Patents by Inventor Rick E. Wunderlich

Rick E. Wunderlich 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: 11906944
    Abstract: Methods and systems include ways to implement change analysis of an automated production line including at least one robot. Monitoring a plurality of operating parameters associated with the automated production line including the at least one robot is followed by recording at least one change to the plurality of operating parameters. A notification is then provided identifying the at least one change to the plurality of operating parameters. The notification can include mapping the at least one change onto a graphical representation of the automated production line, thereby identifying a portion of the automated production line affected by the at least one change. As a result, at least one of the operating parameters can be adjusted in response to the notification. An action can also be performed in response to the notification. In this manner, the change analysis can optimize operation of the automated production line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: FANUC AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ashok Prajapati, Kenneth W. Krause, Michael B. Longo, Rick E. Wunderlich, Judy Evans, Glenn Nowak
  • Publication number: 20210325847
    Abstract: Methods and systems include ways to implement change analysis of an automated production line including at least one robot. Monitoring a plurality of operating parameters associated with the automated production line including the at least one robot is followed by recording at least one change to the plurality of operating parameters. A notification is then provided identifying the at least one change to the plurality of operating parameters. The notification can include mapping the at least one change onto a graphical representation of the automated production line, thereby identifying a portion of the automated production line affected by the at least one change. As a result, at least one of the operating parameters can be adjusted in response to the notification. An action can also be performed in response to the notification. In this manner, the change analysis can optimize operation of the automated production line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Ashok Prajapati, Kenneth W. Krause, Michael B. Longo, Rick E. Wunderlich, Judy Evans, Glenn Nowak
  • Patent number: 11048226
    Abstract: Methods and systems include ways to implement change analysis of an automated production line including at least one robot. Monitoring a plurality of operating parameters associated with the automated production line including the at least one robot followed by recording at least one change to the plurality of operating parameters. A notification is then provided identifying the at least one change to the plurality of operating parameters. The notification can include mapping the at least one change onto a graphical representation of the automated production line, thereby identifying a portion of the automated production line affected by the at least one change. As a result, at least one of the operating parameters can be adjusted in response to the notification. An action can also be performed in response to the notification. In this manner, the change analysis can optimize operation of the automated production line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ashok Prajapati, Kenneth W. Krause, Michael B. Longo, Rick E. Wunderlich, Judy Evans, Glenn Nowak
  • Patent number: 10616080
    Abstract: A robot data transfer method includes the step of collecting data from each of a plurality of robots in a multi-robot production facility in real-time. The data collected from the robots is then transferred in real-time from a controller of each of the robots to a first data collection device. Within the first data collection device, the data is buffered using a multi-segment queueing mechanism. The queueing mechanism is configured with a retention policy. The data is then transferred to a second data collection device based on the retention policy of the queueing mechanism of the first data collection device. The second data collection device analyzes the data and determines whether maintenance or optimization is necessary for any of the robots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isaac Eckert, Gordon Geheb, Bradley Q. Niederquell, Yi Sun, Jason Tsai, Rick E. Wunderlich
  • Publication number: 20190258221
    Abstract: Methods and systems include ways to implement change analysis of an automated production line including at least one robot. Monitoring a plurality of operating parameters associated with the automated production line including the at least one robot followed by recording at least one change to the plurality of operating parameters. A notification is then provided identifying the at least one change to the plurality of operating parameters. The notification can include mapping the at least one change onto a graphical representation of the automated production line, thereby identifying a portion of the automated production line affected by the at least one change. As a result, at least one of the operating parameters can be adjusted in response to the notification. An action can also be performed in response to the notification. In this manner, the change analysis can optimize operation of the automated production line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Ashok Prajapati, Kenneth W. Krause, Michael B. Longo, Rick E. Wunderlich, Judy Evans, Glenn Nowak
  • Patent number: 9415514
    Abstract: A robot monitoring system for monitoring and analyzing robot related data and displaying the data on a smart device is provided. The robot monitoring system comprises at least one robot in local communication with at least one robot controller. The at least one robot controller has local processing power for monitoring, gathering, and analyzing data related to the at least one robot. The data analysis results are formatted into a message file that is communicated to a storage system. The message file may then be retrieved by a smart device having software running thereon for displaying the results of the data analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Fanuc America Corporation
    Inventors: Gordon Geheb, Jason Tsai, Rick E. Wunderlich, Yi Sun, Don Kijek, Isaac Eckert, Ganesh Kalbavi, Ken Krause, Judy Evans, Ashok Prajapati
  • Patent number: 9415509
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for displaying three-dimensional workcell data includes a hand-held pendant that is provided with 3-D workcell data representing a model of a machine and associated components in a workcell. The hand-held pendant has a display that generates a 3-D visual representation of the workcell data. The pendant can be operated by a user to manipulate the visual representation to change a user viewpoint and to show motion of the machine with associated process information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Fanuc America Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Krause, Bradley O. Niederquell, Gordon Geheb, Ganesh Kalbavi, Claude Dinsmoor, Scott M. Dreslinski, Charles R. Strybis, H. Dean McGee, Glenn Nowak, Judy Evans, Rick E. Wunderlich
  • Publication number: 20160149996
    Abstract: A robot data transfer method includes the step of collecting data from each of a plurality of robots in a multi-robot production facility in real-time. The data collected from the robots is then transferred in real-time from a controller of each of the robots to a first data collection device. Within the first data collection device, the data is buffered using a multi-segment queueing mechanism. The queueing mechanism is configured with a retention policy. The data is then transferred to a second data collection device based on the retention policy of the queueing mechanism of the first data collection device. The second data collection device analyzes the data and determines whether maintenance or optimization is necessary for any of the robots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Isaac Eckert, Gordon Geheb, Bradley Q. Niederquell, Yi Sun, Jason Tsai, Rick E. Wunderlich
  • Publication number: 20140074286
    Abstract: A robot monitoring system for monitoring and analyzing robot related data and displaying the data on a smart device is provided. The robot monitoring system comprises at least one robot in local communication with at least one robot controller. The at least one robot controller has local processing power for monitoring, gathering, and analyzing data related to the at least one robot. The data analysis results are formatted into a message file that is communicated to a storage system. The message file may then be retrieved by a smart device having software running thereon for displaying the results of the data analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Gordon Geheb, Jason Tsai, Rick E. Wunderlich, Yi Sun, Don Kijek, Isaac Eckert, Ganesh Kalbavi, Ken Krause, Judy Evans, Ashok Prajapati