Patents by Inventor John Pretlove
John Pretlove 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: 20250328129Abstract: An arrangement comprises a carriage running on a track entering an automation equipment environment of a first piece of equipment, the carriage comprising an image capturing device, a sound registering arrangement, and a carriage control unit operative to control the sound registering arrangement to register sounds emitted in the automation equipment environment, which sounds comprise sounds registered at a first track position of the carriage, receive the sounds from the sound registering arrangement, the sounds comprising sounds emitted from a point of interest on the first piece of automation equipment, determine a direction from the image capturing device to the point of interest based on the received sounds and adjust the track position of the carriage and/or the orientation of the image capturing device based on the determined direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2025Publication date: October 23, 2025Applicant: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: John Pretlove, Orjan Tveit, Tako Lootsma, Simon-John Hamilton, Henning Caillé Nesheim, Svein Monrad
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Patent number: 12040657Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply, UPS, arrangement for subsea applications, including a container arranged and configured for subsea operation, and the following main modules arranged inside the container: at least one battery module of a predetermined battery capacity; at least one UPS module governing the battery module, the UPS module having a predetermined UPS capacity; at least one control module configured for interfacing and managing the battery module and the UPS module. The UPS arrangement is arranged and configured to vary its overall capacity based on at least the number of battery and UPS modules, wherein the at least one battery module and the at least one UPS module are internally arranged such that the heat losses from the UPS module are used to heat the battery module.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2021Date of Patent: July 16, 2024Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Paul Midtun, John Pretlove, Nicola Notari, Silvio Colombi, Helge Kolstad, Paolo Catapane
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Publication number: 20230261514Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply, UPS, arrangement for subsea applications, including a container arranged and configured for subsea operation, and the following main modules arranged inside the container: at least one battery module of a predetermined battery capacity; at least one UPS module governing the battery module, the UPS module having a predetermined UPS capacity; at least one control module configured for interfacing and managing the battery module and the UPS module. The UPS arrangement is arranged and configured to vary its overall capacity based on at least the number of battery and UPS modules, wherein the at least one battery module and the at least one UPS module are internally arranged such that the heat losses from the UPS module are used to heat the battery module.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2021Publication date: August 17, 2023Inventors: Paul Midtun, John Pretlove, Nicola Notari, Silvio Colombi, Helge Kolstad, Paolo Catapane
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Patent number: 8627740Abstract: An industrial robot adapted for a harsh environment involving exposure to salt water. A robot arm includes a plurality of arm parts movable relative each other about a plurality of joints. Electrical motors move the arm parts. A salt water proof coating on at least a portion of an exterior of the robot arm parts.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2009Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: Charlotte Skourup, Johan Gunnar, John Pretlove
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Publication number: 20130011234Abstract: An industrial robot including a plurality of arms movable relative each other about a plurality of joints, and electrical motors moving the arms. The robot is also arranged and designed to resist corrosion in a harsh environment. The robot is also mobile and arranged for movement or travel and suitable for maintenance and inspection tasks in an installation for oil and gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2012Publication date: January 10, 2013Inventors: John Pretlove, Charlotte Skourup, Johan Gunnar, David Anisi
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Patent number: 8225226Abstract: A system that enables a user to interact with a virtual control panel using a user controlled pointing object. The system includes a portable identification element, a tracking unit adapted to capture data representing the position of the pointing object and the position of the identification element, a storage unit, storing at least one pre-defined graphical interface representing a control panel of a device, a graphics unit, generating a graphical representation of the control panel, a registering unit, registering the graphical representation of the control panel in a fixed relation to the portable identification element to produce a virtual control panel and a display unit, showing the user a view including the real world and the virtual control panel.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2004Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: Charlotte Skourup, John Pretlove, Thomas Pettersen
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Patent number: 8126964Abstract: A method to distribute or share data provided by a server process of an industrial control system to a client process running on a first machine of a first user, with a client process running on a machine of a second user. The server session is logged by the server process. It is determined that the first user makes a selection to distribute or share a client process with at least one second user. An address is retrieved for the at least one other user, and a channel is opened thus providing the same data provided to the client process running on the first machine to a client process running on a second machine of at least one second user. Also included are system, a human-machine interface and a computer program for carrying out the method.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2005Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: John Pretlove, Stefan Svensson, Pierre Öberg, Mogens Mathiesen
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Patent number: 8046719Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method and computer-based system for configuring, monitoring and/or operating a graphical user interface in two or three dimensions. In particular it is concerned with a graphical user interface used for controlling, monitoring and/or operating equipment in a control system of an industrial process or an installation for oil and gas or for an installation for electrical power generating, transmission and/or distribution.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2007Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: ABB Technology Ltd.Inventors: Charlotte Skourup, John Pretlove, Trond Loekstad, Torbjørn Engedal
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Publication number: 20110154934Abstract: An industrial robot adapted for a harsh environment involving exposure to salt water. A robot arm includes a plurality of arm parts movable relative each other about a plurality of joints. Electrical motors move the arm parts. A salt water proof coating on at least a portion of an exterior of the robot arm parts.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2009Publication date: June 30, 2011Applicant: ABB Research Ltd........Inventors: Charlotte Skourup, Johan Gunnar, John Pretlove
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Publication number: 20100315416Abstract: A computer implemented method for remote inspection of infrastructure of an industrial process in an installation for extraction, processing and/or production of materials. The process is supervised by a control system including one or more computers, and one or more computer display apparatus. At least one computer includes a graphic computer model and a 3D model of the process infrastructure, where a position in the process infrastructure in the 3D model is arranged selectable, wherein the selected position is identified from a viewpoint in the model. The viewpoint information from the model is used to position one or more cameras in the real installation. Images from the real installation are combined with the 3D model in different ways. A remote inspection system and a computer program are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2008Publication date: December 16, 2010Applicant: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: John Pretlove, Charlotte Skourup
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Patent number: 7787992Abstract: A method to generate technical information about a device or process by recognizing the identity of a device or process, retrieving a stored image dependent on the device, combining the stored virtual image together with an image of a real device object, displaying the combination on a display and providing a virtual control HMI means to the user for monitoring and/or controlling the device or process. A graphical user interface, computer program and a system are also described.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2005Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: John Pretlove, Charlotte Skourup, Pierre Öberg, Thomas Pettersen, Christoffer Apneseth
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Patent number: 7715929Abstract: A human-machine interface of a control system for monitoring and control of a process and including a computer generated model of the process. The process or a part or component of the process is displayed such that the model is arranged to map a point on the computer generated model to data held by the control system about the at least one part or component of the process. A method to monitor and control a process using the human-machine interface and a system including the interface are also described.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2006Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: Charlotte Skourup, John Pretlove, Kristoffer Husoy
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Patent number: 7714895Abstract: An augmented reality system including a camera movably located at a local site captures an image. A registering unit generates graphics and registers the generated graphics to the image from the camera to provide a composite augmented reality image. A display device located at a remote site, physically separated from the local site, displays a view including the composite augmented reality image. A communication link communicates information between the local and the remote site. A specifying unit specifies a position and an orientation in the remote site. The registering unit is adapted to register the generated graphical representation to the image in dependence of the specified position and orientation. The camera is arranged such that its position and orientation is dependent on the specified position and orientation.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2003Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: John Pretlove, Thomas Pettersen
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Publication number: 20100095233Abstract: A method, device and system to retrieve and display technical data for an industrial device supervised by a computer program for control, configuration or condition monitoring in an industrial or commercial plant. In particular to use of a display member to provide a graphical user interface for manipulating data for, and/or for controlling, one or more industrial devices. A computing device or mobile computing device can send a link or reference of an application, interface or document to the display so that various applications interfaces may be displayed by the display for ease of information retrieval, manipulation and access.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2007Publication date: April 15, 2010Inventors: Charlotte Skourup, Siri Breen, John Pretlove, Jon Olav Eikenes
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Publication number: 20090300535Abstract: A system that enables a user to interact with a virtual control panel using a user controlled pointing object. The system includes a portable identification element, a tracking unit adapted to capture data representing the position of the pointing object and the position of the identification element, a storage unit, storing at least one pre-defined graphical interface representing a control panel of a device, a graphics unit, generating a graphical representation of the control panel, a registering unit, registering the graphical representation of the control panel in a fixed relation to the portable identification element to produce a virtual control panel and a display unit, showing the user a view including the real world and the virtual control panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2004Publication date: December 3, 2009Inventors: Charlotte Skourup, John Pretlove, Thomas Pettersen
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Publication number: 20080275971Abstract: A method for distribute or share data provided by a server process of an industrial control system to a client process running on a first machine of a first user, with a client process running on a machine of a second user. The server session is logged by the server process. It is determined that the first user makes a selection to distribute or share a client process with at least one second user. An address is retrieved for the at least one other user, and a channel is opened thus providing the same data provided to the client process running on the first machine to a client process running on a second machine of at least one second user. Also system, a human-machine interface and a computer program for carrying out the method.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2005Publication date: November 6, 2008Applicant: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: John Pretlove, Stefan Svensson, Pierre Oberg, Mogens Mathiesen
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Patent number: 7353082Abstract: A method and a system for use in connection with off-line programming of an industrial robot. The robot is taught a path having a number of waypoints located on or in the vicinity of at least one object to be processed by the robot. The system includes a tracking system unit adapted to provide information about the position of a part of the body of an operator pointing by the part at points on or in the vicinity of the object, a visual feed-back unit generating a visual feed-back to the operator of the position of the point being presently pointed at by the part of the body, in relation to the object, and a storage unit adapted for storing the position of the part of the body as a waypoint upon receiving a recording command.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2004Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Assignee: Abb Research Ltd.Inventors: John Pretlove, Charlotte Skourup, Thomas Pettersen
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Patent number: 7353081Abstract: A method for programming an industrial robot. The robot is taught a path having waypoints located on or in the vicinity of an object. An image of the object is obtained. Information is obtained about the position of a pointer pointing at points. The position of the points relative to the object is determined. A point being pointed out is stored as a waypoint. A graphical representation is generated of the stored waypoint and the point being pointed out. A view is displayed including the object and the graphical representation. A system includes a pointer for pointing out points on or in the vicinity of the object, a position determiner determines the position of the points relative to the object, a camera delivers an image of the object and the pointer, a graphical generator generates graphics, a display displays a view including the object and graphical representation, and an activator.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2004Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: Charlotte Skourup, John Pretlove
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Publication number: 20080005702Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method and computer-based system for configuring, monitoring and/or operating a graphical user interface in two or three dimensions. In particular it is concerned with a graphical user interface used for controlling, monitoring and/or operating equipment in a control system of an industrial process or an installation for oil and gas or for an installation for electrical power generating, transmission and/or distribution.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2007Publication date: January 3, 2008Applicant: ABB Technology Ltd.Inventors: Charlotte Skourup, John Pretlove, Trond Loekstad, Torbjorn Engedal
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Patent number: 7236854Abstract: A method and a system for use in connection with programming of an industrial robot. The programming includes teaching the robot a path having a number of waypoints located on or in the vicinity of an object to be processed by the robot. The system includes elements for obtaining information about the waypoints of the path in relation to the object, a storage unit for storing the obtained information, a simulation unit for simulating the robot path based on the obtained information about the waypoints and a model of the robot, a graphics generator for generating a graphical representation of the simulated robot path, and a display member for displaying a view comprising the object and the graphical representation of the robot path projected on the object.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2004Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: John Pretlove, Charlotte Skourup, Thomas Pettersen