Plural Processors Patents (Class 700/249)
  • Patent number: 6542788
    Abstract: A robot apparatus such as an entertainment robot is configured to select a transmission destination at which a communication appliance is located, and transmits predetermined information to the selected transmission destination. The predetermined information may be a self-diagnostic result or information concerning its surrounding environment. If the transmission fails, the robot apparatus selects an alternative transmission destination whereat another communication appliance is located, and transmits the information to the alternative destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyasu Hosonuma, Noriyuki Fukushima, Kazufumi Oyama
  • Patent number: 6526331
    Abstract: A robot arm which allows the two hands to be brought together in front of the chest. In a robot arm comprising a shoulder joint attached to a body so as to be rotatable around a laterally extending axial line, an upper arm attached to the shoulder joint so as to be rotatable around an axial line perpendicular to the laterally extending axial line, a forearm attached to the upper arm via an elbow joint, and a hand attached to a free end of the forearm, the elbow joint is attached to the upper arm so as to be rotatable around a longitudinal axial line of the upper arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Hirose
  • Patent number: 6522951
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling a robot on the basis of data from sensors with their own sensor data structures. For solving the problem of adapting to different sensors and their data structures and consequently permitting in simple manner the use of different sensors without intervening in the actual robot control program, according to the system the sensor data are processed to robot control data with a control data structure usable by a system control program and a processing device suitable for the same is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Kuka Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Born, Johannes Stelter, Bernhard-Michael Steinmetz, Jens Bunsendahl, Ralf Koeppe
  • Patent number: 6507771
    Abstract: A method for controlling the movement of agents using local communications is provided. Generally, each agent maintains an optimal distance from other local neighbor agents by, for each agent 200, selecting a local agent 202, measuring the distance and angle to the agent 204, performing a distance maintenance calculation 218, and repeating the distance maintenance calculation 218 for each local agent. In the distance maintenance calculation 218, an attraction/repulsion map is used in order to determine whether an agent is attracted to or repelled from other agents. A motion vector is used to determine agent responses to the attraction or repulsion. Over time, the agents settle into a neutral configuration where each is optimally distanced from the other agents. Reference agents and leader agents can be designated to direct the movement of other agents, and agents can be designated as blocking beacons to repel other agents from undesirable areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories
    Inventors: David W. Payton, Mike Howard, Mike Daily, Craig Lee, Bruce Hoff
  • Patent number: 6505098
    Abstract: Firstly, a authenticating pattern is disposed on a cover and an authenticating device is disposed in a robot apparatus for authenticating the cover on the basis of the authenticating pattern of the fitted cover. Secondary, an information holding device for holding inherent information is disposed in the cover and a reading device for reading out the inherent information from the information holding device is disposed in the robot apparatus. Thirdly, a function of detecting an amount of influence due to the cover and changing manifesting patterns of motions as occasion demands on the basis of the detection result is disposed in the robot apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Sakamoto, Masahiro Fujita, Seiichi Takamura, Yu Hirono, Hironari Hoshino, Nobuhiko Ohguchi
  • Patent number: 6505097
    Abstract: An arithmetic processing device for inter-object data communication has an object manager for connecting objects so as to enable exchange of data between the objects, and a connection data supplying unit for supplying the object manager with connection data necessary for achieving the connection between the objects. An inter-object communication method and a robot incorporating the arithmetic processing device are also provided. The robot may be designed to enable a user to replace parts thereof, thus changing the robot configuration. The robot preferably includes a part detection unit for detecting parts attached to the robot, and outputting a part detection result in accordance with the detection. An information storage unit stores information corresponding to the part detection result for each configuration obtained by replacement of the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Fujita, Takayuki Sakamoto, Kotaro Sabe, Tsuyoshi Takagi
  • Patent number: 6493607
    Abstract: A computerized method/system is provided for planning motion of a robot within a free space confined by obstacles, from an initial position to a goal position. In executing the method/system, a plan is generated so that the robot can hold and maneuver a workpiece throughout a sequence of bending operations to be performed by a bending apparatus. A plurality of proposed movements to be made by the robot are proposed for an mth movement within a sequence of movements, and at least a portion of the robot and the obstacles that confine the free space are modeled. A determination is made as to whether a collision will occur between the robot and an obstacle for each proposed movement, and a plan is generated including the sequence of movements by choosing for each movement in the sequence of movements, a proposed movement that will not result in a collision and that will bring the robot closer to the goal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignees: Amada America, Inc., Amada Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: David Alan Bourne, Sivaraj Sivarama Krishnan
  • Patent number: 6493593
    Abstract: An electronic control unit includes a first microprocessor monitoring the operation of a second microprocessor and has a monitoring operation blocking unit for preventing the second microprocessor from being reset by the first microprocessor while the second microprocessor is loading from a memory thereof so that even when a control program is loaded into the monitoring microprocessor before one is loaded into the monitored microprocessor, the control program can be loaded with certainty. Each microprocessor executes a control program stored in the memory, and when a predetermined reloading condition has been established, executes a loading process for receiving load data transmitted thereto from outside into the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takamichi Kamiya, Takehiro Abeta
  • Patent number: 6490504
    Abstract: A feeding robot which is capable of drawing a glass panel for a liquid crystal display from a cassette without bringing it into collision with the cassette, and then feeding the drawn glass panel with a reduced error, and a method for controlling the same. Determination is made as to whether an object to be fed has been accurately aligned with a traveling axis of the feeding robot. A turned angle of the object relative to the traveling axis is calculated if the object has not been accurately aligned with the traveling axis. The robot is turned by the turned angle and then draws the object. While the robot moves to a target position, a correction value for the target position is calculated, and the target position is then corrected by the calculated correction value. The feeding robot control method is capable of aligning the glass panel with a hand of the feeding robot using sensors in the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae-Kyu Son
  • Patent number: 6487474
    Abstract: A data storage library features multipurpose slots each configured to receive a media drive (operable to read/write data from/to media removably loaded into the media drive) a command relay port (operable to convey media transport signals from a host to a shared robotic media transport device), or various other modules. The robotic device is programmed to recognize whether each slot is empty or whether it is filled with a component such as a media drive or a command relay port, and to thereafter communicate with the occupant appropriately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian G. Goodman, Leonard G. Jesionowski
  • Patent number: 6484083
    Abstract: A control system for controlling mobile robots provides a way to control mobile robots, connected in tandem with coupling devices, to navigate across difficult terrain or in closed spaces. The mobile robots can be controlled cooperatively as a coupled system in linked mode or controlled individually as separate robots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Hayward, James H. Buttz, David L. Shirey
  • Patent number: 6480759
    Abstract: An automated storage library structure, a structure of at least one robot operating within the automated storage library, and a method of connecting the robot to test equipment to facilitate testing is disclosed. The robot is operative to move about the automated storage library on a guide structure. The test equipment is disposed in a diagnostics center associated with the automated storage library. Communication between the robot and the diagnostics center may be provided through a main connector, disposed adjacent to the guide structure at a predetermined position and electrically connected to the diagnostics center, and a test connector mounted on the robot's chassis and electrically connected to the robot's electronics. A second robot may be used to support testing of a sick robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy C. Ostwald, Frank T. Smith
  • Patent number: 6477445
    Abstract: An equipment for controlling an industrial robot, which robot has a plurality of rotation and/or translation axles (ax 1-6), comprising a motor (15) at each of said axles for generating desired movements of the arms and/or the wrist, of which the robot is constituted, a sensor at each of the axles for measuring axle angle and/or axle position, a servo (9) for each of the axles for controlling the motors based on measurement values from the sensors, and a path generator (8) for generating at least one reference (&phgr;ref, &phgr;ref, &tgr;ffw) for each of the servos (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Karl-Gustav Ramström, Torgny Brogårdh
  • Patent number: 6470237
    Abstract: A robot is provided which comprises a body unit, plural component units connected to the body unit, a memory mounted on the body unit for storing unit information of each of the component units and a basic operation program, a control unit mounted on the body unit for controlling the action of the robot, and a memory unit detachably mounted on the body unit for storing application program of the robot. The control unit reads out (i) the unit information, (ii) the basic operation program and (iii) the application program, and controls the component units in accordance with the read unit information, basic program, and application program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Fujita, Kazufumi Oyama
  • Patent number: 6463359
    Abstract: A placement robot includes a micro alignment pick-up head (MAP) to hold a component for placement on a substrate. The MAP includes a retention member that may be a vacuum pick-up nozzle for component retention and has two main parts: an upper body and a lower body. The upper body and the lower body are separated from one another by an air bearing which provides near-frictionless performance and allows the lower body a range of motion relative to the upper body. The MAP is either “attached” or “loose.” Micropositioning actuators provide fine positioning in the X and/or Y directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Infotech AG
    Inventor: Ernest H. Fischer
  • Patent number: 6459958
    Abstract: An operation data display device for a robot allowing an operator to recognize operation data on a plurality of operations performed by the robot at a time. When an arc start command is read out from a taught operation program by the robot controller, a welding start command is issued to an arc welding power supply. The arc welding power supply starts supply of a welding current to a welding torch mounted on a robot. Values of the welding current in a welding operation is outputted to a robot controller and sampled at every predetermined period and recorded. When an arc end command is read out from the operation program, the arc welding power supply terminates the welding operation and output of the values of the welding current. The robot controller transfers a file containing the data of the actual welding current to a personal computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Watanabe, Tetsuya Kosaka
  • Patent number: 6459957
    Abstract: A programmable smart membrane and methods therefor. The smart membrane conducts an overall function on at least one of a sorting function, a filtering function and an absorbing function of at least one object having an attribute. The smart membrane includes a plurality of module units disposed adjacent each other. Each of the plurality of module units obtains information from an environment around each of the plurality of module units. The plurality of module units also each perform a function based on at least a first control method that determines the function based on the information for each of the plurality of module units. Wherein the plurality of module units individually perform function to collectively perform the overall function of the membrane based on the attribute of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Forrest H. Bennett, III, Eleanor G. Rieffel, Bradley E. Dolin
  • Patent number: 6456898
    Abstract: A press monitoring and control system includes a press machine, a press configuration module and a press controller. The press machine has a lower die coupled to an upper die, wherein the lower die includes a top surface supporting a strip of material to be formed into a part after a stripper plate coupled to the upper die contacts the strip of material. The press configuration module includes an input module that processes a set of input data corresponding to a particular job and generates a data signal corresponding to the set of input data. The press controller is coupled to the press machine and the press configuration module. The controller processes the data signal, compares the data signal to a set of parameters corresponding to the particular job, and generates at least one servo signal to adjust at least one servo in response to the data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Modesto, Robert Wojczak, Scott Krupp, Yvonne Luzney, Lyle J. Riffel, Thomas P. Zbikowski, Robert B. Mech
  • Patent number: 6453214
    Abstract: Robot arm (16) end effectors (10, 110, 210) of this invention rapidly and cleanly transfer semiconductor wafers (12) between a wafer cassette (14) and a processing station. The end effectors include proximal and distal rest pads (24, 26, 124, 126) having pad and backstop portions (32, 34, 132, 134) that support and grip the wafer either by wafer peripheral edge contact or within an annular exclusion zone (30) that extends inward from a peripheral edge of the wafer. An active contact point (50, 150, 222) is movable by a vacuum actuated piston (52, 152) between a retracted wafer-loading position and an extended position that urges the wafer against the distal rest pads to grip the wafer at its edge or within the exclusion zone. The end effector further includes fiber optic light transmission sensors (90, 102, 202, 214) for determining various wafer surface, edge, thickness, tilt, and location parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Newport Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Bacchi, Paul S. Filipski
  • Patent number: 6445979
    Abstract: An operation line tracking device for a robot for performing an operation with a tool mounted on the robot while tracking an operation line using a sensor wherein a detection failure of the sensor is restored by automatically changing or resetting a detecting condition of the sensor when the sensor fails in detecting the operation line. If a detection failure occurs for a cause of excessive or too small quantity of light impinged on light receiving elements of a laser sensor, a laser output intensity is automatically changed. If a detection failure occurs for a cause of basing of the quantity of the impinged light, an orientation of the laser sensor is automatically adjusted. If a detection failure occurs for a cause of biasing of position of the operation line in the visual field of the laser sensor, the position of the laser sensor is automatically adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue, Mitsuhiro Okuda, Akihiro Terada
  • Patent number: 6442451
    Abstract: An improved, versatile robot control system comprises a general purpose computer with a general purpose operating system in electronic communication with a real-time computer subsystem. The general purpose computer includes a program execution module to selectively start and stop processing of a program of robot instructions and to generate a plurality of robot move commands. The real-time computer subsystem includes a move command data buffer for storing the plurality of move commands, a robot move module linked to the data buffer for sequentially processing the moves and calculating a required position for a robot mechanical joint. The real-time computer subsystem also includes a dynamic control algorithm in software communication with the move module to repeatedly calculate a required actuator activation signal from a robot joint position feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Robotic Workspace Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Lapham
  • Patent number: 6438456
    Abstract: A handheld control device provides a way for controlling one or multiple mobile robotic vehicles by incorporating a handheld computer with a radio board. The device and software use a personal data organizer as the handheld computer with an additional microprocessor and communication device on a radio board for use in controlling one robot or multiple networked robots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Feddema, Raymond H. Byrne, Jon R. Bryan, John J. Harrington, T. Scott Gladwell
  • Patent number: 6438460
    Abstract: Robot arm (16) end effectors,(10, 110, 210) rapidly and cleanly transfer semiconductor wafers (12) between a wafer cassette (14) and a processing station. The end effectors include fiber optic light transmission sensors (90, 102, 202, 214) for determining various wafer surface, edge, thickness, tilt, and location parameters. The sensors provide robot arm extension and elevation positioning data supporting methods of rapidly and accurately placing and retrieving a wafer from among a stack of closely spaced wafers stored in the wafer cassette. The methods effectively prevent accidental contact between the end effector and the wafers while effecting clean, secure gripping of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Newport Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Bacchi, Paul S. Filipski
  • Patent number: 6434448
    Abstract: A robot controller for use in a robot control system with a plurality of robots connected one another through a communication path. When a cause for stopping occurs in one or more robots, other robots are also stopped in the same type of stopping procedure. A priority of execution on a plurality of stop procedure types is determined. When a cause for stopping occurs in one or more robots in the robots connected through the communication line or in the robots in synchronously cooperative operation, all of the robots connected through the communication line or the robots in synchronously cooperative operation are stopped in the same type of stopping procedure. If different causes for stopping occur in the robots, a stopping procedure type having higher priority in the stopping procedures determined in accordance with the different causes of stopping is adopted to stop all of the robots in the same type of stopping procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kosaka, Hiromitsu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6427098
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for control of pivoting machine members propelled by linear actuators so as to permit coordinated motion of the pivoting members with translating machine members. Position commands for the pivoting machine members are given in angular units. The propelling linear actuators are controlled by servomechanism control providing position and velocity control. Position measurements for the pivoting members measure linear displacement of the propelling actuator. Position commands for the pivoting members are compensated according to the non-linear relationship between displacement of the propelling actuator and the angular displacement of the pivoting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: UNOVA IP CORP
    Inventors: Steven E. Alverson, Kirby L. Stone
  • Patent number: 6421585
    Abstract: A robot system having a plurality of component units. The robot system includes a first storage device, and a second storage device. The robot system further includes a plurality of control device, with a first component control device provided with the first component and a second component control device provided with the second component wherein the first component control device controls the first component device and the second component control device controls the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Seiichi Takamura
  • Patent number: 6415204
    Abstract: A robots (210A, 210B), which is fixed onto a base (20, 20B) having a rectangular shape, has a mechanical hand (211A, 211B). A plurality of robot tools, each of which is freely attached to the tip of the mechanical hand (211A, 211B) for pinching a part, and a plurality of trays (6) each containing assembling jigs to be used for assembling parts, are brought in a movable range (RA, RB) of the robot, and the assembling tools are set at a predetermined position within the movable range (RA, RB). Then, an assembling job for the parts is carried out by using the assembling tools thus set. With this arrangement, the exchanging processes of the assembling tools can be carried out without depending on the human hands, even when the type of the assembly product is changed. Consequently, it becomes possible to efficiently carry out the manufacturing process of a small number of many types of products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Idec Izumi Corporation
    Inventors: Michio Hirabayashi, Katsuhisa Ida, Nobuo Higuchi, Yoshihito Sugano, Yoshihiko Nakanishi, Hiromi Kitaura, Kenichi Kuruma, Hiroyuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6411055
    Abstract: A modular robot system is provided with memory means for memorizing task information concerning task of each component unit and the recognition means for recognizing the task of each component unit based on the task information of each component unit. Further, the modular robot system is provided with linkage condition detection means for detecting the linkage condition of each component unit, memory means for memorizing the linkage condition of each component unit every category, of which the configuration of robot system to be assembled is classified into multiple categories according to the linkage condition of each component unit, and judgment means for judging the category of the robot system to be assembled based on the linkage condition of each component unit detected by the linkage condition detection means and the linkage condition of each component unit every category memorized by the memory means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Fujita, Kazufumi Oyama, Takashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6385506
    Abstract: A motion deciding means is provided to decide a motion based on transmitted information which is transmitted from another robot apparatus, so that it is possible to realize a robot apparatus which operates in cooperation with other robot apparatuses regardless of operator's instructions. Thus, such robot apparatuses can constitute a group of robot apparatuses which autonomously move in cooperation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Rika Hasegawa, Makoto Inoue
  • Publication number: 20020052671
    Abstract: A method and apparatus in an automated data storage library for identifying a location of a robot in the automated data storage library. Signals are transmitted from a set of transmitters in the automated data storage library, wherein a location of the set of transmitters is known. The signals transmitted from the set of transmitters are received at a receiver located on the robot to form a set of received signals. The location of the robot is determined using the set of received signals and the location of the set of transmitters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventor: Kipley Tad Carpenter
  • Patent number: 6381515
    Abstract: In a robot device, its functions and performance can be improved with ease. According to the present invention, control device detachably mounted on a prescribed component unit for driving and controlling each of the component units in a prescribed state is provided and thereby, the control device can be easily exchanged for a new one. Thus the robot device in which its functions and performance can be improved can be realized. Further, according to the present invention, a robot device comprises storing device detachably mounted on the prescribed component unit for storing desired behavior type information and thereby, the storing device can be readily exchanged for storing device storing behavior type information different from the behavior type information stored in the former storing device. Thus, the robot device in which its functions and performance can be improved with ease can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Inoue, Naoyasu Hosonuma, Kyoko Furumura, Kotaro Sabe
  • Patent number: 6377013
    Abstract: Each of motor local controllers for controlling operation of electric motors based on command data sent from a central controller has a memory 28 for storing a plurality of command data for a predetermined period. When the motor local controller fails to receive normal command data, a CPU of the motor local controller predicts new command data from the command data in the past stored in the memory, and controls operation of the electric motor based on the predicted new command data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshio Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6377869
    Abstract: A robot controller having a function of monitoring abnormality of a robot operation to prevent an accident by stopping supply of energy or operational substance to an operational tool when the operational tool is abnormally stopped. Motion command pulses for a robot motion are obtained by computing operations when a motion statement of the operation program is read out and stored in a shared memory. Motors for driving respective robot axes are driven based on the motion command pulses. When an I/O output command is issued on a signal line to actuate an arc welder, the operation control software demands to set a predetermined waiting time period to a timer. The managing software demands to start a countdown of the timer and informs the operation control software of an elapse of the set waiting time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Watanabe, Tetsuya Kosaka, Hiromitsu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6374156
    Abstract: A key input section which permits the execution of output controls is provided on a teach pendant. A control unit of a robot control system ignores all input movement requests to move the robot if a key of the key input section is depressed and if an output of the key is an output set for prohibiting the movement of the robot and is in an output state that is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Shimogama, Hiroshi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 6360142
    Abstract: A random work arranging device that arranges randomly conveyed works by using a robot and carries out the arranged works, wherein the robot comprises a plurality of arms and a single robot controller for controlling respective arms independently one another to arrange and transfer the works from a conveying position to a carry-out position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuya Miura, Yoshiki Kariya, Takuya Fukuda, Akira Shouji
  • Patent number: 6360144
    Abstract: A self-teaching robot arm positioning method that compensates for support structure component alignment offset entails the use of a component emulating fixture preferably having mounting features that are matable to support structure mounting elements. Robot arm mechanism motor angular position data measured relative to component emulating fixture features are substituted into stored mathematical expressions representing robot arm vector motion to provide robot arm position output information. This information indicates whether the actual relative alignment between the robot arm mechanism and a semiconductor wafer carrier is offset from a nominal relative alignment. For manual correction, robot arm mechanism position output information provides the angular offset between the actual and nominal radial distances between the robot arm mechanism shoulder axis and two locating features of the component emulating fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Newport Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Bacchi, Paul S. Filipski
  • Patent number: 6360143
    Abstract: A method of controlling a dispensing system, having a robot that moves along a motion segment and applies a material to a workpiece, automatically determines a backup distance for the robot after an error has occurred during the dispensing of a first portion of the material. The backup distance is based on an operational speed of the robot. The robot is relocated to a backup position based on this backup distance to ensure that the robot reaches the operational speed at least by a time that the robot reaches a re-application position. The re-application position is at or near where the application of the first portion of the material ended. Therefore, gaps, overlaps, and puddles in the material on the workpiece are prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Fanuc Robotics North America
    Inventor: Akihiro Yanagita
  • Patent number: 6343243
    Abstract: A method for determining a number of load parameters (ml, xl, rl, &agr;l, Ix, Iy, Iz) for a load (6) which is carried by a manipulator. The manipulator comprises a number of links (2,3,4) which are movable in relation to one another, a handling member (5) for supporting a tool, which handling member is movable in relation to said links, a number of axes (A1-A6) around which the links or the handling member are/is movable as well as a motor for each axis which drives the movement of the axis in accordance with supplied reference values for the torque of the motor. According to the method, the manipulator adopts two selected axis configurations. A number of identification axes are appointed. The manipulator is run such that the identification axes carry out a plurality of movements according to predetermined patterns. During these movements, the motor torque and the axis angle are measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Torgny Brogårdh, Stig Moberg
  • Patent number: 6341246
    Abstract: An object oriented motion system for controlling the movement of a robotic manipulator is presented. The motion system includes a trajectory generator object for producing a stream of machine joint commands. A kinematics object is operable to provide a set of robotic arm specific functions for the trajectory generator object. A servo object provides an interface to the servo system. The stream of machine motor commands are converted by the servo object to a stream of signals that drive the servo system, thereby controlling the trajectory of the robot arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: KUKA Development Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Gerstenberger, Scott D. Greig, David M. Martin, Khalid Mirza, El-Houssaine Waled
  • Patent number: 6332102
    Abstract: A robot control apparatus has keys for input/output control and an execution key for permitting execution therefor. A key can be allocated for a reservation sequence stored beforehand. When an operation program is taught for a robot, the reservation sequence allocated to the key can be executed when the key is pressed while the execution is pressed. Then, an operation program can be programmed more correctly by controlling the robot, and time for programming a sequence program is shortened. Execution of an input/output operation due to unintentional or erroneous operation is prevented. Two input/output control sequences can be allocated to one key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita, Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakajima, Shigeru Shimogama
  • Patent number: 6330493
    Abstract: A control system for performing a synchronously cooperative operation among some robots of a plurality of robots connected by a communication line. A plurality of robots No. 1 to No. 4 is operated individually and also is operated in synchronous cooperation. Further, some robots No. 1 and 2 is operated in synchronous cooperation while the other robots Nos. 2 and 4 are operated in synchronous cooperation. The robots Nos. 3 and 4 are operated in synchronous cooperation. The robots No. 1 and 3 is operated in synchronous cooperation while the robots Nos. 2 and 4 are operated individually. The synchronously cooperative operation is performed by any desired combination in that the above robot control part keeps motion procedures denoting changes, which are corresponding to the frame notifications of the passage of time from the above media reproduction part; and moves the above robot according toe the above motion procedures, in the corresponding frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Takahashi, Tetsuya Kosaka
  • Patent number: 6330494
    Abstract: A robot system wherein the CPU 102 detects that the posture of the system main body has been shifted from the normal posture into an abnormal posture on the basis of the acceleration information obtained as detection output of the acceleration sensor 41. Then, the body restores the normal posture by a playback technique for controlling various drivers 3D through 7D, using route planning data stored in advance in the memory 101 or restoring the normal posture from a falling posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6327519
    Abstract: A storage library includes a first robotic mechanism having an energy coupler and a second robotic mechanism having an energy coupler. The storage library further includes tracks disposed adjacent to media object storage cells for enabling access to each of the media object storage cells, and powered rails associated with the tracks for providing energy. The first robotic mechanism is movable toward the second robotic mechanism to enable the energy coupler of the first robotic mechanism to couple with the energy coupler of the second robotic mechanism to transfer energy from the first robotic mechanism to the second robotic mechanism. The energy couplers of the first and second robotic mechanisms couple together to transfer energy from the powered rails to the second robotic mechanism. The energy couplers of the first and second robotic mechanisms couple together to transfer energy between on-board energy sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy C. Ostwald, Frank Smith
  • Patent number: 6327518
    Abstract: An off-line teaching apparatus includes an operation command-receiving device for receiving an operation command inputted via an input/output port from a key input device or a coordinate input device and successively storing the operation command in a buffer; an operation command-reading device for successively reading the operation command stored in the buffer; an operation command-counting device for counting a number of operation commands stored in the buffer; and a confirmation sound-generating device for generating confirmation sound upon receipt of the operation command by the operation command-receiving device when a counted value obtained by the operation command-counting device is not less than a predetermined number. Accordingly, the operator is informed, in real time, of the fact that the system responds to the input of the operation command from the operator. Thus, it is possible to improve the operability of the off-line teaching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakatsu Kaneko, Shinji Aoki
  • Patent number: 6324443
    Abstract: An robot control apparatus with a teaching operation panel capable of making graphic display. The teaching operation panel comprises a processor, a flash memory, a DRAM, a communication port, a touch panel, a graphic controller for controlling a display device, a key control circuit for jog keys. The flash memory stores an operating system having small data size storable in the flash memory and supporting a graphic interface. The processor reads a robot operation program stored in a memory of the robot controller or in an external memory of the teaching operation pane and makes a graphic display on the display device. The graphic display is easily comprehended by an operator and editing and creation of the robot control program is made easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kurakake, Atsushi Watanabe, Yoshiki Hashimoto, Tomoyuki Terada
  • Patent number: 6321139
    Abstract: An operation line searching method in which an operation start position is automatically approached and a robot/sensor system having such function of detecting the operation line. A robot having a laser sensor and an operation tool attached to a distal end thereof approaches an operation start position Q1 using various searching motion path patterns (a) to (d). Pattern (a) is determined to avoid an obstacle F or an obstructively-shaped portion G. The path thereof, for example, can be determined by specifying a coordinate axis of a coordinate system w. Patterns (b) and (c) are carried out by teaching, to the robot, data for determining the paths thereof in order. Pattern (d) is carried out in the following manner: an initial parameter <V1>, an angle of rotation and a norm increase factor are specified as parameters, and at the time when incremental travel quantity of a (i+1)th occurrence (i=0, 1, 2, . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Terada, Mitsuhiro Okuda
  • Patent number: 6321140
    Abstract: A robot device having a plurality of component units connected together and controller detachably mounted on one of the component units for driving and controlling each the component units in a prescribed state. The control device is easily exchangeable for another control device. The robot device may further include a storing device detachably mounted on the respective component unit for storing desired behavior type information. The storing device is readily exchangeable for another storing device having stored therein different behavior type information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Fujita, Kazufumi Oyama
  • Patent number: 6321138
    Abstract: A basket storage and retrieval apparatus and method has spaced parallel rows of storage racks with multiple horizontal tiers having aisles between the storage racks. Guides are connected to the aisle and a stacker retriever is connected to the guides. The stacker retriever has at least one vertical member. A carriage is mounted on the vertical member for moving up and down the vertical member and for aligning with storage rack tiers on opposite sides of the aisle. Carriers are mounted on the carriage for moving into horizontal tiers and for lowering baskets within the tiers for resting on the tiers and raising baskets from the tiers for moving the raised baskets toward the carriage. A robotic input lane extends through the storage racks. A robotic output lane extends through the storage racks. An input transfer conveyor is connected to the robotic input lane and an output transfer conveyor is connected to the robotic output lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Woodson Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark F. Livesay, J. Thomas Woodson, III
  • Patent number: 6301525
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a robot (1), includes at least three setting devices (2, 3, 4) which can be extended or shortened in the longitudinal direction. Each setting device being directly or indirectly secured in a fixed frame (6) via a first joint (20, 30, 40) so that each setting device is pivotable in all directions in relation to the frame and that each setting device is attached at one end in a movable position head (8) via a second joint (21, 31, 41). Each sensor is provided with a length sensor (LS1, LS2, LS3), said sensors forming a part of control system (S1) for controlling the location (X, Y, Z), wherein the control system cooperates with a feedback control system (R2) arranged to correct the location (X, Y, Z) and feedback control system (R2) operate in accordance with different coordinate systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Neos Robotics AB
    Inventor: Karl-Erik Neumann
  • Patent number: 6295484
    Abstract: When a multiaxial robot with a mechanism having spring elements between electric motors of respective axes and robot arms is controlled, the path precision of a tool tip is increased without causing vibrations produced by mechanical interference between axes and high-frequency vibrations of electric motors. A model controller (1) is supplied with position commands Xref—L, Xref—U with respect to the electric motors and outputs model motor position commands &thgr;Mm—L, &thgr;Mm—U, model motor speed commands {dot over (&thgr;)}Mm—L, {dot over (&thgr;)}Mm—U, and model feed-forward commands UFF—L, UFF—U to feedback controllers (10L, 10U) which actuate and control the electric motors and the robot arms. The model controller (1) includes therein corrective quantity calculators (3L, 3U) for calculating corrective quantities (corrective torques) in view of interfering forces acting between the axes from the other axes to cancel the interfering forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Masao Ojima, Hirokazu Kariyazaki, Hidenori Tomisaki