Patents by Inventor Patrick K. Duffy

Patrick K. Duffy 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).

  • Publication number: 20230029786
    Abstract: A system may include a relay device. The relay device may include an armature that moves between a first position that electrically couples a first contact to a second contact and a second position that electrically uncouples the first contact from the second contact. The relay device may also include a relay coil that receives a voltage configured to magnetize a relay coil, thereby causing the armature to move from the first position to the second position. The system also includes a control system that receives an indication that the armature is in the second position and sends a signal to an actuator in response to receiving the indication. The signal causes an arm associated with the actuator to move the armature to achieve a gap distance between the first contact and the second contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: David Elmiger, Patrick K. Duffy, Kyle B. Adkins
  • Patent number: 11417482
    Abstract: A system may include a relay device. The relay device may include an armature that moves between a first position that electrically couples a first contact to a second contact and a second position that electrically uncouples the first contact from the second contact. The relay device may also include a relay coil that receives a voltage configured to magnetize a relay coil, thereby causing the armature to move from the first position to the second position. The system also includes a control system that receives an indication that the armature is in the second position and sends a signal to an actuator in response to receiving the indication. The signal causes an arm associated with the actuator to move the armature to achieve a gap distance between the first contact and the second contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Elmiger, Patrick K. Duffy, Kyle B. Adkins
  • Patent number: 11394321
    Abstract: A point-on-wave relay device includes a first contact relay and a second contact relay in series with the first contact relay. A first state of the first contact relay in conjunction with a first state of the second contact relay causes a point-on-wave open operation and second state of the first contact relay in conjunction with a second state of the second contact relay causes a point-on-wave close operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan T. Dziekonski, Ahmad K. Omari, Patrick K. Duffy, Andrew E. Carlson, Randall S. Langer
  • Patent number: 11171918
    Abstract: A system may include a first device that has a first network component and a second device that has a second network component. The second network component may receive a data packet from the first network component based at least in part on a network address, where the network address is generated based at least in part on a location of the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Brandt, Patrick K. Duffy, Jerry Michael Watkins, William H. Martin, Dayin Xu, Guolin Zhang
  • Publication number: 20210099108
    Abstract: A point-on-wave relay device includes a first contact relay and a second contact relay in series with the first contact relay. A first state of the first contact relay in conjunction with a first state of the second contact relay causes a point-on-wave open operation and second state of the first contact relay in conjunction with a second state of the second contact relay causes a point-on-wave close operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Stefan T. Dziekonski, Ahmad K. Omari, Patrick K. Duffy, Andrew E. Carlson, Randall S. Langer
  • Publication number: 20210098218
    Abstract: A system may include a relay device. The relay device may include an armature that moves between a first position that electrically couples a first contact to a second contact and a second position that electrically uncouples the first contact from the second contact. The relay device may also include a relay coil that receives a voltage configured to magnetize a relay coil, thereby causing the armature to move from the first position to the second position. The system also includes a control system that receives an indication that the armature is in the second position and sends a signal to an actuator in response to receiving the indication. The signal causes an arm associated with the actuator to move the armature to achieve a gap distance between the first contact and the second contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: David Elmiger, Patrick K. Duffy, Kyle B. Adkins
  • Publication number: 20200382468
    Abstract: A system may include a first device that has a first network component and a second device that has a second network component. The second network component may receive a data packet from the first network component based at least in part on a network address, where the network address is generated based at least in part on a location of the first device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: David D. Brandt, Patrick K. Duffy, Jerry Michael Watkins, William H. Martin, Dayin Xu, Guolin Zhang
  • Patent number: 10422821
    Abstract: A system to verify the identity of modules within a stack light is disclosed. A sensor is mounted to a circuit board inserted within a housing of the module, and a target is mounted to or integrally formed in the housing. The sensor detects and generates a signal corresponding to the detected target. Different targets or locations for the target are provided for each housing. The module, a base for the stack light, or a remote controller in communication with the stack light identifies the housing in which the circuit board is mounted based on the feedback signal generated by detecting the target. At power-up, a routine may initiate a verification routine by which each module in the stack light determines the type of housing in which the circuit board for that module is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Will J. Preischel, John P. Caspers, Patrick K. Duffy
  • Publication number: 20180299370
    Abstract: A system to verify the identity of modules within a stack light is disclosed. A sensor is mounted to a circuit board inserted within a housing of the module, and a target is mounted to or integrally formed in the housing. The sensor detects and generates a signal corresponding to the detected target. Different targets or locations for the target are provided for each housing. The module, a base for the stack light, or a remote controller in communication with the stack light identifies the housing in which the circuit board is mounted based on the feedback signal generated by detecting the target. At power-up, a routine may initiate a verification routine by which each module in the stack light determines the type of housing in which the circuit board for that module is located.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Will J. Preischel, John P. Caspers, Patrick K. Duffy
  • Patent number: 7576958
    Abstract: A technique is provided for controlling an operator in a circuit such as a relay circuit. The operator may be a coil in an electromagnetic relay. The coil is energized only when current through a leakage current suppression circuit is sufficient to exceed a predetermined threshold. The leakage current suppression circuit is operative to prevent energization of the operator, or to deenergize the operator, when the current is below the threshold, within a range anticipated for leakage current through the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dallas J. Bergh, Patrick K. Duffy
  • Publication number: 20030063418
    Abstract: A technique is provided for controlling an operator in a circuit such as a relay circuit. The operator may be a coil in an electromagnetic relay. The coil is energized only when current through a leakage current suppression circuit is sufficient to exceed a predetermined threshold. The leakage current suppression circuit is operative to prevent energization of the operator, or to deenergize the operator, when the current is below the threshold, within a range anticipated for leakage current through the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventors: Dallas J. Bergh, Patrick K. Duffy