Planetary Motor Tactile Display Pin Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional 3D display systems are bulky, require high processing power, consume excessive energy, and produce low-resolution outputs due to large actuators, limiting their portability and effectiveness in rendering physical 3D content.
Innovation Solution
A tactile display system utilizing an array of controlled pins actuated by planetary motors and linear actuators, driven by microcontrollers, which transforms CAD images into physical 3D models with high resolution and efficient power usage, allowing for dynamic and accurate rendering of 3D content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional actuators are used to actuate pins in a tactile display, then the display can render 3D content, but the actuators consume excessive power and generate heat requiring cooling systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional high-power mechanical actuators with planetary motors that utilize gear mechanisms to achieve high torque output with minimal power consumption. The planetary gear system allows the motor to operate at lower power levels while still providing sufficient actuation force for the pins, thereby eliminating the need for cooling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the actuation system by using planetary motors with optimized gear ratios. This allows the system to achieve the required pin actuation force with significantly reduced power consumption compared to conventional actuators, directly addressing the energy efficiency problem.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional actuators with larger width are used, then sufficient actuation force is achieved, but the display resolution is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using small-width planetary motors positioned precisely at each pin location. The planetary gear mechanism concentrates the actuation force exactly where needed (at the pin base), allowing the use of compact motors without sacrificing actuation effectiveness. This enables higher display resolution since each actuator occupies minimal space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the actuation system into individual planetary motors for each pin, rather than using fewer larger actuators. This segmentation allows each motor to be compact while collectively providing full-resolution actuation across the display surface, resolving the contradiction between actuator size and display resolution.
3Volume of moving object
If conventional 3D display systems are used, then 3D content can be rendered, but the systems are bulky and require heavy processing power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the bulky components from conventional 3D display systems by replacing them with compact planetary motor actuators. The planetary gear mechanism provides the necessary mechanical advantage in a compact form factor, removing the need for large housing and heavy processing infrastructure while maintaining 3D rendering capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control through microcontrollers that manage the planetary motors' operation. The system dynamically adjusts motor activation and pin positioning based on the 3D content being displayed, optimizing processing efficiency and reducing the computational burden compared to static conventional systems.
4Manufacturing precision
If high-resolution output is desired, then smaller actuators are needed, but conventional small actuators lack sufficient actuation force
Solution Approach 1:
The planetary gear mechanism performs preliminary mechanical amplification of the motor's output torque before applying force to the pin. The gear reduction stages pre-multiply the force, allowing a small motor to generate sufficient actuation force at the pin tip, thus enabling high-resolution output without sacrificing actuation capability.
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 system provides a portable, high-resolution, and energy-efficient means to render 3D content physically, enabling precise and dynamic visualization of digital data, enhancing usability for urban planners and designers by allowing tactile interaction with 3D models.
Implementation Method 1
respective linear actuators configured to drive a respective motor shaft connected to a respective lead screw
Implementation Method 2
A tactile display system utilizing an array of controlled pins actuated by planetary motors and linear actuators
Data Source
AI summary
A method and structure for for displaying an optimal tactile display, comprising transforming a CAD image into physical dimensions and creating an optimal tactile display reflective of the physical dimensions utilizing instructions from one or more microcontrollers. The optimal tactile display comprises an array display surface comprising a collection of controlled pins, a quantity of controlled pins propositional to a size of the physical dimensions, wherein each pin assembly of the controlled pins configured to be extended pins based upon the size of the physical dimensions, a plurality of planetary motors, each of the planetary motors associated with the controlled pins and configured to move the plurality of pins, a control unit to monitor the extension of the plurality of pins, and respective linear actuators configured to drive a respective motor shaft connected to a respective lead screw, each respective lead screw placed inside of each of respective threaded circular cross-section stoke tube.