Company patents
Beckhoff Automation GmbH
Beckhoff Automation GmbH's patent strategy reveals a strong foundational focus on Electric Motors & Generators (28.1% of portfolio) and Motor Control (22.6%), which saw significant growth in 2024 but experienced sharp declines in 2025 and so far in 2026. Surprisingly, despite its core in industrial automation, the company shows an emerging focus on Electric Vehicle Propulsion, with 4 patents so far in 2026 after zero in 2025, while its Manipulators & Robotics patents, which grew by 133.3% in 2025, have seen a complete halt with 0 patents so far in 2026, indicating a potential shift in its automation priorities.
Patent Trend by Technology Area
Yearly patent publications since 2023
Product themes
Product-level themes inferred from filings since 2023, with category chips showing where each theme appears. Select a theme to filter the patents below.
146 US filings (since 2023) · 12 categories · 19 themes
Development of novel motor architectures beyond traditional radial flux designs, including linear, axial, or multi-armature configurations, often to optimize for specific performance characteristics like torque density or form factor.
Methods and circuits for controlling the power electronic converters (inverters, bridges) that supply current and voltage to electric motors, including switching strategies, voltage command generation, and multi-phase configurations.
Methods and systems for monitoring the operational status, detecting anomalies, ensuring safe interaction, and preventing damage or injury in robotic systems.
Methods and components for optimizing the performance, efficiency, and control of electric motors, inverters, and power converters within electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle drivetrains.
Systems and methods enabling the monitoring, configuration, and operation of industrial equipment and processes from a distance, often utilizing wireless communication protocols and networked platforms for enhanced flexibility and access.
Methods and structures for integrating and enclosing electronic components into compact, multi-functional modules, often involving embedded components, multi-layer substrates, and electromagnetic shielding for performance and miniaturization.
Systems and mechanisms designed to safely and efficiently interface transport vehicles (trucks, trailers) with loading docks or automated loading systems, including vehicle restraint, telescopic loading arms, and specialized vehicle-mounted conveyors.
Techniques for determining the rotor position, speed, or other operational parameters of an electric motor without dedicated physical sensors, often relying on back-EMF, current, or voltage measurements.
Methods and systems for identifying anomalies, failures, or impending issues within electric motors or their associated drive and power management circuits, often by monitoring electrical or operational parameters.
Manufacturing processes and techniques for producing stator cores, windings, and coils, including lamination, impregnation, hairpin winding, and segment coil bending, to improve motor efficiency, power density, or reliability.
Systems and methods for efficient storage, retrieval, and sorting of items within warehouses, distribution centers, or manufacturing facilities, often involving vertical lifts, high-throughput sorters, or inventory management logic.
Strategies and circuits for optimizing the supply and consumption of electrical power for motors, including current limiting, regenerative energy handling, battery integration, and managing power quality.
Intelligent control systems that manage the connection and disconnection of power, including pre-charging capacitive loads, reclosing after faults, or isolating parts of a grid based on detected conditions, often involving smart switches and relays with adaptive logic.
Design and control of advanced robotic grippers, tools, and mechanical linkages for specific manipulation tasks or operating in challenging environments.
Systems and methods for real-time sensing, modeling, and closed-loop control of additive manufacturing parameters to ensure part quality, consistency, and process efficiency. This includes thermal management, atmospheric regulation, and precise material deposition.
Technologies for efficiently delivering power to electric vehicles, encompassing fast charging, wireless charging, and smart grid integration, alongside vehicle-side control and management of the charging process.
Methods and materials used to construct robust and protective enclosures for electronic devices, focusing on structural integrity, impact resistance, thermal dissipation, and specialized material properties for enhanced durability.
Design and configuration of adaptable frame structures, resource block groupings, and subcarrier spacings to optimize data transmission across diverse wireless environments and services, including considerations for fronthaul interfaces.
Techniques and circuits for accurately identifying various electrical faults, such as ground faults, overcurrent, short circuits, switch malfunctions, or electrostatic discharge (ESD) events, often utilizing sensors, signal processing, and diagnostic algorithms.
Patents
Showing 1-9 of 9
Sensorless Motor Control