Patents by Inventor Peter Heiligensetzer

Peter Heiligensetzer 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: 8548629
    Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray device (2) for a medical workplace (1, 21). The X-ray device (2) comprises a robot (R) with a plurality of axes (9), a control device (10) for controlling the axes (9) for movement of the robot (R), and a fastening device (8), and a support device (11) disposed at the fastening device (8), said support device comprising an X-ray radiation source (12) and an X-ray radiation receiver (14). A 3D model (15, 15a) of the robot (R) and the support device (11) provided is stored in the control device (10), said 3D model modeling the spatial extension of the robot (R) and the support device (11) during movement of the robot (R). The 3D model (15,15a) also models the spatial extension of at least one other device (3, 4, R2) of the medical workplace (1, 21) and/or of a living organism (5) located within the medical workplace (1, 21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: KUKA Laboratories GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Ortmaier, Peter Heiligensetzer
  • Publication number: 20110054688
    Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray device (2) for a medical workplace (1, 21). The X-ray device (2) comprises a robot (R) with a plurality of axes (9), a control device (10) for controlling the axes (9) for movement of the robot (R), and a fastening device (8), and a support device (11) disposed at the fastening device (8), said support device comprising an X-ray radiation source (12) and an X-ray radiation receiver (14). A 3D model (15, 15a) of the robot (R) and the support device (11) provided is stored in the control device (10), said 3D model modeling the spatial extension of the robot (R) and the support device (11) during movement of the robot (R). The 3D model (15,15a) also models the spatial extension of at least one other device (3, 4, R2) of the medical workplace (1, 21) and/or of a living organism (5) located within the medical workplace (1, 21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: KUKA ROBOTER GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Ortmaier, Peter Heiligensetzer
  • Patent number: 7086293
    Abstract: In order to improve the monitoring of a machine with movable parts, such as in particular an industrial robot, and for increasing safety, the invention provides a method for monitoring movable parts of a machine, such as an industrial robot, in which at least two different measured quantities are detected and at least one of these measured quantities is processed to a first measure result in such a way that it is comparable with another measured quantity or a second measure result obtained on the basis thereof, that the first measure result is compared with another measured quantity or a measure result obtained on the basis thereof and that a signal characterizing the comparison result is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Heiligensetzer, Alwin Berninger, Norbert Settele
  • Patent number: 7031807
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety device for apparatuses having parts freely movable in space, particularly handling equipment such as industrial robots or driverless transportation means, as well as a method for securing such apparatuses by means of such a safety device. The apparatuses have switching means which in the case of a collision of the moving parts with persons or objects emit a control signal through which the moving parts can be stopped or an emergency program can be started up, which brings about a movement sequence opposing the approach movement. The invention is characterized in that the safety device is constructed in the form of a tactile sensor system formed from optical waveguides and located on moving parts of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: KUKA Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Heiligensetzer, Fritz Steininger
  • Publication number: 20040260481
    Abstract: In order to improve the monitoring of a machine with movable parts, such as in particular an industrial robot, and for increasing safety, the invention provides a method for monitoring movable parts of a machine, such as an industrial robot, in which at least two different measured quantities are detected and at least one of these measured quantities is processed to a first measure result in such a way that it is comparable with another measured quantity or a second measure result obtained on the basis thereof, that the first measure result is compared with another measured quantity or a measure result obtained on the basis thereof and that a signal characterizing the comparison result is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Peter Heiligensetzer, Alwin Berninger, Norbert Settele
  • Patent number: 6748298
    Abstract: In order to reduce the risk of damage on external objects, material articles or persons during the operation of a robot, particularly a miniature robot, the invention provides a method for limiting the force action of a robot part, such as a robot arm, on such an external object during a collision in such a way that as a result of a maximum permitted force, maximum force Fmax, acting on the object in the case of a collision, a corresponding, maximum permitted kinetic energy, maximum energy Ekin,max of the robot part is determined, continuously and at adequately short time intervals the actual kinetic energy, actual energy Ekin, of the robot part is determined and on exceeding the maximum permitted energy Ekin,max, the actual operating speed V of the robot is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Kuka Roboter GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Heiligensetzer
  • Publication number: 20030233171
    Abstract: In order to reduce the risk of damage on external objects, material articles or persons during the operation of a robot, particularly a miniature robot, the invention provides a method for limiting the force action of a robot part, such as a robot arm, on such an external object during a collision in such a way that as a result of a maximum permitted force, maximum force Fmax, acting on the object in the case of a collision, a corresponding, maximum permitted kinetic energy, maximum energy Ekin,max of the robot part is determined, continuously and at adequately short time intervals the actual kinetic energy, actual energy Ekin, of the robot part is determined and on exceeding the maximum permitted energy Ekin,max, the actual operating speed V of the robot is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Peter Heiligensetzer
  • Publication number: 20030137219
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety device for apparatuses having parts freely movable in space, particularly handling equipment such as industrial robots or driverless transportation means, as well as a method for securing such apparatuses by means of such a safety device. The apparatuses have switching means which in the case of a collision of the moving parts with persons or objects emit a control signal through which the moving parts can be stopped or an emergency program can be started up, which brings about a movement sequence opposing the approach movement. The invention is characterized in that the safety device is constructed in the form of a tactile sensor system formed from optical waveguides and located on moving parts of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Peter Heiligensetzer, Fritz Steininger