Joint locking mechanism

• US 9,541,125 B1
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Satoh, Juli A., Coley, Christopher D., Poulad, Navid, Cederlof, Colter E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Binda, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amiri, Nahid
• Application Number:
  US13/689,401
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 256/25, 256/26, 403/84, 403/92, 36167901-6793
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/10 Arrangements for locking
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/106 for ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32262 At selected angle

Abstract

Projection and camera systems may employ a joint locking mechanism that may enable a user to reposition or move structures (arms, lenses, etc.) that are otherwise locked in position. The joint locking mechanism may include a touch-activated presence detector to sense a presence of an extremity of a user. In response to the presence detector sensing the presence, an actuator may unlock a joint or structure to enable movement of the joint or structure while the presence detector continues to sense the presence. In response to a detection of an absence of the extremity, the actuator may return to a locked state to prevent further movement of the joint or structure.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first structure;

a second structure;

a joint coupling the first structure to the second structure and facilitating movement of the second structure relative to the first structure;

an actuator configured to transition between a first position that restricts the movement of the second structure relative to the first structure and a second position that allows the movement of the second structure relative to the first structure;

a touch sensor, located on at least one of the first or second structure and in communication with the actuator, the touch sensor, in response to receiving a touch input, to send a signal to the actuator to cause the actuator to transition between the first position and the second position, the touch sensor further translating a force of the touch input to cause the movement of the second structure from a first location relative to the first structure to a second location relative to the first structure, wherein detection by the touch sensor of an absence of the touch input causes the actuator to return to the first position and restrict the second structure at the second location relative to the first structure; and

a power source to provide electrical power to at least one of the touch sensor or the actuator.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is a resistive touch sensor.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is a capacitance sensor capable of detecting a change in a capacitance of a capacitor.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the joint is at least one of an elbow joint, a ball and socket joint, or a linear traversing joint.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the actuator is at least one of a motor, a linear actuator, a piezoelectric actuator, or a pneumatic actuator.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a first structure;

a second structure;

a joint that facilitates movement of the second structure from a first location relative to the first structure to a second location relative to the first structure;

an actuator configured to transition between at least a first state that restricts movement of the second structure relative to the first structure and a second state that allows movement of the second structure relative to the first structure; and

a sensor to;

detect presence of an extremity of a person, and in response to detecting the presence, transmit a signal to the actuator to cause the actuator to transition from the first state to the second state to free the joint to facilitate the movement between the first structure and the second structure; and

detect absence of the extremity of the person and cause the actuator to return to the first state and restrict the joint to maintain the second structure at the second location relative to the first structure.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the sensor is a presence detector located on at least one of the first or second structure.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the actuator restricts movement of the second structure relative to the first structure by causing friction between the actuator and at least one of the joint, the first structure or the second structure.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the sensor is configured to determine at least one of a force of a touch caused by the extremity of the person against a surface or a distance of the extremity from the surface, and wherein an amount of friction applied by the actuator is based at least in part on the at least one of the force of the touch caused by the extremity of the person against the surface or the distance of the extremity of the person from the surface.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the joint is a first joint and the actuator is a first actuator, and further comprising a second joint and a second actuator, wherein the sensor is configured to transmit a signal to the second actuator to cause the second actuator to transition from the first state to the second state.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein sensor is at least one of an electric field sensor, a resistive touch sensor, a capacitance sensor, or an optical sensor.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the actuator is one or more of a solenoid or a motor.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, further comprising one or more processors in communication with the sensor and the actuator, and wherein transmitting the signal to the actuator comprises transmitting the signal to the one or more processors, which in turn transmit the signal to the actuator.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein at least one of the first structure or the second structure is counter balanced by a counter weight that offsets at least a portion of a weight of the first structure or the second structure.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein at least one of the first structure or the second structure is subjected to a force by a biasing device that supports at least a portion of weigh of the first structure or the second structure.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, further comprising a motor to cause motion of at least one of the first structure or the second structure, and wherein the sensor transmits another signal to the motor to cause the motor to be disengaged or powered off in response to the sensor transmitting the signal to the actuator to cause the actuator to operate in the second state.

17. A system comprising:

a joint locking mechanism including a sensor and an actuator, the sensor to detect presence of an extremity, and in response, transmit a signal to cause the actuator to transition from a first state to a second state; and

a joint having a base and a structure, the structure restricted from transitioning or rotating while at a first location while the actuator is in the first state, the structure to at least one of transition or rotate from the first location to a second location relative to the base when the actuator is in the second state, the structure restricted from transitioning or rotating back to the first location relative to the base in response to the actuator resuming the first state.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, further comprising

one or more processors;

and

wherein the one or more processors receive the signal from the sensor, and in response transmit another signal to the actuator to cause the actuator to transition from the first state to the second state.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the sensor classifies the detected presence of the extremity as a single touch contact in response to the extremity contacting the sensor in a single location and classifies the detected presence of the extremity as a multi-touch contact in response to the extremity contacting the sensor in multiple locations simultaneously, and wherein the one or more processors transmit at least one additional signal to cause the actuator and another actuator to transition based on the detected presence of at least one of the single touch contact or the multi-touch contact.

20. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the actuator restricts movement of the structure relative to the base by causing friction between the actuator and at least one of the joint or the structure.

21. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein an amount of the friction applied by the actuator to restrain movement of the structure relative to the base is based at least in part on a force detected by the sensor when the extremity contacts the sensor.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a first structure;

a second structure moveably coupled to the first structure, the second structure to move, while coupled to the first structure, from a first location relative to the first structure to a second location relative to the first structure;

an actuator configured to transition between at least a first state that restricts movement of the second structure relative to the first structure and a second state that allows movement of the second structure relative to the first structure; and

a sensor to detect presence of an extremity of a person, and in response to detecting the presence, transmit a signal to the actuator to cause the actuator to transition from the first state to the second state to permit the movement between the first structure and the second structure, the sensor to further detect absence of the presence of the extremity of the person and causes the actuator to return to the first state and restrict the second structure at the second location relative to the first structure.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein the actuator restricts movement of the second structure relative to the first structure by causing friction between the actuator and at least one of the first structure or the second structure.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein at least one of the first structure or the second structure is subjected to a force by a biasing device that supports at least a portion of weigh of the first structure or the second structure.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein at least one of the first structure or the second structure is counter balanced by a counter weight that offsets at least a portion of a weight of the first structure or the second structure.

26. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, further comprising one or more processors in communication with the sensor and the actuator, and wherein transmitting the signal to the actuator comprises transmitting the signal to the one or more processors, which in turn transmit the signal to the actuator.