Patents by Inventor Ralf Koeppe

Ralf Koeppe 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: 8649906
    Abstract: In order to increase the safety of a robot that may come into contact with other robots, objects or humans, the invention provides that said robot comprises at least two joints and parts that are moveable in relation to each other via at least one joint. At least one sensor (31) is arranged on at least one moveable part (3, 4, 5?, 6, 7), detecting torque. Sensor components (21?, 22.1, 22.2) of the sensor (31) are designed for the redundant detection of a torque, or for the redundant detection of a torque of at least two sensors (31) are provided, and redundant evaluation units are provided for the redundant evaluation. In order to increase safety, the invention further provides a method for monitoring torque on a robot of said kind, wherein at least a torque on at least one movable part (3, 4, 5?, 6, 7) is redundantly detected and redundantly evaluated on at least one moveable part (3, 4, 5?, 6, 7) by means of two sensor components of a sensor (31) or by means of two sensors (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: KUKA Laboratories GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Bischoff, Eugen Heinze, Ralf Koeppe, Johannes Kurth, Gunter Schreiber, Uwe Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20100324733
    Abstract: In order to increase the safety of a robot that may come into contact with other robots, objects or humans, the invention provides that said robot comprises at least two joints and parts that are moveable in relation to each other via at least one joint. At least one sensor (31) is arranged on at least one moveable part (3, 4, 5?, 6, 7), detecting torque. Sensor components (21?, 22.1, 22.2) of the sensor (31) are designed for the redundant detection of a torque, or for the redundant detection of a torque of at least two sensors (31) are provided, and redundant evaluation units are provided for the redundant evaluation. In order to increase safety, the invention further provides a method for monitoring torque on a robot of said kind, wherein at least a torque on at least one movable part (3, 4, 5?, 6, 7) is redundantly detected and redundantly evaluated on at least one moveable part (3, 4, 5?, 6, 7) by means of two sensor components of a sensor (31) or by means of two sensors (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: KUKA ROBOTER GMBH
    Inventors: Rainer Bischoff, Eugen Heinze, Ralf Koeppe, Johannes Kurth, Gunter Schreiber, Uwe Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 6522951
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling a robot on the basis of data from sensors with their own sensor data structures. For solving the problem of adapting to different sensors and their data structures and consequently permitting in simple manner the use of different sensors without intervening in the actual robot control program, according to the system the sensor data are processed to robot control data with a control data structure usable by a system control program and a processing device suitable for the same is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Kuka Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Born, Johannes Stelter, Bernhard-Michael Steinmetz, Jens Bunsendahl, Ralf Koeppe
  • Publication number: 20020002424
    Abstract: The invention is based on a method and a device for controlling a robot on the basis of data from sensors with their own sensor data structures. For solving the problem of adapting to different sensors and their data structures and consequently permitting in simple manner the use of different sensors without intervening in the actual robot control program, according to the invention the sensor data are processed to robot control data with a control data structure usable by a system control program and a processing means suitable for the same is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: Hans Born, Johannes Stelter, Bernhard-Michael Steinmetz, Jens Bunsendahl, Ralf Koeppe