Patents by Inventor Michael E. Rourke

Michael E. Rourke 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).

  • Systems and methods for extending a deterministic fieldbus network over a wide area
    Patent number: 8885516
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for extending a deterministic network over a wide geographical area. According to one embodiment, an IED may transmit data frames using a deterministic frame-based communication protocol, such as EtherCAT, via a local deterministic fieldbus. A first transceiver may encapsulate the data frames for transmission over a multiplexing synchronized optical network, such as a SONET network. A second transceiver may de-encapsulate the encapsulated data frames and transmit them via a remote deterministic fieldbus, such that communication between the local and remote deterministic fieldbuses is deterministic. Accordingly, an IED may communicate with a high level of determinism and/or in real-time with various components in a power delivery system across a wide geographical area including multiple deterministic fieldbuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Rourke, David J. Dolezilek, Max B. Ryan, Jerry J. Bennett
  • Systems and Methods for Extending a Deterministic Fieldbus Network over a Wide Area
    Publication number: 20120087656
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for extending a deterministic network over a wide geographical area. According to one embodiment, an IED may transmit data frames using a deterministic frame-based communication protocol, such as EtherCAT, via a local deterministic fieldbus. A first transceiver may encapsulate the data frames for transmission over a multiplexing synchronized optical network, such as a SONET network. A second transceiver may de-encapsulate the encapsulated data frames and transmit them via a remote deterministic fieldbus, such that communication between the local and remote deterministic fieldbuses is deterministic. Accordingly, an IED may communicate with a high level of determinism and/or in real-time with various components in a power delivery system across a wide geographical area including multiple deterministic fieldbuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Michael E. Rourke, David J. Dolezilek, Max B. Ryan, Jerry J. Bennett