Thong H Nguyen

US Patent:

7177132, Feb 13, 2007

Filed:

Sep 15, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/663046

Inventors:

Michael Lee Gasperi - Racine WI, US
David Dale Brandt - Milwaukee WI, US
Thong T. Nguyen - Shorewood WI, US

Assignee:

Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. - Mayfield Heights OH

International Classification:

H01H 35/00
H01H 36/00

US Classification:

361181, 178 1802, 307116, 307125, 340644, 361179

Abstract:

A technique for controlling a switching circuit includes one or more sensing circuits that generate signals based upon the presence of an actuating object and upon a randomly applied strobe signal. The generated signals are sampled and are used as a for determining the state of an output signal. The sensing circuit may generate the signals based upon capacitive coupling with the actuating object. The randomization of the sampling enhances immunity to periodic noise. Where more than one sensing circuit is included, the output of the circuits may be considered together for determining the state of the output signal, such as based upon predetermined ranges of signal levels. Signals of the sensing circuit may be sampled in the absence of the strobe to provide an indication of the relative noise level. If the noise level is determined to be elevated, the output signal may not change states.

US Patent:

7298275, Nov 20, 2007

Filed:

Sep 27, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/256699

Inventors:

David D. Brandt - Milwaukee WI, US
David W. Farchmin - Grafton WI, US
Ramdas M. Pai - Racine WI, US
Thong Nguyen - Shorewood WI, US

Assignee:

Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. - Mayfield Heights OH

International Classification:

G08B 23/00
B60T 7/12
G05D 1/00
G06F 7/00
G06F 17/00

US Classification:

3405731, 701 79, 701200, 702188, 705 6

Abstract:

A method for identifying a machine from within a facility for which information is to be presented via a wireless information device (WID), the method including the steps of assigning machine identifiers to each facility machine, determining WID location within the facility, presenting machine identifiers corresponding to machines associated with the WID location to the WID user, receiving a selection indication via the WID indicating one of the visually presented machine identifiers, accessing machine information corresponding to the selected machine identifier, transmitting the accessed machine information to the WID and presenting the accessed machine information via the WID.

US Patent:

20040189100, Sep 30, 2004

Filed:

Mar 25, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/396055

Inventors:

Michael Gasperi - Racine WI, US
David Brandt - Milwaukee WI, US
Thong Nguyen - Shorewood WI, US

International Classification:

H02H001/00

US Classification:

307/125000

Abstract:

A technique for controlling a switching circuit, such as a relay, includes one or more sensing circuits that generate signals based upon the presence of an actuating object and upon a randomly applied strobe signal. The generated signals are sampled and are used as a basis for determining the state of an output signal. The sensing circuit may generate the signals based upon capacitive coupling with the actuating object. The randomization of the sampling provides enhanced immunity to periodic or cyclic noise. Where more than one sensing circuit is included, the output of the circuits may be considered together for determining the state of the output signal, such as based upon predetermined ranges of signal levels. Signals of the sensing circuit may be sampled in the absence of the strobe to provide an indication of the relative noise level. If the noise level is determined to be elevated, the output signal may not change states.

US Patent:

20040195919, Oct 7, 2004

Filed:

Apr 2, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/405014

Inventors:

Michael Gasperi - Racine WI, US
David Brandt - Milwaukee WI, US
Thong Nguyen - Shorewood WI, US

International Classification:

G08C013/00

US Classification:

307/652000

Abstract:

A technique for controlling a switching circuit, such as a relay, includes one or more sensing circuits that generate signals based upon the presence of an actuating object and upon a randomly applied strobe signal. The generated signals are sampled and are used as a basis for determining the state of an output signal. The sensing circuit may generate the signals based upon capacitive coupling with the actuating object. The randomization of the sampling provides enhanced immunity to periodic or cyclic noise. Where more than one sensing circuit is included, the output of the circuits may be considered together for determining the state of the output signal, such as based upon predetermined ranges of signal levels. Signals of the sensing circuit may be sampled in the absence of the strobe to provide an indication of the relative noise level. If the noise level is determined to be elevated, the output signal may not change states.

US Patent:

20100079386, Apr 1, 2010

Filed:

Sep 30, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/242215

Inventors:

Steven J. Scott - Ocononowoc WI, US
Thong T. Nguyen - Anaheim CA, US
Greggory Cieslak - Greendale WI, US
Thomas Lloyd Heidebrecht - Cambridge WI, US
Pete J. Klein - Kenosha WI, US
Gary Dan Dotson - Muskego WI, US

International Classification:

G06F 3/041

US Classification:

345173

Abstract:

A Human-Machine Interface (HMI) system comprises a user interface, a processing system, and a machine interface. The user interface displays a multi-state enable option graphic selectable by a first touch from a user, that, when the first touch is maintained, enables a multi-state mode of a state option graphic having a plurality of modes comprising a single-state mode and the multi-state mode, displays the state option graphic selectable by a second touch from the user, and receives the second touch from the user selecting the state option graphic. If the state option graphic is in the multi-state mode when selected, the processing system processes the second touch to select a state option from a plurality of state options corresponding to a plurality of operation states of a machine. If the state option graphic is in the single-state mode when selected, the processing system processes the second touch to select the state option from a single state option corresponding to a single operation state of the machine. The machine interface transfers a control instruction to operate the machine in an operation state corresponding to the state option.

US Patent:

20100079499, Apr 1, 2010

Filed:

Sep 30, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/242396

Inventors:

Steven J. Scott - Ocononowoc WI, US
Thong T. Nguyen - Anaheim CA, US
Greggory Cieslak - Greendale WI, US
Thomas Lloyd Heidebrecht - Cambridge WI, US
Pete J. Klein - Kenosha WI, US
Gary Dan Dotson - Muskego WI, US

International Classification:

G09G 5/00

US Classification:

345661, 345619

Abstract:

A Human-Machine Interface (HMI) system comprises a machine interface, a processing system, and a user interface. The machine interface receives operational data associated with an operation of a machine. The processing system processes the operational data associated with the operation of the machine to determine a trend in the operational data. The user interface displays a graphical representation of the trend, and receives a first user input and a second user input simultaneously on a surface of the user interface. The processing system processes the first user input and the second user input to determine a change in the trend. The user interface displays a graphical representation of the change in the trend.

US Patent:

20100083110, Apr 1, 2010

Filed:

Sep 30, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/242445

Inventors:

Steven J. Scott - Ocononowoc WI, US
Thong T. Nguyen - Anaheim CA, US
Greggory Cieslak - Greendale WI, US
Thomas Lloyd Heidebrecht - Cambridge WI, US
Pete J. Klein - Kenosha WI, US
Gary Dan Dotson - Muskego WI, US

International Classification:

G06F 3/041

US Classification:

715702

Abstract:

A Human-Machine Interface (HMI) system comprises a user interface and a processing system. The user interface displays a plurality of machine systems in an automation environment having a plurality of automation information, displays an information menu indicating a plurality of information types associated with the plurality of machine systems, receives a first touch on a surface of the user interface selecting an information type from the plurality of information types, and, while receiving the first touch, receives a second touch on the surface of the user interface selecting a machine system from the plurality of machine systems. The processing system processes the first touch and the second touch to select from the plurality of automation information an automation information associated with the selected information type and the selected machine system. The user interface displays the selected automation information.

US Patent:

20100301995, Dec 2, 2010

Filed:

May 28, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/789528

Inventors:

Thong T. Nguyen - Milwaukee WI, US
Steven J. Scott - Oconomowoc WI, US

Assignee:

Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. - Mayfield Heights OH

International Classification:

G05B 19/00
G06F 3/01

US Classification:

340 52, 715863

Abstract:

A method of operating a communication device to interface with a machine system comprises projecting a human-machine interface (HMI) system for the machine system on a surface, wherein the HMI system comprises a plurality of commands associated with the machine system, detecting an input from a user, wherein the input comprises a fluid motion in air performed by the user corresponding to a selection of a command of the plurality of commands associated with the machine system, and transferring the selected command for delivery to the machine system.