US5675229A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for adjusting robot positioning
Assignee: ABB Robotics Inc
•
Filing: 1994-09-21
•
Granted: 1997-10-07
•
Expires: 2014-09-21
Abstract
Abstract A robot control system for repositioning work points used by the robot control system at which operations occur. The work points are retrieved from the robot controller memory and plotted onto a video display for the operator to view. The operator then designates and selects a work point or work points which are to be repositioned. Using a mouse or other type of cursor control, the operator can then manipulate on the video display the points associated with the work points. After the operator has adjusted the position of the points, in the robot coordinate system, the revised points are then stored in the robot controller memory and used thereafter when positioning the robot.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry F. Thorne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:30
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25J; B25J9/00; B25J9/16; B25J9/1656; B25J9/1671
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A control system for adjusting a robot arm positionable at a point in a coordinate system from an initial position to a desired position, comprising: memory for storing the point; means for retrieving the point from the memory; video display means for displaying the point at the initial position; cursor means coupled to the video display means and movable within the video display means for indicating the point; selector means coupled to the video display means operable for selecting the point at the initial position, the selected point being indicated by the cursor means; electronic position adjustor means coupled to the video display means for displacing the selected point on the video imaging device from the initial position to the desired position; and electronic means for determining the displacement of the selected point and calculating a coordinate for the desired position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A control system for adjusting a robot arm positionable at a point in a coordinate system from an initial position to a desired position, comprising: memory for storing the point; means for retrieving the point from the memory; video display means for displaying the point at the initial position; cursor means coupled to the video display means and movable within the video display means for indicating the point; selector means coupled to the video display means operable for selecting the point at the initial position, the selected point being indicated by the cursor means; electronic position adjustor means coupled to the video display means for displacing the selected point on the video imaging device from the initial position to the desired position; and electronic means for determining the displacement of the selected point and calculating a coordinate for the desired position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The control system as defined in claim 1 wherein the memory stores a plurality of points to define a set of points and the set of points is retrieved and displayed on the video display means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The control system as defined in claim 2 wherein the selector means is operable to select a plurality of points of the set for sequential adjustment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The control system as defined in claim 2 wherein the selector selects a plurality of the set of points for adjustment, said plurality being adjusted identically.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The control system as defined in claim 2 further comprising a means for displaying values on said video imaging device corresponding to the displacement within the coordinate system of the point from the initial position to the desired position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The control system as defined in claim 2 further comprising a means for magnifying an area surrounding the point to provide improved resolution for adjusting the position of the selected point.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The control system of claim 2 wherein the display means displays the coordinates of the selected point.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The control system of claim 2 further comprising means for storing said calculated coordinate in said memory.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The control system of claim 2 wherein the display means displays the points in a selected one of a plurality of selectable views.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The control system as defined in claim 2 further comprising a robot controller for generating control signals to control the movement of the robot, the robot controller retrieving points from memory and advancing the robot to the points.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for adjusting a robot arm positionable at a point in a coordinate system from an initial position to a desired position, comprising: retrieving from memory a point to be adjusted; displaying the point at the initial position; indicating the point on a video display through the use of a pointer; selecting the point at the initial position, the selected point being indicated by the pointer; displacing the selected point on the video imaging device from the initial position to the desired position; and determining a displacement of the selected point and calculating a coordinate for the desired position.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for adjusting a robot arm positionable at a point in a coordinate system from an initial position to a desired position, comprising: retrieving from memory a point to be adjusted; displaying the point at the initial position; indicating the point on a video display through the use of a pointer; selecting the point at the initial position, the selected point being indicated by the pointer; displacing the selected point on the video imaging device from the initial position to the desired position; and determining a displacement of the selected point and calculating a coordinate for the desired position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as defined in claim 11 further comprising the step of storing a plurality of points to define a set of points and retrieving and displaying the set of points on the video display means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as defined in claim 12 further comprising the step of sequentially adjusting more than a plurality of points of the set.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as defined in claim 12 further comprising the step of selecting for adjustment a plurality of points of the set of points, said plurality of points being displaced identically.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as defined in claim 12 further comprising the step of displaying values on said video imaging device corresponding to the displacement within the coordinate system of the point from the initial position to the desired position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as defined in claim 12 further comprising the step of magnifying the area surrounding a selected point to provide improved resolution for adjusting the position of the selected point.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as defined in claim 12 further comprising the step of displaying the coordinates of a selected point on the video display means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as defined in claim 12 further comprising the step of storing said calculated coordinate in said memory.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as defined in claim 12 further comprising the step of displaying the points in one of a plurality of selectable views.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4659971A
Cited
US4639878A
Cited
US4761745A
Cited
US5230338A
Cited
US4931018A
Cited
US5006999A
Cited
US5053976A
Cited
US5129010A
Cited
US5353355A
Cited
US5341458A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-10-06 | 2001-04-07 | 2001-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-06 | 2005-04-07 | 2005-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-06 | 2009-04-07 | 2009-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |