Patents by Inventor Thomas Rettig

Thomas Rettig 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: 12603488
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of field devices electrically connected to a feed-in device configured to provide an electrical energy supply to the field devices. The feed-in device has a monitoring device configured to detect spark generation in the energy supply and, based on this, to switch off the electrical energy supply. The field devices each have an input terminal for connecting a supply line. At least one field device is configured for electrical energy supply to at least one subsequent field device, and for monitoring. The monitoring field device has at least one output terminal for connecting a further supply line, via which the electrical energy can be forwarded to the subsequent field device. The monitoring field device has a monitoring device configured to detect spark generation in the energy supply to the subsequent field device and, based on this, to switch off the electrical energy supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher Pohl, Thomas Rettig, Benjamin Bruns, Sebastian Petrović
  • Publication number: 20250300921
    Abstract: In order to detect a change in a topology of an industrial network which comprises an arrangement of network nodes connected to one another, at least one network node determines the runtime of a message in the industrial network. If the determined runtime or a runtime change exceeds a predefined threshold value, this is evaluated as an indication of a network node that has been subsequently inserted into the network topology and a security mode is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2025
    Publication date: September 25, 2025
    Inventors: Martin Rostan, Thomas Rettig
  • Patent number: 12316474
    Abstract: An automation system has a plurality of subscribers including a first primary unit, first distributor, second primary unit, second distributor, and at least another subscriber unit. First and second transmitting/receiving devices of the first and second distributor are connected via a ring-shaped data bus. In a first mode, the first distributor forwards telegrams received from the first primary unit to the first transmitting/receiving device, and forwards telegrams received by the second transmitting/receiving device to the first primary unit. The second distributor also forwards first telegrams received by the first transmitting/receiving device to the second transmitting/receiving device. In a second mode, the second distributor forwards telegrams received by the second primary unit to the second transmitting/receiving device, and the second distributor forwards telegrams received by the first transmitting/receiving device to the second primary unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen, Erik Vonnahme, Thorsten Bunte, Thomas Rettig
  • Patent number: 12290920
    Abstract: An arm module includes a housing with a first connection side controllably rotatable relative to a second connection side, about an axis of rotation. The first connection side has a rotatable first connection device. The second connection side has a second connection device fixed to the housing, with a rotation-compatible data transmission device for transmitting data signals along at least one transmission path between the first and second connection sides. The transmission path includes at least one wireless transmission sub-path for wireless transmission of data signals, and at least one wire-guided transmission sub-path for wire-guided transmission of data signals. The rotation-compatible data transmission device includes at least one first wireless transmission unit and at least one second wireless transmission unit, interconnected via the transmission path and arranged to wirelessly transmit and receive data signals along the wireless transmission sub-path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Kastler, Clemens Maier, Christoph Zech, Thomas Morscher, Armin Pehlivan, Michael Jäger, Peter Fischer, Thomas Rettig, Thorsten Bunte, Christopher Pohl
  • Patent number: 12276957
    Abstract: An automation network comprises at least one primary subscriber, at least one switch, and at least one network subscriber. The primary subscriber comprises primary ports, the switch comprises switching ports, and the subscriber comprises subscriber ports, each comprising a transmitter and a receiver. The primary subscriber is configured to output first and second telegrams to first and second switching ports via first and second primary ports and first and second primary communication paths. The switch is configured to forward the first telegram to a first port of a network subscriber via a first subscriber communication path, and to forward the second telegram to a second port of a network subscriber via a second subscriber communication path. In an error mode, the switch and network subscriber are configured to return the first and/or second telegrams to the primary subscriber via the first and/or second primary port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen, Erik Vonnahme, Thorsten Bunte, Thomas Rettig
  • Publication number: 20250114934
    Abstract: A method is related for operating a modular robot. The modular robot comprises a robot base, at least a robot arm arranged on the robot base and a controller. The robot arm comprises a plurality of modularly arrangeable arm modules. The controller carries out steps described herein. Allocation information is received from each of the arm modules in an allocation determining step. In an arm module base data determining step, arm module base data is determined for each arm module based on the allocation information. Further, a configuration of the modular robot is created from the association information and the arm module base data of each arm module in a configurating step, where the configuration is used to control the robot arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2024
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: Guido Beckmann, Thomas Rettig, Uwe Bonin, Peter Fischer, Peter Kastler, Armin Pehlivan, Thomas Morscher, Milos Winter, Christoph Egger, Christoph Zech
  • Patent number: 12250092
    Abstract: In an automation communication network, a distribution node is provided with a plurality of input/output interfaces, each connected to a network segment having at least one subscriber. The network segments are each assigned segment telegrams for processing by the subscriber. The segment telegrams have a data field with sequence information indicating the priority of a subsequent segment telegram. The distribution node is configured to receive the segment telegram on an input/output interface and transmit it according to a routing specification on a further input/output interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen, Erik Vonnahme, Guido Beckmann, Thomas Rettig, Thorsten Bunte
  • Patent number: 12101258
    Abstract: A method is described for operating a communication network with a plurality of subscribers. Data exchange between the subscribers takes place in the form of telegrams, which comprise data sections. The subscribers interpret an end portion of the telegrams as a check value for the absence of errors in preceding data sections. The telegrams are processed in pass-through, so that the telegrams are forwarded to a respective next subscriber while being received. If an error is detected when receiving a telegram, the subscribers send the telegram to the next subscriber with a characterizing data section at the end, so that the telegram has an end portion representing an invalid check value. The telegram is characterized by the characterizing data section, which is part of the end portion, so that the telegram is not to be considered as an initial error but as a subsequent error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen, Erik Vonnahme, Hans Beckhoff, Thomas Rettig, Thorsten Bunte, Johannes Beckhoff, Guido Beckmann
  • Patent number: 12081108
    Abstract: A sealing sleeve for a stator of an electrical machine is disclosed. The sealing sleeve is configured to provide that a coolant flowing around the stator coils follows a predefined, serpentine coolant path. The sleeve has two sealing rings arranged on the stator with the coils of the stator lying between them. Each sealing ring includes a hard component and a soft component. The sleeve is arranged on the stator such that sealing sections of the soft component bear against the surfaces of the stator coils and adapt to the coil surfaces. As such, no coolant may pass between the coils and the sealing rings at these sealing locations thus formed, and therefore the desired coolant flow is guaranteed. Furthermore, the sealing rings are configured such that alternately for each coil only one of the sealing rings has a sealing section so that ultimately the serpentine coolant flow is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Tony Amende, Thomas Kuebel, Thomas Rettig
  • Patent number: 12069033
    Abstract: A method for processing telegrams in an automation network provides a master subscriber to at least partially encrypt and output telegrams, respectively, to another subscriber. The other subscriber comprises an input port, a receiving logic connected to the input port, a decryption unit connected to the receiving logic, and a processing unit connected to the decryption unit and the receiving logic. The receiving logic is configured, when a telegram at least partially encrypted by the master subscriber is present at the input port, to forward an encrypted portion of the telegram to the decryption unit. The decryption unit is configured to decrypt the encrypted portion of the telegram with a key, and to forward the encrypted portion to the processing unit for processing. If an unencrypted telegram is present at the input port, the receiving logic is configured to forward the unencrypted telegram to the processing unit for processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen, Erik Vonnahme, Hans Beckhoff, Thomas Rettig, Thorsten Bunte, Johannes Beckhoff
  • Patent number: 12069155
    Abstract: A method for synchronizing time in an Ethernet-based network having a master network subscriber, a first segment and a second segment. Each segment has at least one network subscriber. The second segment is connected to the first segment by a first network distributor, arranged in the second segment. The method comprises steps for sending out a synchronization telegram addressed to the second segment by the master network subscriber, the synchronization telegram being of the first type; receiving the synchronization telegram by the first network distributor, for conversion into a second type; forwarding the synchronization telegram to a network distributor of the second segment, by the first network distributor; reading out a synchronization value stored in the synchronization telegram by the first network distributor of the second segment; and adjusting a speed of a local system time of the network distributor of the second segment, using the synchronization value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen, Erik Vonnahme, Hans Beckhoff, Thomas Rettig, Thorsten Bunte, Johannes Beckhoff, Guido Beckmann, Karl Weber
  • Patent number: 12047199
    Abstract: A network distributor has a plurality of input-output ports, a processor unit, and a memory unit. The ports connect network subscribers via a data line network, where the network subscribers include protocol subscribers to process telegrams as protocol telegrams. The processor unit receives telegrams via one port and outputs telegrams via another port, which is stored in a routing table in the memory unit. The processor unit further determines whether a telegram is a protocol telegram received via a port for which no port identifier is stored in the memory unit, and to discard the telegram if so. Checking and discarding of telegrams can be subject to a precondition, where fulfillment of the precondition leads to an exception from discarding the telegram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen, Erik Vonnahme, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff, Thorsten Bunte, Johannes Beckhoff
  • Patent number: 12003613
    Abstract: A method for synchronizing time in an Ethernet-based network having a master network subscriber and a slave network subscriber includes sending out a first telegram via the master network subscriber, where the slave subscriber receives the first telegram at a first receipt time value of a local system time and stores the first receipt time value. The method can also include reading out the first receipt time value via the master subscriber, sending out a second telegram by the master subscriber, where the slave subscriber receives the second telegram at a second receipt time value of the local system time and stores the second receipt time value, and reading out the second receipt time value via the master network subscriber. A speed parameter of the local system time can be calculated from the receipt time values via the master network subscriber, and transmitted to the slave subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen, Erik Vonnahme, Hans Beckhoff, Thomas Rettig, Thorsten Bunte, Johannes Beckhoff, Guido Beckmann, Karl Weber
  • Publication number: 20230387674
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of field devices electrically connected to a feed-in device configured to provide an electrical energy supply to the field devices. The feed-in device has a monitoring device configured to detect spark generation in the energy supply and, based on this, to switch off the electrical energy supply. The field devices each have an input terminal for connecting a supply line. At least one field device is configured for electrical energy supply to at least one subsequent field device, and for monitoring. The monitoring field device has at least one output terminal for connecting a further supply line, via which the electrical energy can be forwarded to the subsequent field device. The monitoring field device has a monitoring device configured to detect spark generation in the energy supply to the subsequent field device and, based on this, to switch off the electrical energy supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher Pohl, Thomas Rettig, Benjamin Bruns, Sebastian Petrovic
  • Publication number: 20230352931
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of field devices electrically connected to a feed-in device configured to supply electrical energy. The feed-in device has a monitoring device to detect spark generation in the electrical energy supply, and, based on this, to switch off the supply. The field devices have a first section with an input terminal for connecting a supply line, and a second section. The electrical energy provided by the feed-in device can be supplied to the first section via the input terminal, and transmitted from the first section to the second section via an electrical energy supply connection. The second section has a terminal device with at least one output line terminal for connecting at least one output line to forward the electrical energy. The electrical energy supply connection has a power limiting device to limit the electrical power transmittable from the first section to the second section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher Pohl, Thomas Rettig, Sebastian Petrovic, Benjamin Bruns
  • Patent number: 11765124
    Abstract: A receiving logic of a network subscriber can be configured in a first filter setting to forward telegrams having first and second addressing techniques to first and second processing units, with a transmitting logic configured to forward the telegrams to a transmitting port. In a second filter setting, the receiving logic can be configured to duplicate the telegrams and forward to the first and second processing units, with the first processing unit configured to discard telegrams using the second addressing technique and the second processing unit configured to discard telegrams using the first addressing technique. The receiving logic of a third filter setting can be configured to duplicate telegrams and forward to the first and second processing units, with the transmitting logic configured to forward only telegrams using the first addressing technique from the first processing unit, and only telegrams using the second addressing technique from the second processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Florian Essler, Guido Beckmann, Hans Beckhoff, Holger Büttner, Martin Rostan, Thomas Rettig
  • Publication number: 20230231736
    Abstract: An automation system has a plurality of subscribers including a first master unit, first distributor, second master unit, second distributor, and at least another subscriber unit. First and second transmitting/receiving devices of the first and second distributor are connected via a ring-shaped data bus. In a first mode, the first distributor forwards telegrams received from the first master unit to the first transmitting/receiving device, and forwards telegrams received by the second transmitting/receiving device to the first master unit. The second distributor also forwards first telegrams received by the first transmitting/receiving device to the second transmitting/receiving device. In a second mode, the second distributor forwards telegrams received by the second master unit to the second transmitting/receiving device, and the second distributor forwards telegrams received by the first transmitting/receiving device to the second master unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen, Erik Vonnahme, Thorsten Bunte, Thomas Rettig
  • Patent number: 11700145
    Abstract: An automation network with network subscribers is provided, in which the network subscribers are interconnected via a data line network. At least one network subscriber is configured as a master subscriber, which is adapted to send telegrams via the data line network. At least one network subscriber is configured as a network distributor, which is adapted to route telegrams. The network distributor has a plurality of input/output ports, and is connected to the master subscriber via a first input/output and data line network. The master subscriber is configured to use a telegram element to indicate that the telegram is enabled for processing by the network subscribers. In addition, the network distributor is configured to process a telegram received via the first input/output port when the telegram element indicates enablement of processing of the telegram by the network subscribers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Florian Essler, Guido Beckmann, Hans Beckhoff, Holger Büttner, Martin Rostan, Thomas Rettig
  • Publication number: 20230082028
    Abstract: An arm module includes a housing with a first connection side controllably rotatable relative to a second connection side, about an axis of rotation. The first connection side has a rotatable first connection device. The second connection side has a second connection device fixed to the housing, with a rotation-compatible data transmission device for transmitting data signals along at least one transmission path between the first and second connection sides. The transmission path includes at least one wireless transmission sub-path for wireless transmission of data signals, and at least one wire-guided transmission sub-path for wire-guided transmission of data signals. The rotation-compatible data transmission device includes at least one first wireless transmission unit and at least one second wireless transmission unit, interconnected via the transmission path and arranged to wirelessly transmit and receive data signals along the wireless transmission sub-path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Peter Kastler, Clemens Maier, Christoph Zech, Thomas Morscher, Armin Pehlivan, Michael Jäger, Peter Fischer, Thomas Rettig, Thorsten Bunte, Christopher Pohl
  • Patent number: 11539549
    Abstract: A method for transmitting data in an automation network by telegrams, where the automation network comprises a master subscriber, slave subscribers and at least one unlocker, connected to each other via a data-line network. The slave subscribers are divided into segments. The master subscriber sends locked telegrams for processing by the slave subscribers, each having a telegram identifier used to assign a locked telegram to a segment. At least one segment is assigned to at least one unlocker. If the unlocker receives a locked telegram, the unlocker checks, by the telegram identifier in the locked telegram, whether the locked telegram for the assigned segment is intended to release the locked telegram, as an unlocked telegram for processing by the slave subscribers, provided that the locked telegram is intended for the segment assigned to the unlocker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Florian Essler, Guido Beckmann, Hans Beckhoff, Holger Büttner, Martin Rostan, Thomas Rettig