Patents Assigned to ABB Technology
  • Patent number: 9692407
    Abstract: There is described a method for driving paralleled electronic switches via a drive signal processing circuit (1) connected to respective driver circuits (5A, 5B) associated with said electronic switches (7 A, 7B). During the turn-off intervals of the electronic switch, the driver circuit sends a fault signal to the drive signal processing circuit. During the turn-off intervals of the electronic switch, the driver circuit masks the fault signal coming from the drive circuit of the electronic switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Thomas Montemezzo
  • Patent number: 9682486
    Abstract: A rotary joint includes a hollow gear and a hollow wiring unit having a first flexible printed circuit board therein, to allow hose to pass through both the hollow gear and the hollow wiring unit. A robot includes the rotary joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Xiaodong Cao, Tao Feng, Zhu Zhu
  • Patent number: 9679734
    Abstract: A fuse link used in alternate current medium- or high-voltage systems with a current frequency of 50 Hz includes a spring-type striker pin and is designed for the protection of electrical devices against consequences of short circuits and overloads. A porcelain housing with a star-core, external end caps closed by plugs, star-core end caps with a ring-shaped first tap designed to ensure electric contact between the star-core end cap and the external end cap of the fuse link is also included. A spring-type striker pin is positioned along the axis of the star-core. Each of the end caps of the star-core is provided with an additional second tap designed to centre the star-core relative to the axis of the fuse link. The spring-type striker pin is centred along the longitudinal axis of the fuse link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: ABB TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventor: Artur Cwalina
  • Patent number: 9673728
    Abstract: A converter arrangement can include a first rectifier having an AC input and a DC output with two DC output poles, a capacitance (C) connected between the DC output poles of the first rectifier, a second rectifier having an AC input with two AC input poles and a DC output with two DC output poles, wherein the DC output of the second rectifier is connected between the DC output poles of the first rectifier. A magnetic amplifier includes at least one control winding (L2) and at least one AC winding (L11, L12), wherein the at least one control winding is connected between the DC output poles of the first rectifier, and wherein the at least one AC winding (L2) of the magnetic amplifier is connected in series with the AC input of the second rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Technology Oy
    Inventors: Markku Talja, Veikko Hakala
  • Patent number: 9671775
    Abstract: An actuator assembly is disclosed, which includes a power unit, an actuator powered by the power unit, the power unit being configured to provide a work motion of the actuator, a motion sensor, a timing unit for measuring an immobility time of the actuator, a safety unit for selectively placing the actuator assembly into an operational state and a safety state in which the work motion of the actuator can be prevented, the safety unit being configured to prevent the operational state of the actuator assembly in case the immobility time of the actuator exceeds a predetermined process safety time. The actuator assembly can include an activation unit configured to control the power unit to provide an activation motion of the actuator in case the immobility time exceeds a predetermined activation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Technology OY
    Inventors: Petri Havanto, Mikko Ristolainen, Juhana Jaatinen
  • Publication number: 20170144547
    Abstract: The drive inverter units that power the traction motors and steering motors of a manned or unmanned vehicle such as a mobile robot or automated guided vehicles (AGVs), industrial trucks or remote controlled vehicles that are equipped with a robot arm or other actuated mechanisms are also used to power the axes of the robot arms or other additional high power actuators (e.g. a lift table). The traction and steering motors can be disconnected from the drive and the motors of a robot arm or actuator can be connected to the drive and vice versa. The prerequisite is that driving and robot arm/actuator motion do not take place at the same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Thomas A. FUHLBRIGGE, Carlos MARTINEZ, Harald Joseph STABB, Gregory F. ROSSANO
  • Patent number: 9653905
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power supply and measuring device for an electronic device (e.g. an IED), which is configured to provide supervision, control, protection, communication and/or monitoring functionalities for LV or MV circuits or apparatuses. The power supply device comprises a current transformer, which is operatively associated to a main power line. An input section of the power supply device comprises a burden regulating stage that is configured to regulate the equivalent electric load at the secondary winding of said current transformer. An output section of the power supply device provides a supply voltage suitable to feed said electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Gabriele Valentino De Natale, Marco Testa
  • Patent number: 9627989
    Abstract: A three-level converter and a method for controlling a three-level converter, wherein the third (S31, S32, S33), the fourth (S41, S42, S43) and the fifth (S51, S52, S53) controllable semiconductor switch of a switching branch having, out of all the switching branches, the most positive voltage in its alternating current pole (AC1, AC2, AC3) is controlled to be non-conductive for the whole period of time when the switching branch in question has the most positive voltage in its alternating current pole, and the first (S11, S12, S13), the second (S21, S22, S23) and the sixth (S61, S62, S63) controllable semiconductor switch of a switching branch having, out of all the switching branches, the most negative voltage in its alternating current pole is controlled to be non-conductive for the whole period of time when the switching branch in question has the most negative voltage in its alternating current pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Technology OY
    Inventor: Tero Viitanen
  • Publication number: 20170104279
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to an electrical component for a high-voltage installation. The electrical component in a coaxial arrangement, has an electrical conductor which extends along an axis and is connected to high-voltage potential and a rigid insulating body. The insulting body is fastened on the electrical conductor and surrounds the electrical conductor. A mounting flange is fastened on the insulating body, and is connected to ground potential. A dome-shaped control electrode is electrically connectively connected to the electrical conductor and is fastened to one end of the electrical conductor. During operation of the installation, the control electrode controls the electrical field between the electrical conductor and the mounting flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Ansgar DAIS, Urs Kruesi
  • Patent number: 9614518
    Abstract: Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of a reverse-conducting IGBT (RC-IGBT) are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is a circuit comprising a series connection of controllable switch components where at least one of the controllable switch components is an RC-IGBT. The circuit is operated by applying a pre-trigger pulse to the gate electrode of the RC-IGBT during reverse conduction of the RC-IGBT at a first time instant, the pre-trigger pulse corresponding to a turn-on gate pulse. Next, a turn-on gate pulse is applied at a second time instant to the other controllable switch component of the series connection for controlling the other controllable switch component to a conductive state such that the pre-trigger pulse and the turn-on gate pulse overlap, and ending the pre-trigger pulse after a delay time at the third time instant. The delay time is the time period when the turn-on gate pulse and the pre-trigger pulse overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Technology OY
    Inventors: Ignacio Lizama, Steffen Bernet, Matti Laiteinen
  • Patent number: 9608552
    Abstract: A method is provided for optimizing a parameter used in a frequency converter connected to an electrical rotating machine. The method includes identifying a parameter of the machine using electrical quantities, the identified parameter being used in the frequency converter and being identified in a first operating point, providing an electro-mechanical model of the rotating electrical machine to the frequency converter, and calculating when a processor capacity of the frequency converter is available, (i) a state of the rotating electrical machine in the first operating point using a finite element method with the electro-mechanical model of the rotating electrical machine, (ii) a state of the rotating electrical machine in a selected operating point using the finite element method with the electro-mechanical model, correcting the calculated state of the rotating electrical machine, and calculating, from the corrected state, parameter(s) of the electrical machine to be used in the frequency converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Technology OY
    Inventor: Matti Mustonen
  • Patent number: 9607924
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a power semiconductor module comprising a printed circuit board (PCB), and to method of cooling such a power semiconductor module. The module comprises a power semiconductor device and an island of thermally conducting foam embedded into the printed circuit board. The power semiconductor device and the island of thermally conducting foam are positioned on top of each other, and the island is arranged to form a path for a flowing coolant cooling the power semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Technology OY
    Inventors: Daniel Kearney, Francesco Agostini, Didier Cottet, Daniele Torresin, Mathieu Habert
  • Patent number: 9598219
    Abstract: An enclosure, wherein the enclosure is at least partly formed of a layered material (3), the inner layer (1) of the layered material being formed of porous metal and the outer layer (2) of the layered material being formed of hygroscopic porous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Technology Oy
    Inventors: Christoph Schroedl, Anssi Lehtonen
  • Patent number: 9595864
    Abstract: A method is provided for balancing voltages of a DC link of a multi-level inverter, where the DC link is divided into two halves by a neutral point connection. The method includes injecting a periodic common-mode voltage injection signal to a common-mode voltage reference and a periodic power injection signal to a power reference of the inverter. The power injection signal has the same frequency as the common-mode voltage injection signal. A phase shift between the common-mode voltage injection signal and the power injection signal is constant. The amplitude of at least one of the common-mode voltage injection signal and the power injection signal is controlled on the basis of a difference between voltages over the two halves of the DC link. An apparatus is also provided for implementing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Technology Oy
    Inventor: Samuli Heikkilä
  • Patent number: 9587640
    Abstract: An exemplary method for determining a flow rate of a pump, includes measuring and storing the flow rate (QMean) when the pump is in operation, storing rotational speed (nMean) and torque (TMean) of the pump during measurement of the flow rate (QMean), determining torque (TManufacturer) corresponding to the measured flow rate (QMean), calculating a bias value of the torque (TBias) by comparing the torque determined from the characteristic curve (TManufacturer) and the stored torque (TMean) of the pump, and determining an operating point of the pump based on the bias value of the torque (TBias).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Technology Oy
    Inventors: Tero Ahonen, Jero Ahola, Jussi Tamminen
  • Patent number: 9590397
    Abstract: An apparatus for the generation, the distribution or the usage of electrical energy, the apparatus including a housing enclosing an insulating space and an electrical component arranged in the insulating space. The insulating space contains a dielectric insulation gas including an organofluorine compound A. The apparatus further includes a molecular sieve arranged such as to come into contact with the insulation gas. The molecular sieve has an average pore size y greater than the molecular size of at least one decomposition product of the organofluorine compound A generated during operation of the apparatus. The adsorption capability of the molecular sieve for organofluorine compound A is lower than for the at least one decomposition product. The apparatus further includes at least one desiccant arranged such as to come into contact with the insulation gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Thomas Alfred Paul, Navid Mahdizadeh, Patrick Stoller, Axel Kramer, Oliver Cossalter, Stephan Grob, Nitesh Ranjan, Javier Mantilla, Mathias-Dominic Buergler, Francia Galindo-Lozano
  • Patent number: 9584113
    Abstract: An exemplary arrangement and method for a power semiconductor switch, where a first current between a first electrode and a second electrode can be controlled based on a control voltage between a third electrode and the first electrode. The arrangement includes an inductance connected in series with the power semiconductor switch, wherein a first end of the inductance is connected to the first electrode, first measuring source for generating a first measurement voltage based on the first end's voltage with respect to a reference potential, second measuring source for generating a second measurement voltage on the basis of the inductance's second end voltage with respect to the reference potential, a comparator for comparing the first measurement voltage with the second measurement voltage, and driver for generating the control voltage. The driver being configured to generate a first control voltage level and a second voltage level of the control voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Technology Oy
    Inventors: Mika Niemi, Lauri Peltonen
  • Patent number: 9568921
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for approximating a static head of a fluid transfer system including a fluid transfer device. The method can include determining a rotational speed and a power consumption of the fluid transfer device, determining a first set of data points, calculating a second set of data points on the basis of the first set of data points, determining a minimum rotational speed producing flow through the fluid transfer device on the basis of the second set of data points, and determining the static head on the basis of the minimum rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Technology Oy
    Inventors: Jero Ahola, Jussi Tamminen, Tero Ahonen
  • Patent number: D784408
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Technology Oy
    Inventor: Harri Mustonen
  • Patent number: D791812
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ABB TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Fabio Bistoni, Filippo Vernia, Luca Polverini, Andrea Koutifaris