Robot system, robot device, and its cover

• US 6,505,098 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2001
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hoshino, Hironari, Hirono, Yu, Fujita, Masahiro, Sakamoto, Takayuki, Ohguchi, Nobuhiko, Takamura, Seiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel, Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US09/869,256
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 700/215, 700/245, 700/247, 700/249, 700/258, 700/248, 446/175, 427/239, 427/284, 427/287, 200/86.R, 704/201, 235/375, 297/11, 297/83, 297/84
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 11/00 Self-movable toy figures
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/52 Dolls' houses, furniture or other equipment simulating liquid flow A63H33/3022; Dolls' clothing or footwear
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53048 Multiple station assembly or disassembly apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53365 Multiple station assembly apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5337 including assembly pallet

Abstract

Firstly, a authenticating pattern is disposed on a cover and an authenticating device is disposed in a robot apparatus for authenticating the cover on the basis of the authenticating pattern of the fitted cover. Secondary, an information holding device for holding inherent information is disposed in the cover and a reading device for reading out the inherent information from the information holding device is disposed in the robot apparatus. Thirdly, a function of detecting an amount of influence due to the cover and changing manifesting patterns of motions as occasion demands on the basis of the detection result is disposed in the robot apparatus.

Claims

1. A robot system, comprising:

a robot apparatus; and

a cover to be detachably fitted over said robot apparatus, and wherein;

a predetermined authenticating pattern is disposed on said cover; and

authenticating means is disposed on said robot apparatus for authenticating said cover on the basis of said authenticating pattern on said cover fitted.

2. The robot system according to claim 1, wherein:

said authenticating pattern is a first concavo-convex pattern having a predetermined form; and

said authenticating means is a second concavo-convex pattern having a predetermined form which fits said first concavo-convex pattern in a predetermined condition only when said first concavo-convex pattern is a regular pattern.

3. The robot system according to claim 2, wherein

said first concavo-convex pattern has a concavo-convex form of a registered design.

4. The robot system according to claim 1, wherein:

said authenticating pattern is a concavo-convex pattern having a predetermined form; and

said authenticating means electrically detects a concavo-convex form of said concavo-convex pattern on said cover and authenticates said cover on the basis of the detection result.

5. A robot apparatus comprising:

authenticating means for authenticating a fitted cover on the basis of a predetermined authenticating pattern disposed on said cover which is detachably fitted.

6. The robot apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

said authenticating pattern is a first concavo-convex pattern having a predetermined form; and

said authenticating means is a second concavo-convex pattern having a predetermined form which fits said first concavo-convex pattern in a predetermined condition only when said first concavo-convex pattern is a regular pattern.

7. The robot apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

said first concavo-convex pattern has a concavo-convex form of a registered design.

8. The robot apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

said authenticating pattern is a concavo-convex pattern having a predetermined form; and

said authenticating means electrically detects a concavo-convex form of said concavo-convex pattern on said cover and authenticates said cover on the basis of the detection result.

9. A cover for a robot apparatus, comprising:

a predetermined authenticating pattern, and wherein

said cover is detachably fitted over a robot apparatus with authenticating means for authentication on the basis of said authenticating pattern.

10. The cover for a robot apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

said authenticating pattern is a concavo-convex pattern having a predetermined form.

11. The cover for a robot apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

said concavo-convex pattern has a concavo-convex form of a registered design.

12. A robot system, comprising:

a robot apparatus which manifests predetermined motions;

a cover which is detachably fitted over said robot apparatus;

information holding means which is disposed in said cover for holding inherent information corresponding to said cover;

information detecting means disposed in said robot apparatus for detecting said inherent information held by said information holding means of the cover when said cover is fitted over said robot apparatus; and

control means for changing manifesting patterns of said motions as occasion demands on the basis of said inherent information detected.

13. The robot system according to claim 12, wherein:

said information holding means is a memory for recording said inherent information as data; and

said robot apparatus has data reading means for reading said data from said memory.

14. A cover detachably fitted over a robot apparatus manifesting predetermined motions, comprising:

information holding means for holding inherent information corresponding to said cover, and wherein

said robot apparatus changes manifesting patterns of said motions as occasion demands on the basis of said inherent information held by said information holding means when the cover is fitted over said robot apparatus.

15. The cover according to claim 14, wherein:

said information holding means is a memory which stores said inherent information as data; and

said robot apparatus reads out said data from said memory.

16. A robot apparatus manifesting predetermined motions, comprising:

information detecting means for detecting inherent information corresponding to a cover from said cover when said cover is detachably fitted; and

control means for changing manifesting patterns of said motions as occasion demands on the basis of said inherent information detected.

17. The robot apparatus according to claim 16, comprising

a memory for storing said inherent information as data, and wherein

said robot apparatus has data reading means for reading out said data from said memory.

18. A robot system, comprising:

a robot apparatus which has movable members and manifests predetermined motions by driving said movable members;

a cover which is to be detachably fitted over said robot apparatus; and

control means which is disposed in said robot apparatus for drivingly controlling said movable members, and wherein

said control means detects an amount of influence on said motions due to said cover by driving said movable members and changes manifesting patterns of said motions as occasion demands on the basis of detection results when said cover is fitted over said robot apparatus.

19. The robot system according to claim 18, wherein

said control means determines the amount of influences on the motions of said movable members due to said cover, as a control error to motions before said cover is fitted, and then corrects said control error.

20. A robot apparatus comprising:

movable members and manifesting predetermined motions by driving said movable members, comprising

control means for detecting an amount of influence on said motions due to a cover by driving said movable members and changes manifesting patterns of said motions as occasion demands on the basis of the detection result when said cover is detachably fitted.

21. The robot apparatus according to claim 20 wherein

said control means calculates the amount of influence on the motions of said movable members due to said cover, as a control error to motions before said cover is fitted, and then corrects said control error.