Patents Assigned to ABB AB
  • Patent number: 7286683
    Abstract: A system for automatically identifying containers that are loaded/unloaded by a crane and for capturing and/or analyzing images of at least a part of the container. A camera control system is arranged to receive information generated in, and/or transmitted from, a crane control system thereby controlling at least one of the functions of one or more cameras in order to capture one or more images of at least a part of the container. A method for identifying and tracking a container handled by a crane in a container terminal includes locating/mounting one or more cameras on a crane structure; activating the correct camera or cameras when a container is near or approaching the camera level; capturing one or more images of at least a part of the container; analyzing the captured images to identify the container ID; and recording/storing the ID and information regarding the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventor: Per Anders Hadell
  • Patent number: 7283915
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for location of a fault utilizing unsynchronized measurements of three phase voltages and currents acquired at the line terminals without synchronization. Phasors for symmetrical components of the measured quantities are determined and used in the fault location algorithm. According to one embodiment, positive sequence phasors of post-fault quantities are used for estimation of the distance to fault and it is distinctive that such an estimation of a distance to fault is performed without essentially involving iterative techniques. In this embodiment, the fault location algorithm step is performed regardless of the fault type. In later steps, the type of fault may be obtained. According to another embodiment of the invention, at the occurrence of a fault, the type of fault is determined. If it is determined that it is not a three-phase balanced fault, negative sequence phasors are used for the estimation of the distance to fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Murair Saha, Eugeniusz Rosolowski, Jan Izykowski
  • Patent number: 7272524
    Abstract: A method and a system for programming an industrial robot to move relative to defined positions on an object. The system includes a geometrical model of the object, the real object, and an industrial robot. A plurality of measuring points are generated corresponding to different points on the surface of the real object expressed in a coordinate system associated with the robot. The system further includes a calibration module arranged to determine orientation and position of the geometrical model of the object relative to the coordinate system associated with the robot, a calculating module arranged to calculate the deviation between the measuring points and corresponding points on the geometrical model, and an adjusting module arranged to adjust the defined positions based on the calculated deviations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventor: Torgny Brogårdh
  • Patent number: 7259491
    Abstract: A rotating asynchronous converter and a generator device having a first stator connected to a first AC network with a first frequency f1, and a second stator connected to a second AC network with a second frequency f2. The converter has a rotor which rotates in dependence of the first and second frequencies f1, f2. The stators each have at least one winding formed of at least one current-carrying conductor, and an insulation system, formed of semiconducting layers each forming an equipotential surface, and a solid insulation between the semiconducting layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Mats Leijon, Thorsten Shütte, Christian Sasse, Udo Fromm, Stefan G. Johansson
  • Publication number: 20070181548
    Abstract: An arc welding system including an electric circuit including a power source, a welding torch with a consumable welding wire, a workpiece and a control system including a computer, memory and elements for tuning the arc welding system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: ABB AB
    Inventors: Ahmed Kaddani, Jan Smede, Dick Skarin
  • Patent number: 7245037
    Abstract: An electric network for generation and transmission of electric power, including a power generating part, a point of common connection for the power generating part, a transmission link, a load network, and a reactive power compensator. The transmission link is coupled between the point of common connection and a grid connection point at the load network. The reactive power compensator is coupled to transmission link. The power generating part includes at least one wind turbine with an electric generator of induction type, coupled to the point of common connection. The reactive power compensator includes a capacitor bank and in parallel coupling to the capacitor bank a controllable inductor having a magnetic core, a main winding for alternating current, and a DC-control winding for direct current. The DC-control winding for control of the magnetic flux is set up by the main winding via orthogonal magnetization of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Lennart Ängquist, Per Halvarsson, Lars Liljestrand, Stefan Valdemarsson, Claes Bengtsson, Willie Wong
  • Patent number: 7235751
    Abstract: An electric device including an electric switch having a plurality of contact members arranged in series to form a plurality of breaking points arranged in series. One of the contact members at each breaking point is movable. A drive is arranged to actuate each movable contact member. The drive is arranged to effect simultaneous movement of the movable contact members. A commutation circuit is connected in parallel with the electric switch. Each contact member constitutes a part of a contact element, which contact elements are arranged in series. The contact elements have conducting and insulating parts. Every second contact element is movable in relation the others so that movement effects a breaking or closing position of the electric switch. The invention also includes a current limiter such as an electric device and also an electric power network provided with such a current limiter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Lars Liljestrand, Stefan Valdemarsson
  • Patent number: 7228202
    Abstract: A communication system for safe wireless control of an maneuverable object. A control unit includes an operator for operating the object and a receiver for receiving wireless information. A portable operating unit has a transmitter for transmitting wireless information. The information is divided in time slots, each including a data package. The receiver includes a detector for detecting in a time part of a time slot the presence of the data package and a calculator for calculating upon a reception failure the number of time parts having no presence of the data package following a time slot with presence of the data package. The control unit exercises a control command when a data package with a correct information has been received within a number of time parts just exceeding a full time slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Erik Carlson, Svein Johannesson, Jan Endresen, Ralph Sjöberg
  • Patent number: 7221166
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to locate a fault in a section of a transmission line using measurements of current, voltage and angles between the phases at a first (A) and a second (B) end of said section. The invention is characterised by the steps of, after the occurrence of a fault along the section, calculating a distance (dA, dB) to a fault dependent on a fault current measured at one of said first and second ends and phase voltages measured at both of said first and second ends (A, B), where the distance to fault is calculated from the end (A or B) where the fault current is measured. The invention is particularly suitable when a current transformer at either of the first or second ends (A, B) is saturated. If so, then, a distance (d) to a fault is calculated dependent on a fault current measured at the non-affected end and phase voltages measured at both the affected end and the non-affected end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Murari Mohan Saha, Eugeniusz Rosolowski, Jan Izykowski
  • Publication number: 20070108109
    Abstract: A method for controlling a group of machines such as robots or pick and place machines to pick up an item from a first position and place the item in a second position. Information from a sensor about the location of the first position is provided to a control member, which sends a message from a master process to all machines. The message includes a list of all first positions. The machines dynamically and adaptively handle each of the first positions and inform the master process when each first position is handled. The master process in turn informs all machines that a given first position has been handled. A system, a computer program and a graphical user interface are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: ABB AB
    Inventors: Mats Erlandsson-Warvelin, Henrik Knobel
  • Patent number: 7213174
    Abstract: A method and an analyzer for producing information associated with a process is disclosed. Information from information sources that associate with the process is processed to classify the information into characteristic states. Results of the classification are then analyzed for producing information associated with at least one root cause for an event by means of at least one analyzing technology that is capable of reasoning under at least one uncertainty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Erik Dahlquist, Galia Weidl
  • Patent number: 7208900
    Abstract: An industrial robot including a manipulator, a control unit for controlling the manipulator, and a portable operating unit for teaching and manually operating the robot. The portable operating unit is adapted for wireless communication with the control unit and includes an operator control. The invention increases the safety by ensuring that the operator is within the specified operating area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Erik Carlson, Jan Endresen, Snorre Kjesbu
  • Patent number: 7209802
    Abstract: A method for controlling a robot wherein a procedure is carried out with the robot while maintaining the robot immobile in axes that are not required to carry out the procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Henrik Jerregard, Niclas Pihl
  • Patent number: 7206211
    Abstract: In a method for control of a converter for conversion of dc voltage into ac voltage or dc voltage and vice versa, in which an output of the converter may alternatively be connected to a positive pole, a negative pole or a center of a dc voltage side of the converter in the form of different so-called main states, there is carried out, when changing between main states via a so-called minor commutation loop, an extra sequence in the form of a delayed turn-on of semiconductor elements in one unit of the converter relative to semiconductor elements in another unit in a pair of units of the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Ingemar Blidberg, Kjell Svensson, Roland Siljeström
  • Patent number: 7188544
    Abstract: An industrial delta robot with an arm system rotatable in space and including a base section, a moveable plate, several multi-jointed pull rods and a telescopic axle arranged between the base section and the moveable plate, opposite ends of the pull rods and of the telescopic axle being connected with the base section and the moveable plate respectively, and the telescopic axle comprising an inner axle and an outer tube arranged on the inner axle and displaceable in a longitudinal direction where a pair of end-to-end torsional rigid bushings are arranged in a stationary manner on the outer tube in which the inner axle is mounted to be displaceable, the bushings being spaced apart at confronting inner ends to form a transversely extending lubrication pocket for continuous lubrication of the inner axle during movement relative to the bushings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Persson, Hakan Hvittfeldt, Jan Larsson, Pierre Mikaelsson
  • Patent number: 7187532
    Abstract: A device and a method for stabilising a metallic object of magnetic material. The metallic object is transported along a transportation path or plane. The plane includes a transportation direction and is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the object therein. A sensor is arranged to sense the valve of a parameter depending on the position of the object with respect to the plane. An electromagnetic actuator is arranged to apply a magnetic force to the object in respone to the sensed position. The magnetic force has a force component directed transversely to the transportation direction and transversely to the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Per Lennart Eriksson, Bengt Rydholm, Sven Karlsson, Magnus Hallbäck, Göte Tallbäck
  • Patent number: 7173349
    Abstract: Equipment for exchanging power, in shunt connection, with an electric power network. A reactive impedance element and a voltage source converter provide mutual connection in series. The power network has a nominal voltage of a fundamental frequency and a given phase position. The converter is intended for generating a fundamental-tone voltage within a control range which limits the amplitude of the fundamental-tone voltage. The control range limits the amplitude of the fundamental-tone voltage to a value that is lower than the nominal voltage of the power network and comprises generation of a reactive component of the fundamental-tone voltage with a phase position that either coincides with the phase position for the voltage of the power network, or that deviates by 180° electrically form the phase position for the voltage of the power network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Bo Bijlenga, Mojtaba Noroozian, Björn Thorvaldsson
  • Publication number: 20070013326
    Abstract: A motor controller for controlling an electric motor including a soft starter and a human-machine interface for control and configuration of the soft starter. The soft starter includes a visual display and a selector associated with the visual display. A method to configure a motor controller for controlling an electric motor, including a soft starter and a human-machine interface for control and configuration of the soft starter. A computer program and graphic user interface for carrying out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Applicant: ABB AB
    Inventors: Soren Kling, Gunnar Johansson
  • Patent number: 7156154
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for continuous or semi-continuous casting of a metal material. The device comprises a first arrangement comprising a coil (7) having an extension around the casting mould (2) in an area, which is arranged to comprise molten metal material. The coil (7) is arranged to be fed with alternating current such that a varying magnetic field generated and is applied to the molten metal material in the casting mould (2). The device also comprises a second arrangement comprising at least two magnetic poles (8), which are provided at opposite sides of the casting mould (2). The poles (8) are arranged to supply a static or periodic low-frequency magnetic field to the molten metal material in the casting area. The poles (8) comprise at least a portion (11) which comprises a plurality of material layers which are electrically insulated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Nils Jacobson, Jan Erik Eriksson, Erik Svensson
  • Publication number: 20060288550
    Abstract: An industrial robot including a robot arm having a wrist including a wrist housing that is movably mounted on the robot arm. The wrist housing includes a holder for pivotable connection in one degree of freedom of a rotary robot tool thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Applicant: ABB AB
    Inventor: Gorgen Johansson
  • Patent number: 4971827
    Abstract: A process and product produced thereby which involves subjecting an egg white product to turbulent flow at an elevated temperature not to exceed 162.degree. F. for a period of time not to exceed one minute followed by immediate rapid cooling to a temperature of from 25.degree. F. to 40.degree. F. to improve refrigerated shelf life. The chilled product is then filled and sealed in sterilized containers under aseptic or near sterile conditions. The refrigerated shelf life may be enhanced by freezing the packaged product for a finite period of time prior to placing it in refrigerated storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Specialty Foods Investement Company
    Inventor: Frank Huang