Compliant multi-mode sensing systems and methods
AssigneeNitto Bend Technologies, Inc.
InventorsColton A. Ottley, Jared K. Jonas, Colin D. Eichinger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed embodiments include a multi-mode sensor including an elastomeric strand having a first multi-mode sensing region configured to sense at least two different physical parameters, and a second multi-mode sensing region, space apart from the first multi-mode sensing region, and configured to sense at least two different physical parameters. In some disclosed embodiments the first multi-mode sensing region is configured to measure the physical parameters of angular displacement and strain.
Claims26
A multi-mode sensor system comprising:
- a first attachment region;
- a first sense region having a first side located adjacent to the first attachment region;
- a second attachment region located adjacent to a second side of the first sense region;
- a second sense region located adjacent to the second attachment region on another side of the second attachment region;
- and
- an interface device comprising a calculation circuit that adds signals from the first sense region and the second sense region to measure a first parameter at a first time and takes a difference between the signals from the first sense region and the second sense region to measure a second parameter at the first time.
A system for analyzing data relative to sensed parameters, the system comprising:
- a sensor system comprising
- a first sense region configured to sense a first physical parameter;
- and
- a second sense region configured to sense a second physical parameter;
- an interface device further comprising:
- a user interface;
- a measurement circuit in communication with the sensor system;
- and
- a microcontroller comprising:
- a calculation circuit in communication with the measurement circuit that adds signals from the first sense region and the second sense region to measure the first physical parameter at a first time and takes a difference between the signals from the first sense region and the second sense region to measure the second physical parameter at the first time;
- and
- a memory comprising control and analysis software in communication with the calculation circuit that analyzes and stores data related to the first and second physical parameters.
A multi-mode sensor that measures more than one parameter at the same time, the multi-mode sensor comprising:
- a first strain transformation structure;
- a first sensor beneath the first transformation structure;
- an offset region beneath the first sensor;
- a second sensor beneath the offset region;
- and
- an interface device comprising a calculation circuit that adds signals from the first sensor and the second sensor to measure a first parameter at a first time and takes a difference between the signals from the first sensor and the second sensor to measure a second parameter at the first time.
A multi-mode sensor comprising:
- an elastomeric strand comprising:
- a first multi-mode sensing region configured to sense at least two different physical parameters;
- a second multi-mode sensing region, space apart from the first multi-mode sensing region, and configured to sense at least two different physical parameters;
- and
- an interface device comprising a calculation circuit that adds signals from the first multi-mode sensing region and the second multi-mode sensing region to measure a first parameter at a first time and takes a difference between the signals from the first multi-mode sensing region and the second multi-mode sensing region to measure a second parameter at the first time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.