6531 results about "Torque sensor" patented technology

Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to determining by what degree a driver is gripping a steering wheel. In one example, a computer may send an electrically assisted power steering system (EPS) motor an excitation command to move. The EPS motor may respond by moving a flexible coupling between the steering wheel and the EPS motor. This may cause a corresponding movement at the steering wheel. A torque sensor may generate pattern data by monitoring the flexible coupling during the movement. The EPS motor may generate system position data for the entire steering system, for example, from the tires to the steering wheel. The pattern data and the system position data may be compared by the computer to determine the degree of grip. In this regard, the computer may determine the degree of a driver's grip without the need for additional sensors.

A method of force estimation for a minimally invasive medical system comprising a robot manipulator (10). The manipulator has an effector unit (12) equipped with a 6-degrees-of-freedom (DOF) force/torque sensor and is configured to hold a minimally invasive instrument (14) having a first end (16) mounted to the effector unit and a second end (20) located beyond an external fulcrum (23) that limits the instrument in motion, usually to 4 DOF. The method comprising the steps: —determining a position of the instrument relative to the fulcrum; —measuring by means of the 6-DOF force/torque sensor a force and a torque exerted onto the effector unit by the first end of the instrument; and —calculating by means of the principle of superposition an estimate of a force exerted onto the second end of the instrument based on the determined position, the measured force and the measured torque.

Cordless power tools include a pistol housing having an upper portion that merges into a downwardly extending handle, a DC motor residing in the upper portion of the housing, the DC motor having a rotor that drives an output shaft; a torque transducer on board the tool in communication with the output shaft; and a dynamic motor control circuit residing in the housing in communication with the motor and torque transducer. The dynamic motor control circuit includes a Kelvin resistor in communication with the motor for measuring motor current and digital hall switches in communication with the motor for measuring motor speed. The motor current can vary by at least 100 A during operation.

A mobile robot contains a movable robot body, arms provided on the movable robot body, each of the arms having a multiple joint structure including plural joints, an actuator for actuating each of the joints and shaft torque sensors incorporated in each of the joints to detect a torque from the actuator at an output shaft of each of the joints, and a controller provided in the robot body to determine whether each of the arms is in contact with or in collision with a peripheral obstacle or obstacles based on change of an output from the shaft torque sensors and control an operation of each of actuators of each arm.

A surgical simulation device includes a support structure and animal tissue carried in a tray. A simulated human skeleton is carried by the support structure above the animal tissue and includes simulated human skin. A camera images the animal tissue and an image processor receives images of markers positioned on the ribs and animal tissue and forms a three-dimensional wireframe image. An operating table is adjacent a local robotic surgery station as part of a robotic surgery station and includes at least one patient support configured to support the patient during robotic surgery. At least one patient force/torque sensor is coupled to the at least one patient support and configured to sense at least one of force and torque experienced by the patient during robotic surgery.

A motor unit comprises a housing for containing a motor, a motor shaft for receiving a motor provided driving force, a torque sensor mechanism for detecting torque, and a controller for controlling power to the motor in response to a detected amount of torque. An actuator couples the torque sensor to a sensor of the controller. The actuator is configured to move relative to the controller sensor thereby causing the sensor to produce a signal indicative of the detected level of torque. The controller is contained within the housing of the motor. The motor unit may also have an auxiliary shaft for receiving an externally provided driving force with a first torque transmission path for transferring the externally provided driving force to a drive mechanism and a second torque transmission path for transferring the motor provided driving force to said drive mechanism. A first one way drive means is provided in the first torque transmission path between the auxiliary shaft and the drive mechanism such that when the drive mechanism is being driven by the motor provided driving force through the second torque transmission path, the auxiliary shaft is able to freewheel. The motor unit can drive any apparatus, but may be used in a pedal driven apparatus such as a bicycle where an externally provided driving force is provided by manually operable pedals of said apparatus which are fixed for rotation with the auxiliary shaft. In this case, the auxiliary shaft comprises a pedal spindle of the bicycle and the drive mechanism comprises a sprocket or belt drive.

An electric power steering system for an automotive vehicle, includes a torque sensor disposed to a steering shaft to detect a steering torque. A first pinion is disposed to the steering shaft. A rack shaft is in mesh with the first pinion and connected with the steering shaft to change a rotational motion of the steering shaft to an axial motion of the rack shaft and provided to be operated in relation to the steering shaft. A first motor is connected with the first pinion to generate a steering assist torque in accordance with the steering torque detected by the torque sensor. A second pinion is disposed to be separate from the first pinion and in mesh with the rack shaft. A second motor is connected with the second pinion to generate a steering assist torque in accordance with the steering torque.

A modular rotational electric actuator includes an output housing and internal drive components that include integrated control electronics, a torque sensor, and a portion of a joint assembly. The joint assembly includes a joint connector coupled to the internal drive components, including integrated control electronics, e.g., by a resilient member. The resilient member elastically couples the joint connector to a portion of the output housing, the joint connector including a portion that extends outward therefrom.

A generic technique for the detection of air-fuel ratio (or torque) imbalances in a 4-cylinder engine equipped with either a production oxygen sensor or a wide-range A/F sensor (or a crankshaft torque sensor) is developed. The method is based on a novel frequency-domain characterization of pattern of imbalances and its geometric decomposition into four basic templates. Once the contribution of each basic template to the overall imbalances is computed, templates of opposite direction are imposed to restore air-fuel ratio (or torque) balance among cylinders. At any desired operating condition, elimination of imbalances is achieved within few engine cycles. The method is applicable to current and future engine technologies with variable valve actuation, fuel injectors and/or individual spark control.

A multi-force sensing instrument includes a tool that has a tool shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, a strain sensor arranged at a first position along the tool shaft, at least one of a second strain sensor or a torque-force sensor arranged at a second position along the tool shaft, the second position being more towards the proximal end of the tool shaft than the first position, and a signal processor configured to communicate with the strain sensor and the at least one of the second strain sensor or the torque-force sensor to receive detection signals therefrom. The signal processor is configured to process the signals to determine a magnitude and position of a lateral component of a force applied to the tool shaft when the position of the applied force is between the first and second positions.

The invention provides a five-freedom exoskeleton type robot for healing upper limbs, which comprises a mounting deck used for mounting the robot. The mounting deck is provided with a lead rail, an erector is arranged on the lead rail and is provided with a height adjustment mechanism, a rotatable mounting arm is arranged on the erector by a rotatable axis. A healing mechanical arm body composed of a shoulder width, an upper arm, a forearm and a hand lever is installed on the rotatable mounting arm. Five freedom joints and five drive motors are respectively arranged on the rotatable axis of each joint; four torque sensors which are connected with the drive motors in a cascading way are respectively arranged on the parts of shoulder, elbow and wrist, wherein, the shoulder parts are provided with two torque sensors, the elbow part is provided with one torque sensor and the push-up part of the wrist part is provided with one torque sensor. The torque sensors that are taken as transfer devices and detecting devices are connected with a motor reducer and an executing mechanism. The robot provides single joint movement of each joint and three-dimension multi-joint compound movement for suffers as well as provides simple and basic movement training of daily life.

A constant detecting apparatus 15 comprising a detecting unit 26 and a calculating unit 27. The detecting unit 26 is structured comprising a rotation sensor 41, a torque sensor 42, a position sensor 43, a rotor temperature sensor 44, a winding temperature sensor 45, a phase voltage detector 46, and phase current detectors 47 and 47. The calculating unit 27 calculates the induced voltage constant Ke that changes depending on the motor temperature Tmag while the motor 11 is being driven based on each of the detected signals from the detecting unit 26, and at the same time, the d axis current Id and the q axis current Iq are calculated after elimination of the iron loss, and the d axis inductance Ld and the q axis inductance Lq in the actual operating state of the motor 11 are calculated.

The invention discloses an exoskeleton type upper limb rehabilitation training robot, which includes a base, two mechanical arm assemblies and six motor drive assemblies; the base includes a mobile base, an electrical box, an electric lifting column, a base platform, Motor mounting angle bracket, base rotating motor, coupling, base main bearing seat, base ball screw nut assembly, base nut seat, base common sub-bearing seat, right bracket, base linear guide assembly and left Bracket; the mechanical arm assembly includes a mechanical shoulder belt assembly, a mechanical shoulder joint assembly, a mechanical elbow joint assembly, a mechanical forearm assembly, a mechanical wrist joint assembly, and a mechanical hand assembly; the motor drive assembly includes a motor and a deceleration assembly, a torque sensor assembly and The transmission assembly, the motor and deceleration assembly, the torque sensor assembly and the transmission assembly are all mounted on the same motor-driven base frame. The invention can be worn on the upper limbs of the human body, and can be used to assist the upper limbs of the human body to move in three-dimensional space and carry out rehabilitation training.