Elastic Sensor Support for Walking Assist Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing walking assist devices face challenges in accurately measuring the posture and gait cycle of users due to gaps between the device's frame and the user's body, leading to incorrect torque calculations and potential inconvenience or danger.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device with a slider and rotator mechanism is attached to the user's body using an elastic support, allowing the sensor to move translationally and rotationally, ensuring close attachment and accurate data collection, while a processor calculates the gait cycle and adjusts torque based on sensed data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the sensor device is rigidly fixed to the user's body, then the structural stability is improved, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to gaps between the device frame and user's body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the rigid fixed structure with a dynamic elastic support system. The elastic support allows the sensor device to flexibly adapt to the user's body movements while maintaining contact, enabling both structural stability and accurate posture measurement through elastic deformation rather than rigid connection.
2Measurement precision
If the sensor device uses an elastic support to attach to the user's body, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components like slider and rotator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the attachment mechanism into distinct functional modules: elastic support for contact, slider for translational adjustment, and rotator for rotational adjustment. This modular segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function, improving measurement precision while making the overall complex system more manageable and maintainable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by designing the elastic support structure to simultaneously provide multiple functions: maintaining contact with the user's body, enabling translational movement through the slider, and enabling rotational movement through the rotator. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing device complexity while achieving precise gait cycle measurement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the sensor device allows translational and rotational movement, then the adaptability to user's body is improved, but the reliability of data collection deteriorates due to potential loose attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using the sensor to detect the user's posture and gait cycle information, which is then processed to provide appropriate assistance forces. This closed-loop feedback system ensures that the movable attachment mechanism maintains reliable data collection by continuously adjusting to the user's actual movements, thereby improving both adaptability and reliability simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables precise measurement of user posture and gait, providing appropriate assistance forces to improve walking comfort and safety by accurately calculating and adjusting torque in real-time.
Implementation Method 1
a support configured to provide an elastic force to the sensor to attach the sensor to the body of the user
Data Source
AI summary
Sensor devices closely attached to a body of a user, and walking assist devices such sensor devices may be provided. For example, a sensor device including a sensor configured to sense physical information of the user, and a support configured to provide an elastic force to the sensor such that the sensor closely attached to the body regardless pf a movement of the user, and enable the sensor to sense the physical information of the user with relative accuracy may be provided.