Andrew G Swales

US Patent:

6434157, Aug 13, 2002

Filed:

Oct 6, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/167251

Inventors:

Denis W. Dube - Pelham NH
Andrew G. Swales - Windham NH
Cynthia Davies - Lowell MA

Assignee:

Schneider Automation, Inc. - North Andover MA

International Classification:

H04L 1228

US Classification:

370401, 370402

Abstract:

A bridge is disclosed for providing a connection between a MODBUS Plus network and an Ethernet network. The bridge includes a MODBUS circuit board, an Ethernet circuit board, and a CPU. The MODBUS circuit board is operably coupled to the local area network for receiving a message from an originating node having a five-byte routing path field. The CPU is operably connected to the circuit board for extracting a table location in response to a third byte within the routing path field. The Ethernet circuit board is operably connected to the CPU and the Ethernet network for forwarding the message to an IP destination in response to the table location.

US Patent:

6466995, Oct 15, 2002

Filed:

Mar 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/804362

Inventors:

Andrew G. Swales - Windham NH
A. Dean Papadopoulos - Groton MA
Allan Tanzman - Newton Centre MA

Assignee:

Schneider Automation, Inc. - North Andover MA

International Classification:

G06F 300

US Classification:

710 11, 710 62

Abstract:

A communications adapter and method are provided for interfacing between a master device and an I/O device (body) having an output and/or an input. In the case of the I/O body having an output, the adapter has a TCP port for coupling to the master device via a transmission path for receiving a request message. The adapter also has a connector for operable coupling to the I/O device for receiving the output of the I/O device. The adapter further has an interface circuit operably connected to the TCP port and the connector for transmitting a response message over the transmission path in response to the request message, the response message correlating to the output received from the I/O device. The request message and the response message is limited to a length that is less than a TCP transaction length and/or a maximum transmission unit limit, or both, depending on the embodiment of the present invention.

US Patent:

6640140, Oct 28, 2003

Filed:

Oct 10, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/685355

Inventors:

David T. Lindner - Nashua NH
Andrew G. Swales - Windham NH
Merrill W. Harriman - Nashua NH

Assignee:

Schneider Automation Inc. - North Andover MA

International Classification:

G05B 1101

US Classification:

700 18, 700 19, 700 23, 700 65, 700 66, 700 86, 700 87, 709106, 709107, 709220, 709221, 709223

Abstract:

A programmable logic controller for use as part of an industrial control system or as part of an automated system and a corresponding method, the controller including an interface to the Internet, and including a web server allowing a remote computer to access web pages maintained by the controller providing information relevant to the control function of the controller such as control sensor readings and, optionally, information about the status of the control system. The web server is implemented as part of the controller in such a way that the controller scan rate (the rate at which the ladder logic for all associated control system devices is repeated) is unaffected by execution of the web server.

US Patent:

6760782, Jul 6, 2004

Filed:

Aug 4, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/632925

Inventors:

Andrew G. Swales - Windham NH

Assignee:

Schneider Automation Inc. - North Andover MA

International Classification:

G06F 1516

US Classification:

709250, 709249, 709233, 709218

Abstract:

An interface allows for the transfer of real time control data with guaranteed delivery times between devices on a general purpose network and an industrial control system. A proxy server takes the role of a TCP/IP router and is configured to control the rate at which messages are forwarded from the non-real time to the real time portion of the network, keeping the loading of the real time portion stable regardless of the external non-real-time communication demand. Real time data is preconfigured and exchanged in a regular sequence, with the cyclic update period known. The length of any communication message necessary to transmit this information, plus any sequencing and acknowledgment overhead, is calculated in advance and aggregated. Each device with authority to transmit on the shared medium is given a time budget, calculated so that the total transmission quantity in unit time is deliberately limited to some fraction of the maximum transmission capability of the network. All communication from devices whose traffic loadings cannot be so controlled is arranged to pass through the proxy device in order to gain access to the deterministic network, and the proxy enforces the budget limits by introducing deliberate delays to the request messages if necessary.

US Patent:

6952727, Oct 4, 2005

Filed:

Dec 7, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/454566

Inventors:

David T. Lindner - Nashua NH, US
Andrew G. Swales - Windham NH, US

Assignee:

Schneider Automation Inc. - North Andover MA

International Classification:

G06F015/173
G05B019/18
G05B015/02

US Classification:

709224, 700 9

Abstract:

A method for adapting a computer-to-computer communication protocol, and especially TCP/IP, or any protocol implemented in a general purpose off-the-shelf network like Ethernet, for use in providing communication needed in an industrial control system, and especially an industrial control system using a programmable logic controller (PLC), where there is frequent communication between the PLC and control or monitoring elements, the method aimed at allowing the PLC to perform scanning of its ladder logic at a rate adequate for effective industrial control. The method includes making permanent-type TCP connections between the PLC and a control element or a monitoring element, use of a protocol for communication with a control or monitoring element in which both a read register and a write register instruction is included in a single communication transaction, such as a MODBUS command, and tuning communication between the PLC and a control element or a monitoring element.

US Patent:

6982953, Jan 3, 2006

Filed:

Jul 11, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/614489

Inventors:

Andrew G. Swales - Windham NH, US

Assignee:

Scorpion Controls, Inc. - Hampton NH

International Classification:

H04J 1/16

US Classification:

370218, 709220, 709221, 370245, 370216

Abstract:

The present invention is for automatic reconfiguration of industrial networked devices. More particularly, the system described herein facilitates use of TCP/IP networks, such as Ethernet, as an alternative for industrial fieldbus or device buses by removing the need to perform significant reconfiguration of devices such as I/O modules, sensors, or transducers under field replacement situations. The present invention uses a monitor agent to track the IP and MAC addresses of networked devices as well as port information. If a device fails, maintenance personnel make an in-field replacement of the failed device and the monitor agent automatically reassigns the IP address to the replacement device.

US Patent:

7590702, Sep 15, 2009

Filed:

Nov 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/003123

Inventors:

Andrew G. Swales - Windham NH, US
A. Dean Papadopoulos - Groton MA, US
Allan Tanzman - Newton Centre MA, US

Assignee:

Schneider Automation Inc. - North Andover MA

International Classification:

G06F 15/16
H04J 3/16

US Classification:

709208, 370465

Abstract:

A communications adapter is provided for interfacing between a master device and an I/O device (body) having an output and/or an input. In the case of the I/O body having an output, the adapter has a TCP port for coupling to the master device via a transmission path for receiving a request message. The adapter also has a connector for operable coupling to the I/O device for receiving the output of the I/O device. The adapter further has an interface circuit operably connected to the TCP port and the connector for transmitting a response message over the transmission path in response to the request message, the response message correlating to the output received from the I/O device. The request message and the response message is limited to a length that is less than a TCP transaction length and/or a maximum transmission unit limit, or both, depending on the embodiment of the present invention.

US Patent:

20020176441, Nov 28, 2002

Filed:

May 7, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/140273

Inventors:

Andrew Swales - Windham NH, US
A. Dean Papadopoulos - Groton MA, US
Allan Tanzman - Newton Centre MA, US

Assignee:

Schneider Automation Inc.

International Classification:

H04J003/16

US Classification:

370/465000, 370/469000

Abstract:

A communications adapter is provided for interfacing between a master device and an I/O device (body) having an output and/or an input. In the case of the I/O body having an output, the adapter has a TCP port for coupling to the master device via a transmission path for receiving a request message. The adapter also has a connector for operable coupling to the I/O device for receiving the output of the I/O device. The adapter further has an interface circuit operably connected to the TCP port and the connector for transmitting a response message over the transmission path in response to the request message, the response message correlating to the output received from the I/O device. The request message and the response message is limited to a length that is less than a TCP transaction length and/or a maximum transmission unit limit, or both, depending on the embodiment of the present invention. A method is also provided to create a connection between a master device and an I/O device having an output and/or and input. In the case of the method for providing a connection between a master device and an I/O device having an output, the method includes receiving over a transmission path a request message on a preregistered TCP port selected from a plurality of TCP ports. The method also includes receiving the output from the I/O device. The method further includes transmitting a response message over the transmission path in response to the request message, the response message correlating to the output of the I/O device. The request message and/or the response message is limited to a length that is less than both a TCP transaction length and/or a maximum transmission unit limit, or both, depending on the embodiment of the present invention.