Patents by Inventor Keith Laws

Keith Laws 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).

  • Patent number: 8949665
    Abstract: An integrated bus controller and power supply device includes a typical or standard bus controller and a bus power supply disposed in a common housing, the size and external configuration of which may match a standard bus controller device associated with a typical I/O communication network. The bus controller may store and implement one or more control routines using one or more field devices connected to the I/O communication network while the bus power supply generates and provides the appropriate power signal to the bus of the I/O communication network, the power signal being used to power the field devices connected to the I/O communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Keith Law, Kent Allen Burr, Michael L. Marshall, Michael Kessler
  • Patent number: 8762618
    Abstract: A disclosed example system includes a termination panel, and a shared bus on the termination panel. The shared bus is to removably receive a plurality of bases that removably receive modules to communicate with field devices, and communicatively couple the modules to an input/output card to exchange communications between the modules and a controller that is in communication with the input/output card via a second bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Allan Burr, Gary Keith Law, Doyle Eugene Broom, Mark J. Nixon
  • Patent number: 8761196
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture are disclosed that provide flexible input/output device communications in a process control system. In one example, a process control system controls a plurality of field devices. The process control system includes a control device and a communications protocol component. The communications protocol component has at least one communications channel that is selectively configurable to use at least a first or second communications protocol and to communicate with at least one of the field devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Keith Law, Trevor Duncan Schleiss, Kent Burr, Thomas W. Snead, Ronald Dean Eddie
  • Publication number: 20140149630
    Abstract: A disclosed example apparatus includes a termination panel, a shared bus on the termination panel, and a plurality of bases on the termination panel along the shared bus. Each of the bases is to removably receive modules that are to communicate with field devices. Each of the bases includes first and second physical interfaces. The first physical interface is to be communicatively coupled to different types of the field devices and to exchange communications with one or more of the field devices via a plurality of different communication protocols. The second physical interface is to communicatively couple the removably receivable modules to the shared bus to communicate with a controller via the shared bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Allan Burr, Gary Keith Law, Doyle Eugene Broom
  • Publication number: 20140097700
    Abstract: Example apparatus and methods to remove power from a field device are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first switch to control power to the field device, and a second switch comprising a first gate and a second gate. The second gate is electrically coupled in parallel to the first gate, and the second switch is electrically coupled in series to the first switch. The example apparatus also includes a first diagnostics controller to control the first and second gates, a first processor to control the first switch, a third switch to control power to the field device, and a fourth switch comprising a third gate and a fourth gate. The fourth gate is electrically coupled in parallel to the third gate, and the fourth switch is electrically coupled in series to the third switch. The example apparatus also includes a second processor to control the third switch, and a second diagnostics controller to control the third and fourth gates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Keith Law, Kent Allan Burr, Robert Stock
  • Publication number: 20140097850
    Abstract: Terminal blocks including integral safety relays having independently testable contacts are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a terminal block body couplable to an electronics cabinet or mounting rail. The terminal block body includes a first slot to receive a first circuit and a second slot to receive a second circuit. The apparatus includes a first contact and a second contact that are externally accessible when the terminal block body is coupled to the electronics cabinet or the mounting rail. The apparatus includes a first switch and a second switch to selectively couple the first contact and the second contact and a test point coupled between the first switch and the second switch. The test point is to enable the first switch and the second switch to be independently testable to verify operability when the terminal block body is coupled to the electronics cabinet or the mounting rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Keith LAw, Kent Allan Burr
  • Patent number: 8689118
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to conceal portions of a visual object diagram in a process control system are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a selection to conceal a first functional block within a visual object diagram, wherein the first functional block is associated with a first view parameter, determining a link from a process control parameter within the first functional block to a first intersection within a second functional block within the visual object diagram, wherein the link is associated with a second view parameter, coupling the first view parameter and the second view parameter to the first intersection, and concealing the link and the first functional block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Hieb, Gary Keith Law, David R. Denison, Cheyenne Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20130218301
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to apply multiple trip limits to a device in a process control system are disclosed. An example method involves monitoring a value of a parameter associated with the operation of the device and receiving an input indicative of an operational state of the device, where a first input indicates a first operational state and a second input indicates a second operational state. If the first input is received, comparing via a function block the value of the parameter to a first trip limit, and if the second input is received, comparing via the function block the value of the parameter to a second trip limit, and implementing a response based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventors: Keith Richard Bellville, Gary Keith Law, Godfrey R. Sherriff, David Mark Smith
  • Patent number: 8340790
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to adjust control loop timing in a process control system are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a first input signal generated via a first process control device within a process control system, determining within the process control system if the first input signal is received during a first scheduled time period of a control loop, and adjusting within the process control system a timing of a subsequent input signal received from the first process control device to cause the subsequent input signal to be received during a subsequent scheduled time period of the control loop, wherein the timing of the subsequent input signal is based on at least when the first input signal was received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Keith Law, Marty James Lewis, Godfrey Roland Sherriff
  • Patent number: 8332567
    Abstract: Example apparatus and methods to communicatively couple field devices to controllers in a process control system are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a first interface configured to receive first information from a field device using a first communication protocol. The example apparatus also includes a communication processor communicatively coupled to the first interface and configured to encode the first information for communication via a bus using a second communication protocol. In addition, the example apparatus includes a second interface communicatively coupled to the communication processor and the bus and configured to communicate the first information via the bus using the second communication protocol. The bus is configured to use the second communication protocol to communicate second information associated with another field device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Allan Burr, Gary Keith Law, Doyle Eugene Broom, Mark J. Nixon
  • Patent number: 8233998
    Abstract: Secure data write apparatus and methods for use in safety instrumented process control systems select a parameter associated with a process control element within the process control system and send first data associated with the parameter to the process control element. A confirmation associated with a request to write the first data to the process control element is received from a user and the second data is sent to the process control element in response to receiving the confirmation. The first and second data are compared at the process control element and the first or second data are written to a location in the process control element associated with the parameter if the first and second data are at least substantially identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Joe Wysuph, Michael George Ott, Bruce Hubert Campney, Cindy Alsup Scott, Michael Wayne Ausen, Gary Keith Law, Godfrey Roland Sherriff, David Mark Smith, Julian Kevin Naidoo
  • Publication number: 20120141491
    Abstract: The subject application provides small compounds that are able to increase/enhance autophagy in various cells. These compounds are useful in augmenting existing treatments of various cancers, microbial/viral infections, and neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, the subject application also provides methods of treating various types of cancers, microbial/viral infections, and neurodegenerative diseases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: University of Florida Research Foundation Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Dunn, Debra Everton Akin, Brian Keith Law
  • Patent number: 8127063
    Abstract: A distributed process control equipment ownership arbitration system and method for arbitrating equipment ownership conflicts are disclosed. Individual control modules representing various process control entities within a process control system define a plurality of lists or queues for storing equipment arbitration information. Requests by one process control entity to acquire ownership over another process control entity are represented by an arbitration token that represents the ownership relationship sought by the acquiring process control entity. Copies of the arbitration token are communicated between the respective control modules and stored in the various arbitration queues defined by the control modules, depending on the status of the acquisition request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Godfrey Roland Sherriff, Gary Keith Law
  • Publication number: 20110054643
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to manage testing of a process control system are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes generating a test application from a process control routine, the test application including at least one test that is to be performed within a time period, monitoring an operation of the process control routine, determining if the operation of the process control routine during the time period includes an execution of a portion of the process control routine that is substantially similar to the at least one test, and updating the test application by indicating that the at least one test has been performed within the time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Gary Keith Law, Godfrey R. Sherriff, Mark Nixon
  • Publication number: 20110054640
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to adjust control loop timing in a process control system are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a first input signal generated via a first process control device within a process control system, determining within the process control system if the first input signal is received during a first scheduled time period of a control loop, and adjusting within the process control system a timing of a subsequent input signal received from the first process control device to cause the subsequent input signal to be received during a subsequent scheduled time period of the control loop, wherein the timing of the subsequent input signal is based on at least when the first input signal was received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Gary Keith Law, Godfrey Roland Sherriff, Marty James Lewis
  • Patent number: 7865251
    Abstract: The claimed system provides an I/O card that is used to interface two process controllers over a communication line that is separate from a primary communication line connecting the two process controllers to a workstation. The process controllers can access the I/O cards in a similar manner to I/O cards used to connect to field devices. In this manner, the physical hardware and software architecture does not need to be modified for inter-controller communications. Inter-controller communications can be programmed as general I/O communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Keith Law, Kent Allan Burr, Godfrey Roland Sherriff
  • Publication number: 20100293495
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to conceal portions of a visual object diagram in a process control system are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a selection to conceal a first functional block within a visual object diagram, wherein the first functional block is associated with a first view parameter, determining a link from a process control parameter within the first functional block to a first intersection within a second functional block within the visual object diagram, wherein the link is associated with a second view parameter, coupling the first view parameter and the second view parameter to the first intersection, and concealing the link and the first functional block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Brandon Hieb, Gary Keith Law, David R. Denison, Cheyenne Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20100211197
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to configure a process control system using an electronic description language (EDL) script are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises loading a first script representative of a process plant, the first script comprising an interpretive system-level script structured in accordance with an electronic description language, and compiling the first script to form a second script, the second script structured in accordance with a vendor-specific configuration language associated with a particular process control system for the process plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: James Randall Balentine, Gary Keith Law, Mark Nixon
  • Publication number: 20100185857
    Abstract: Example removable security modules for use with process control devices and related methods are disclosed. An example removable security module includes a body configured to be removably coupled to the process control device and a memory disposed in the body with a shared secret stored in the memory. The example removable security module also includes a processing unit disposed in the body, coupled to the memory and configured to read information from the process control device, compare the information to the shared secret and authenticate the process control device based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Lee Allen Neitzel, Gary Keith Law, Godfrey R. Sherriff
  • Publication number: 20100077111
    Abstract: Example apparatus and methods to communicatively couple field devices to controllers in a process control system are disclosed. An example method of changing a communication protocol of a first field device in a process control system includes decoupling from the first field device a first removable communication module configured to communicate using a first communication protocol. The example method also includes coupling to the first field device a second removable communication module configured to communicate using a second communication protocol. After coupling the second removable communication module, the first field device is configured to communicate using the second communication protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: David Holmes, Gary Keith Law