John R O'Connell

US Patent:

20130306886, Nov 21, 2013

Filed:

May 17, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/474351

Inventors:

John O'Connell - Painesville OH, US
Dale Terdan - Concord Township OH, US

International Classification:

G02B 27/00

US Classification:

250551

Abstract:

An I/O circuit for use with an industrial controller provides an input circuit with low power dissipation through the use of a series connected substantially nonresistance impedance. An AC waveform input activates a light emitting diode (LED) bridge to provide an optical signal which illuminates a photosensitive solid-state switch thereby providing optical isolation between the industrial controller and the controlled process or machine. By using a series connected substantially nonresistance impedance, reduced current demand by the input circuit may be realized, which allows reduced power dissipation. As a result, the same circuit allows receiving input signals over a greater range, such as 120 volts AC and 240 volts AC, and allows significantly smaller components with closer spacing for a more compact design.

US Patent:

20130307514, Nov 21, 2013

Filed:

May 17, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/473711

Inventors:

John O'Connell - Painesville OH, US
Dale Terdan - Concord Township OH, US
David A. Pasela - Seven Hills OH, US
Charmaine J. Van Minnen - Aurora OH, US
Bret S. Hildebran - Chagrin Falls OH, US

International Classification:

G05F 3/16
G02B 27/00

US Classification:

323312, 250551

Abstract:

An I/O circuit for use with an industrial controller provides a photovoltaic optical isolator communicating between a controller and a field-side of the I/O circuit, the photovoltaic optical isolator eliminating the need for high wattage power dropping circuits for powering the field-side of the I/O circuit from high-voltage field signals. The field effect transistor type transistors permit use of the low-power photovoltaic optical isolator while allowing flexible connections to various field circuit types.

US Patent:

20130307586, Nov 21, 2013

Filed:

May 17, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/474348

Inventors:

John O'Connell - Painesville OH, US
Dale Terdan - Concord Township OH, US

International Classification:

H03K 5/1536

US Classification:

327 79

Abstract:

An I/O circuit for use with an industrial controller provides a zero-crossing detector circuit with low power dissipation through the use of a zero-crossing circuit that activates a light emitting diode of a photo coupler only for a very brief period of time at the zero-crossing (as opposed to at all times other than the zero-crossing). The circuit is coupled with a power supply circuit that uses a reactive element for voltage dropping as opposed to a resistive voltage drop element further reducing power consumption possible with the low power consumption of the photo coupler.

US Patent:

58962638, Apr 20, 1999

Filed:

Jun 27, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/884305

Inventors:

Dale R. Terdan - Concord Township OH
John R. O'Connell - Willoughby OH

Assignee:

Allen-Bradley Company, LLC - Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

H02H 300

US Classification:

361101

Abstract:

An output circuit has multi-stage protection circuitry for protecting against different fault current conditions. The protection circuitry operates by detecting voltage changes across the output transistor of the output circuit. The output circuit comprises first, second and third switching devices. The first switching device is connected to the output device and power conditions the output signal. The second and third switching devices override the output signal and turn off the first switching device when a magnitude of current through the first switching device exceeds predetermined magnitudes for predetermined amounts of time. A protection circuit is also disclosed which has a sensing device that senses a current flow condition by sensing a voltage drop produced across two terminals of the first power conditioning transistor, the two terminals being the terminals through which the current flows. Advantageously, the output circuit utilizes highly flexible two-stage protection circuitry. The protection circuitry separately identifies surge current and overcurrent conditions.

US Patent:

20230039029, Feb 9, 2023

Filed:

Oct 21, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/970929

Inventors:

- Mayfield Heights OH, US
John R. O'Connell - Painesville OH, US
Jared Bell - Lakewood OH, US

International Classification:

H04L 1/24
G05B 9/03
G05B 19/05
H04L 1/22

Abstract:

A system and method for detecting a failure in a redundant signal path during operation of the redundant path is disclosed. A test signal is sequentially injected into each signal path while an input signal is conducted by the other signal path not receiving the test signal. The test signal is selected at a frequency to verify operation of a filter connected in series along each path. A processor generates the test signal, injects the test signal at the input of the filter, and receives the output of the filter. The processor then generates a frequency response of the filter in each signal path as a function of the output from the filter and of the original test signal. The frequency response obtained along each of the redundant signal paths is compared to each other to detect a failure of one of the filters present along the respective signal paths.