TOUCH QUALITY TEST ROBOT

• US 20130345864A1
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Park, Young Bu
• Granted Patent: US 9,481,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/248
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/081 Touching devices, e.g. pressure-sensitive
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0084 comprising a plurality of manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/023 Cartesian coordinate type
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1612 characterised by the hand, wrist, grip control
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1682 Dual arm manipulator; Coordination of several manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39488 Each finger gets 1-DOF, one more movement, translation or rotation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39497 Each finger can be controlled independently
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39498 Each finger has force torque sensor in tip of finger
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40041 Robot operates panel like car radio by pushing, turning buttons, knobs
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40293 Gantry, portal
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45089 Testing robot
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2221 to test input/output devices or peripheral units

Abstract

Described herein is a robot for testing touch-sensitive displays. The test robot may have a test surface holding a touch-sensitive display. The test robot may also have a first robotic unit that can translate in only two dimensions relative to the touch-sensitive display, where the first robotic unit secures a first plurality of finger units. The test robot may also have a second robotic unit that can translate in only the two dimensions relative to the touch-sensitive display, where the second robotic unit secures a second plurality of finger units. The test robot may also have a control unit controlling the first robotic unit, the second robotic unit, the first plurality of finger units, and the second plurality of finger units.

Claims

1. A robot for testing a touch-sensitive display, the robot comprising:

a test surface holding the touch-sensitive display;

a first robotic unit that can translate in only two dimensions relative to the touch-sensitive display, the first robotic unit securing a first plurality of finger units;

a second robotic unit that can translate in only the two dimensions relative to the touch-sensitive display, the second robotic unit securing a second plurality of finger units; and

a control unit controlling the first robotic unit, the second robotic unit, the first plurality of finger units, and the second plurality of finger units.

2. A robot according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the finger units in the first plurality translates in only the two dimensions relative to the first robotic unit, and wherein at least one of the finger units in the second plurality translates in only the two dimensions relative to the second robotic unit.

3. A robot according to claim 2, wherein each of the finger units in the first plurality and each of the finger units in the second unit translate in a third dimension thereby allowing some finger units to contact the touch-sensitive display while other finger units are not contacting the touch sensitive display while the finger units are translating in the two dimensions relative to the robotic units or the robotic units are translating in the two dimensions relative to the touch-sensitive display.

4. A robot according to claim 1, wherein the two dimensions are parallel to the test surface.

5. A robot according to claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive display is part of a computing device comprising a processor, the processor running a first test program that communicates with a second test program being run by the control unit.

6. A robot according to claim 1, further comprising a first arm that translates the first robotic unit and a second arm that translates the second robotic unit.

7. A robot according to claim 6, wherein the first arm comprises a first servo that rotates the first robotic unit through the two dimensions thereby causing a finger unit in the first plurality that is contacting the touch-sensitive display to trace a curved path on the touch-sensitive display.

8. A robot according to claim 1, wherein each of the finger units comprises a pressure sensor, and each pressure sensor measures an amount of pressure by its finger unit pushing against the touch-sensitive display, whereby pressure of each finger unit is individually measured.

9. A robot according to claim 1, wherein one of the finger units of the first robotic unit is fixed to the first robotic unit and does not translate relative to the robotic unit, and one or more of the other finger units in the first plurality translate only in the two dimensions relative to the fixed one of the finger units.

10. A robot comprising:

a translation unit that translates a hand unit in directions parallel to a reference plane; and

the hand unit comprising a first finger unit and a second finger unit, where the first finger unit and the second finger unit translate in directions parallel to the reference plane according to the translation of the hand unit in the reference plane, and wherein each finger unit individually translates substantially perpendicular to the reference plane.

11. A robot according to claim 10, wherein the individual translation of the finger units substantially perpendicular to the reference plane allows one finger unit to contact a touch sensitive surface being tested by the robot while the other finger unit is not contacting the touch sensitive surface.

12. A robot according to claim 10, wherein the hand unit is rotatably attached to the translation unit such that the hand unit rotates in a plane parallel to the reference plane, and when the hand unit rotates the finger units translate in curved paths that are parallel to the reference plane.

13. A robot according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the finger units translates relative to the hand unit in a direction parallel to the reference plane such that at least two of the finger units translate relative to each other in the direction parallel to the reference plane.

14. A robot according to claim 10, wherein the hand unit has exactly five finger units, each individually translatable substantially perpendicular to the plane.

15. A robot according to claim 14, wherein one of the five finger units does not individually translate relative to the hand unit in directions parallel to the reference plane, and wherein another finger unit individually translates in directions parallel to the reference plane relative to the hand unit.

16. A robot according to claim 10, further a second translation unit that translates a second hand unit in directions parallel to the reference plane;

and

the second hand unit comprising a third finger unit and a fourth finger unit, where the first finger unit and the second finger unit translate in directions parallel to the reference plane according to the translation of the second hand unit in directions parallel to the reference plane, and wherein the third and fourth finger units individually translate substantially perpendicular to the reference plane.

17. A robot to test touch-sensitive surfaces, the robot comprising:

a head unit that translates in directions parallel to a test surface, the test surface comprising a holding mechanism to hold a touch-sensitive surface;

the head unit holding exactly five finger units, wherein four of the finger units are moved by respective first servos in a direction parallel to the surface; and

the finger units each having a respective second servo, each second servo moving its corresponding finger unit perpendicular to the test surface.

18. A robot according to claim 17, wherein the first servos move the finger units parallel to the test surface by moving respective belts attached to the finger units.

19. A robot according to claim 17, wherein the second servos move the finger units perpendicular to the test surface by moving respective belts attached to the finger units.

20. A robot according to claim 17, wherein the test surface comprises a first jig holding a second jig and the second jig holds the touch-sensitive surface.