Patents by Inventor Wayne Foster
Wayne Foster 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).
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Patent number: 9244153Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide an RFID system for safely controlling an auto guided vehicle, an automated robot or other moving object (“AGV”). The system may include a plurality of radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tags, and each may store a unique identification in a first memory location, a position in a second memory location and/or an instruction in a third memory location. An AGV having an RFID transceiver or antenna and a computer with a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing a predetermined table may read one or more of the memory locations. The table comprises a plurality of data elements with certain data elements associated with particular RFID tags. The AGV safely determines its location upon matching the one or more memory locations read with one or more data elements, or triggers a fault upon failing to match. The AGV may also predict the next RFID tag.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2012Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kevin M. Zomchek, Derek W. Jones, William E. Waltz, Richard W. Boyd, Wayne Foster
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Patent number: 9135762Abstract: Systems and methods are provided relating to utilizing a plurality of RFID tags in conjunction with a circuit comprising at least one reed switch to facilitate determination of operational states and actions based thereon. A magnet can activate the reed switch causing a first RFID tag to be activated and transmit an associated RFID identifier from which a position/operation associated with the first RFID can be determined. The magnet can be removed to activate a second RFID tag whereupon a second RFID identifier is transmitted from which a second position/operation can be determined. The circuit comprising the reed switch and RFID tags can have an induction coil enabling the circuit to be activated when the induction coil is brought into proximity of a second induction coil and inductively coupled.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Wayne Foster, Anatoly Grinberg, Dennis Mackey, Michael Burdenko
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Publication number: 20150123765Abstract: Systems and methods are provided relating to utilizing a plurality of RFID tags in conjunction with a circuit comprising at least one reed switch to facilitate determination of operational states and actions based thereon. A magnet can activate the reed switch causing a first RFID tag to be activated and transmit an associated RFID identifier from which a position/operation associated with the first RFID can be determined. The magnet can be removed to activate a second RFID tag whereupon a second RFID identifier is transmitted from which a second position/operation can be determined. The circuit comprising the reed switch and RFID tags can have an induction coil enabling the circuit to be activated when the induction coil is brought into proximity of a second induction coil and inductively coupled.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2014Publication date: May 7, 2015Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Wayne Foster, Anatoly Grinberg, Dennis Mackey, Michael Burdenko
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Patent number: 8941493Abstract: Systems and methods are provided relating to utilizing a plurality of RFID tags in conjunction with a circuit comprising at least one reed switch to facilitate determination of operational states and actions based thereon. A magnet can activate the reed switch causing a first RFID tag to be activated and transmit an associated RFID identifier from which a position/operation associated with the first RFID can be determined. The magnet can be removed to activate a second RFID tag whereupon a second RFID identifier is transmitted from which a second position/operation can be determined. The circuit comprising the reed switch and RFID tags can have an induction coil enabling the circuit to be activated when the induction coil is brought into proximity of a second induction coil and inductively coupled.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2011Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Wayne Foster, Anatoly Grinberg, Dennis Mackey, Michael Burdenko
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Publication number: 20140118117Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide an RFID system for safely controlling an auto guided vehicle, an automated robot or other moving object (“AGV/BOT”). The system may include a plurality of radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tags, and each may store a unique identification in a first memory location, a position in a second memory location and/or an instruction in a third memory location. An AGV/BOT having an RFID transceiver or antenna and a computer with a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing a predetermined table may read one or more of the memory locations. The table comprises a plurality of data elements with certain data elements associated with particular RFID tags. The AGV/BOT safely determines its location upon matching the one or more memory locations read with one or more data elements, or triggers a fault upon failing to match. The AGV/BOT may also predict the next RFID tag.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2012Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kevin M. Zomchek, Derek W. Jones, William E. Waltz, Richard W. Boyd, Wayne Foster
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Publication number: 20130127599Abstract: Systems and methods are provided relating to utilizing a plurality of RFID tags in conjunction with a circuit comprising at least one reed switch to facilitate determination of operational states and actions based thereon. A magnet can activate the reed switch causing a first RFID tag to be activated and transmit an associated RFID identifier from which a position/operation associated with the first RFID can be determined. The magnet can be removed to activate a second RFID tag whereupon a second RFID identifier is transmitted from which a second position/operation can be determined. The circuit comprising the reed switch and RFID tags can have an induction coil enabling the circuit to be activated when the induction coil is brought into proximity of a second induction coil and inductively coupled.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2011Publication date: May 23, 2013Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Wayne Foster, Anatoly Grinberg, Dennis MacKey, Michael Burdenko