Electronically adjustable joint, and associated systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016372008-A1
Application number	US-201615189968-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 22, 2016
Priority date	Jun 22, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed is an electronically adjustable joint, and associated systems and methods. A joint position of a multiple-axis joint, e.g., a 3-axis joint, can be tracked, as the joint moves through two or more dimensions. In an illustrative embodiment, the joint can provide a mechanical equivalent of a physical joint, e.g., a shoulder, elbow, hip, or knee, which can accommodate motion in rotational angle and/or tilt angle. In some embodiments, the joint includes electronically adjustable friction. An illustrative application provide electronically adjustable joints for an aging simulation suit, wherein one or more joints can be controllably stiffened in selective ranges, such that a wearer of the suit can experience the effects of aging, arthritis and/or other ailments. In an illustrative embodiment, a sensor can use four discrete 2-axis magnetometers to calculate the position of the magnet on the arm of the joint, to continuously sense and track the angle of the joint. In some embodiments, the system includes a mechanism, e.g., a servo, which can controllably tighten a socket around a ball joint, wherein the system can controllably adjust friction on the joint.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An aging simulation suit, comprising:
a plurality of electronically adjustable joints that are each configured for rotational movement in two or more dimensions; a mechanical structure for connection to a user, wherein the mechanical structure includes a plurality of members that extend from the electronically adjustable joints; and a mechanism for electronically adjusting friction in one or more of the electronically adjustable joints.

2 . The aging simulation suit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mechanism for tracking the rotational movement of each of the plurality of electronically adjustable joints.

3 . The aging simulation suit of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of electronically adjustable joints include a socket assembly having a socket defined therein, and a ball assembly that is confined in the socket.

4 . The aging simulation suit of claim 3 , further comprising:
a mechanism for tracking the rotational movement of the ball within a corresponding socket.

5 . The aging simulation suit of claim 4 , wherein the mechanism for tracking the rotational movement includes a magnet in a fixed relation to the ball, and a sensor assembly in fixed relation to the socket, such rotational movement of the ball is determined based on movement of the magnet in relation to the sensor assembly.

6 . The aging simulation suit of claim 4 , wherein the mechanism for electronically adjusting friction comprises an electronically driven servo linked to a jack screw assembly for tightening the socket assembly with respect to the ball assembly.

7 . The aging simulation suit of claim 4 , wherein the socket assembly includes any of a brake pad or frictional material in contact with the ball.

8 . The aging simulation suit of claim 4 , wherein the friction is adjustable to approximate any of aging, arthritis, or another ailment.

9 . The aging simulation suit of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism for electronically adjusting the friction can controllably increase or decrease the friction in selective ranges.

10 . The aging simulation suit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mechanism for controllably adjusting one or more ranges of motion for a selected joint.

11 . The aging simulation suit of claim 10 , wherein movement of the selected joint is freely permitted through a certain range of motion, and stiffened or locked up through another range of motion.

12 . An electronically adjustable joint, comprising:
a first joint mechanism that includes a ball element; a second joint mechanism that includes a socket defined therein for retaining the ball element, and wherein the first joint element can move through two or more dimensions with respect to the second joint mechanism; and a mechanism configured to
receive a control signal, and
adjust friction between the first joint mechanism and the second joint mechanism in response to the received control signal.

13 . The electronically adjustable joint of claim 12 , wherein the electronically adjustable joint provides the mechanical equivalent to any of a shoulder joint, an elbow joint, a hip joint, and a knee joint.

14 . The electronically adjustable joint of claim 12 , further comprising:
a mechanism for attachment to a user, wherein the joint is aligned with a corresponding joint of the user, such that the friction can be adjusted to resist rotational movement of the corresponding joint of the user in one or more direction.

15 . The electronically adjustable joint of claim 12 , further comprising:
a mechanism for tracking the rotational movement of each of the plurality of electronically adjustable joints.

16 . The electronically adjustable joint of claim 12 , further comprising:
a mechanism for tracking the rotational movement of the ball within a corresponding socket.

17 . The electronically adjustable joint of claim 16 , wherein the mechanism for tracking the rotational movement includes a magnet in a fixed relation to the ball, and a sensor assembly in fixed relation to the socket, such rotational movement of the ball is determined based on movement of the magnet in relation to the sensor assembly.

18 . The electronically adjustable joint of claim 12 , wherein the mechanism for electronically adjusting friction comprises an electronically driven servo linked to a jack screw assembly for tightening the socket assembly with respect to the ball assembly.

19 . The electronically adjustable joint of claim 12 , wherein the socket assembly includes any of a brake pad or frictional material in contact with the ball.

20 . The electronically adjustable joint of claim 12 , wherein the friction is adjustable to approximate any of aging, arthritis, or another ailment.

21 . The electronically adjustable joint of claim 12 , wherein the mechanism for electronically adjusting the friction can controllably increase or decrease the friction in selective ranges.

22 . The electronically adjustable joint of claim 12 , further comprising:
a mechanism for controllably adjusting one or more ranges of motion for a selected joint.

23 . The electronically adjustable joint of claim 12 , wherein movement of the joint is freely permitted through a certain range of motion, and stiffened or locked up through another range of motion.

24 . A method, comprising:
attaching an electronically adjustable joint to a user, wherein the electronically adjustable joint includes
a first joint mechanism that includes a ball element;
a second joint mechanism that includes a socket defined therein for retaining the ball element, and wherein the first joint element can move through two or more dimensions with respect to the second joint mechanism; and
receiving a control signal, and locally adjusting friction between the first joint mechanism and the second joint mechanism in response to the received control signal.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the adjustable joint includes a mechanism for locally tracking the rotation of the joint in at least two dimensions, the method further comprising:
sending an output signal responsive to tracked rotational movement of the joint.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the tracked rotation includes any of rotation and tilt angle.

27 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the locally adjusting friction is configured to approximate any of aging, arthritis, or another ailment.

28 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the locally adjusting friction is controllably increased or decreased in selective ranges.

29 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising:
controllably adjusting a one or more ranges of motion for the joint.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the joint can be freely arranged through a certain motion, and stiffen or lock up the joint through another range of motion.

Assignees

• Applied Minds Llc

Inventors

• Lariviere Donald G
• Foor David
• Mcgraw Andrew
• Keesling Michael

Classifications

• G09B23/28 Primary

  for medicine · CPC title

• G09B5/00

  Electrically-operated educational appliances (working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F) · CPC title

• G06F3/014

  Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves · CPC title

• A61F5/0125

  the device articulating around a single pivot-point · CPC title

• G09B9/00

  Simulators for teaching or training purposes (for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; {protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131}) · CPC title