Reconfigurable fixture device and methods of use
First Claim
1. A reconfigurable fixture device system, comprising:
- a base member;
a reconfigurable pad disposed on the base member, wherein the reconfigurable pad comprises a shape memory material configured to selectively conform to a surface contour of a workpiece;
an activation device in operative communication with the shape memory material;
a controller in operable communication with at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the activation device, and the base member;
a plurality of sensors for sensing a parameter associated with at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the base member, the fixture device, and the workpiece, wherein the plurality of sensors is in operable communication with the controller; and
an actuator in operable communication with the controller and the at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the base member, the fixture device, and the workpiece.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A reconfigurable fixture device system, including: a base member; a reconfigurable pad disposed on the base member, wherein the reconfigurable pad comprises a shape memory material configured to selectively conform to a surface contour of a workpiece; an activation device in operative communication with the shape memory material; a controller in operable communication with at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the activation device, and the base member; a plurality of sensors for sensing a parameter associated with at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the base member, the fixture device, and the workpiece, wherein the plurality of sensors is in operable communication with the controller; and an actuator in operable communication with the controller and the at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the base member, the fixture device, and the workpiece.
44 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A reconfigurable fixture device system, comprising:
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a base member;
a reconfigurable pad disposed on the base member, wherein the reconfigurable pad comprises a shape memory material configured to selectively conform to a surface contour of a workpiece;
an activation device in operative communication with the shape memory material;
a controller in operable communication with at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the activation device, and the base member;
a plurality of sensors for sensing a parameter associated with at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the base member, the fixture device, and the workpiece, wherein the plurality of sensors is in operable communication with the controller; and
an actuator in operable communication with the controller and the at least one of the reconfigurable pad, the base member, the fixture device, and the workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for controlling a reconfigurable fixture device, comprising
receiving a status signal from a sensor to a controller, wherein the sensor is in operable communication with at least one of a base member, and a reconfigurable pad disposed on the base member, wherein the reconfigurable pad comprises a shape memory material configured to selectively conform to a surface contour of a workpiece; -
receiving an operation signal from a user;
generating a command signal responsive to the status signal and/or the operation signal; and
transmitting the command signal from the controller to at least one of an activation device in operative communication with the shape memory material and an actuator in operable communication with the base member. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of using a reconfigurable fixture device, comprising:
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transferring a workpiece to a reconfigurable pad, wherein transferring the workpiece comprises checking a status of the reconfigurable pad;
determining if the reconfigurable pad needs to be reconfigured;
locating and clamping the workpiece against the reconfigurable pad, wherein locating and clamping the workpiece comprises determining the location of the reconfigurable pad, and fixturing a workpiece with the reconfigurable pad; and
performing an operation on the workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer program product for fixturing a workpiece, the computer program product comprising:
a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising detecting a parameter associated with a reconfigurable fixturing device with at least one sensor to produce at least one parameter defining signal;
processing the at least one parameter defining signal from the at least one sensor and sending an output signal to a control interface, wherein the output signal is effective to perform a function comprising at least one of a heat function, a cool function, a position function, a location function, open and close functions, a resetting function and a status-check function, wherein the reconfigurable fixturing device comprises a pad formed of a shape memory material.- View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
Specification