Patents Assigned to ABB
  • Publication number: 20140111946
    Abstract: An arrangement for cooling subassemblies of an automation or control system is disclosed, wherein the subassemblies each comprise at least one printed circuit board (LP) having electronic components of different temperature sensitivity arranged thereon. The printed circuit board (LP) has at least one first portion for temperature-sensitive components and at least one second portion for temperature-insensitive components that generate waste heat. Interspaces are arranged between the first portion and the second portion, the interspaces each forming a thermally insulated trench. Means can be provided which keep away the heat over the temperature-sensitive components in a suitable manner and dissipate the waste heat from the printed circuit board (LP) before the heat reaches the temperature-sensitive components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: ABB AG
    Inventor: Stefan GUTERMUTH
  • Publication number: 20140111008
    Abstract: An exemplary power supply module for distribution automation includes a manner of connecting an input power source to a power supply module and connecting an output of the power supply module to external devices, a manner of regulating, a rectification module generating output DC voltage, a transformer having a primary side connected with the regulating component and one or more power input power sources, and a secondary side connected to the rectification module, a manner of voltage feedback means for providing a voltage feedback signal to the regulating component to regulate the output DC voltage, and a load share control module having a load share signal for controlling load sharing for the power supply module. The power supply module includes a filter amplifier for conditioning the voltage feedback signal, where the filter amplifier is connected in the secondary side of the transformer for reducing noise in the power supply module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventor: Patel B. HARDIK
  • Patent number: 8704095
    Abstract: A dielectric insulation medium. The insulation medium is characterized in that it comprises a fluoroketone having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Max-Steffen Claessens, Per Skarby
  • Patent number: 8702908
    Abstract: Normalized values are determined from variance partition analysis data boxes acquired for a reel of paper. The value include an average value of variability of machine direction long-term scan energy over a time period; an average value of variability of cross direction profile scan energy observed in a spatial domain over a second time period; an average value of variability of energy of a remainder of data points that are averaged out from a total of machine direction long-term scan average energy variability and cross direction profile scan average energy variability during a third time period; and a total variability value as a function of the machine direction long-term scan average energy variability, the cross direction profile scan average energy variability and the data points remainder average energy variability. An automated diagnosis and analysis function is performed that is specific to one of the values exceeding a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Timothy Andrew Mast, Kevin Dale Starr
  • Patent number: 8704634
    Abstract: A system is provided for creating and/or collecting, storing and providing access to data from an electric power device which contains a cooling or operating liquid. A sensing device is mounted on the electric power device. The sensing device includes a microprocessor/microcontroller, a memory, a display panel, an input panel, and a tag read/write apparatus. A sampling container for holding a liquid sample to be taken from the electric power device has a container tag mounted thereon. The tag read/write apparatus uses a wireless communication link, when a sample has been taken, to transmit (i) administrative data denoting the electric power device, and (ii) diagnosis data denoting the sample taken to the container tag. The diagnosis data can be input directly using the input panel of the sensing device when a sample has been taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Nicolaie Fantana, Oleg Kouzmine, Peter Werle, Cornelia Radigk
  • Patent number: 8701706
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to a valve arrangement for actuating a piston cylinder arrangement, that includes a pilot control valve arrangement and a main control valve arrangement, wherein both the pilot control and main control valve arrangement include a 3/2-way valve as a pilot control valve and as a main control valve. Each valve has a control-pressure, high-pressure, and low-pressure connection. Said connections are connected to each other such that the main control valve is controlled via the control-pressure connection of the pilot control valve and the pressures on the control-pressure connection of the pilot control valve and the pressures on the control-pressure connection and on the high-pressure connection of both valves, are statically inverted relative to each other. The 3/2-way valves are designed as seat valves and are only hydraulically connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Matthias Schmidt, Franz-Josef Körber
  • Patent number: 8704499
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of tracking the maximum power point of a photovoltaic module. The method includes measuring an output voltage of the photovoltaic module, determining an output voltage of the inverter connected to the photovoltaic module, and measuring output current of the inverter connected to the photovoltaic module. A variable relating to energy of the capacitor is defined using the measured PV module output voltage, and a second harmonic component is extracted from the defined variable. A second harmonic component of the module output power is estimated using the defined variable, measured output current of the inverter, and the determined output voltage of the inverter. The estimated and extracted second harmonic components are multiplied, and a DC component is extracted from the product. A control signal for controlling the inverter connected to the photovoltaic module is formed by using the extracted DC component in a PI algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Gerardo Escobar, Tuomas Pulli, Matti Karppanen
  • Patent number: 8704406
    Abstract: A solar power plant is disclosed for converting solar energy into electric energy, and having a plurality of solar cell units, each solar cell unit containing a first cell pole and a second cell pole. The cell poles can cooperate for feeding electric energy produced by the solar cell unit as direct current out of the solar cell unit. A direct-current converter can include a plurality of direct-current input poles and two direct-current output poles, each direct-current input pole being connected to at least one cell pole. The direct-current converter can convert input direct currents entered via the direct-current input poles, and having input voltages, into an output direct current having an output voltage, and feed the output direct current via the direct-current output poles out of the direct-current converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Jussi Åkerberg, Kari Kovanen, Peter Lindgren
  • Publication number: 20140107809
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of online and dynamic schedule configuration of control applications in a Distributed Control System (DCS). The disclosure considers having a DCS with a plurality of controllers, where controllers include one or more of source controllers and one or more of destination controllers. The method of the disclosure can includes the steps of: a) selecting one or more blocks of control applications; b) identifying one or more potential slots for executing blocks in one or more destination controllers; c) publishing the information pertaining to one or more of the identified potential slots to a central management entity or to source controllers; d) determining the one or more potential slots and corresponding block by the central management entity or source controller; e) proposing a schedule configuration of control applications; and f) performing schedulability analysis for each block or logical combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Sanjay GHOSH, Atul Kumar D, Michael WAHLER, Srini RAMASWAMY, Rakesh REDDY
  • Publication number: 20140103729
    Abstract: A method of optimizing one or more starting parameters of a solar power generator system and a solar power generator system, wherein the solar power generator system includes a solar panel array and a converter for converting power obtained from the panel array. The method can include measuring an output voltage of the panel array, comparing the output voltage with a starting voltage (Vdc), starting the solar power generator system when the output voltage of the panel array exceeds the starting voltage (Vdc), measuring the obtained power from the solar panel array after a morning start, comparing the obtained power with a known limit value, and changing the one or more starting parameters on the basis of the comparison of power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Jari UUSIMÄKI, Jarkko Hyttinen, Janne Hellberg
  • Publication number: 20140104735
    Abstract: A protection relay is provided for protection of an electric network. The protection relay measures an electric signal in the network, converts the measured signal to a frequency domain representation of the measured signal, and generates a measuring phasor based on the frequency domain representation, where the phase rotation of the measuring phasor is dependent on one or more frequency components present in the measured electric signal. The protection relay compares the measuring phasor to the reference phasor, where the phase rotation of the reference phasor is based on either a nominal or a measured frequency of the electric network, and launches protection if the comparison of the of the measuring phasor and the reference phasor fulfils a predetermined criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Kari VANHALA, Petri Koivula
  • Publication number: 20140104068
    Abstract: A trip control circuit for a circuit breaker which provides for self-diagnostics includes a normally opened trip contact, a tripping circuit, and a signal light in series with the tripping circuit and the trip contact. The trip control circuit also includes a flasher circuit constructed and arranged to provide signaling of an abnormal condition of a circuit breaker to the signal light, while permitting the circuit breaker to trip provided that a cause of the abnormal condition signaled is not one which prevents tripping of the circuit breaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: ABB Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Webb
  • Publication number: 20140103885
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement of tracking a selected (e.g., maximum) power point of a photovoltaic system is disclosed, in which method an operation point of the photovoltaic system is changed based on the change of operation point and a change of power generated by the photovoltaic system. The method can include repeatedly determining a current or voltage of the photovoltaic system, determining a power of the photovoltaic system, determining a change of power of the photovoltaic system with respect to a previous determined power, and changing the operation point of the photovoltaic system by changing a current or voltage reference of the system stepwise depending on the change of power and a direction of a previous change of the current or voltage reference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Tuomas PULLI, Janne HELLBERG
  • Publication number: 20140104788
    Abstract: A cooled electrical assembly is disclosed which includes a plurality of cooled components and a first cooling fan adapted to provide a cooling flow for cooling the cooled components, the first cooling fan including a blade holder and a fan blade, the fan blade having a fixed end stationary mounted to the blade holder and a free end adapted to swing for generating the cooling flow. The plurality of cooled components can include four substantially cylindrical components each having a centre axis, the four substantially cylindrical components being spaced apart and located such that the centre axis of each said substantially cylindrical component passes through a respective vertex of a quadrilateral, the free end of the fan blade being located between the four substantially cylindrical components and inside the quadrilateral.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventor: Till HUESGEN
  • Publication number: 20140108851
    Abstract: A method for automatic protection coordination in a power system network comprises identifying radial source-to-load paths and fault protection devices in the source-to-load paths, for a portion of the power system network to be coordinated. Device settings data for fault protection devices are retrieved, including multiple preconfigured settings for some devices. Fault currents for each of multiple possible electrical faults in said portion of the power system network are predicted, and a selectivity check for each pair of fault protection devices that are adjacent to one another in an identified radial source-to-load path is performed, for each of one or more of the predicted fault currents, taking into account multiple preconfigured settings for remotely controllable fault protection devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Dmitry Ishchenko, Zhao Li, James D. Stoupis, Martin Bass, William L. Peterson, M. Gamini Wickramasekara
  • Publication number: 20140108685
    Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems are directed to transmitting a process map of a control or automation system via a gateway device. The gateway device includes at least one first functional unit connected to a higher-ranking control unit via a first communications link based on a primary field bus protocol, and at least one second functional unit connected to at least one field device via a second communications link based on a secondary field bus protocol. Binary signals are stored in corresponding registers and analog signals, which are in an integer format, are transmitted to the first functional unit such that the number of binary signals is reduced by packing the binary signals into data bytes. The data bytes are translated into corresponding telegrams that can be processed by the primary field bus protocol and with the analog signals are transmitted to the higher-ranking control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: ABB AG
    Inventor: Muhamad-Ikhwan ISMAIL
  • Publication number: 20140103850
    Abstract: Redundant winding connections for multiphase electric machines are disclosed. According to one aspect, a multiphase machine having redundant winding connections includes: a first set of N coils operating as a first winding group, wherein each coil in the first winding group operates at a different phase from the other coils in the first winding group and wherein N is an integer greater than three; a second set of N coils separate from the first set and operating as a second winding group, wherein each coil in the second winding group operates at a different phase from the other coils in the second winding group and wherein the failure of one of the coils in the first winding group does not affect the function of the second winding group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD.
    Inventor: Nicolas W. Frank
  • Patent number: 8700914
    Abstract: A system and method for changing safety-relevant data for a control device is provided wherein an authorized user inputs new or altered safety-relevant data, which is received on a data processing installation. A first checksum for the safety-relevant data is established and stored along with the safety-relevant data in at least one data record on the data processing installation. An enable code may also be stored in the at least one data record. This enable code may be produced by a code generator and encrypted by a key module. The data processing installation then reads back the safety-relevant data from a memory in the data processing installation, thereby allowing a comparison of the received safety-relevant data and the read back safety-relevant data. A second checksum is generated in a case where the comparison resulted in no differences. The second checksum may also be stored in the at least one data record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Soenke Kock, Peter Eriksson, Jan Bredahl, Michael Niehaus
  • Patent number: 8700365
    Abstract: A calculation model for evaluating the influence of different liquid properties to a thermal performance of a transformer includes at least one liquid parameter and at least one black box parameter whose value is adjusted with help of measurement data from a real transformer. The black box parameter is provided for modelling parts of the transformer which cannot be accessed, typically the active parts of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Roberto Asano Junior
  • Patent number: D703152
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Walter Holaus, Tobias Haas, Urs Kruesi