Electrical connecting device of joint unit and robot having the same

• US 20100116078A1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Won Kuk
• Application Number:
  US12/588,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20100116078A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/490.20
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 17/0241 One-dimensional joints
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/0029 arranged within the different robot elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20311 including power cable or connector

Abstract

Disclosed is an electrical connecting device of a joint unit. The electrical connecting device includes a first conductor provided at one side of the electrical connecting device and a second conductor provided at the other side of the electrical connecting device. The first and second conductors make contact with each other. Therefore, the joint unit is electrically connected at all times so that the joint unit is used as a module.

Claims

1. An electrical connecting device of a joint unit comprising:

a first link;

a second link rotatably coupled to the first link;

a first conductor provided at the first link; and

a second conductor provided at the second link to make contact with the first conductor.

2. The electrical connecting device of a joint unit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first conductor and the second conductor has an arc shape having a constant radius about a rotational center of the second link.

3. The electrical connecting device of a joint unit of claim 1, wherein the first and second conductors have arc shapes having a constant radius about the rotational center of the second link.

4. The electrical connecting device of a joint unit of claim 1, wherein the second conductor slides on the first conductor as the second link rotates.

5. The electrical connecting device of a joint unit of claim 1, wherein the first and second conductors are press-fitted to each other.

6. The electrical connecting device of a joint unit of claim 5, wherein the first conductor includes a receptacle and the second conductor includes a protrusion so that the protrusion is inserted into the receptacle.

7. The electrical connecting device of a joint unit of claim 1, further comprising a first electric cable provided at the first link and connected to the first conductor, and a second electric cable provided at the second link and connected to the second conductor.

8. A robot comprising:

a first link;

a second link; and

a joint unit to connect the first link to the second link, the joint unit including a first joint part fixed at one side of the first link, and a second joint part fixed at one side of the second link and rotatably coupled to the first joint part,

wherein first and second conductors are provided between the first and second joint parts to make contact with each other such that the first and second conductors are electrically connected to each other.

9. The robot of claim 8, wherein the second conductor slides on the first conductor as the second joint part rotates.

10. The robot of claim 8, wherein the first conductor is provided at the first joint part, the second conductor is provided at the second joint part, the first conductor is connected to a first electric cable provided at the fist link, and the second conductor is connected to a second electric cable provided at the second link.