DETECTION DEVICE, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND ROBOT

• US 20120198945A1
• Filed: 12/14/2011
• Published: 08/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: YONEYAMA, Ryoichi
• Application Number:
  US13/325,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20120198945A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/862.042
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/083 fitted with slippage detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/04 by measuring elastic deformation of gauges, e.g. of springs
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/146 for measuring force distributions, e.g. using force arrays G01L1/148 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/205 using distributed sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/226 to manipulators, e.g. the force due to gripping
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/46 Sensing device

Abstract

A detection device includes a first substrate having a plurality of force sensors disposed around respective reference points, and a second substrate on which is formed elastic protrusions whose centers of gravity are positioned in positions that overlap with respective reference points and that elastically deform due to the force in a state in which the tips of the elastic protrusions make contact with the first substrate. The second substrate is an elastic material having a predetermined elasticity.

Claims

1. A detection device that detects the direction and magnitude of a force, the apparatus comprising:

a first substrate that includes a plurality of force sensors disposed around a reference point; and

a second substrate on which is formed an elastic protrusion whose center of gravity is positioned in a position that overlaps with the reference point and that elastically deforms due to the force in a state in which the tip of the elastic protrusion makes contact with the first substrate,

wherein the second substrate is an elastic material having a predetermined elasticity.

2. The detection device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an elastic sheet provided between the elastic protrusion and the first substrate,

wherein the tip of the elastic protrusion makes contact with the elastic sheet.

4. The detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a support portion that anchors an outer peripheral area of the second substrate in a state in which the support portion applies a tension to the second substrate.

5. The detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a calculation device that calculates differences between force values detected by force sensors combined at random from among force values detected by the plurality of force sensors as the elastic protrusion elastically deforms due to the force, and calculates the direction in which the force is applied and the magnitude of the force based on the differences.

6. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of force sensors are disposed symmetrically, with the reference point serving as the point of symmetry.

7. The detection device according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of force sensors are disposed in matrix form in two directions that are orthogonal to each other.

8. The detection device according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of force sensors are disposed in two directions that are orthogonal to each other, with at least four columns and four rows.

9. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the elastic protrusions are formed in the second substrate, and the plurality of elastic protrusions are disposed so as to be distanced from each other.

10. An electronic apparatus comprising the detection device according to claim 1.

11. An electronic apparatus comprising the detection device according to claim 2.

13. An electronic apparatus comprising the detection device according to claim 4.

14. An electronic apparatus comprising the detection device according to claim 5.

15. A robot comprising the detection device according to claim 1.

16. A robot comprising the detection device according to claim 2.

18. A robot comprising the detection device according to claim 4.

19. A robot comprising the detection device according to claim 5.

20. A robot comprising the detection device according to claim 6.

3. A detection device that detects the direction and magnitude of a force, the apparatus comprising:

a first substrate that includes a plurality of force sensors disposed around a reference point;

an elastic protrusion whose center of gravity is positioned in a position that overlaps with the reference point and that elastically deforms due to the force; and

a second substrate provided on the opposite side as the first substrate with the elastic protrusion therebetween,

wherein the elastic protrusion is formed on the first substrate so that the tip of the elastic protrusion makes contact with the second substrate; and

the second substrate is an elastic material having a predetermined elasticity.

12. An electronic apparatus comprising the detection device according to claim 3.

17. A robot comprising the detection device according to claim 3.