or combination of signals occurring. The event is transferred to an event queue for subsequent execution. The event queue may also be configured to store a copy of the state of the module at the time the event is generated. The event queue may hold multiple events and each event is configured to trigger at least one event task. Subsequent events that occur during execution of the event task are stored in the event queue for later execution. An event, or combination of events, may trigger execution of an event task within the module, within the controller to which the module is connected, or within multiple controllers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2018Publication date: July 5, 2018Inventors: Eric D. Decker, Kenwood H. Hall, Robert J. Kretschmann, Terence S. Tenorio, Scott A. Pierce, Bret S. Hildebran, Raymond R. Husted, Gregg Sichner, David M. Fort
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Patent number: 9921890Abstract: An improved system for handling events in an industrial control system is disclosed. A module in an industrial controller is configured to generate an event responsive to a predefined signal or combination of signals occurring. The event is transferred to an event queue for subsequent execution. The event queue may also be configured to store a copy of the state of the module at the time the event is generated. The event queue may hold multiple events and each event is configured to trigger at least one event task. Subsequent events that occur during execution of the event task are stored in the event queue for later execution. An event, or combination of events, may trigger execution of an event task within the module, within the controller to which the module is connected, or within multiple controllers.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2014Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Eric D. Decker, Kenwood H. Hall, Robert J. Kretschmann, Terence S. Tenorio, Scott A. Pierce, Bret S. Hildebran, Raymond R. Husted, Gregg Sichner, David M. Fort
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Publication number: 20160147579Abstract: An improved system for handling events in an industrial control system is disclosed. A module in an industrial controller is configured to generate an event responsive to a predefined signal or combination of signals occurring. The event is transferred to an event queue for subsequent execution. The event queue may also be configured to store a copy of the state of the module at the time the event is generated. The event queue may hold multiple events and each event is configured to trigger at least one event task. Subsequent events that occur during execution of the event task are stored in the event queue for later execution. An event, or combination of events, may trigger execution of an event task within the module, within the controller to which the module is connected, or within multiple controllers.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2014Publication date: May 26, 2016Inventors: Eric D. Decker, Kenwood H. Hall, Robert J. Kretschmann, Terence S. Tenorio, Scott A. Pierce, Bret S. Hildebran, Raymond R. Husted, Gregg Sichner, David M. Fort
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Publication number: 20120265322Abstract: An input module for an industrial controller is configurable to simplify setup and commissioning. The input module includes input terminals configurable, for example, as a counter input. Still other input terminals may be configured to trigger events as a function of the input signals present at the terminals. Time signals corresponding to transitions in state of the input terminals, triggering of events, or operation of the counters may be recorded. The input module is further configurable to transmit data back to the processor or to transmit data directly to another module in the industrial control network.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2012Publication date: October 18, 2012Inventors: Bret S. Hildebran, Eric D. Decker, David A. Pasela, Duwayne D. Mulhall, John J. Kolat, Charmaine J. Van Minnen, Peter M. Delic, Robert J. Kretschmann, Kenwood Hall, Richard O. Ruggeri, Harsh Shah, Andreas P. Frischanecht, Anthony G. Gibart, Mark Chaffee, Scott A. Pierce, Gregg Sichner, Terence S. Tenorio, Gregory J. Svetina, Steven A. Zuponcic
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Publication number: 20120260002Abstract: An output module for an industrial controller configurable to simplify setup and commissioning is disclosed. The output module includes configurable PWM outputs that may be scheduled to start at different times within the PWM period, that may be configured to generate a fixed number of PWM pulses, and that may have an extendable PWM period. The output terminals are configurable to enter a first state upon generation of a fault and further configurable to enter a second state after a configurable time delay following the fault being generated. The output module may receive inputs signals directly from another module and set output signals at the terminals responsive to these signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2012Publication date: October 11, 2012Inventors: Bret S. Hildebran, Eric D. Decker, Dave A. Pasela, Duwayne D. Mulhall, John J. Kolat, Antoon Laane, Russell W. Brandes, Peter M. Delic, Charmaine J. Van Minnen, Anthony Sorbello, Robert J. Kretschmann, Kenwood Hall, Richard O. Ruggeri, Harsh Shah, Andreas P. Frischknecht, Anthony G. Gibart, Mark A. Chaffee, Scott A. Pierce, Gregg Sichner, Terence S. Tenorio, Gregory J. Svetina
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Publication number: 20070214288Abstract: A system for automatically configuring I/O devices is provided in accordance with the present invention. The system includes a plurality of I/O devices operatively coupled to each other and a sub-system for determining physical locations of the I/O devices with respect to one another. The sub-system assigns node addresses to each I/O device—each assigned node address corresponds to the physical location of the respective I/O devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2007Publication date: September 13, 2007Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: David Wehrle, Carl Schumaker, Gregg Sichner, John Caspers
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Publication number: 20070130310Abstract: An industrial control system provides I/O modules with web-servers and dual protocol ports so that product information stored in the I/O modules can be served over the same network interface used by the industrial control system to any Internet ready browser.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2006Publication date: June 7, 2007Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Brian Batke, Gary Baczkowski, Kenwood Hall, Gregg Sichner, Jerry Penick
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Publication number: 20070112982Abstract: A distributed modular input/output system includes a primary wireless device adapted to be operatively connected to an associated industrial controller. A secondary wireless device is physically disconnected from the primary wireless device. The secondary wireless device is operatively connected to the primary wireless device by a primary wireless backplane link. At least one input/output module is operatively connected the secondary wireless device. An associated field device can be connected to the at least one input/output module for communication with the associated industrial controller via the secondary wireless device, the primary wireless backplane link, and the primary wireless device. Typically, a plurality of the secondary wireless devices are physically disconnected from the primary wireless device and each includes one or more of the input/output modules operably connected thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2004Publication date: May 17, 2007Inventors: Gregg Sichner, Robert Kretschmann, Jonathan Engdahl, Ram Pai, Jianguo Zhuang, Qing Jia, David Brandt
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Publication number: 20060224811Abstract: A safety control block interfaces to one or more devices utilizing one or more communication protocols wherein a network interface receives and/or transmits data directly from a network. A backplane interface receives and/or transmits data from a backplane. A backplane extension receives and/or transmits data from a backplane. A processing component receives data from at least one of the network interface, backplane interface and backplane extension and determines if the received data is related to safety or non-safety. A safety I/O circuitry receives safety data from the processing component; wherein the safety data is utilized to communicate to at least one control device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2005Publication date: October 5, 2006Inventors: Gregg Sichner, Joseph Vazach
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Publication number: 20050198406Abstract: A universal input/output device for an industrial automation control system includes a housing, a power supply for connecting to a voltage source, an input/output circuit for communicating with an industrial process, and a network adapter circuit for communicating data to and from a data network. The device also includes a backplane communication circuit for sending backplane data upstream and downstream along a backplane, and a device setup control circuit. The device setup control circuit performs an initialization process to configure said device as one of: (i) a stand-along block I/O device; (ii) a network adapter module of a modular I/O device; or (iii) an I/O module of a modular I/O device. The configuration method is automatic and based upon data being received into the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2004Publication date: September 8, 2005Inventor: Gregg Sichner
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Publication number: 20050186857Abstract: A modular base for an electrical device and an electrical device including same and also removable modules are disclosed. The modular base comprises a plurality of base components adapted to be arranged relative to each other to define a backplane comprising a plurality of module mounting locations, wherein each mounting location comprises a first electrical base connector of one base component and a second electrical base connector of another base component. A plurality of removable modules are adapted to be respectively removably connected to the backplane in the mounting locations to provide a modular electrical device. Each of the modules comprises a first module connector adapted to be mated with a first base connector of a mounting location and a second module connector adapted to be mated with a second base connector of the mounting location The backplane comprises one or more coupling devices for releasably engaging a module.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2005Publication date: August 25, 2005Inventors: Gregg Sichner, Douglas Lostoski, Robert Hager, Robert Kozlowski, Torsten Wunsche, Klaus Puschner, Walter Hanning, Michael Hoing