Patents by Inventor Samuel Zoettl

Samuel Zoettl 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).

  • Publication number: 20230397530
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot. The green area maintenance robot has a maintenance tool, wherein a maintenance height of the maintenance tool is adjustable. The method monitors whether a criterion for being stuck is satisfied, wherein the criterion for being stuck is characteristic of a contact part of the maintenance tool of the green area maintenance robot being stuck, and increases the maintenance height if the criterion for being stuck is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Philip WOLF, Markus GASSNER, Alexander RIEGER, Christian HORNGACHER, Peter RITZER, Michael REITTER, Alexander BIECHL, Samuel ZOETTL
  • Patent number: 11758839
    Abstract: A method teaches at least one section of a delimiting border of a land area for a green area maintenance system. The green area maintenance system has: an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot, and a robot position determining system. The robot position determining system is designed to detect robot position coordinates of the green area maintenance robot. The robot position coordinates are based on a first position determining technology. The method (a) defines a sequence of teach-in position coordinates of the section, the teach-in position coordinates being based on a second position determining technology different from the first position determining technology, and (b) transforms the defined sequence of teach-in position coordinates into a sequence of transformation robot position coordinates, the transformation robot position coordinates being based on the first position determining technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Gruhler, Goetz Wintergerst, Stephan Meyer, Petrus Van Zutven, Sebastian Kraemer, Samuel Zoettl
  • Patent number: 11579620
    Abstract: A method docks an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot to a docking station. An electrical conductor arrangement runs in the region of the docking station, wherein the conductor arrangement is designed such that a periodic current flows through the conductor arrangement, wherein the current generates a periodic magnetic field. The green area maintenance robot has two magnetic field sensors, wherein the two magnetic field sensors are designed such that the magnetic field respectively causes a periodic sensor signal in the magnetic field sensors. The method has the steps of: determining a phase shift between the two sensor signals or signals based on the sensor signals, and controlling movement of the green area maintenance robot for docking on the basis of the determined phase shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Ritzer, Samuel Zoettl, Christian Horngacher
  • Patent number: 11140815
    Abstract: A system (S) has at least a first and a second self-driving ground working device for combined working of a predetermined operating region (A). An individual ground working device travels autonomously along a random path inside the operating region. The system has at least one base station for communication with the ground working devices. For a method for setting up and operating the system, provision is made that information relating to an operating variable (B) stored in one ground working device is transmitted to further ground working devices, that a ground working device travels autonomously along a random path (W) inside the operating region, independently of another ground working device, by using the operating variable, and that during the operation of the system of ground working devices the behavior of an individual ground working device is adapted as a function of changes in the operating variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sebastian Matt, Samuel Zoettl, Christian Horngacher
  • Patent number: 11064652
    Abstract: A ground working system having at least one self-driving ground working device, wherein the ground working device has a drive, a control unit and an in-device battery for supplying energy to the ground working device. An operating region (A) determined by an edge boundary is provided for the ground working device, wherein the ground working device travels over an operating path (W) determined by the control unit within the operating region (A). In order to meet requirements for a differing working intensity of specific regions of an area, it is provided to predetermine at least one intensive limit, an intensive limit in each case demarcating an intensive region (B). The ground working device in an intensive mode works the intensive region (B) with preference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sebastian Matt, Samuel Zoettl
  • Publication number: 20210127569
    Abstract: A method teaches at least one section of a delimiting border of a land area for a green area maintenance system. The green area maintenance system has: an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot, and a robot position determining system. The robot position determining system is designed to detect robot position coordinates of the green area maintenance robot. The robot position coordinates are based on a first position determining technology. The method (a) defines a sequence of teach-in position coordinates of the section, the teach-in position coordinates being based on a second position determining technology different from the first position determining technology, and (b) transforms the defined sequence of teach-in position coordinates into a sequence of transformation robot position coordinates, the transformation robot position coordinates being based on the first position determining technology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Matthias GRUHLER, Goetz WINTERGERST, Stephan MEYER, Petrus VAN ZUTVEN, Sebastian KRAEMER, Samuel ZOETTL
  • Patent number: 10986775
    Abstract: A ground working system includes at least one self-driving ground working device having a drive, a control unit and a battery. An operating region is determined by a boundary wire, wherein the ground working device travels over a traveling path determined by the control unit in the operating region. Connected to the boundary wire is a first base station, which transmits a signal on the boundary wire. The electromagnetic field of the signal induces a reception signal in the reception coil of the ground working device. The reception signal is processed in the control unit. In order to make a stable signal available over the entire length of the boundary wire, it is provided that the boundary wire is electrically connected to a further base station configured as a repeater, which receives the signal transmitted by the first base station, processes it and passes it on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sebastian Matt, Samuel Zoettl, Peter Ritzer
  • Patent number: 10952370
    Abstract: A ground working system includes at least one self-driving ground working device having a drive, a control unit and a battery. An operating region is determined by a boundary wire, wherein the ground working device travels over a traveling path determined by the control unit in the operating region. Connected to the boundary wire is a first base station, which transmits a signal on the boundary wire. The electromagnetic field of the signal induces a reception signal in the reception coil of the ground working device. The reception signal is processed in the control unit. In order to make a stable signal available over the entire length of the boundary wire, it is provided that the boundary wire is electrically connected to a further base station configured as a repeater, which receives the signal transmitted by the first base station, processes it and passes it on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sebastian Matt, Samuel Zoettl, Peter Ritzer
  • Patent number: 10895876
    Abstract: A method determines a specific control parameter range of an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot for an area to be treated having a specific shape and a specific size. A method operates an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot on an area to be treated having a specific shape and a specific size using such a method. A system, in particular for carrying out such a method, and an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Christoph Arenz, Christoph Schoepf, Andreas Strohmaier, Samuel Zoettl
  • Patent number: 10874278
    Abstract: A ground working system has at least one self-driving ground working device, wherein the operating region (A) of the ground working device is determined by an edge boundary. The ground working device travels automatically within the operating region (A) along a traveling path (W), wherein the ground working device has a drive, a control unit and an in-device battery for supplying energy to the ground working device. A charging station for charging the battery of the ground working device is also provided. The charging station is set up on the edge boundary without interrupting the edge boundary. The ground working device goes to the charging station for charging the battery as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sebastian Matt, Samuel Zoettl
  • Publication number: 20200393844
    Abstract: A method docks an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot to a docking station. An electrical conductor arrangement runs in the region of the docking station, wherein the conductor arrangement is designed such that a periodic current flows through the conductor arrangement, wherein the current generates a periodic magnetic field. The green area maintenance robot has two magnetic field sensors, wherein the two magnetic field sensors are designed such that the magnetic field respectively causes a periodic sensor signal in the magnetic field sensors. The method has the steps of: determining a phase shift between the two sensor signals or signals based on the sensor signals, and controlling movement of the green area maintenance robot for docking on the basis of the determined phase shift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Peter RITZER, Samuel ZOETTL, Christian HORNGACHER
  • Patent number: 10820493
    Abstract: A ground working system includes at least one self-driving ground working device, which has a drive and a control unit. An operating region (A) is bounded by a wire, wherein the ground working device travels along a traveling path (W) determined by the control unit in the operating region (A). A base station has a transmission unit, which is electrically connected to the wire and by which a wire signal is transmitted. The wire signal transmitted on the wire is electrically received by a reception unit of the base station, compared with a predetermined setpoint signal and, in the event of a deviation of the electrically received wire signal from the predetermined setpoint signal, the transmitted wire signal is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Ritzer, Sebastian Matt, Samuel Zoettl
  • Patent number: 10809740
    Abstract: A method is provided for identifying at least one section of a boundary edge of an area to be treated and for operating an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot on the area to be treated. The method includes recording live images using a camera, superimposing target symbols on the recorded live images, aiming with the target symbol and guiding the target symbol by orienting the camera, marking in respective images a boundary edge image point using the target symbol, and obtaining a sequence of position coordinates of a boundary edge based on the boundary edge image points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Reinert, Andreas Strohmaier, Samuel Zoettl
  • Patent number: 10681864
    Abstract: A ground working system has at least one self-driving ground working device with a drive, a control unit and an in-device battery for supplying energy to the ground working device. An operating region (A), within which the ground working device travels automatically along a traveling path (W), is determined by an edge boundary. At least one charging station for charging the battery of the ground working device via an electrical energy-transferring charging connection is provided. The charging connection is also configured as a data connection for the transmission of data packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sebastian Matt, Samuel Zoettl, Klaus Melser, Peter Ritzer
  • Publication number: 20180352733
    Abstract: A ground working system includes at least one self-driving ground working device having a drive, a control unit and a battery. An operating region is determined by a boundary wire, wherein the ground working device travels over a traveling path determined by the control unit in the operating region. Connected to the boundary wire is a first base station, which transmits a signal on the boundary wire. The electromagnetic field of the signal induces a reception signal in the reception coil of the ground working device. The reception signal is processed in the control unit. In order to make a stable signal available over the entire length of the boundary wire, it is provided that the boundary wire is electrically connected to a further base station configured as a repeater, which receives the signal transmitted by the first base station, processes it and passes it on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Sebastian Matt, Samuel Zoettl, Peter Ritzer
  • Publication number: 20180353040
    Abstract: A ground working system has at least one self-driving ground working device, wherein the operating region (A) of the ground working device is determined by an edge boundary. The ground working device travels automatically within the operating region (A) along a traveling path (W), wherein the ground working device has a drive, a control unit and an in-device battery for supplying energy to the ground working device. A charging station for charging the battery of the ground working device is also provided. The charging station is set up on the edge boundary without interrupting the edge boundary. The ground working device goes to the charging station for charging the battery as required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Sebastian Matt, Samuel Zoettl
  • Publication number: 20180356829
    Abstract: A method determines a specific control parameter range of an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot for an area to be treated having a specific shape and a specific size. A method operates an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot on an area to be treated having a specific shape and a specific size using such a method. A system, in particular for carrying out such a method, and an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot, are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Martin Christoph ARENZ, Christoph SCHOEPF, Andreas STROHMAIER, Samuel ZOETTL
  • Publication number: 20180352734
    Abstract: A ground working system has at least one self-driving ground working device with a drive, a control unit and an in-device battery for supplying energy to the ground working device. An operating region (A), within which the ground working device travels automatically along a traveling path (W), is determined by an edge boundary. At least one charging station for charging the battery of the ground working device via an electrical energy-transferring charging connection is provided. The charging connection is also configured as a data connection for the transmission of data packets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Sebastian Matt, Samuel Zoettl, Klaus Melser, Peter Ritzer
  • Publication number: 20180352728
    Abstract: A ground working system includes at least one self-driving ground working device, which has a drive and a control unit. An operating region (A) is bounded by a wire, wherein the ground working device travels along a traveling path (W) determined by the control unit in the operating region (A). A base station has a transmission unit, which is electrically connected to the wire and by which a wire signal is transmitted. The wire signal transmitted on the wire is electrically received by a reception unit of the base station, compared with a predetermined setpoint signal and, in the event of a deviation of the electrically received wire signal from the predetermined setpoint signal, the transmitted wire signal is changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Peter Ritzer, Sebastian Matt, Samuel Zoettl
  • Publication number: 20180352729
    Abstract: A ground working system having at least one self-driving ground working device, wherein the ground working device has a drive, a control unit and an in-device battery for supplying energy to the ground working device. An operating region (A) determined by an edge boundary is provided for the ground working device, wherein the ground working device travels over an operating path (W) determined by the control unit within the operating region (A). In order to meet requirements for a differing working intensity of specific regions of an area, it is provided to predetermine at least one intensive limit, an intensive limit in each case demarcating an intensive region (B). The ground working device in an intensive mode works the intensive region (B) with preference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Sebastian Matt, Samuel Zoettl