Patents by Inventor Bjoern Matthias

Bjoern Matthias 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: 10035267
    Abstract: A robot system, and method for controlling it, for collaborative robot applications has a movable robot arm and a controller, wherein the controller is provided to control the movement of the distal end of the robot arm along a movement path according to at least a sequence of coordinate data and respective commands of a robot program and wherein the controller is provided to determine exact movement speed and course of the movement path between consecutive coordinates according to a set of parameters. At least two alternatively selectable sets of parameters are provided which both are related to a respective individual comfort level of a respective collaborative human worker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Bjoern Matthias, Christoph Winterhalter, Hao Ding
  • Publication number: 20170329321
    Abstract: A safety control system has a control unit with safety control logic, a safety sensor arrangement, a machine arrangement operable in different operation modes, each operation mode having a different productivity, the control unit receiving and evaluating input from the safety sensor arrangement, and, in reaction to evaluation result(s), activating an operation mode determined by the safety control logic, the safety sensor arrangement having at least two functionally redundant subsystems, control unit input including information indicating availability of the functionally redundant subsystems, the control logic being configured to activate normal operation mode with normal productivity if input indicates availability of all subsystems, activate fail-stop operation mode with zero productivity if input indicates unavailability of all subsystems, activate fail-operate operation mode with productivity less than normal but above zero if input indicates at least temporary unavailability of at least one and availabil
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Fan Dai, Bjoern Matthias, Hao Ding, Christoph Byner, Yauheni Veryha
  • Publication number: 20160346926
    Abstract: A robot system, and method for controlling it, for collaborative robot applications has a movable robot arm and a controller, wherein the controller is provided to control the movement of the distal end of the robot arm along a movement path according to at least a sequence of coordinate data and respective commands of a robot program and wherein the controller is provided to determine exact movement speed and course of the movement path between consecutive coordinates according to a set of parameters. At least two alternatively selectable sets of parameters are provided which both are related to a respective individual comfort level of a respective collaborative human worker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Bjoern Matthias, Christoph Winterhalter, Hao Ding
  • Patent number: 8046178
    Abstract: A defect detection system identifies defects in weld seams. An exemplary system includes a scanner device, mounted on a displacement device of a processing unit and which can be displaced by the unit over at least one weld seam that is to be examined. The scanner unit scans the weld seam using a predefinable frequency, each scanning sweep being correlated with a time signal. The time signal is used to record the point in time when at least one location containing defects is scanned. An analysis module determines the co-ordinates of the defects from the signals that are obtained by the scanning sweeps and stores the co-ordinates of the defects and transmits them to a localisation module. The localisation module determines the spatial arrangement of the defects of the weld seam by evaluating a speed profile of the displacement device during the scanning sweeps, the time signal and the co-ordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Fan Dai, Björn Matthias, Sönke Kock
  • Patent number: 7783386
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for protection of a machine-controlled handling appliance having moving parts, having a safety sensor system for detection of objects in the working area of the handling appliance, having a safety controller which interacts with the handling appliance controller and in the process controls safety-relevant handling appliance functions as a function of signals from the safety sensor system. The safety sensor system has non-contacting proximity sensors so that a safety-relevant part of the working area of the handling appliance is covered by the detection areas of the proximity sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Rolf Merte, Björn Matthias, Sönke Kock
  • Publication number: 20100179690
    Abstract: A system for automated adaption of a process parameter of a handling device includes a supervision device configured to selectively monitor at least one process parameter and/or to adapt the at least one process parameter of the handling device in an automated manner based on specifications and/or the environment and/or in a rule-based manner in interaction with a control/regulation device, wherein environment/safety-specific specifications and/or regulations are complied with and/or implemented irrespective of the type of a respective working process, wherein the system is configured to interact with the control/regulation device configured to monitor, control and/or regulate the handling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD.
    Inventors: Bjoern Matthias, Roland Krieger
  • Publication number: 20100017032
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for controlling a robot, with a robot control unit, and with a robot sensor such as a digital camera, which can be fitted on the robot and whose output signals can be supplied to an image recording unit. The output signals from the image recording unit connected to the camera can be supplied to an image processing device which is connected to the image recording unit. A coordinate transformation device is provided, in which the signals originating from the image processing unit and the robot control unit are processed and transformed into robot control signals, and the signals can be supplied back to the robot control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Fan DAI, Anke Frohberger, Björn Matthias, Joachim Unger
  • Publication number: 20090312958
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a defect detection system for identifying defects in weld seams. An exemplary system comprises a scanner device, which is mounted on a displacement device of a processing unit and which can be displaced by said unit over at least one weld seam that is to be examined. The scanner unit scans the weld seam using a predefinable frequency, each scanning sweep being correlated with a time signal and the time signal being used to record the point in time when at least one location containing defects is scanned. The system is equipped with an analysis module to determine the co-ordinates of the defects from the signals that are obtained by means of the scanning sweeps. The analysis module also stores the co-ordinates of the defects and transmits them to a localisation module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Fan Dai, Björn Matthias, Sönke Kock
  • Publication number: 20070017441
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasonic standing-wave atomizer arrangement for producing a paint spray mist for painting a workpiece, with at least one sonotrode, with a component arranged lying opposite the at least one sonotrode, a standing ultrasonic field being formed in the intermediate space between the at least one sonotrode and the component in the case of operation, and also with at least one nozzle-shaped paint feeding device, which arranged perpendicularly in relation to the center axis of each sonotrode and introduces the paint into the intermediate space for the atomizing process at at least one paint discharge point, the component arranged lying opposite the at least one sonotrode being a coaxially aligned reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2004
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Applicant: ABB Patent GMBH
    Inventors: Gert Stauch, Bjoern Matthias, Uwe Goerges, Gunter Boerner, Josef Wittmann
  • Patent number: 5954171
    Abstract: The invention relates to a moving contact which has a sliding contact for the transmission of electrical power from an overhead line to an electrically powered vehicle. The overhead line can cause damage to the sliding contact, since the overhead line can be deflected vertically due to the influence of external forces. In order to prevent such damaging effects on the sliding contact, the moving contact is equipped with at least two height adjusting components. According to the invention, at least one passively sprung component and at least one component whose height can be controlled are installed between the electrically powered vehicle and the sliding contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Gramatke, Ferdinand Lutz, Klaus Keske, Berthold Schaub, Franz Schmaderer, Gunar Baier, Bjoern Matthias