Force detector, robot, electronic component carrying apparatus, electronic component testing apparatus, part processing apparatus, and moving object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9651433-B2
Application number	US-201414200925-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2014
Priority date	Jun 13, 2013
Publication date	May 16, 2017
Grant date	May 16, 2017

Abstract

A force detector includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a circuit board provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, and an element mounted on the circuit board and outputting a signal in response to an external force, wherein a hole is formed in the circuit board at a location where the element is placed, and a first convex part inserted into the hole and protruding toward the element is provided on the first substrate. Further, the element is placed within a periphery of the first convex part as seen from a direction perpendicular to the first substrate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A force detector comprising:
a first substrate;
a second substrate opposite the first substrate;
a circuit board between the first substrate and the second substrate; and
an element mounted on the circuit board and outputting a signal in response to an external pressure change,
wherein a hole is formed in the circuit board at a location where the element is placed, and
a first convex part inserted into the hole and protruding toward the element is provided on the first substrate.

2. The force detector according to claim 1 , wherein the element is located within a periphery of the first convex part in a plan view.

3. The force detector according to claim 1 , wherein the element is sandwiched by the first convex part and the second substrate.

4. The force detector according to claim 3 , wherein the element is pressurized by the first convex part and the second substrate.

5. The force detector according to claim 1 , wherein a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate is flat.

6. The force detector according to claim 1 , wherein a second convex part protruding toward the element is provided on the second substrate, and
the element is located between the first convex part and the second convex part.

7. The force detector according to claim 6 , wherein the element is located within a periphery of the second convex part in a plan view.

8. The force detector according to claim 6 , wherein the element is sandwiched by the first convex part and the second convex part.

9. The force detector according to claim 1 , further comprising a first member having a concave portion provided with the element, and a second member sealing the concave portion.

10. The force detector according to claim 9 , wherein the first convex part is in contact with the first member.

11. The force detector according to claim 9 , wherein a terminal electrically connected to the element and the circuit board is provided on the first member.

12. The force detector according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of the elements,
wherein the elements are located at equal angular intervals along a periphery of the first or second substrate.

13. The force detector according to claim 1 , wherein the first substrate is spaced apart from the second substrate and the first convex part is located therebetween.

14. The force detector according to claim 1 , wherein the hole is a through hole penetrating the circuit board.

15. An apparatus comprising:
a movable member; and
a force detector operatively associated with the movable member that detects an external force applied to the movable member,
the force detector including:
a first substrate,
a second substrate opposite the first substrate,
a circuit board between the first substrate and the second substrate, and
an element mounted on the circuit board and outputting a signal in response to a pressure change from the external force,

wherein a hole is formed in the circuit board at a location where the element is placed, and
a first convex part inserted into the hole and protruding toward the element is provided on the first substrate.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein
the apparatus comprises a robot;
the movable member includes:
an arm; and
an end effector provided on the arm; and

the force detector is provided between the arm and the end effector and detects the external force applied to the end effector.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein
the apparatus comprises an electronic component carrying apparatus;
the movable member is a grasping part that grasps an electronic component; and
the force detector detects the external force applied to the grasping part.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein
the apparatus comprises an electronic component testing apparatus;
the movable part is a grasping part that grasps an electronic component;
a testing part is provided that tests the electronic component; and
the force detector detects the external force applied to the grasping part.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein
the apparatus comprises a part processing apparatus;
the movable member is a tool displacement unit attached with a tool and displacing the tool; and
the force detector detects the external force applied to the tool.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein
the apparatus comprises a moving object;
the movable member is a power unit that supplies power for movement; and
the force detector detects the external force generated by the movement.

21. A force detector comprising:
a pair of substrates supporting a circuit board in a gap therebetween;
a charge output element mounted on the circuit board and outputting a signal in response to an external pressure change imparted onto the charge output element;
a post extending from one of the substrates, passing through a hole in the circuit board, and abutting the charge output element.

22. The force detector according to claim 21 , wherein the charge output element is concentric with the post, and an entirety of the charge output element is circumscribed by the post in a plan view.

23. The force detector according to claim 21 , further comprising a second post extending from the other of the substrates, and
wherein the charge output element is located between the post and the second post.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Matsuzawa Akira
• Kawai Hiroki
• Kamiya Toshiyuki

Classifications

• B25J13/085

  Force or torque sensors (B25J13/082, B25J13/084 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01L1/16 Primary

  using properties of piezoelectric devices · CPC title

• Y10S901/46

  Sensing device · CPC title

• Y10T74/20335

  Wrist · CPC title

• G01L5/009

  Force sensors associated with material gripping devices · CPC title