Patents by Inventor William M. Slechta

William M. Slechta 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: 10302515
    Abstract: Providing a fast response to a process step while allowing a sensor response to remain relatively slow. A mechanical component generates a response to a step change in a physical property and an electrical component generates an analog electrical signal indicative of the response generated by the mechanical component over a period of time. The analog electrical signal is converted into digital values and the digital values are used to indicate the final value of the step change in the physical property before the period of time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Slechta
  • Publication number: 20180003581
    Abstract: Providing a fast response to a process step while allowing a sensor response to remain relatively slow. A mechanical component generates a response to a step change in a physical property and an electrical component generates an analog electrical signal indicative of the response generated by the mechanical component over a period of time. The analog electrical signal is converted into digital values and the digital values are used to indicate the final value of the step change in the physical property before the period of time has elapsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventor: William M. Slechta
  • Patent number: 9823149
    Abstract: A slew rate detection circuit connected to a sensor detects when an analog electrical signal from the sensor indicates a slew rate that exceeds a threshold value, and generates an interrupt electrical signal when the slew rate is detected as exceeding the threshold value. A control circuit determines a measurement value of the physical property in response to receiving the interrupt signal. The control circuit is connected to an A/D converter, which converts the analog electrical signal into a digital electrical signal, and performs a plurality of sensing system operations including determining the measurement value of the physical property as a function of the digital electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Slechta
  • Patent number: 9797794
    Abstract: Providing a fast response to a process step while allowing a sensor response to remain relatively slow. A mechanical component generates a response to a step change in a physical property and an electrical component generates an analog electrical signal indicative of the response generated by the mechanical component over a period of time. The analog electrical signal is converted into digital values and the digital values are used to indicate the final value of the step change in the physical property before the period of time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Slechta
  • Publication number: 20160153855
    Abstract: A slew rate detection circuit connected to a sensor detects when an analog electrical signal from the sensor indicates a slew rate that exceeds a threshold value, and generates an interrupt electrical signal when the slew rate is detected as exceeding the threshold value. A control circuit determines a measurement value of the physical property in response to receiving the interrupt signal. The control circuit is connected to an A/D converter, which converts the analog electrical signal into a digital electrical signal, and performs a plurality of sensing system operations including determining the measurement value of the physical property as a function of the digital electrical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Slechta
  • Patent number: 9285286
    Abstract: A sensing system comprising a sensor for generating an analog electrical signal indicative of a sensed physical property and an A/D converter for converting the analog electrical signal into a digital electrical signal. A control circuit connected to the A/D converter is configured to receive the digital electrical signal and to perform a plurality of sensing system operations including determining a measurement value of the physical property as a function of said received digital electrical signal. A slew rate detection circuit connected to the sensor is configured to detect when the analog electrical signal indicates a slew rate that exceeds a threshold value, and to generate an interrupt electrical signal when the slew rate is detected as exceeding the threshold value. The control circuit determines a measurement value of the physical property in response to receiving the interrupt signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Slechta
  • Publication number: 20150192485
    Abstract: A sensing system comprising a sensor for generating an analog electrical signal indicative of a sensed physical property and an A/D converter for converting the analog electrical signal into a digital electrical signal. A control circuit connected to the A/D converter is configured to receive the digital electrical signal and to perform a plurality of sensing system operations including determining a measurement value of the physical property as a function of said received digital electrical signal. A slew rate detection circuit connected to the sensor is configured to detect when the analog electrical signal indicates a slew rate that exceeds a threshold value, and to generate an interrupt electrical signal when the slew rate is detected as exceeding the threshold value. The control circuit determines a measurement value of the physical property in response to receiving the interrupt signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Slechta
  • Publication number: 20140368259
    Abstract: Providing a fast response to a process step while allowing a sensor response to remain relatively slow. A mechanical component generates a response to a step change in a physical property and an electrical component generates an analog electrical signal indicative of the response generated by the mechanical component over a period of time. The analog electrical signal is converted into digital values and the digital values are used to indicate the final value of the step change in the physical property before the period of time has elapsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Slechta
  • Patent number: 5917840
    Abstract: A method for transmitting messages between a communications controller and devices in a factory process control system, wherein each device has an associated identification number which is unique to that device. A message to be transmitted is compiled, and then based on the criticality of the message, one of a standard, secure, or critical message protocols is chosen for the message; each protocol being defined to generate a message checksum for the message in a manner different from the other protocols. The generated checksum is then included in the message. Using the secure and critical protocols, a message checksum is generated from the message to be transmitted and the identification number of the intended recipient device. In the secure protocol, the message checksum is included in the message, but the identification number is not included in the message; in the critical protocol, both the message checksum and the identification number are included in the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Foxboro Company
    Inventors: M. Charles Cheney, Simon Korowitz, William M. Slechta, Nathan H. Tobol