Patents by Inventor Tilo Merlin

Tilo Merlin 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).

  • Publication number: 20230333540
    Abstract: A method for providing a controlling frontend for an operating device configured for operating a field device includes providing an operational frame, wherein the operational frame serves as a generic user interface and is based on a companion specification; reading a field device specification from a database, wherein the field device specification comprises a structured set of field device attributes, which are related to the operating elements; and generating, based on the field device specification and the operational frame, a structured set of display elements for the controlling frontend, wherein at least some of the display elements of the controlling frontend are connected to the operating elements of the field device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Roland Braun, Francisco Mendoza, Tilo Merlin, Thomas Gamer, Mario Hoernicke
  • Publication number: 20230073341
    Abstract: A system and method for operating measuring devices in a process plant includes providing at least one measuring device for detecting at least one measuring variable, the measuring device having comprises at least one memory means for storing actual configuration data; providing at least one controller unit having at least one additional memory means in which projected configuration data is stored; the controller unit does not have write access to the measuring device with respect to the actual configuration data; and wherein the at least one measuring device and the at least one controller unit are connected via at least one network; comparing the actual configuration data and the projected configuration data, and when the configuration data correspond, allowing a data communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Stefan Bollmeyer, Armin Dittel, Holger Grosse, Georg Horst, Tilo Merlin, Dirk Wagener
  • Patent number: 11237066
    Abstract: A temperature-determining device for determining a temperature (TMED) of a medium via a temperature of a surface includes: an ambient-temperature sensor, arranged in surroundings of the surface, for measuring an ambient temperature (TU); a surface-temperature sensor, lying on the surface, for measuring a mixed temperature (TM) lying between the temperature (TMED) of a medium and the ambient temperature (TU); and an arithmetic-logic unit having an approximation formula electronically stored thereon for calculating an approximation (TMEDN) of a temperature of a medium. The approximation formula is a sum of the mixed temperature (TM) and a product of two factors. The first factor results from a difference between the mixed temperature (TM) and the ambient temperature (TU) and the second factor results from a ratio of a dividend to a quotient. The dividend results from a difference between a calibration temperature (TMEDKAL) of a medium and a calibration mixed temperature (TMKAL).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventor: Tilo Merlin
  • Patent number: 10718642
    Abstract: A method for checking an operability of two-wire measuring transducers in automation technology which output a measurement signal as an impressed loop direct current via a two-wire line and active assemblies of which are supplied with electrical energy via the two-wire line includes: measuring the loop direct current and an input voltage of the measuring transducer; increasing the loop direct current in a range from a minimum value to a maximum value independently of the measured value, while measuring the input voltage of the measuring transducer; storing the measured values of the input voltage at selected measuring points of the loop direct current as an individual signature of the measuring transducer; and, during ongoing operation, measuring the input voltage at connection terminals of the two-wire line via an internal resistance of the measuring transducer at a prevailing loop direct current and recursively comparing that with the signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Horst Schwanzer, Tilo Merlin
  • Publication number: 20190195667
    Abstract: A method for checking an operability of two-wire measuring transducers in automation technology which output a measurement signal as an impressed loop direct current via a two-wire line and active assemblies of which are supplied with electrical energy via the two-wire line includes: measuring the loop direct current and an input voltage of the measuring transducer; increasing the loop direct current in a range from a minimum value to a maximum value independently of the measured value, while measuring the input voltage of the measuring transducer; storing the measured values of the input voltage at selected measuring points of the loop direct current as an individual signature of the measuring transducer; and, during ongoing operation, measuring the input voltage at connection terminals of the two-wire line via an internal resistance of the measuring transducer at a prevailing loop direct current and recursively comparing that with the signature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Horst Schwanzer, Tilo Merlin
  • Publication number: 20190041275
    Abstract: A temperature-determining device for determining a temperature (TMED) of a medium via a temperature of a surface includes: an ambient-temperature sensor, arranged in surroundings of the surface, for measuring an ambient temperature (TU); a surface-temperature sensor, lying on the surface, for measuring a mixed temperature (TM) lying between the temperature (TMED) of a medium and the ambient temperature (TU); and an arithmetic-logic unit having an approximation formula electronically stored thereon for calculating an approximation (TMEDN) of a temperature of a medium. The approximation formula is a sum of the mixed temperature (TM) and a product of two factors. The first factor results from a difference between the mixed temperature (TM) and the ambient temperature (TU) and the second factor results from a ratio of a dividend to a quotient. The dividend results from a difference between a calibration temperature (TMEDKAL) of a medium and a calibration mixed temperature (TMKAL).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventor: Tilo Merlin
  • Publication number: 20160223411
    Abstract: A thermometer has at least one temperature sensor, having a physical variable which changes in a characteristic manner depending on temperature, at least one electrical output for emitting a signal which is a measure for the value of the variable, a transmitter for a sound wave or an electromagnetic wave, which transmitter can be coupled to the temperature sensor and controlled thereby depending on the variable's value, or can radiate the wave at least in part towards the temperature sensor, the wave-temperature sensor interaction depending on the variable's value, and either a wave receiver, which reconverts the wave into an electrical signal, or another unit for converting the wave-temperature sensor interaction into an electrical signal, connected to the electrical output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Joerg Gebhardt, Ulf Ahrend, Kai Koenig, Andreas Decker, Stephan Wildermuth, Paul Szasz, Tilo Merlin, Horst Schwanzer
  • Patent number: 8342741
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a sensor arrangement having at least one measuring sensor and at least one reference sensor for recording the same physical variable, and having an analysis unit electrically connected thereto, with a characteristic of the sensor arrangement being recorded in an initialization phase from measured values of the at least one measuring sensor and of the at least one reference sensor, and an alarm being given during continuous operation if the deviation from the characteristic lies outside a tolerance band. It is proposed to suspend the alarm dynamically so long as the changes in the measured value in the variation over time of the at least one measuring sensor or in the variation over time of the at least one reference sensor differ by more than a definable limit within a definable time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Harald U. Mueller, Paul Szasz, Ralf Huck, Steffen Keller, Tilo Merlin
  • Patent number: 7953570
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for continuous analysis of the transmission quality in fieldbus networks in automation systems with a plurality of fieldbus participants, which communicate with one another over the fieldbus network. Directly measurable logical and physical bus parameters are recorded from the line signal transmitted over the fieldbus network, and are stored with a predefinable retrospectivity. Operational parameters are derived from the measured bus parameters, these being weighted and the weighted bus parameters being linked together to form the operational parameter. The quantitative weighting of a bus parameter is functionally determined by at least one other bus parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Tilo Merlin, Peter Ude
  • Publication number: 20090187691
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a bus system, in which a plurality of subscribers communicate with one another over the same bus line and all subscribers are assigned a subscriber address from a limited address set. To avoid address conflicts, it is suggested that by each subscriber newly added to an existing bus system, the bus traffic will be monitored before the first send access to the bus with the current subscriber address, in order to form a list of already used subscriber addresses. The subscriber then assigns itself an address from the as yet unused address space according to a predefinable schema.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: ABB AG
    Inventors: Ralf Huck, Tilo Merlin
  • Patent number: 7558691
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining a characteristic of a sensor arrangement having at least one measuring sensor and at least one reference sensor for recording the same physical variable, and having an analysis unit electrically connected thereto. The characteristic is determined from measured values of the at least one measuring sensor and of the at least one reference sensor. It is proposed to record a characteristic point during continuous measurement operation, starting with the first time the sensor arrangement is put into operation, when a definable measurement point is reached in a process for the first time, if the changes in measured value in the variation over time of the at least one measuring sensor and in the variation over time of the at least one reference sensor remain within a definable tolerance band within a definable time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Harald U. Mueller, Paul Szasz, Ralf Huck, Tilo Merlin, Steffen Keller
  • Publication number: 20080104294
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a bus system, in which a plurality of subscribers communicate with one another over the same bus line and all subscribers are assigned a subscriber address from a limited address set. To avoid address conflicts, it is suggested that by each subscriber newly added to an existing bus system, the bus traffic will be monitored recursively before the first send access to the bus with the current subscriber address, and if its own subscriber address is detected in the bus traffic the subscriber's own address is changed by a predefinable offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Huck, Tilo Merlin, Stefan Svensson
  • Publication number: 20080077345
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a characteristic of a sensor arrangement having at least one measuring sensor and at least one reference sensor for recording the same physical variable, and having an analysis unit electrically connected thereto, said characteristic being determined from measured values of the at least one measuring sensor and of the at least one reference sensor. It is proposed to record a characteristic point during continuous measurement operation, starting with the first time the sensor arrangement is put into operation, when a definable measurement point is reached in the process for the first time, if the changes in measured value in the variation over time of the at least one measuring sensor and in the variation over time of the at least one reference sensor remain within a definable tolerance band within a definable time interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Harald MUELLER, Paul Szasz, Ralf Huck, Tilo Merlin, Steffen Keller
  • Publication number: 20080069179
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a sensor arrangement having at least one measuring sensor and at least one reference sensor for recording the same physical variable, and having an analysis unit electrically connected thereto, with a characteristic of the sensor arrangement being recorded in an initialization phase from measured values of the at least one measuring sensor and of the at least one reference sensor, and an alarm being given during continuous operation if the deviation from the characteristic lies outside a tolerance band. It is proposed to suspend the alarm dynamically so long as the changes in the measured value in the variation over time of the at least one measuring sensor or in the variation over time of the at least one reference sensor differ by more than a definable limit within a definable time interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: ABB PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Harald Mueller, Paul Szasz, Ralf Huck, Steffen Keller, Tilo Merlin
  • Publication number: 20080065797
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for continuous analysis of the transmission quality in fieldbus networks in automation systems with a plurality of fieldbus participants, which communicate with one another over the fieldbus network. Directly measurable logical and physical bus parameters are recorded from the line signal transmitted over the fieldbus network, and are stored with a predefinable retrospectivity. Operational parameters are derived from the measured bus parameters, these being weighted and the weighted bus parameters being linked together to form the operational parameter. The quantitative weighting of a bus parameter is functionally determined by at least one other bus parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: ABB Patent Gmbh
    Inventors: Tilo Merlin, Peter Ude