Patents by Inventor Robert Martens

Robert Martens 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: 6826267
    Abstract: Appliances (102, 102, 106 and 108) are controlled by providing a source (2016, 112) of command fields (CMD, FIG. 2) that include a context subfield (Community, FIG. 4) defining operating modes and a command subfield (Command, FIG. 4) defining operations to be performed within the context subfield. A network (119) transmits the command fields between the source and the appliance. A controller (112, 116) processes the command fields so that an operation defined by one of the command subfields is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wolfgang Daum, John Steven Holmes, William Hull Bicknell, Scott Alan Horning, Tanveer Iqbal, John Kenneth Hooker, Robert Marten Bultman, Ziqiang Hu, Scott Charles Evans, John Erik Hershey
  • Patent number: 6795871
    Abstract: A control system for an appliance utilizing a plurality of peripheral devices includes a controller and a communications bus coupled to the plurality of peripheral devices and to the controller. The controller is configured to receive data from the peripheral devices over the communications bus and transmit control operations to the peripheral devices based on the data received. The communications bus reduces overall wiring requirements due to elimination or reduction of power wiring of the peripheral devices, facilitates distributed displays and human machine interfaces, and allows model differentiation with late point identification by a population of bus connections with a sensor, display, interface, or a blank. A data collision detection scheme is also provided to ensure proper communication along the bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Tam Nolan, Wolfgang Daum, Rollie Richard Herzog, Mark Robert Mathews, Robert Marten Bultman, John Steven Holmes
  • Patent number: 6732319
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an appliance control system includes a controller having a processor and a memory including at least a first memory area and a second memory area so that a multiple write architecture may be used for storing data. The processor is configured to acquire appliance status data on a periodic basis, write the refrigerator status data to the first memory area and to the second memory area, and perform error detection upon the written data during refrigerator power-up. Upon power up, the controller determines the validity of data in one of the memory locations, or pages. If the data is determined to be invalid on one memory page, another memory page is used. Thus, by storing data redundantly in multiple memory pages with appropriate security measures, data may be retained for use on power-up without the expense of additional electronic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Steven Holmes, Robert Marten Bultman
  • Patent number: 6665384
    Abstract: A method for changing a control program that controls at least some operations of an appliance is provided. The appliance includes at least one electronic control that executes the control program. The method includes connecting the electronic control to a communication device configured to communicate with at least one user device via a network. The method also includes changing the control program via the user device and the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wolfgang Daum, Robert Marten Bultman, John Steven Holmes
  • Publication number: 20030109938
    Abstract: Appliances (102, 102, 106 and 108) are controlled by providing a source (2016, 112) of command fields (CMD, FIG. 2) that include a context subfield (Community, FIG. 4) defining operating modes and a command subfield (Command, FIG. 4) defining operations to be performed within the context subfield. A network (119) transmits the command fields between the source and the appliance. A controller (112, 116) processes the command fields so that an operation defined by one of the command subfields is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Wolfgang Daum, John Steven Holmes, William Hull Bicknell, Scott Alan Horning, Tanveer Iqbal, John Kenneth Hooker, Robert Marten Bultman, Ziqiang Hu, Scott Charles Evans, John Erik Hershey
  • Publication number: 20030006126
    Abstract: A detection apparatus for detecting refrigerator door openings is coupled to at least one switch configured to be activated by a door opening. When the door is opened, the switch is activated and inputs a signal to the detection apparatus. The detection apparatus rectifies the signal; and phase-shifts the rectified signal so that it leads or lags the line voltage. The shifted output signal is fed to a processor that detects the opening of the door based upon the shifted signal. Signals output by a plurality of switches that generate a signal when activated mixed using an opto-coupler. Relative impedance of the lead and lag circuits may be adjusted to differentiate a phase shift of one shifted signal relative to another signal. The processor converts a value in degrees of phase shifting of the mixed signal to a time value, and based upon the time value, the processor determines which of the doors is open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: John Steven Holmes, Jerry J. Queen, Rollie Richard Herzog, Mark Robert Mathews, Robert Marten Bultman
  • Publication number: 20030009610
    Abstract: A control system for an appliance utilizing a plurality of peripheral devices includes a controller and a communications bus coupled to the plurality of peripheral devices and to the controller. The controller is configured to receive data from the peripheral devices over the communications bus and transmit control operations to the peripheral devices based on the data received. The communications bus reduces overall wiring requirements due to elimination or reduction of power wiring of the peripheral devices, facilitates distributed displays and human machine interfaces, and allows model differentiation with late point identification by a population of bus connections with a sensor, display, interface, or a blank. A data collision detection scheme is also provided to ensure proper communication along the bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Tam Nolan, Wolfgang Daum, Rollie Richard Herzog, Mark Robert Mathews, Robert Marten Bultman, John Steven Holmes
  • Publication number: 20020097851
    Abstract: A method for changing a control program that controls at least some operations of an appliance is provided. The appliance includes at least one electronic control that executes the control program. The method includes connecting the electronic control to a communication device configured to communicate with at least one user device via a network. The method also includes changing the control program via the user device and the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Wolfgang Daum, Robert Marten Bultman, John Steven Holmes