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).

  • Patent number: 11670919
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Tomas Kozel, Radek Javora, Josef Cernohous, Pavel Vrbka, Christoph Budde, Christian Simonidis, Sebastian Breisch, Harald Staab
  • Publication number: 20230138217
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Christoph Byner, Björn Matthias, Harald Staab, Richard Roberts
  • Publication number: 20230134409
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Christoph Byner, Rene Kirsten, Bjoern Matthias, Debora Clever, Harald Staab
  • Patent number: 11613018
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Gregory A. Cole, Gregory F. Rossano, Jordi Artigas, Harald Staab, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Carlos Martinez, Sangeun Choi, Jianjun Wang, Xiongzi Li
  • Patent number: 11465653
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Harald Staab, William Eakins, Daniel Lasko, Thomas Fuhlbrigge, Edward Zhang, Harshang Shah, Stefan Rakuff, Gregory Cole, Gregory Rossano, Andrew Salm, Sang Choi, Remus Boca
  • Publication number: 20220266882
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Harald Staab, Daniel Lasko, Will Eakins, Harshang Shah
  • Publication number: 20210305789
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Tomas Kozel, Radek Javora, Josef Cernohous, Pavel Vrbka, Christoph Budde, Christian Simonidis, Sebastian Breisch, Harald Staab
  • Patent number: 11027921
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Gregory A. Cole, Harald Staab, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Carlos Martinez, Sangeun Choi, Gregory F. Rossano, Jianjun Wang
  • Patent number: 11005240
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Tomas Kozel, Radek Javora, Pavel Vrbka, Josef Cernohous, Christoph Budde, Christian Simonidis, Harald Staab, Sebastian Breisch
  • Publication number: 20200324975
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Gregory A. Cole, Harald Staab, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Carlos Martinez, Sangeun Choi, Gregory F. Rossano, Jianjun Wang
  • Publication number: 20200282560
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Gregory A. Cole, Gregory F. Rossano, Jordi Artigas, Harald Staab, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Carlos Martinez, Sangeun Choi, Jianjun Wang, Xiongzi Li
  • Publication number: 20200203936
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Tomas Kozel, Radek Javora, Pavel Vrbka, Josef Cernohous, Christoph Budde, Christian Simonidis, Harald Staab, Sebastian Breisch
  • Publication number: 20190322292
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Harald Staab, William Eakins, Daniel Lasko, Thomas Fuhlbrigge, Edward Zhang, Harshang Shah, Stefan Rakuff, Gregory Cole, Gregory Rossano, Andrew Salm, Sang Choi, Remus Boca
  • Patent number: 10207412
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Camilla Kullborg, Harald Staab, Jan Nyqvist
  • Patent number: 10059008
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Harald Staab, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, William J. Eakins
  • Publication number: 20180229373
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Camilla Kullborg, Harald Staab, Jan Nyqvist
  • Publication number: 20180158232
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Gregory Cole, William Eakins, Daniel Lasko, Harshang Shah, Thomas Fuhlbrigge, Carlos Morato, Biao Zhang, Luiz Cheim, Poorvi Patel, Harald Staab, Saumya Sharma
  • Patent number: 9831016
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Thomas H. McDonald, Rodney Lee Woll, William Eakins, Thomas Fuhlbrigge, Harald Staab, Jeremy Newkirk, George Zhang
  • Patent number: 9701023
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Biao Zhang, Jianjun Wang, George Q. Zhang, Sangeun Choi, Remus Boca, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Tomas Groth, Harald Staab
  • Patent number: 9643318
    Abstract: A machine that has at least one actuated mechanism is remotely located from a control station. A two way real-time communication link connects the machine location with the control station. An interface at the control station allows an operator to select one or more virtual constraints on operation of the machine when the machine is performing a predetermined function. The virtual constraints are transmitted over the two way real-time communication link to the machine location. The machine has predetermined safety limits that are stored in a controlling device at the machine location. The stored predetermined safety limits are extracted and automatically mapped to the control station using the two way real-time communication link. The controlling device maps the predetermined safety limits to the virtual constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Jianjun Wang, Biao Zhang, George Q. Zhang, Harald Staab, Sangeun Choi, Remus Boca, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Tomas Groth