Adhesively coupled power-meter for measurement of force, torque, and power and associated methods
First Claim
1. A power-meter for measurement of one or more of force, torque, and power of a mechanical arm, comprising:
- a plate having a first surface prepared for adhesively coupling with the mechanical arm;
at least one strain gauge physically coupled with a second surface of the plate, opposite the first surface, and with an orientation wherein (a) mechanical forces transfer from the mechanical arm to the at least one strain gauge when the plate is adhesively coupled to the mechanical arm and (b) the at least one strain gauge has reduced sensitivity to forces that do not contribute to bending of the mechanical arm;
electronics for determining one or more of force, torque, and power from signals of the at least one strain gauge; and
a wireless transmitter for transmitting, to a receiving device, one or more of force, torque, and power.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An adhesively coupled power-meter measures one or more of force, torque, power, and velocity of a mechanical arm. The power meter includes a plate with a first surface prepared for adhesively coupling to the mechanical arm. At least one strain gauge is physically coupled with a second surface, opposite the first, of the plate and with an orientation corresponding to an orientation of the adhesively coupled power meter such that mechanical forces are transferred from mechanical arm to the at least one strain gauge when the plate is adhesively coupled to the mechanical arm. The power meter also includes electronics for receiving a signal from the at least one strain gauge and for determining one or more of force, torque, power and velocity from the signal, and a wireless transmitter for transmitting one or more of force, torque, power and velocity to a receiving device.
18 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A power-meter for measurement of one or more of force, torque, and power of a mechanical arm, comprising:
-
a plate having a first surface prepared for adhesively coupling with the mechanical arm; at least one strain gauge physically coupled with a second surface of the plate, opposite the first surface, and with an orientation wherein (a) mechanical forces transfer from the mechanical arm to the at least one strain gauge when the plate is adhesively coupled to the mechanical arm and (b) the at least one strain gauge has reduced sensitivity to forces that do not contribute to bending of the mechanical arm; electronics for determining one or more of force, torque, and power from signals of the at least one strain gauge; and a wireless transmitter for transmitting, to a receiving device, one or more of force, torque, and power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for measuring one or more of force, torque and power of a mechanical arm, comprising:
-
receiving, within electronics of a power-meter adhesively coupled to the mechanical arm, signals from at least one strain gauge that is mechanically coupled to the mechanical arm via a plate of the power meter, the at least one strain gauge being oriented to reduce sensitivity to forces, moments and torques in the mechanical arm that do not contribute to bending of the mechanical arm; and determining one or more of the torque, force and power within the mechanical arm based upon the signals. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A system for measurement of one or more of force, torque, and power applied to a bicycle drive chain, comprising:
-
a first plate having a first surface prepared for adhesively coupling with a first crank arm of the bicycle drive chain; a first strain gauge physically coupled with a second surface of the first plate and with an orientation wherein (a) mechanical forces transfer from the first crank arm to the first strain gauge when the plate is adhesively coupled to the first crank arm and (b) the first strain gauge having reduced sensitivity to forces that do not contribute to bending of the first crank arm; electronics for determining one or more of force, torque, and power from signals of the first strain gauge; and a wireless transmitter for transmitting, to a receiving device, one or more of force, torque, and power. - View Dependent Claims (21)
-
Specification