Patents by Inventor Richard Galera
Richard Galera 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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Patent number: 9025019Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for utilizing time of flight sensors in an industrial automation environment. The method includes employing a multi pixel camera associated with a time of flight sensor to detect an object located within a defined or bounded target area, comparing pixels with adjacent pixels associated with an image of the object captured by the multi pixel camera, identifying the object as being a colored, texture, or highly reflective object, and controlling industrial machinery based on the identification of the object entering the target area.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2010Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignees: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc., Cedes Safety & Automation AGInventors: Carl Meinherz, Craig Martin Brockman, Elik I. Fooks, Manfred Norbert Stein, Martin Hardegger, Wei Jie Chen, Reto Berner, Richard Galera, Robert M. Black, Roger Merz, Suresh Nair, Steven A. Eisenbrown
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Patent number: 8693159Abstract: A method and system for diagnostic coverage of safety components monitors the state of a safety chain and each of the safety devices in the chain. A fault condition is detected if one of the safety devices indicates that the safety chain should be open but the safety chain indicates that it is closed. In order to prevent an inadvertent reset of the fault condition by opening the safety chain via a second safety device, the fault condition is latched until the monitoring system verifies that the faulty safety device has been corrected.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Derek W. Jones, Kevin M. Zomchek, Richard Galera
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Publication number: 20130335725Abstract: A system for calibrating a color sensing pixel based upon the distance between the color sensing pixel and an object. The distance is determined by measuring the phase shift of electromagnetic radiation as reflected from the surface of the object compared with the wave profile of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the object surface. The color sensing pixel is associated with a Time-of-Flight (ToF) pixel which is employed to determine the distance of the color sensing pixel. The electromagnetic radiation can be from any part of the electromagnetic spectrum, in particular the infrared and visible light portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The color sensing pixel and the ToF pixel can reside on the same semiconductor or on disparate semiconductors.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2013Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicants: Cedes Safety & Automation AG, Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Martin Hardegger, Reto Berner, Richard Galera, Suresh Nair, Carl Meinherz, Craig Martin Brockman, Elik I. Fooks, Manfred Norbert Stein, Robert M. Black
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Patent number: 8562035Abstract: A safety lock mechanism is provided that facilitates accurate and consistent alignment between a locking bolt and a locking receptacle prior to engaging the locking bolt. To this end, a safety lock configured to mount to a door frame is provided with an internally disposed hard stop that protects the electrical and mechanical components within the safety lock housing from door impact shock. An extended portion of the hard stop protrudes through the housing facing the direction of door travel. A corresponding receptacle assembly configured to mount to the door is fabricated to include a bolt receptacle hole as well as an open window that engages with the extended portion of the hard stop when the door is in the closed position. When the window in the receptacle is engaged with the extended portion of the hard stop, door movement is limited in five directions even when the locking bolt is not yet engaged.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2010Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael N. Burdenko, Dennis C. Mackey, Richard Galera, Steven Tambeau
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Patent number: 8542348Abstract: A system for calibrating a color sensing pixel based upon the distance between the color sensing pixel and an object. The distance is determined by measuring the phase shift of electromagnetic radiation as reflected from the surface of the object compared with the wave profile of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the object surface. The color sensing pixel is associated with a Time-of-Flight (ToF) pixel which is employed to determine the distance of the color sensing pixel. The electromagnetic radiation can be from any part of the electromagnetic spectrum, in particular the infrared and visible light portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The color sensing pixel and the ToF pixel can reside on the same semiconductor or on disparate semiconductors.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2010Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Martin Hardegger, Reto Berner, Richard Galera, Suresh Nair, Carl Meinherz, Craig Martin Brockman, Elik I. Fooks, Manfred Norbert Stein, Robert M. Black
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Publication number: 20120243139Abstract: A method and system for diagnostic coverage of safety components monitors the state of a safety chain and each of the safety devices in the chain. A fault condition is detected if one of the safety devices indicates that the safety chain should be open but the safety chain indicates that it is closed. In order to prevent an inadvertent reset of the fault condition by opening the safety chain via a second safety device, the fault condition is latched until the monitoring system verifies that the faulty safety device has been corrected.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2011Publication date: September 27, 2012Inventors: Derek W. Jones, Kevin M. Zomchek, Richard Galera
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Publication number: 20120119523Abstract: A safety lock mechanism is provided that facilitates accurate and consistent alignment between a locking bolt and a locking receptacle prior to engaging the locking bolt. To this end, a safety lock configured to mount to a door frame is provided with an internally disposed hard stop that protects the electrical and mechanical components within the safety lock housing from door impact shock. An extended portion of the hard stop protrudes through the housing facing the direction of door travel. A corresponding receptacle assembly configured to mount to the door is fabricated to include a bolt receptacle hole as well as an open window that engages with the extended portion of the hard stop when the door is in the closed position. When the window in the receptacle is engaged with the extended portion of the hard stop, door movement is limited in five directions even when the locking bolt is not yet engaged.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2010Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Michael N. Burdenko, Dennis C. MacKey, Richard Galera, Steven Tambeau
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Publication number: 20120105823Abstract: A system for calibrating a color sensing pixel based upon the distance between the color sensing pixel and an object. The distance is determined by measuring the phase shift of electromagnetic radiation as reflected from the surface of the object compared with the wave profile of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the object surface. The color sensing pixel is associated with a Time-of-Flight (ToF) pixel which is employed to determine the distance of the color sensing pixel. The electromagnetic radiation can be from any part of the electromagnetic spectrum, in particular the infrared and visible light portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The color sensing pixel and the ToF pixel can reside on the same semiconductor or on disparate semiconductors.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2010Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicants: CEDES SAFETY & AUTOMATION AG, ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Martin Hardegger, Reto Berner, Richard Galera, Suresh Nair, Carl Meinherz, Craig Martin Brockman, Elik I. Fooks, Manfred Norbert Stein, Robert M. Black
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Publication number: 20120092485Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for utilizing time of flight sensors in an industrial automation environment. The method includes employing a multi pixel camera associated with a time of flight sensor to detect an object located within a defined or bounded target area, comparing pixels with adjacent pixels associated with an image of the object captured by the multi pixel camera, identifying the object as being a colored, texture, or highly reflective object, and controlling industrial machinery based on the identification of the object entering the target area.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2010Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicants: CEDES SAFETY & AUTOMATION AG, ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Craig Martin Brockman, Elik I. Fooks, Manfred Norbert Stein, Martin Hardegger, Wei Jie Chen, Reto Berner, Richard Galera, Robert M. Black, Roger Merz, Suresh Nair, Steven A. Eisenbrown
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Publication number: 20120095575Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling industrial equipment in the performance of various industrial activities based on the detected body movement of a user in an industrial automation environment. The method includes employing a time-of-flight sensor to detect movement of a body part of the user, ascertaining whether or not the movement of the body part conforms to a recognized movement of the body part, interpreting the recognized movement of the body part as a performable action, and thereafter actuating industrial machinery to perform the performable action.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2010Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicants: Cedes Safety & Automation AG, Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Craig Martin Brockman, Elik I. Fooks, Manfred Norbert Stein, Martin Hardegger, Wei Jie Chen, Reto Berner, Richard Galera, Robert M. Black, Roger Merz, Suresh Nair, Steven A. Eisenbrown
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Publication number: 20110298579Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for defining a safety zone in an industrial automation environment. The method includes monitoring an object that approaches an operating zone where equipment is controlled within the operating zone. This includes determining the speed or direction that the object approaches the operating zone. The method includes dynamically adjusting a safety region in view of the determined speed or direction of the object and enabling or disabling the equipment within the operating zone based in part on the object entering the safety region.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2010Publication date: December 8, 2011Applicants: Cedes Safety & Automation AG, ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Martin Hardegger, Reto Berner, Richard Galera, Suresh Nair, Wei Jie Chen, Carl Meinherz, Craig Martin Brockman, Elik I. Fooks, Manfred Stein, Robert M. Black, Roger Merz, Steven A. Eisenbrown
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Patent number: 8046588Abstract: System(s) and method(s) that facilitate utilizing biometric sensors (e.g., fingerprint, hand scan, voice recognition . . . ) in manufacturing systems in order to maintain accurate safety audit trails. A safety audit system, utilizing a biometric sensing device, facilitates determining if a user is allowed to access and change the configuration of the manufacturing system. Once a user is allowed to change the configuration (e.g., programmable electronics, tooling changes, software updates, etc.) the changes are automatically recorded in a safety audit database. Automatic storage of configuration changes mitigates manual recording of changes thereby enhancing the safety audit data often necessary to meet safety standards for manufacturing systems.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2006Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Anthony G. Gibart, James E. Dogul, Richard Galera, George E. Rollins, Derek W. Jones, George K. Schuster, Suresh R. Nair, Ray C. Delcher
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Patent number: 7932809Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates providing a safety mechanism associated with a protective zone in an industrial automation environment. An radio frequency identification (RFID) component can receive data from an RFID tag to identify a location. A safety component can employ a safe mode to a device based at least in part upon the location to employ a protected zone in proximity with the device.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2006Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Suresh Nair, James E. Dogul, Richard Galera, George E. Rollins, Derek W. Jones, George K. Schuster, Ray C. Delcher
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Patent number: 7657814Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides industrial automation systems and/or methods that configure available redundancy. An interface component can obtain input data. Additionally, an optimization component can generate a voting configuration that allocates available redundancy to provide an optimized combination of safety and availability based at least in part on the input data.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2006Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: George K. Schuster, James E. Dogul, Richard Galera, George E. Rollins, Derek W. Jones, Suresh R. Nair, Ray C. Delcher
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Patent number: 7652759Abstract: An industrial device comprises a light emitter and a detector that is optically coupled to the emitter. A first deformable mirror/lens is optically coupled to the emitter, the first deformable mirror/lens is dynamically shaped to facilitate receipt of light at the detector. For example, the deformable mirror/lens can be associated with one or more actuators that causes the mirror/lens to be shaped in a desirable manner.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2006Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: James E. Dogul, Richard Galera, George E. Rollins, Derek W. Jones, George K. Schuster, Suresh R. Nair, Ray C. Delcher
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Patent number: 7616095Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates initiating a sequence within an industrial automation environment. A radio frequency identification (RFID) component can receive data from an RFID tag. An event control component can invoke at least one event related to a device in a designated control sequence.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2006Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Derek W. Jones, James E. Dogul, Richard Galera, George E. Rollins, George K. Schuster, Suresh Nair, Ray C. Delcher
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Patent number: 7539550Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides industrial automation systems and/or methods that visualize availability and safety levels. An optimization component can generate a voting configuration that provides an optimized combination of a safety level and an availability level based upon available redundancy. Additionally, a graphical user interface can present a visualization of the safety level and the availability level.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2006Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Suresh R. Nair, James E. Dogul, Richard Galera, George E. Rollins, Derek W. Jones, George K. Schuster, Ray C. Delcher
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Patent number: 7533798Abstract: Systems and methods of risk management that employ a risk assessment component to continuously update risk estimation associated with a machine of a manufacturing system. A data input component is provided for receiving a measured parameter associated with a current machine condition. A comparison is performed between the measured parameter from current machine condition with predetermined risk estimations/assessment parameters to determine whether the current machine condition is within the range of acceptable operator risk conditions.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2006Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Derek W. Jones, James E. Dogul, Richard Galera, George E. Rollins, George K. Schuster, Suresh R. Nair, Ray C. Delcher
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Patent number: 7522066Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides industrial automation systems and/or methods that evaluate a proximity to potential hazards. A plurality of sensors can provide redundant detected data. Additionally, a proximity evaluation component can evaluate the detected data, determine a location of at least one of a person and an object, and identify a distance from the location to one or more hazardous zones in a monitored region.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2006Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Richard Galera, James E. Dogul, George E. Rollins, Derek W. Jones, George K. Schuster, Suresh R. Nair, Ray C. Delcher
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Patent number: D742840Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2013Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Roberto Santos, Burt Sacherski, Richard Galera