Patents by Inventor Stephen C. Gilbert

Stephen C. Gilbert 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: 11650718
    Abstract: Flexible graphic element objects in a process plant are configurable both in a run-time operating environment in which a process is being controlled and in a configuration environment. An instantiated flexible graphic element object may be a display view or may be another graphic element included on a display view. A graphic element object may be linked to and/or derived from another graphic element object, and changes to a particular graphic element object may be propagated to its derivations, e.g., according to a distribution policy. Changes to definitions corresponding to a particular graphic element object (e.g., to the definition of a graphic element attribute such as a shape, animation, event handler or property) may be overridden or modified in another object derived from the particular graphic element object. The modified derived object may be renamed and saved separately from the particular graphic element object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen G. Hammack, Stephen C. Gilbert, Matthew J. Sullivan, Larry O. Jundt
  • Patent number: 11599251
    Abstract: Flexible graphic element objects in a process plant are configurable both in a run-time operating environment in which a process is being controlled and in a configuration environment. An instantiated flexible graphic element object may be a display view or may be another graphic element included on a display view. A graphic element object may be linked to and/or derived from another graphic element object, and changes to a particular graphic element object may be propagated to its derivations, e.g., according to a distribution policy. Changes to definitions corresponding to a particular graphic element object (e.g., to the definition of a graphic element attribute such as a shape, animation, event handler or property) may be overridden or modified in another object derived from the particular graphic element object. The modified derived object may be renamed and saved separately from the particular graphic element object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC
    Inventors: Stephen G. Hammack, Stephen C. Gilbert, Matthew J. Sullivan, Larry O. Jundt
  • Patent number: 11216159
    Abstract: A configuration element is presented on a configuration display view for configuring a graphic element object. The graphic element object is to be instantiated on a process control display view, and corresponds to a process entity in a process plant. The configuration element object has a set of properties for an attributed of the graphic element object and includes a link to a configuration display object from which the configuration display view is instantiated. The instantiation of the configuration element object includes a visual representation of the set of properties for the attribute of the graphic element object, and a link to the graphic element object to send data corresponding to a property configured in the configuration element from the set of properties. The configured property corresponds to at least one configured attribute of the graphic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Julian K. Naidoo, Daniel R. Strinden, Robert B. Havekost, Stephen G. Hammack, Stephen C. Gilbert, Matthew Joseph Sullivan, Larry O. Jundt, Roberta Coffman
  • Publication number: 20200319767
    Abstract: Flexible graphic element objects in a process plant are configurable both in a run-time operating environment in which a process is being controlled and in a configuration environment. An instantiated flexible graphic element object may be a display view or may be another graphic element included on a display view. A graphic element object may be linked to and/or derived from another graphic element object, and changes to a particular graphic element object may be propagated to its derivations, e.g., according to a distribution policy. Changes to definitions corresponding to a particular graphic element object (e.g., to the definition of a graphic element attribute such as a shape, animation, event handler or property) may be overridden or modified in another object derived from the particular graphic element object. The modified derived object may be renamed and saved separately from the particular graphic element object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen G. Hammack, Stephen C. Gilbert, Matthew J. Sullivan, Larry O. Jundt
  • Publication number: 20200225821
    Abstract: Flexible graphic element objects in a process plant are configurable both in a run-time operating environment in which a process is being controlled and in a configuration environment. An instantiated flexible graphic element object may be a display view or may be another graphic element included on a display view. A graphic element object may be linked to and/or derived from another graphic element object, and changes to a particular graphic element object may be propagated to its derivations, e.g., according to a distribution policy. Changes to definitions corresponding to a particular graphic element object (e.g., to the definition of a graphic element attribute such as a shape, animation, event handler or property) may be overridden or modified in another object derived from the particular graphic element object. The modified derived object may be renamed and saved separately from the particular graphic element object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen G. Hammack, Stephen C. Gilbert, Matthew J. Sullivan, Larry O. Jundt
  • Patent number: 10691311
    Abstract: Flexible graphic element objects in a process plant are configurable both in a run-time operating environment in which a process is being controlled and in a configuration environment. An instantiated flexible graphic element object may be a display view or may be another graphic element included on a display view. A graphic element object may be linked to and/or derived from another graphic element object, and changes to a particular graphic element object may be propagated to its derivations, e.g., according to a distribution policy. Changes to definitions corresponding to a particular graphic element object (e.g., to the definition of a graphic element attribute such as a shape, animation, event handler or property) may be overridden or modified in another object derived from the particular graphic element object. The modified derived object may be renamed and saved separately from the particular graphic element object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen G. Hammack, Stephen C. Gilbert, Matthew J. Sullivan, Larry O. Jundt
  • Publication number: 20180046339
    Abstract: A configuration element is presented on a configuration display view for configuring a graphic element object. The graphic element object is to be instantiated on a process control display view, and corresponds to a process entity in a process plant. The configuration element object has a set of properties for an attributed of the graphic element object and includes a link to a configuration display object from which the configuration display view is instantiated. The instantiation of the configuration element object includes a visual representation of the set of properties for the attribute of the graphic element object, and a link to the graphic element object to send data corresponding to a property configured in the configuration element from the set of properties. The configured property corresponds to at least one configured attribute of the graphic element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Julian K. Naidoo, Daniel R. Strinden, Robert B. Havekost, Stephen G. Hammack, Stephen C. Gilbert, Matthew Joseph Sullivan, Larry O. Jundt, Roberta Coffman
  • Publication number: 20170364225
    Abstract: Flexible graphic element objects in a process plant are configurable both in a run-time operating environment in which a process is being controlled and in a configuration environment. An instantiated flexible graphic element object may be a display view or may be another graphic element included on a display view. A graphic element object may be linked to and/or derived from another graphic element object, and changes to a particular graphic element object may be propagated to its derivations, e.g., according to a distribution policy. Changes to definitions corresponding to a particular graphic element object (e.g., to the definition of a graphic element attribute such as a shape, animation, event handler or property) may be overridden or modified in another object derived from the particular graphic element object. The modified derived object may be renamed and saved separately from the particular graphic element object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen G. Hammack, Stephen C. Gilbert, Matthew J. Sullivan, Larry O. Jundt
  • Patent number: 9792004
    Abstract: Flexible graphic element objects in a process plant are configurable both in a run-time operating environment in which a process is being controlled and in a configuration environment. An instantiated flexible graphic element object may be a display view or may be another graphic element included on a display view. A graphic element object may be linked to and/or derived from another graphic element object, and changes to a particular graphic element object may be propagated to its derivations, e.g., according to a distribution policy. Changes to definitions corresponding to a particular graphic element object (e.g., to the definition of a graphic element attribute such as a shape, animation, event handler or property) may be overridden or modified in another object derived from the particular graphic element object. The modified derived object may be renamed and saved separately from the particular graphic element object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen G. Hammack, Stephen C. Gilbert, Matthew J. Sullivan, Larry O. Jundt
  • Patent number: 9762659
    Abstract: A display configuration system enables a graphical designer to create reusable template graphical display elements that can be easily modified by, for example, other graphical designers with less experience in graphical design programming, such that the modified graphical display elements can reflect one of various different possible functionalities of plant equipment or plant usages to which the modified graphical display element is to be tied during operation. The display configuration system includes a graphical design application that enables the creation of generic or library graphical elements that include basic graphical functionality associated with particular types of plant equipment or associated with particular types of graphic display functionality and includes a configuration form editor that enables a user to create quick configuration forms that define predetermined potential modifications to be made to the template graphical element when creating a usage from the template graphical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Herschel O. Koska, Larry O. Jundt, Stephen C. Gilbert, Robert B. Havekost, Paul K. Daly
  • Patent number: 9557735
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to manage process control status rollups are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving process control information from at least one process control device included within a process control system, determining at least one issue associated with a portion of the received process control information, receiving a selection of a status type, determining if the at least one issue is associated with the selected status type, and displaying a process control status rollup associated with the selected status type and including the at least one issue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Molly Marie Firkins, Stephen C. Gilbert, Cindy Scott
  • Patent number: 9256219
    Abstract: A method in a computer system for developing a process control strategy includes providing a module template having a first plurality of components and being associated with a control operation, receiving a selection of one or more of the first plurality of components of the module template, generating an instance of a module based on the module template, including instantiating only the selected one or more of the first plurality of components, and associating the generated instance of the module with the process control strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Terrence L. Blevins, John M. Lucas, Mark J. Nixon, Stephen C. Gilbert, Alper T. Enver
  • Publication number: 20150193418
    Abstract: A display configuration system enables a graphical designer to create reusable template graphical display elements that can be easily modified by, for example, other graphical designers with less experience in graphical design programming, such that the modified graphical display elements can reflect one of various different possible functionalities of plant equipment or plant usages to which the modified graphical display element is to be tied during operation. The display configuration system includes a graphical design application that enables the creation of generic or library graphical elements that include basic graphical functionality associated with particular types of plant equipment or associated with particular types of graphic display functionality and includes a configuration form editor that enables a user to create quick configuration forms that define predetermined potential modifications to be made to the template graphical element when creating a usage from the template graphical element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Herschel O. Koska, Larry O. Jundt, Stephen C. Gilbert, Robert B. Havekost, Paul K. Daly
  • Patent number: 8881039
    Abstract: Parameters associated with sub-elements of a composite shape may determine how the sub-element is scaled during resizing of the composite shape. A graphical display editor may use the scaling parameters to calculate various scaling factors that are then applied to the sub-elements of each composite shape during resizing. The editor may apply the scaling parameters to the sub-elements for resizing in one or more axes (e.g., the length, width, and height or X, Y, and Z axes, etc.) to adjust the composite shape for a particular graphical display. The editor may apply the scaling parameters directly to each sub-element to prevent any distortion of those sub-elements. The configured scaling parameters may then be linked to the composite shape so that, at runtime, the parameters are applied to the composite shape and its sub-elements. The scaling parameters may be applied to both composite shapes and animations associated with the composite shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen G. Hammack, Bruce H. Campney, Stephen C. Gilbert, Adrian A. Sanchez
  • Patent number: 8756517
    Abstract: Parameters associated with sub-elements of a composite shape may determine how the sub-element is scaled during resizing of the composite shape. A graphical display editor may use the scaling parameters to calculate various scaling factors that are then applied to the sub-elements of each composite shape during resizing. The editor may apply the scaling parameters to the sub-elements for resizing in one or more axes (e.g., the length, width, and height or X, Y, and Z axes, etc.) to adjust the composite shape for a particular graphical display. The editor may apply the scaling parameters directly to each sub-element to prevent any distortion of those sub-elements. The configured scaling parameters may then be linked to the composite shape so that, at runtime, the parameters are applied to the composite shape and its sub-elements. The scaling parameters may be applied to both composite shapes and animations associated with the composite shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen G. Hammack, Bruce H. Campney, Stephen C. Gilbert, Adrian A. Sanchez
  • Publication number: 20110144777
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to manage process control status rollups are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving process control information from at least one process control device included within a process control system, determining at least one issue associated with a portion of the received process control information, receiving a selection of a status type, determining if the at least one issue is associated with the selected status type, and displaying a process control status rollup associated with the selected status type and including the at least one issue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Molly Marie Firkins, Stephen C. Gilbert, Cindy Scott
  • Publication number: 20110040390
    Abstract: A method in a computer system for developing a process control strategy includes providing a module template having a first plurality of components and being associated with a control operation, receiving a selection of one or more of the first plurality of components of the module template, generating an instance of a module based on the module template, including instantiating only the selected one or more of the first plurality of components, and associating the generated instance of the module with the process control strategy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Terrence L. Blevins, John M. Lucas, Mark J. Nixon, Stephen C. Gilbert, Alper T. Enver
  • Publication number: 20100235767
    Abstract: Parameters associated with sub-elements of a composite shape may determine how the sub-element is scaled during resizing of the composite shape. A graphical display editor may use the scaling parameters to calculate various scaling factors that are then applied to the sub-elements of each composite shape during resizing. The editor may apply the scaling parameters to the sub-elements for resizing in one or more axes (e.g., the length, width, and height or X, Y, and Z axes, etc.) to adjust the composite shape for a particular graphical display. The editor may apply the scaling parameters directly to each sub-element to prevent any distortion of those sub-elements. The configured scaling parameters may then be linked to the composite shape so that, at runtime, the parameters are applied to the composite shape and its sub-elements. The scaling parameters may be applied to both composite shapes and animations associated with the composite shapes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen G. Hammack, Bruce H. Campney, Stephen C. Gilbert, Adrian A. Sanchez