Patents by Inventor Rene Graf
Rene Graf 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: 20230273603Abstract: A safety system of a mobile component of an industrial automation plant and method for adjusting failsafe monitoring in the industrial automation plant, wherein a sensor of a mobile component of the industrial automation plant is used to determine a position and orientation of the mobile component relative to a further component of the industrial automation plant in a failsafe manner, a communicative and failsafe coupling is set up between the mobile component and the further component, and successful coupling results in a monitoring region of the mobile component are adjusted, where a monitoring region of the further component is also possibly adjusted.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2021Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventors: Martin ARZICH, Rene GRAF
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Patent number: 11687044Abstract: Method for operating a redundantly configured automation system which includes has a first subsystem, a second subsystem and a third subsystem, wherein a sequence program is implemented in each of the subsystems of the automation system and is executable in a runtime environment to fulfill automation tasks, and wherein a data memory is implemented in the subsystems in each of the automation systems, where the sequence program includes at least a first subprogram and a second subprogram, the data memory in each of the subsystems includes at least a first submemory and a second submemory, the first subprogram and the first submemory are synchronized with a first synchronization clock between the first and second subsystems, and the second subprogram and the second submemory are synchronized with a second synchronization clock between the first and third subsystems, and where the first and synchronization clocks differ from one another.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Rene Graf, Guido Steinhauer
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Patent number: 11660751Abstract: An automated method determines a safety zone for a robot. The robot carries out operations along a specified trajectory. For collision-free operation, a safety zone is determined by: dividing the specified trajectory into a plurality of subtrajectories; determining a plurality of fine-grained envelope cuboids around extreme points of each subtrajectory; and determining a number of optimized envelope cuboids from an enlargement of individual fine-grained envelope cuboids in relation to the volume occupied by the enlarged fine-grained envelope cuboids. The optimized envelope cuboids determined in this way form the safety zone for the trajectory. This automated method can be expanded to multiple trajectories of a robot, multiple robots, and replanning a trajectory for an occupied semaphore zone.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Felix Baer, Rene Graf, Ralf Gross
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Patent number: 11379391Abstract: A real-time automation device includes a real-time databus, and a memory device, wherein the databus is configured to transmit values associated with defined bus variables and configured to communicate a value associated with a bus variable from a bus variable source in accordance with a bus database via a databus to a bus variable receiver associated with the bus variable in accordance with the bus database such that, following transfer of the value from the bus variable source to the databus, the value is transferred within a predefined time period to the bus variable receiver, wherein the memory device also includes a software application which receives values associated with the bus variable from the databus or sends values associated with the bus variable to the databus, and wherein the automation device registers the software application as a bus variable receiver or as a bus variable source for the bus variables.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2019Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Rene Graf, Jürgen Reichmann, Olaf Ulrich, Christian Winkler
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Patent number: 11370118Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting a protective function during operation of a machine (1), in which a transfer region (5) is monitored by a plurality of protective devices (L1, L2), the transfer region (5) being arranged between a risk region (2), in which a dangerous movement is performed by the machine (1), and a surrounding region (3), the transfer region (5) being monitored by first protective devices (L1) in respective first monitoring directions (UI) and, independently thereof, by second protective devices (L2) in respective second monitoring directions (U2), at least one of the first protective devices (L1) and at least one of the second protective devices (L2) being arranged relative to one another in such a way that the first monitoring direction (UI) of the at least one first protective device (L1) and the second monitoring device (U2) of the at least one second protective device (L2) have a point of intersection (S).Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2018Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Felix Bär, Rene Graf, Ralf Gross, Matthias Loskyll
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Publication number: 20220138027Abstract: In a method for transmitting a message in a computing system, the message is transmitted by a transmitter and received by a receiver. The transmitter is granted access to a memory area for the purpose of transmitting using a first virtual address allocated to the transmitter by a memory management unit, whereas the access to the memory area by the transmitter is revoked after transmitting. Subsequently, the receiver is granted access to the memory area for the purpose of receiving using a second virtual address allocated to the receiver by a memory management unit. The first virtual address may be different from the second virtual address.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Rene Graf
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Publication number: 20220072710Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting a protective function during operation of a machine (1), in which a transfer region (5) is monitored by a plurality of protective devices (L1, L2), the transfer region (5) being arranged between a risk region (2), in which a dangerous movement is performed by the machine (1), and a surrounding region (3), the transfer region (5) being monitored by first protective devices (L1) in respective first monitoring directions (UI) and, independently thereof, by second protective devices (L2) in respective second monitoring directions (U2), at least one of the first protective devices (L1) and at least one of the second protective devices (L2) being arranged relative to one another in such a way that the first monitoring direction (UI) of the at least one first protective device (L1) and the second monitoring device (U2) of the at least one second protective device (L2) have a point of intersection (S).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2018Publication date: March 10, 2022Inventors: Felix Bär, Rene Graf, Ralf Gross, Matthias Loskyll
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Publication number: 20210303488Abstract: A real-time automation. device includes a real-time databus, and a memory device, wherein the databus is configured to transmit values associated with defined bus variables and configured to communicate a value associated with a bus variable from a bus variable source in accordance with a bus database via a databus to a bus variable receiver associated with the bus variable in accordance with the bus database such that, following transfer of the value from the bus variable source to the databus, the value is transferred within a predefined time period to the bus variable receiver, wherein the memory device also includes a software application which receives values associated with the bus variable from the databus or sends values associated with the bus variable to the databus, and wherein the automation device registers the software application as a bus variable receiver or as a bus variable source for the bus variables.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2019Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Rene GRAF, Jürgen REICHMANN, Olaf ULRICH, Christian WINKLER
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Publication number: 20210263481Abstract: Method for operating a redundantly configured automation system which includes has a first subsystem, a second subsystem and a third subsystem, wherein a sequence program is implemented in each of the subsystems of the automation system and is executable in a runtime environment to fulfill automation tasks, and wherein a data memory is implemented in the subsystems in each of the automation systems, where the sequence program includes at least a first subprogram and a second subprogram, the data memory in each of the subsystems includes at least a first submemory and a second submemory, the first subprogram and the first submemory are synchronized with a first synchronization clock between the first and second subsystems, and the second subprogram and the second submemory are synchronized with a second synchronization clock between the first and third subsystems, and where the first and synchronization clocks differ from one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2021Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Rene GRAF, Guida STEINHAUER
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Publication number: 20210138649Abstract: An automated method determines a safety zone for a robot. The robot carries out operations along a specified trajectory. For collision-free operation, a safety zone is determined by: dividing the specified trajectory into a plurality of subtrajectories; determining a plurality of fine-grained envelope cuboids around extreme points of each subtrajectory; and determining a number of optimized envelope cuboids from an enlargement of individual fine-grained envelope cuboids in relation to the volume occupied by the enlarged fine-grained envelope cuboids. The optimized envelope cuboids determined in this way form the safety zone for the trajectory. This automated method can be expanded to multiple trajectories of a robot, multiple robots, and replanning a trajectory for an occupied semaphore zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2020Publication date: May 13, 2021Inventors: Felix Baer, Rene Graf, Ralf Gross
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Patent number: 10274922Abstract: A method for operating a programmable logic control device to which a current input data set having state data regarding a peripheral component is provided cyclically by a communications bus after each bus cycle terminates. A first program instance of a control program is cyclically processed by a control device. The program cycle duration is longer than the bus cycle duration and, therefore, between the beginning and end of the program cycle, the communications bus provides at least one current data set that cannot be taken into account by the first program instance. To reduce the latency with which a control device reacts to a change in the input value of a peripheral component. at least one other program instance of the control program is cyclically processed so that it is temporally offset by less than one program cycle duration relative to the first program instance.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2013Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Rene Graf, Michael Wieczorek
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Publication number: 20190056970Abstract: In a method for computer-aided coupling a processing module into a modular technical system, wherein the technical system has a host system designed to provide a virtual machine having real-time capability, and a processing module with a hardware unit having sensor or an actuator, and a connection unit having a communication component for controlling the hardware unit by way of control instructions and a data memory storing configuration data and a control program for providing the control instructions. Data messages are exchanged between the processing module and the host system via the connection unit. The following steps are carried out: The method includes reading the configuration data and the control program from the data memory; instantiating a virtual machine on the host computer; loading the configuration data and the control program into the virtual machine; and transmitting control instructions to the processing module for controlling the hardware unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2018Publication date: February 21, 2019Applicant: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Rene Graf
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Decentralized energy management in automated industrial installations using self-organizing networks
Patent number: 10044194Abstract: Method for anticipatory regulation of energy flows in an electrical supply grid of an automation installation, which includes a number of connecting devices that are connected to the electrical supply grid, wherein the connecting devices exchange information with respect to their energy requirements or their energy supply among one another and the connecting devices exchange energy among one another based on the information.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2011Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Rene Graf, Frank Konopka -
Patent number: 9952954Abstract: A method for operating a multi-core processor system, wherein different of a program are each executed simultaneously by a different respective processor core of the multi-core processor system includes inserting a breakpoint in a first of the threads for interrupting the first processor core and instead executing an exception handling routine. At least one processor core to be additionally interrupted is determined with the exception handling routine on the basis of an association matrix, and an inter-processor interrupt (IPI) is sent to the at least one processor core by the exception handling routine in order to interrupt the at least one processor core.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2013Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventor: Rene Graf
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Patent number: 9436836Abstract: A method for regulating process, production, and/or actuating installation includes recording observation data records at installation components of the installation by respective recording units of the installation. The method also includes transmitting the observation data records to a central control apparatus of the installation via a field bus. The method further includes forming, at the control apparatus, associated actuating data record based on the transmitted observation data records. The method also includes transmitting the actuating data records to actuating units of the installation via filed buses. The method also includes adjusting the installation components from the actuating units based on the transmitted actuating data records.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2014Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Rene Graf
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Patent number: 9308653Abstract: An industrial robot with a robotic arm and a data recording module connected to the robotic arm is described. The data recording module is designed for a wireless communication and has a self-sufficient power supply with a converter unit by which mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy, the energy from the movement of the robotic arm being used therefore.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2009Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventor: Rene Graf
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Publication number: 20160077509Abstract: A method for operating a programmable logic control device to which a current input data set having state data regarding a peripheral component is provided cyclically by a communications bus after each bus cycle terminates. A first program instance of a control program is cyclically processed by a control device. The program cycle duration is longer than the bus cycle duration and, therefore, between the beginning and end of the program cycle, the communications bus provides at least one current data set that cannot be taken into account by the first program instance. To reduce the latency with which a control device reacts to a change in the input value of a peripheral component. at least one other program instance of the control program is cyclically processed so that it is temporally offset by less than one program cycle duration relative to the first program instance.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2013Publication date: March 17, 2016Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Rene Graf, MICHAEL WIECZOREK
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Publication number: 20160062863Abstract: A method for operating a multi-core processor system, wherein different of a program are each executed simultaneously by a different respective processor core of the multi-core processor system includes inserting a breakpoint in a first of the threads for interrupting the first processor core and instead executing an exception handling routine. At least one processor core to be additionally interrupted is determined with the exception handling routine on the basis of an association matrix, and an inter-processor interrupt (IPI) is sent to the at least one processor core by the exception handling routine in order to interrupt the at least one processor core.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2013Publication date: March 3, 2016Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventor: RENE GRAF
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Publication number: 20140325185Abstract: A method for operating a processor in which a first program comprising a first sequence of commands is provided, at least one second program is provided comprising a second sequence of commands, where the first program comprises a time-critical section with time-critical commands, commands from the first and second programs are processed in a processor pipeline, a start time is identified for the time-critical section in the first program, and a predefined interrupt program is incorporated into the at least one second program once the start time of the time critical section in the first program has been identified.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2012Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: Siemens AktiengesellschaffInventors: Rene Graf, Wolfgang Hartmann
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Publication number: 20140304521Abstract: A method for regulating process, production, and/or actuating installation includes recording observation data records at installation components of the installation by respective recording units of the installation. The method also includes transmitting the observation data records to a central control apparatus of the installation via a field bus. The method further includes forming, at the control apparatus, associated actuating data record based on the transmitted observation data records. The method also includes transmitting the actuating data records to actuating units of the installation via filed buses. The method also includes adjusting the installation components from the actuating units based on the transmitted actuating data records.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Applicant: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: RENE GRAF