Patents by Inventor Harald STAAB
Harald STAAB 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).
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Publication number: 20240253254Abstract: A robotic system includes a moveable component, a controller, and an environment sensor for monitoring at least a region of the operating range, the environment sensor comprising a camera configured to deliver a 2D image of a field of view of the camera and a TOF device for measuring a distance between the environment sensor and an object in the field of view based on propagation time of a polling signal from the TOF device to the object and back; wherein an optical element for redirecting the field of view to the region is provided in a light path between the region and the environment sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2024Publication date: August 1, 2024Applicant: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Harald Staab, Björn Matthias, Nima Enayati, Fan Dai
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Patent number: 11670919Abstract: A switchgear or control gear includes: at least one first compartment; a second compartment; a plurality of main switchgear or control gear components, the plurality of main switchgear or control gear components including a main busbar system, a three position linear or rotational movement disconnector, a circuit breaker, and a cable connection; and a plurality of auxiliary switchgear or control gear components, the plurality of auxiliary switchgear or control gear components including a disconnector drive and a circuit breaker drive. The plurality of main switchgear or control gear components are housed in the at least one first compartment. The plurality of auxiliary switchgear or control components are housed in the second compartment. The circuit breaker and three position or rotational movement disconnector are mounted vertically in the at least one first compartment.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Tomas Kozel, Radek Javora, Josef Cernohous, Pavel Vrbka, Christoph Budde, Christian Simonidis, Sebastian Breisch, Harald Staab
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Publication number: 20230134409Abstract: A robot system includes a robot, the robot including a base and an end effector that is movable relative to the base; and a processing target, the processing target being approachable by the end effector along at least one preferred direction; wherein the processing target is mounted movably relative to the base at least temporarily and at least in the preferred direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2022Publication date: May 4, 2023Applicant: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Christoph Byner, Rene Kirsten, Bjoern Matthias, Debora Clever, Harald Staab
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Publication number: 20230138217Abstract: A robot comprises at least one articulate arm having members including a base, an end effector and a plurality of links, wherein each link is movably connected to two others of said members by respective joints, at least one sensor for detecting an external force acting on any one of the members, and a controller for controlling movements of the joints, so as to move the end effector along a pre-programmed path. In case of the sensor detecting an external force, the controller is adapted to adopt a first release strategy for escaping from the external force, to evaluate whether the first strategy is successful, and if not, to adopt a second release strategy.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2022Publication date: May 4, 2023Applicant: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Christoph Byner, Björn Matthias, Harald Staab, Richard Roberts
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Patent number: 11613018Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic restocking different items in retail store environments having POS locations for the items are disclosed. The method includes, for a first item of the different items, storing at least one first item parameter uniquely identifying the first item. The method includes determining, based on the at least one first item parameter, a first autonomous movement control scheme for manipulation of the first item by a robotic arm. The method includes executing, by the robotic arm, the first control scheme, the executing including shelving the first item on the shelf. The method includes evaluating, by a processor or a user of the robotic arm, the executing for the first item according to at least one predetermined first performance criteria. The method includes determining and storing, based on the evaluating, an updated first control scheme for subsequent executing by the robotic arm for the first item.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2019Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Gregory A. Cole, Gregory F. Rossano, Jordi Artigas, Harald Staab, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Carlos Martinez, Sangeun Choi, Jianjun Wang, Xiongzi Li
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Patent number: 11465653Abstract: An unmanned rail vehicle for surveillance, inspection, and/or maintenance of an industrial site is provided. The rail vehicle includes at least two carry rollers adapted for engaging on an upper rail side of a rail, wherein the center of gravity of the rail vehicle is vertically below the upper rail side; and at least one support roller connected to the chassis and adapted for rolling against a lateral rail side of the rail to laterally displace the center of gravity of the rail vehicle with respect to the upper rail side.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2017Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Harald Staab, William Eakins, Daniel Lasko, Thomas Fuhlbrigge, Edward Zhang, Harshang Shah, Stefan Rakuff, Gregory Cole, Gregory Rossano, Andrew Salm, Sang Choi, Remus Boca
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Publication number: 20220266882Abstract: An unmanned rail vehicle for surveillance, inspection and/or maintenance of an infrastructure, the infrastructure including a rail structure with a rail, the unmanned rail vehicle being movable along the rail and the unmanned rail vehicle including a first position sensor system configured for measuring, by interaction with the rail structure, first position data indicative of a position of the unmanned rail vehicle along the rail, a second position sensor system configured for measuring, by interaction with the rail structure, second position data indicative of a position of the unmanned rail vehicle along the rail, a position determining unit configured for receiving and combining first and second position data to determine the position of the unmanned rail vehicle along the rail.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2020Publication date: August 25, 2022Inventors: Harald Staab, Daniel Lasko, Will Eakins, Harshang Shah
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Publication number: 20210305789Abstract: A switchgear or control gear includes: at least one first compartment; a second compartment; a plurality of main switchgear or control gear components, the plurality of main switchgear or control gear components including a main busbar system, a three position linear or rotational movement disconnector, a circuit breaker, and a cable connection; and a plurality of auxiliary switchgear or control gear components, the plurality of auxiliary switchgear or control gear components including a disconnector drive and a circuit breaker drive. The plurality of main switchgear or control gear components are housed in the at least one first compartment. The plurality of auxiliary switchgear or control components are housed in the second compartment. The circuit breaker and three position or rotational movement disconnector are mounted vertically in the at least one first compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Tomas Kozel, Radek Javora, Josef Cernohous, Pavel Vrbka, Christoph Budde, Christian Simonidis, Sebastian Breisch, Harald Staab
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Patent number: 11027921Abstract: A product manipulation tool for interacting with products and containers at, for example, a retail facility can include a securing mechanism to secure an exposed portion of the container with respect to a horizontal surface such as a shelf. The product manipulation tool can also include a stabilizing device to stabilize the container with respect to the horizontal surface prior to securing the container. The product manipulation tool can also include a support structure for insertion underneath the container to support the load. The stabilizing mechanism may lift or tilt the container prior to insertion of the support structure. In an example, the product manipulation tool may be disposed on a mobile unit configured for locomotion about the retail facility.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Gregory A. Cole, Harald Staab, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Carlos Martinez, Sangeun Choi, Gregory F. Rossano, Jianjun Wang
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Patent number: 11005240Abstract: A three phase switchgear or control gear includes: at least one compartment; a plurality of components for a first phase; a plurality of components for a second phase; and a plurality of components for a third phase. The plurality of components for the first phase, the second phase, and the third phase each include a connection to a main busbar, a circuit breaker actuator, a single phase circuit breaker pole, and a cable connection. The circuit breaker actuator and the single phase circuit breaker pole for the first phase are oriented along a first axis. The circuit breaker actuator and the single phase circuit breaker pole for the second phase are oriented along a second axis. The circuit breaker actuator and the single phase circuit breaker pole for the third phase are oriented along a third axis. The first axis, the second axis, and the third axis are inclined.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AGInventors: Tomas Kozel, Radek Javora, Pavel Vrbka, Josef Cernohous, Christoph Budde, Christian Simonidis, Harald Staab, Sebastian Breisch
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Publication number: 20200324975Abstract: A product manipulation tool for interacting with products and containers at, for example, a retail facility can include a securing mechanism to secure an exposed portion of the container with respect to a horizontal surface such as a shelf. The product manipulation tool can also include a stabilizing device to stabilize the container with respect to the horizontal surface prior to securing the container. The product manipulation tool can also include a support structure for insertion underneath the container to support the load. The stabilizing mechanism may lift or tilt the container prior to insertion of the support structure. In an example, the product manipulation tool may be disposed on a mobile unit configured for locomotion about the retail facility.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2019Publication date: October 15, 2020Applicant: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Gregory A. Cole, Harald Staab, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Carlos Martinez, Sangeun Choi, Gregory F. Rossano, Jianjun Wang
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Publication number: 20200282560Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic restocking different items in retail store environments having POS locations for the items are disclosed. The method includes, for a first item of the different items, storing at least one first item parameter uniquely identifying the first item. The method includes determining, based on the at least one first item parameter, a first autonomous movement control scheme for manipulation of the first item by a robotic arm. The method includes executing, by the robotic arm, the first control scheme, the executing including shelving the first item on the shelf. The method includes evaluating, by a processor or a user of the robotic arm, the executing for the first item according to at least one predetermined first performance criteria. The method includes determining and storing, based on the evaluating, an updated first control scheme for subsequent executing by the robotic arm for the first item.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2019Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Gregory A. Cole, Gregory F. Rossano, Jordi Artigas, Harald Staab, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Carlos Martinez, Sangeun Choi, Jianjun Wang, Xiongzi Li
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Publication number: 20200203936Abstract: A three phase switchgear or control gear includes: at least one compartment; a plurality of components for a first phase; a plurality of components for a second phase; and a plurality of components for a third phase. The plurality of components for the first phase, the second phase, and the third phase each include a connection to a main busbar, a circuit breaker actuator, a single phase circuit breaker pole, and a cable connection. The circuit breaker actuator and the single phase circuit breaker pole for the first phase are oriented along a first axis. The circuit breaker actuator and the single phase circuit breaker pole for the second phase are oriented along a second axis. The circuit breaker actuator and the single phase circuit breaker pole for the third phase are oriented along a third axis. The first axis, the second axis, and the third axis are inclined.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2019Publication date: June 25, 2020Inventors: Tomas Kozel, Radek Javora, Pavel Vrbka, Josef Cernohous, Christoph Budde, Christian Simonidis, Harald Staab, Sebastian Breisch
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Publication number: 20190322292Abstract: An unmanned rail vehicle for surveillance, inspection, and/or maintenance of an industrial site is provided. The rail vehicle includes at least two carry rollers adapted for engaging on an upper rail side of a rail, wherein the center of gravity of the rail vehicle is vertically below the upper rail side; and at least one support roller connected to the chassis and adapted for rolling against a lateral rail side of the rail to laterally displace the center of gravity of the rail vehicle with respect to the upper rail side.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2017Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: Harald Staab, William Eakins, Daniel Lasko, Thomas Fuhlbrigge, Edward Zhang, Harshang Shah, Stefan Rakuff, Gregory Cole, Gregory Rossano, Andrew Salm, Sang Choi, Remus Boca
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Patent number: 10207412Abstract: A platform including at least one industrial robot, wherein the platform is arranged to be carried by a vehicle to a working site where the at least one industrial robot is to perform a task in relation to the working site. The platform includes a platform body, a platform control unit and a connecting arrangement with a connecting device arranged to be connected to a vehicle arm of the vehicle such that the platform can be carried by the vehicle arm of the vehicle. The connecting arrangement further includes an actuator arranged to cause the platform to rotate around an axis X-X defined by the connecting device according to instructions from the platform control unit. A vehicle including the platform is also described.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2015Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Camilla Kullborg, Harald Staab, Jan Nyqvist
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Patent number: 10059008Abstract: A robot has a gripper for gripping parts and releasing the gripped part at a destination position. The gripped part is vibrated at the destination position to cause the gripper to release the gripped part. The gripped part can be directly vibrated or vibrated by vibrating the mechanical structure of the gripper or by vibrating air in the gripper mechanical structure. The vibrator can connect the gripper to the robot. The vibrator can be inside or attached to the one or more of the articulated fingers of the gripper. The vibrations can be stopped when a sensor detects that the gripped part has been released or after the passage of a preset vibration time.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2016Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Harald Staab, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, William J. Eakins
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Publication number: 20180229373Abstract: A platform including at least one industrial robot, wherein the platform is arranged to be carried by a vehicle to a working site where the at least one industrial robot is to perform a task in relation to the working site. The platform includes a platform body, a platform control unit and a connecting arrangement with a connecting device arranged to be connected to a vehicle arm of the vehicle such that the platform can be carried by the vehicle arm of the vehicle. The connecting arrangement further includes an actuator arranged to cause the platform to rotate around an axis X-X defined by the connecting device according to instructions from the platform control unit. A vehicle including the platform is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2015Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventors: Camilla Kullborg, Harald Staab, Jan Nyqvist
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Publication number: 20180158232Abstract: A submersible vehicle which includes a plurality of cameras can be used to collect visual images of an object of interest submerged in a liquid environment, such as in a tank (e.g. transformer tank). In one form the submersible vehicle is remotely operated such as an ROV or an autonomous vehicle. Image information from the submersible along with inertial measurements in some embodiments is used with a vision based modelling system to form a model of an internal object of interest in the tank. The vision based modelling system can include a number of processes to form the model such as but not limited to tracking, sparse and dense reconstruction, model generation, and rectification.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Gregory Cole, William Eakins, Daniel Lasko, Harshang Shah, Thomas Fuhlbrigge, Carlos Morato, Biao Zhang, Luiz Cheim, Poorvi Patel, Harald Staab, Saumya Sharma
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Patent number: 9831016Abstract: Stripping structure strips insulation from ends of a plurality of leads of a lead bundle. Each lead includes a conductor member coated with the insulation. The structure includes a housing having wall structure defining a stripping chamber, an inlet in fluid communication with the stripping chamber, and an outlet in fluid communication with the stripping chamber. A cover has an opening for receiving an end of the lead bundle in a sealing manner so that the leads thereof are received in the stripping chamber. Chemical stripping solution is in communication with the inlet. When the lead bundle is received through the opening with the leads in the stripping chamber and when the chemical stripping solution is provided though inlet and in the stripping chamber, the chemical stripping solution strips the insulation from the conductor members, with the stripping solution along with stripped insulation exiting through the outlet.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2012Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AGInventors: Thomas H. McDonald, Rodney Lee Woll, William Eakins, Thomas Fuhlbrigge, Harald Staab, Jeremy Newkirk, George Zhang
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Patent number: 9701023Abstract: A machine remotely located from a control station has at least one actuated mechanism. A two way real-time communication link connects the machine location with the control station. A controller at the machine location has program code that includes an instruction which when executed transfers control of the machine from the controller to the control station. The program code can have a task frame associated with the predetermined function performed by the machine with the task frame divided into a first set controlled by the controller and a second set controlled from the control station. The system can also have two or more remotely located control stations only one of which can control the machine at a given time.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2013Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Biao Zhang, Jianjun Wang, George Q. Zhang, Sangeun Choi, Remus Boca, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Tomas Groth, Harald Staab