Mechanical Arm Housing Electrode for Non-Contact Distance Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mechanical equipment struggles to detect non-contact distances of approaching objects, often resulting in damage during contact and inability to sense objects not in direct contact.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an electrode with a sensing area and a connection area on the housing of mechanical equipment, which generates a capacitor with an approaching conductor and transmits electrical signals representing capacitance or changes in capacitance to a peripheral circuit, enabling non-contact distance sensing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If contact-type resistive housing is used for object detection, then the mechanical equipment can detect objects through physical contact, but the mechanical equipment cannot detect non-contact distance and may cause damage to objects during contact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistance detection capabilityVSAvoiddamage to objects during contact

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based detection system with an electrostatic field-based detection system. The housing incorporates an electrode that generates an electrostatic field to detect objects non-contactly through capacitance changes, eliminating mechanical contact and associated damage while enabling distance detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the detection parameter from mechanical contact force to electrostatic capacitance. By measuring capacitance changes between the electrode and approaching objects, the system can determine distance without physical contact, resolving the contradiction between detection capability and object safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of information

If contact-type detection method is used, then the detection structure is simple, but the mechanical equipment cannot sense objects not in direct contact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection of non-contact objectsVSAvoidhousing structure with electrode and circuit

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural protection and simultaneously acts as an electrode for electrostatic field detection. This multi-functionality enables non-contact object detection without requiring separate detection components, balancing enhanced sensing capability with acceptable structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables the mechanical equipment to sense the distance and changes in distance of approaching conductors without physical contact, enhancing safety and accuracy in object detection.

Implementation Method 1

the sensing area of the electrode and a conductor that approaches the sensing area generate a capacitor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

the electrode and a conductor that approaches the electrode generate a capacitance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic field: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentUS12123713B2Housing, housing assembly, mechanical arm, and robot of mechanical equipment

Publication Date: 2024.10.22 SHENZHEN YUEJIANG TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A sensing circuit (51), a logic circuit board, a joint control board, a main controller board and a robot (400). The sensing circuit (51) comprises a connecting terminal (514) and a detection circuit (210). The connecting terminal (514) is configured to be coupled with the electrode (120) disposed on a housing (100) of a mechanical equipment; the detection circuit (210) is coupled to the connecting terminal (514) so as to detect the distance between the electrode (120) and the external conductor or a change of the distance between the electrode (120) and the external conductor according to the capacitance between the electrode and the external conductor or a change of the capacitance between the electrode (120) and the external conductor, thereby obtaining an electrical signal representing the distance between the electrode (120) and the external conductor or a change of the distance between the electrode (120) and the external conductor.