Football-Shaped Capacitive Sensor for Spherical Hinge Rotation Angle Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for measuring the spatial revolving angle of spherical hinge joints are complex, limited to small angle ranges, and require significant installation space and cost, making them unsuitable for accurate and efficient large-scale rotation angle detection.
Innovation Solution
A device with a football-shaped structure using a driving electrode and induction electrode system, comprising regular hexagonal and pentagonal spherical electrode plates, measures rotation angles by changes in capacitance values, allowing for two-dimensional rotation angle measurement with a simple and compact setup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional contact type measurement scheme with sliding rail support mechanism and three rotary encoders is used, then measurement accuracy can be maintained, but device complexity and installation space increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical measurement system (sliding rail support mechanism and rotary encoders) with a capacitive sensing system. The football-shaped electrode structure detects rotation angles through changes in capacitance values, eliminating complex mechanical components while maintaining measurement accuracy for large-angle rotations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a football-shaped (spheroidal) electrode structure where the induction electrode is shaped like a football with pentagonal and hexagonal surfaces. This curved geometric form factor enables the electrode to detect large-angle rotations by measuring capacitance changes as the driving electrode moves across different surfaces, providing full-range measurement without mechanical constraints.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional measurement methods are used, then small angle range measurement can be achieved, but large-scale rotation angle detection becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional linear measurement to two-dimensional surface detection by using a football-shaped electrode with multiple surfaces (pentagonal and hexagonal). As the driving electrode rotates, it contacts different surfaces in sequence, enabling the system to measure large-angle rotations by detecting which surface has maximum capacitance, thus expanding the measurable angle range while maintaining precision.
3Ease of operation
If optical sensors or visual sensors are used for non-contact measurement, then measurement can be performed, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical or visual sensing systems with a simple capacitive sensing mechanism. The football-shaped electrode structure uses electrical capacitance measurements to detect rotation angles, eliminating the need for complex optical components, light sources, and image processing systems while achieving comparable or superior measurement performance.
4Measurement precision
If traditional detection methods are used, then measurement can be performed, but processing difficulty and data complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex data processing requirements with direct physical measurement. The football-shaped electrode naturally provides clear capacitance maxima that directly correspond to specific rotation angles, eliminating the need for complex algorithms, coordinate transformations, or data fusion techniques required by traditional methods.
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
The solution provides high detection accuracy, fast dynamic response, and reduced costs while enabling large-range rotation angle measurement, minimizing accumulated errors and simplifying data analysis.
Implementation Method 1
Based on the principle that the change of facing area between spherical capacitor plates leads to the change of output capacitance
Data Source
AI summary
A device and a method for measuring a rotation angle of a spherical hinge joint with a football-shaped structure are provided. The measuring device includes a driving electrode, and an induction electrode system. During measurement, the driving electrode and induction electrode system are both installed in a measured spherical hinge joint. The spherical hinge joint includes a ball socket base, and a ball head installed in the ball socket base. The driving electrode is fixed to the ball head. The induction electrode system includes multiple regular hexagonal spherical electrode plates, and one or more regular pentagonal spherical electrode plates. Five regular hexagonal spherical electrode plates are all arranged around any one regular pentagonal spherical electrode plate, respective regular hexagonal spherical electrode plates and respective regular pentagonal spherical electrode plate are assembled to form a spherical shell structure.