Patents by Inventor Jan Kopelke

Jan Kopelke 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: 11550023
    Abstract: A positioning system for position determination in a goods logistics facility and a method for operating same. The positioning system includes a plurality of permanently installed anchor nodes that represent reference points in a common coordinate system. The positioning system is configured to determine a distance from a first anchor node to a second anchor node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Jungheinrich AG
    Inventors: Florian Grabbe, Stefan Ahrens, Sven-Ole Heise, Jan Kopelke, Tony Altmann
  • Patent number: 11275151
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for setting up a surveillance zone (4) of a location system for acquiring the position of at least one movable object within a goods logistics facility (2), a method for operating such a location system, and a location system for a goods logistics facility (2). The method for setting up the surveillance zone (4) includes the following steps of the method: Moving a zone setting up apparatus (50) along a closed movement path (6) within an acquisition range and simultaneously capturing at least three different path positions (7) of the zone setting up apparatus (50), determining a route of an outer boundary (5) of the surveillance zone (4) to be set up based on the path positions (7) acquired, and defining an area enclosed by the outer boundary (5) as a surveillance zone (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Jungheinrich AG
    Inventors: Florian Grabbe, Stefan Ahrens, Sven-Ole Heise, Jan Kopelke, Tony Altmann
  • Patent number: 11275386
    Abstract: A method for operating an industrial truck (20) in a goods logistics facility (10). The absolute position of the industrial truck (20) in the goods logistics facility (10) is determined and the direction of travel of the industrial truck (20) in the goods logistics facility (10) is determined, and a dynamically adaptable and/or modifiable industrial truck extension zone (30) is determined as a function of the absolute position determined and the direction of travel determined for the industrial truck (20) in the goods logistics facility (10), preferably at predetermined periods of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Jungheinrich AG
    Inventors: Florian Grabbe, Stefan Ahrens, Sven-Ole Heise, Jan Kopelke, Tony Altmann
  • Patent number: 11247669
    Abstract: A method and a system for collision avoidance in a hazardous area (4) of a logistics facility (2) that includes determining a first distance (14) between a stationary hazardous area monitoring apparatus (30) disposed inside the hazardous area, and a first sending and receiving apparatus (13) that disposed on an industrial truck (10, 11, 12) and connected to a control system of the industrial truck, and determining a second distance (24) between the stationary hazardous area monitoring apparatus and a second sending and receiving apparatus disposed on a movable object. A determination is made as to whether the first distance and the second distance are less than or equal to a predeterminable intervention area distance (6), and a collision avoidance action is carried out if both the first distance and the second distance are less than or equal to the predeterminable intervention area distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Jungheinrich AG
    Inventors: Florian Grabbe, Stefan Ahrens, Sven-Ole Heise, Jan Kopelke, Tony Altmann, Felix Riesenhuber
  • Patent number: 11164460
    Abstract: A system and a method for collision avoidance within a monitoring zone includes a first transmitter and receiver apparatus disposed on an industrial truck, a second transmitter and receiver apparatus disposed on a movable object, and at least two stationary positioning apparatuses that are set up for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals. A position of the movable object within the monitoring zone is determined. It is determined whether a collision risk exists between the industrial truck and the movable object, and safety measures are initiated if such a collision risk exists. The monitoring zone may include at least one separation zone, wherein no collision risk between the industrial truck and the movable object is determined to exist if the object position is located within the separation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Jungheinrich AG
    Inventors: Florian Grabbe, Stefan Ahrens, Sven-Ole Heise, Jan Kopelke, Tony Altmann
  • Patent number: 10926953
    Abstract: A method for controlling at least two movable industrial trucks (30.1, 30.2, 30.3, 30.4, 30.5) in an area of a goods logistics facility (10). The industrial trucks each have an industrial truck drive control device for controlling the travel movements of the respective industrial truck, which is connected, preferably by wireless means, with a control apparatus (40) of the goods logistics facility, which is central and/or stationary. Individual travel movement control commands and/or individual industrial truck identifications are sent by the control apparatus to the respective industrial truck drive control devices of the industrial trucks so that in a local region (25) of the areas of the goods logistics facility, in which the industrial trucks are moved simultaneously, and preferably driven, the industrial trucks are moved or are drivable in a manner dependent on the individual travel movement control commands and/or dependent on the individual industrial truck identifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Jungheinrich AG
    Inventors: Florian Grabbe, Stefan Ahrens, Sven-Ole Heise, Jan Kopelke, Tony Altmann
  • Patent number: 10638446
    Abstract: A method for operating a positioning system for acquiring the position of at least one mobile unit in a goods logistics facility and a corresponding positioning system are provided. The method includes determining first status information of a first user configuration of the positioning system stored on a first storage medium of a first unit, determining second status information of a second user configuration of the positioning system stored on a second storage medium of a second unit, transmitting the first status information from the first unit to the second unit via a wireless data connection, comparing the first status information with the second status information in the second unit, and generating at least one control message in the second unit if the first status information does not match the second status information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Jungheinrich AG
    Inventors: Florian Grabbe, Stefan Ahrens, Sven-Ole Heise, Jan Kopelke, Tony Altmann
  • Patent number: 10430969
    Abstract: A method for recognizing a viewed object in a warehouse comprises detecting image data comprising a plurality of pixels with a 3D camera attached to an industrial truck, wherein information regarding a distance from the viewed object to the 3D camera is assigned to each pixel. Creating a two-dimensional data set by projecting the plurality of pixels on a projection plane and comparing the two-dimensional data set with a predefined pattern representing a reference object. Determining a provisional recognition of a viewed object at a position in the projection plane based on a correspondence found in the comparison. Creating a second data set that comprises a depth profile along a line at the position of the projection plane and comparing the second data set with a predefined depth profile pattern assigned to the reference object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jan Kopelke, Eckhard Schulz
  • Patent number: 10429833
    Abstract: A method for determining the position of a plurality of storage bins in a warehouse, comprises the steps of: (i) obtaining image data from at least one lateral 3D camera coupled to an industrial truck having a location system and a direction of travel, the at least one lateral 3D camera oriented transversely to the direction of travel of the industrial truck; (ii) obtaining location information concerning the industrial truck by a location system; (iii) determining position data associated with the plurality of storage bins in a warehouse defining a fixed coordinate system, the position data being determined based on the image data acquired by the at least one lateral 3D camera and the location information of the industrial truck; and (iv) storing the position data of the plurality of storage bins in a database of a computer processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Eckhard Schulz, Jan Kopelke
  • Publication number: 20190274114
    Abstract: A method for operating a positioning system for acquiring the position of at least one mobile unit in a goods logistics facility and a corresponding positioning system are provided. The method includes determining first status information of a first user configuration of the positioning system stored on a first storage medium of a first unit, determining second status information of a second user configuration of the positioning system stored on a second storage medium of a second unit, transmitting the first status information from the first unit to the second unit via a wireless data connection, comparing the first status information with the second status information in the second unit, and generating at least one control message in the second unit if the first status information does not match the second status information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Florian GRABBE, Stefan AHRENS, Sven-Ole HEISE, Jan KOPELKE, Tony ALTMANN
  • Publication number: 20190270589
    Abstract: A method for controlling at least two movable industrial trucks (30.1, 30.2, 30.3, 30.4, 30.5) in an area of a goods logistics facility (10). The industrial trucks each have an industrial truck drive control device for controlling the travel movements of the respective industrial truck, which is connected, preferably by wireless means, with a control apparatus (40) of the goods logistics facility, which is central and/or stationary, individual travel movement control commands and/or individual industrial truck identifications are sent by the control apparatus to the respective industrial truck drive control devices of the industrial trucks so that in a local region (25) of the areas of the goods logistics facility, in which the industrial trucks are moved simultaneously, and preferably driven, the industrial trucks are moved or are drivable in a manner dependent on the individual travel movement control commands and/or dependent on the individual industrial truck identifications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Florian GRABBE, Stefan AHRENS, Sven-Ole HEISE, Jan KOPELKE, Tony ALTMANN
  • Publication number: 20190271763
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for setting up a surveillance zone (4) of a location system for acquiring the position of at least one movable object within a goods logistics facility (2), a method for operating such a location system, and a location system for a goods logistics facility (2). The method for setting up the surveillance zone (4) includes the following steps of the method: Moving a zone setting up apparatus (50) along a closed movement path (6) within an acquisition range and simultaneously capturing at least three different path positions (7) of the zone setting up apparatus (50), determining a route of an outer boundary (5) of the surveillance zone (4) to be set up based on the path positions (7) acquired, and defining an area enclosed by the outer boundary (5) as a surveillance zone (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Florian GRABBE, Stefan AHRENS, Sven-Ole HEISE, Jan KOPELKE, Tony ALTMANN
  • Publication number: 20190274008
    Abstract: A positioning system for position determination in a goods logistics facility and a method for operating same. The positioning system includes a plurality of permanently installed anchor nodes that represent reference points in a common coordinate system. The positioning system is configured to determine a distance from a first anchor node to a second anchor node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Florian GRABBE, Stefan AHRENS, Sven-Ole HEISE, Jan KOPELKE, Tony ALTMANN
  • Publication number: 20190270449
    Abstract: A method and a system for collision avoidance in a hazardous area (4) of a logistics facility (2) that includes determining a first distance (14) between a stationary hazardous area monitoring apparatus (30) disposed inside the hazardous area, and a first sending and receiving apparatus (13) that disposed on an industrial truck (10, 11, 12) and connected to a control system of the industrial truck, and determining a second distance (24) between the stationary hazardous area monitoring apparatus and a second sending and receiving apparatus disposed on a movable object. A determination is made as to whether the first distance and the second distance are less than or equal to a predeterminable intervention area distance (6), and a collision avoidance action is carried out if both the first distance and the second distance are less than or equal to the predeterminable intervention area distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Florian GRABBE, Stefan AHRENS, Sven-Ole HEISE, Jan KOPELKE, Tony ALTMANN, Felix RIESENHUBER
  • Publication number: 20190272757
    Abstract: A system and a method for collision avoidance within a monitoring zone includes a first transmitter and receiver apparatus disposed on an industrial truck, a second transmitter and receiver apparatus disposed on a movable object, and at least two stationary positioning apparatuses that are set up for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals. A position of the movable object within the monitoring zone is determined. It is determined whether a collision risk exists between the industrial truck and the movable object, and safety measures are initiated if such a collision risk exists. The monitoring zone may include at least one separation zone, wherein no collision risk between the industrial truck and the movable object is determined to exist if the object position is located within the separation zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Florian GRABBE, Stefan AHRENS, Sven-Ole HEISE, Jan KOPELKE, Tony ALTMANN
  • Publication number: 20190271990
    Abstract: A method for operating an industrial truck (20) in a goods logistics facility (10). The absolute position of the industrial truck (20) in the goods logistics facility (10) is determined and the direction of travel of the industrial truck (20) in the goods logistics facility (10) is determined, and a dynamically adaptable and/or modifiable industrial truck extension zone (30) is determined as a function of the absolute position determined and the direction of travel determined for the industrial truck (20) in the goods logistics facility (10), preferably at predetermined periods of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Florian GRABBE, Stefan AHRENS, Sven-Ole HEISE, Jan KOPELKE, Tony ALTMANN
  • Publication number: 20180143624
    Abstract: A method for determining the position of a plurality of storage bins in a warehouse, comprises the steps of: (i) obtaining image data from at least one lateral 3D camera coupled to an industrial truck having a location system and a direction of travel, the at least one lateral 3D camera oriented transversely to the direction of travel of the industrial truck; (ii) obtaining location information concerning the industrial truck by a location system; (iii) determining position data associated with the plurality of storage bins in a warehouse defining a fixed coordinate system, the position data being determined based on the image data acquired by the at least one lateral 3D camera and the location information of the industrial truck; and (iv) storing the position data of the plurality of storage bins in a database of a computer processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Eckhard Schulz, Jan Kopelke
  • Publication number: 20180114340
    Abstract: A method for recognizing a viewed object in a warehouse comprises detecting image data comprising a plurality of pixels with a 3D camera attached to an industrial truck, wherein information regarding a distance from the viewed object to the 3D camera is assigned to each pixel. Creating a two-dimensional data set by projecting the plurality of pixels on a projection plane and comparing the two-dimensional data set with a predefined pattern representing a reference object. Determining a provisional recognition of a viewed object at a position in the projection plane based on a correspondence found in the comparison. Creating a second data set that comprises a depth profile along a line at the position of the projection plane and comparing the second data set with a predefined depth profile pattern assigned to the reference object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jan Kopelke, Eckhard Schulz