Patents by Inventor Mei Fa Chen

Mei Fa Chen 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).

  • System and method for synchronizing messages using a least common multiple in industrial process control and automation systems
    Patent number: 10401815
    Abstract: A method includes determining a scan rate associated with each of a plurality of input/output (I/O) modules. The method also includes transmitting a read request message to at least one expansion controller that controls the plurality of I/O modules, the read request message having an align index field. The method further includes receiving a reply message from the at least one expansion controller for each of the I/O modules for which a value of the align index field of the read request message is an even multiple of the associated scan rate. The method also includes incrementing the value of the align index field. In addition, the method includes repeating the transmitting, receiving, and incrementing until the value of the align index field is greater than a threshold, wherein the threshold is a least common multiple of the scan rates of the plurality of I/O modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Yanqiu Wang, Chengtao Zhang, Fei Cheng, Yi Cheng, Li Chen, Mei Fa Chen
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZING MESSAGES USING A LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE IN INDUSTRIAL PROCESS CONTROL AND AUTOMATION SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20180299853
    Abstract: A method includes determining a scan rate associated with each of a plurality of input/output (I/O) modules. The method also includes transmitting a read request message to at least one expansion controller that controls the plurality of I/O modules, the read request message having an align index field. The method further includes receiving a reply message from the at least one expansion controller for each of the I/O modules for which a value of the align index field of the read request message is an even multiple of the associated scan rate. The method also includes incrementing the value of the align index field. In addition, the method includes repeating the transmitting, receiving, and incrementing until the value of the align index field is greater than a threshold, wherein the threshold is a least common multiple of the scan rates of the plurality of I/O modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Yanqiu Wang, Chengtao Zhang, Fei Cheng, Yi Cheng, Li Chen, Mei Fa Chen