Assist device

• US 8,585,775 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2008
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Mayumi, Izumi, Konami, Hirota, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Isabella, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoffman, Marcia
• Application Number:
  US12/068,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20080211302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,113 Days
• Field of Search: 623/24, 623/25, 623/57, 700/258
• US Class Current: 623/25
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/54 Artificial arms or hands or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/72 Bioelectric control, e.g. myoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/704 computer-controlled, e.g. robotic control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/705 Electromagnetic data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/707 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7625 for measuring angular position
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7635 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/764 for measuring acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7665 for measuring temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/768 for measuring battery status
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/02 Hand grip control means handles or pedals for crane control B66C13/56; for measuring the force applied to control members G01L5/22; hand-held casings for switching devices, e.g. joy-sticks H01H9/0214
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1214 comprising a plurality of TFTs formed on a non-semiconducting substrate, e.g. driving circuits for AMLCDs
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1255 integrated with passive devices, e.g. auxiliary capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1266 the substrate on which the devices are formed not being the final device substrate, e.g. using a temporary substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/13 combined with thin-film or thick-film passive components

Abstract

The present invention provides a higher-performance assist device which is safer by using a wireless charging technique. The assist device includes a detecting portion and an assist device driving portion. The detecting portion includes a sensor, a first transmitting/receiving circuit, a first data processing circuit, a first charging circuit, and a first battery. The assist device driving portion includes a driving portion, a second data processing circuit, a second transmitting/receiving circuit, a second charging circuit, and a second battery. Electromagnetic waves are transmitted from the second transmitting/receiving circuit provided in the assist device driving portion, and the first transmitting/receiving circuit provided in the detecting portion receives the electromagnetic waves. Induced electromotive force generated at this time is input to the first charging circuit through the first data processing circuit provided in the detecting portion, and the first battery provided in the detecting portion is charged.

Claims

1. An assist device comprising a detecting portion and a first driving portion which is an assist device driving portion,

wherein the detecting portion comprises:

a first data processing circuit;

a sensor connected to the first data processing circuit;

a first transmitting and receiving circuit connected to the first data processing circuit;

a first charging circuit connected to the first transmitting and receiving circuit;

a first battery connected to the first charging circuit with an anisotropic conductive paste; and

a first antenna connected to the first transmitting and receiving circuit,

wherein the assist device driving portion comprises;

a second data processing circuit;

a second driving portion connected to the second data processing circuit;

a second transmitting and receiving circuit connected to the second data processing circuit;

a second battery connected to the second data processing circuit;

a second charging circuit connected to the second battery; and

a second antenna connected to the second transmitting and receiving circuit,

wherein each of the first data processing circuit, the first transmitting and receiving circuit, and the first charging circuit comprises a thin film transistor,

wherein the first antenna is provided between the first battery and the thin film transistors included in each of the first data processing circuit, the first transmitting and receiving circuit, and the first charging circuit,

wherein the first data processing circuit, the first transmitting and receiving circuit, the first charging circuit, and the first battery are surrounded with a first housing and a second housing,

wherein each of the first housing and the second housing is protected with a protective layer,

wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are configured to transmit an electromagnetic wave therebetween,

wherein the second driving portion comprises a movable skeleton, a fixed skeleton, and a driving unit,

wherein the movable skeleton and the fixed skeleton are combined with a joint mechanism, and

wherein the driving unit is provided in the fixed skeleton.

2. An assist device according to claim 1,

wherein the assist device driving portion is an artificial limb driving portion.

3. An assist device according to claim 1,

wherein the first antenna is provided over the first transmitting and receiving circuit.

4. An assist device according to claim 1,

wherein the assist device is water-resistant.

5. An assist device according to claim 1,

wherein the first antenna, the first charging circuit, and the first transmitting and receiving circuit are formed over a substrate.

6. An assist device according to claim 1,

wherein the first antenna is a dipole antenna.

7. An assist device according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor comprises a myoelectric potential electrode and a reference electrode, and

wherein the myoelectric potential electrode and the reference electrode are provided so as to protrude outside of the first housing and the second housing.

8. An assist device according to claim 1,

wherein the first antenna is a patch antenna.

9. An assist device according to claim 1, wherein the second battery is charged from one of an external power supply and an AC current, and

wherein the AC current is generated in the second transmitting and receiving circuit by receiving electromagnetic waves at the second antenna.

10. An assist device comprising a detecting portion and a first driving portion which is an assist device driving portion,

wherein the detecting portion comprises:

a first central arithmetic processing circuit;

an A/D converter circuit connected to the first central arithmetic processing circuit;

an amplifier circuit connected to the ND converter circuit;

a first sensor connected to the amplifier circuit;

a first transmitting and receiving circuit connected to the first central arithmetic processing circuit;

a first charging circuit connected to the first transmitting and receiving circuit;

a first battery connected to the first charging circuit with an anisotropic conductive paste; and

a first antenna connected to the first transmitting and receiving circuit,

wherein the assist device driving portion comprises;

a second central arithmetic processing circuit;

a drive control circuit connected to the second central arithmetic processing circuit;

a second battery connected to the second central arithmetic processing circuit;

a second driving portion connected to the second battery and the drive control circuit;

a second sensor connected to the second central arithmetic processing circuit;

a second charging circuit connected to the second battery;

a second transmitting and receiving circuit connected to the second central arithmetic processing circuit and the second battery and the second charging circuit; and

a second antenna connected to the second transmitting and receiving circuit,

wherein each of the first central arithmetic processing circuit, the A/D converter circuit, the amplifier circuit, the first transmitting and receiving circuit, and the first charging circuit comprises a thin film transistor,

wherein the first antenna is provided between the first battery and the thin film transistors included in each of the first central arithmetic processing circuit, the A/D converter circuit, the amplifier circuit, the first transmitting and receiving circuit, and the first charging circuit,

wherein the first central arithmetic processing circuit, the ND converter circuit, the amplifier circuit, the first transmitting and receiving circuit, the first charging circuit, and the first battery are surrounded with a first housing and a second housing,

wherein each of the first housing and the second housing is protected with a protective layer,

wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are configured to transmit an electromagnetic wave therebetween,

wherein the second driving portion comprises a movable skeleton, a fixed skeleton, and a driving unit,

wherein the movable skeleton and the fixed skeleton are combined with a joint mechanism, and

wherein the driving unit is provided in the fixed skeleton.

11. An assist device according to claim 10,

wherein the first battery supplies power to an inside of the detecting portion, and

wherein the second battery supplies power to an inside of the assist device driving portion.

12. An assist device according to claim 10,

wherein the assist device driving portion is an artificial limb driving portion.

13. An assist device according to claim 10, wherein the second battery is charged from an external power supply through the second charging circuit.

14. An assist device according to claim 10, wherein the first battery is charged from electromagnetic waves received by the first transmitting and receiving circuit through the first charging circuit.

15. An assist device according to claim 10,

wherein the first antenna is provided over the first transmitting and receiving circuit.

16. An assist device according to claim 10,

wherein the assist device is water-resistant.

17. An assist device according to claim 10,

wherein the first antenna, the first charging circuit, and the first transmitting and receiving circuit are formed over a substrate.

18. An assist device according to claim 10,

wherein the first antenna is a dipole antenna.

19. An assist device according to claim 10,

wherein the first sensor comprises a myoelectric potential electrode and a reference electrode, and

wherein the myoelectric potential electrode and the reference electrode are provided so as to protrude outside of the first housing and the second housing.

20. An assist device according to claim 10,

wherein the first antenna is a patch antenna.

21. An assist device according to claim 10, wherein the second battery is charged from one of an external power supply and an AC current, and

wherein the AC current is generated in the second transmitting and receiving circuit by receiving electromagnetic waves at the second antenna.