Monitor Bracket Collision Prevention via Angular Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for manually adjustable monitor brackets that can prevent collisions between parts of the monitor arm and/or flat panel display with parts of the mobile diagnostic device, while being adaptable to individually designed diagnostic devices in a cost-effective manner.
Innovation Solution
A manually adjustable monitor bracket with a shoulder joint rotatably mounted on an installation surface, featuring a first arm pivoted about a horizontal axis with an elbow joint and a second arm, where the pivot axes are adjustable between specific stop angles to prevent collisions by limiting movement into a collision-endangered area, using a coupling mechanism with cam disks and a rod-shaped control element to lock certain angular positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If collision prevention devices are integrated into the monitor bracket, then collision safety is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements collision prevention by pre-defining safe angular ranges for the monitor arm joints. The control device stores predetermined angular ranges that represent collision-free zones, and before allowing movement, the system checks whether the intended movement would exit these safe zones. This preliminary checking mechanism prevents collisions without requiring complex real-time sensing or active intervention during movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitor bracket system performs self-protection against collisions through its own control device that autonomously monitors joint angles and restricts movements that would lead to collision. The system uses its existing angular position sensing capability to serve its own collision prevention needs, without requiring external safety systems or additional specialized sensors.
2Reliability
If collision prevention devices are integrated into the monitor bracket, then collision safety is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device serves multiple functions: it controls the electrically controllable joints for normal monitor positioning, manages the parallelogram support mechanism, and simultaneously performs collision prevention by monitoring angular positions against predetermined safe zones. By making the control device multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated collision prevention hardware, thereby controlling manufacturing costs while ensuring safety.
3Ease of operation
If the monitor bracket allows full adjustment range, then ergonomics are improved, but collision risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores angular ranges that represent the intersection of ergonomic requirements and collision-free zones. The control device allows full ergonomic adjustment within these predetermined safe angular ranges, and only restricts movements that would exit these pre-defined boundaries. This approach maintains ergonomic flexibility while preventing collisions.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple joints with adjustable pivot axes are used, then adjustment flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical collision prevention mechanisms (such as physical stops, mechanical linkages, or sensor-based active restraint systems) with a control-based electronic system. The control device uses software-defined angular ranges to manage collision prevention, substituting mechanical complexity with electronic control logic that is easier to implement and adjust.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a manually adjustable monitor bracket for a flat panel display of a mobile diagnostic device that includes at least two joints with mutually parallel pivot axes, the joints being connected to one another by a first arm. In order to prevent a collision of the flat panel screen attached to a hand joint on a second arm and/or of the monitor bracket with an obstacle whose position relative to the coordinate system of the mobile diagnostic device is known, in particular with a part of the diagnostic device, the monitor bracket includes a device for preventing a collision that limits the movement of the monitor bracket in such a manner that movement in a direction about the first horizontal pivot axis or in a direction about the second horizontal pivot axis is blocked if a continuation of the movement about the pivot axes would lead to the value pairs consisting of the pivot angles of the shoulder joint and of the pivot angles of the elbow joint being contained in the number of the value pairs of the pivot angles of the collision-endangered area.