Patents by Inventor Ulf Ärlig

Ulf Ärlig 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: 20240411320
    Abstract: A robotic lawnmower system comprising a boundary wire and a robotic lawnmower arranged to operate in an operational area bounded by a virtual boundary, the robotic lawnmower comprising one or more magnetic sensors, one or more satellite navigation sensors and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to: cause the robotic lawnmower to operate in the operational area according to the virtual boundary based on the one or more satellite navigation sensors, determine that the robotic lawnmower is approaching the boundary wire, determine a boundary location, determine a distance (d) between the virtual boundary and the boundary wire at the boundary location, compare the determined distance (d) to a mode determination distance (D), and if the determined distance (d) is greater than the mode determination distance D, the robotic lawnmower is configured to cross the boundary wire and continue operating within the virtual boundary, or if the determined distance (d) is less than the mode determination distance
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Michel Chedid, Ulf Arlig
  • Publication number: 20240176350
    Abstract: A method for use in a robotic work tool system (200) comprising a server (240) and a robotic work tool (100) arranged to operate in an operational area (205) based on a satellite navigation sensor (175), wherein the method comprises: receiving (410) one or more safety boundaries (220, 220-1, 220-2) and storing these in a safety map (120A-1) of the operational area (205), receiving (420) one or more zone boundaries (220-3, 220-4, 220-5, 220-6) and storing these in a zone map (120A-2) of the operational area (205), and operating (440) according to the one or more zone boundaries (220-3, 220-4, 220-5, 220-6) and the one or more safety boundaries (220, 220-1, 220-2), wherein the one or more zone boundaries (220-3, 220-4, 220-5, 220-6) are related to an operating schedule and the one or more safety boundaries (220, 220-1, 220-2) are related to safety concerns for the robotic work tool (100) and wherein the method is characterized in that the one or more zone boundaries (220-3, 220-4, 220-5, 220-6) are received by
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2023
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Ulf Arlig, Martin Joelsson
  • Publication number: 20230015812
    Abstract: A robotic work tool system (200) for defining a working area perimeter (105) surrounding a working area (150) in which a robotic work tool (100) is intended to operate. The robotic work tool system (200) comprises a boundary definition unit (300) comprising at least one position unit (175) for receiving position data; and at least one controller (210) for controlling operation of the boundary definition unit (300). The controller (210) being configured to receive, from the position unit (175), position data while the boundary definition unit (300) is moved around the working area (150) to define a preliminary working area perimeter (110).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel Wikestad, Ulf Ärlig, Anton Mårtensson
  • Publication number: 20220348098
    Abstract: A method for charging a self-propelled robotic work tool (1) in a charging station (4), comprises the steps of: the robot (1) navigating towards a charging position in the charging station (4), and sensing an attaining of a predetermined charging position of the robotic work tool (1) in the charging station (4). A charging position sensor (6a) and a sensed feature (6b) are arranged in the self-propelled robotic work tool (1) and the charging station (4). A charging procedure is initiated once said charging position is attained, and the sensor (6a) detects the sensed feature (6b) in a contactless manner. A system includes a charging station (4) and a robotic work tool (1), which each comprises one of a sensor (6a) and a sensed feature (6b), respectively, as well as first and second charging means (5a, 5b). The sensor (6a) and sensed feature (6b) are arranged for contactless detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Ulf Ärlig, Johan Kvist
  • Publication number: 20220350343
    Abstract: A method for use in a robotic work tool system (300) comprising a first work area (305A) bounded by a first boundary (320A), a second work area (305B) bounded by a second boundary (320B) and a robotic work tool (200), wherein the method comprises: operating the robotic work tool (200) in a first domain mode in the first work area (305A) according to the first boundary (320A); determining that the robotic work tool (200) is in a crossing zone (Z) and then operating the robotic work tool (200) in a second domain mode in the second work area (305B) according to the second boundary (320B).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Ulf Ärlig, Pär Forsman
  • Patent number: 11467600
    Abstract: A robotic working tool comprising a sensor for detecting magnetic fields connected to a controller for controlling the operation of the robotic working tool. The controller is configured to operate according to a first control signal being transmitted through a first boundary wire and according to a second control signal being transmitted through a second boundary wire. The robotic working tool is thereby configured to operate within a composite work area comprising at least a first partial work area and a second partial work area. The first boundary wire delimits the first partial work area and the second boundary wire delimits the second partial work area. The at least first and second boundary wires provide a common perimeter for the composite work area. Analysing the magnetic fields detected by the sensor, the controller determines whether the robotic working tool is inside or outside the composite work area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Ulf Ärlig, Ludvig Sjöholm
  • Publication number: 20220305658
    Abstract: A robotic work tool comprising a propulsion device, a satellite navigation device and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to: cause the robotic work tool to exit a service station a predefined distance by operating the propulsion device; determine that the satellite navigation device is receiving reliable signals and then navigate the robotic work tool based on the satellite navigation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Ulf Ärlig, Pär Forsman
  • Publication number: 20210349464
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an outdoor robotic work tool (1) adapted for a forward traveling direction (D) and comprising an environmental detection system (19) that comprises a set of outer detector transceivers (2a, 2b) and a set of inner detector transceivers (3a, 3b), where the inner detector transceivers (3a, 3b) are positioned between the outer detector transceivers (2a, 2b). Each detector transceiver (2a, 2b; 3a, 3b) is adapted to transmit signals (4a, 4b; 5a, 5b) and to receive reflected signals (6a, 6b, 9) that have been reflected by an object (10, 11). The outer detector transceivers (2a, 2b) are associated with outer coverage main directions (7a, 7b) that are directed at corresponding outer angles (?a, ?b) to the forward traveling direction (D), and the inner detector transceivers (3a, 3b) are associated with inner coverage main directions (8a, 8b) that are directed at corresponding inner angles (?a, ?b) to the forward traveling direction (D).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Ulf Ärlig, Jimmy Petersson
  • Patent number: 11169530
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an outdoor robotic work tool (1) adapted for a forward travelling direction (D) and comprising an environmental detection system (19) that comprises a set of outer detector transceivers (2a, 2b) and a set of inner detector transceivers (3a, 3b), where the inner detector transceivers (3a, 3b) are positioned between the outer detector transceivers (2a, 2b). Each detector transceiver (2a, 2b; 3a, 3b) is adapted to transmit signals (4a, 4b; 5a, 5b) and to receive reflected signals (6a, 6b, 9) that have been reflected by an object (10, 11). The outer detector transceivers (2a, 2b) are associated with outer coverage main directions (7a, 7b) that are directed at corresponding outer angles (?a, ?b) to the forward travelling direction (D), and the inner detector transceivers (3a, 3b) are associated with inner coverage main directions (8a, 8b) that are directed at corresponding inner angles (?a, ?b) to the forward travelling direction (D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Ulf Ärlig, Jimmy Petersson
  • Publication number: 20210274705
    Abstract: A robotic work tool system (200) for redefining a work area perimeter (150) surrounding a work area (105) in which a robotic work tool (100) is subsequently intended to operate. The work area perimeter (150) comprises a plurality of boundary segments (155,160). The robotic work tool system (200) comprises at least one boundary detection unit (170) configured to detect a position of a boundary segment (155,160) of the work area perimeter (150). The robotic work tool system (200) further comprises at least one controller (110,210) configured to determine if a detected position of a boundary segment (155,160) is closer than a threshold distance to a safety perimeter (330). The at least one boundary detection unit (170) is not allowed to cross the safety perimeter (330).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Anton Mårtensson, Ulf Ärlig, Daniel Wikestad
  • Patent number: 10699567
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling a traffic surveillance system. The method comprises the steps of: capturing first images and second images over time by a plurality of the stereoscopic sensors; processing, by the processing unit, a first image and a second image from a first stereoscopic sensor of the plurality of the stereoscopic sensors to produce a first height image; analyzing said first height image to detect a moving object such as a vehicle located within the primary view; and analysing a part of a primary view of at least a first image, a second image or a combination of the first image and the second image captured by a second stereoscopic sensor based on the detected moving object in said first height image to determine a characteristic of the moving object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Kapsch TrafficCom AB
    Inventors: Johan Bäckvall, Ulf Ärlig, Björn Crona, Christian Karlström
  • Publication number: 20200042011
    Abstract: A robotic working tool comprising a sensor for detecting magnetic fields connected to a controller for controlling the operation of the robotic working tool. The controller is configured to operate according to a first control signal being transmitted through a first boundary wire and according to a second control signal being transmitted through a second boundary wire. The robotic working tool is thereby configured to operate within a composite work area comprising at least a first partial work area and a second partial work area. The first boundary wire delimits the first partial work area and the second boundary wire delimits the second partial work area. The at least first and second boundary wires provide a common perimeter for the composite work area. Analysing the magnetic fields detected by the sensor, the controller determines whether the robotic working tool is inside or outside the composite work area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Ulf Ärlig, Ludvig Sjöholm
  • Publication number: 20170330454
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling a traffic surveillance system. The method comprises the steps of: capturing first images and second images over time by a plurality of the stereoscopic sensors; processing, by the processing unit, a first image and a second image from a first stereoscopic sensor of the plurality of the stereoscopic sensors to produce a first height image; analyzing said first height image to detect a moving object such as a vehicle located within the primary view; and analysing a part of a primary view of at least a first image, a second image or a combination of the first image and the second image captured by a second stereoscopic sensor based on the detected moving object in said first height image to determine a characteristic of the moving object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: Kapsch TrafficCom AB
    Inventors: Johan Bäckvall, Ulf Ärlig, Björn Crona, Christian Karlström
  • Patent number: 6238536
    Abstract: Exhaust gas analyzers are disclosed for analyzing the exhaust gases from a combustion process including a sensor unit mounted for direct contact with the exhaust gases in which the sensor unit includes a number of sensors such as lambda sensors, NOx sensors, oxygen sensors, and residual heat sensors, mounted on a common substrate for detecting specific gases and temperatures in the exhaust gases and generating signals based thereon, the substrate being an oxygen-ion-conductive ceramic material and the sensors elements including conductive patterns applied to the common substrate, and a common analyzer connected to the sensor units for analyzing the signals generated by the sensor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: AB Volvo
    Inventors: Staffan Lundgren, Edward Jobson, Ulf Ärlig, Per Salomonsson, Anders Unosson, Ove Hjortsberg
  • Patent number: 5736028
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor for detection of oxides of nitrogen forming part of a gas, including a substrate consisting of a solid electrolyte on which a conductive pattern is arranged which includes at least two parts forming an anode and a cathode, a current being produced in the sensor in the presence of oxides of nitrogen and the anode and the cathode being connected to an external voltage source which is adapted to drive the current and to means for measuring the current, which constitutes a measure of the concentration of oxides of nitrogen in the gas. The sensor is adapted to generate the current by means of a transport of oxygen ions in the sensor which essentially originates from oxides of nitrogen being part of the gas, independently from the content of oxygen in the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: AB Volvo
    Inventors: Ove Hjortsberg, Staffan Lundgren, Ulf Arlig