Patents by Inventor Neil W. Knutsen

Neil W. Knutsen 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: 8355821
    Abstract: A motor control host includes a plurality of ports, a memory, and a processing device. The memory is operable to store an enable mask defining an enablement state for each of the ports. The processing device is operable to send a first message over those selected ports having an affirmative enablement state to maintain a communication link over the selected ports and inhibit the first message for those ports having a negative enablement state. A method for configuring a motor control system including a motor control host having a plurality of ports includes storing an enable mask defining an enablement state for each of the ports. A first message is sent over those selected ports having an affirmative enablement state to maintain a communication link over the selected ports. The first message is inhibited for those ports having a negative enablement state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Rustad, Scott D. Braun, Neil W. Knutsen, Gregory W. Mears, John H. Stuedemann, James B. Vitrano
  • Publication number: 20100274393
    Abstract: A motor control host includes a plurality of ports, a memory, and a processing device. The memory is operable to store an enable mask defining an enablement state for each of the ports. The processing device is operable to send a first message over those selected ports having an affirmative enablement state to maintain a communication link over the selected ports and inhibit the first message for those ports having a negative enablement state. A method for configuring a motor control system including a motor control host having a plurality of ports includes storing an enable mask defining an enablement state for each of the ports. A first message is sent over those selected ports having an affirmative enablement state to maintain a communication link over the selected ports. The first message is inhibited for those ports having a negative enablement state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: James S. Rustad, Scott D. Braun, Neil W. Knutsen, Gregory W. Nears, John H. Stuedemann, James B. Vitrano
  • Patent number: 7774089
    Abstract: A motor control host includes a plurality of ports, a memory, and a processing device. The memory is operable to store an enable mask defining an enablement state for each of the ports. The processing device is operable to send a first message over those selected ports having an affirmative enablement state to maintain a communication link over the selected ports and inhibit the first message for those ports having a negative enablement state. A method for configuring a motor control system including a motor control host having a plurality of ports includes storing an enable mask defining an enablement state for each of the ports. A first message is sent over those selected ports having an affirmative enablement state to maintain a communication link over the selected ports. The first message is inhibited for those ports having a negative enablement state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Rustad, Scott D. Braun, Neil W. Knutsen, Gregory W. Mears, John H. Stuedemann, James B. Vitrano
  • Patent number: 7668605
    Abstract: An industrial control system includes a motor drive, a wireless interface module, and a wireless user interface. The motor drive has at least a first port. The wireless interface module is coupled to the first port of the motor drive. The wireless user interface is operable to connect to the wireless interface module and establish a first connection through the wireless interface module to access the motor drive. A user interface operable to connect to a device within an industrial control system includes a display and a processing unit operable to establish a connection with the device and display an image representative of the device on the display responsive to establishing the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott D. Braun, Calvin C. Steinweg, Christine E. Weingarth, Neil W. Knutsen
  • Patent number: 7636030
    Abstract: A wireless user interface is operable to interface with an industrial control system including a device operable to store a first password and a wireless interface module operable to store a second password. The wireless user interface includes a processing unit operable to prompt a user for the first and second passwords, connect to the wireless interface module using the second password, and establish a first connection through the wireless interface module to access the device using the second password.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christine E. Weingarth, Neil W. Knutsen, James S. Rustad, Elena N. Pokatayev
  • Patent number: 5005152
    Abstract: A decompiler for industrial controllers operates on ladder logic programs that have been compiled into series jump format machine code. Series jump machine code evaluates ladder logic rungs through jump instructions jumping to a COIL ON routine, a COIL OFF routine, or another jump instruction, where each contact of the rung is associated with a single jump instruction. The decompiler creates a matrix of connection nodes then simplifies the matrix to return the ladder logic program. A decompiled ladder diagram may be thereby produced without the need for non-executable source code "tokens" included within the compiled machine language program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company
    Inventor: Neil W. Knutsen
  • Patent number: 4839852
    Abstract: A programmable controller includes a processor unit which connects to one or more I/O units that connect to sensing devices and operating devices on equipment being controlled. When placed in the RUN mode, the processor determines the number of I/O units required to execute the user control program, and during each subsequent I/O scan, the number of connected and operating I/O units is checked to insure proper operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Neil W. Knutsen