Low-hysteresis coupling for angular-position and torque sensor

A shaft coupling system for accommodating axial displacement between two shafts, comprising:

• a first shaft having a first longitudinal axis;
• an inner member coupled to said first shaft;
• an outer member;
• first rails connecting said inner member to said outer member, said first rails allowing said inner member and said first shaft to be readily displaced relative to said outer member only in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said first rails;
• a base member disposed outside said outer member;
• second rails connecting said outer member to said base member, said second rails aligned perpendicular to said first rails, said second rails allowing said outer member to be readily displaced relative to said base member only in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said second rails;
• and
• a second shaft having a second longitudinal axis, said first longitudinal axis being different from said second longitudinal axis;
• wherein said second shaft being fixedly attached to said base member, said first shaft free to be displaced in an x-y direction along an x-y plane parallel to a surface of said base member such that said first shaft being able to rotate relative to said second shaft.

A shaft coupling system comprising:

• a first shaft having a first end and a second end;
• a second shaft having a first end and a second end, a first end of said first shaft being longitudinally connected to a second end of said second shaft;
• said first shaft being nominally coaxial to said second shaft;
• and
• a coupling comprising:
• an inner member fixedly connected to said first shaft;
• an outer member;
• first rails connecting said inner member to said outer member, said first rails aligned perpendicular to an axis to allow said inner member and said first axis to be readily displaced relative to said outer member only in a direction parallel to said axis;
• a base member disposed outside said outer member, said base member rotatively coupled to said second shaft, and said base member fixedly coupled to said second shaft in the x and y direction of a x-y plane parallel to a top surface said coupling;
• and
• second rails connecting said outer member to said base member, said second rails aligned parallel to said axis to allow said outer member and said second shaft to be readily displaced relative to said base attaching member only in a direction perpendicular to said axis;
• wherein said inner member being free to move relative to said base member along a x and y direction of the x-y plane such that said inner member is allowed to freely move along said x-y plane to connect with said first shaft;
• and
• wherein said inner member is rotatively fixed relative to said base member.

A coupling comprising:

• an inner member;
• an outer member;
• first rails connecting said inner member to said outer member, said first rails allowing said inner member to be readily displaced relative to said outer member only in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said first rails;
• a base member disposed outside said outer member;
• and
• second rails connecting said outer member to said base member, said second rails aligned perpendicular to said first rails, said second rails allowing said outer member to be readily displaced relative to said base member only in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said second rails;
• wherein said inner member being free to move in an x-y direction relative to said base member in an x-y plane parallel to said longitudinal axes of said first rails and said second rails, and said inner member being rotatively fixed relative to said base member.

A coupler for coupling a rotating member that rotates about a first axis to a rotatable member that rotates about a second axis comprising:

• a first set of at least two longitudinal members attached to said rotating member substantially parallel to one another and perpendicular to a radial arm of said first axis;
• and
• a second set of at least two longitudinal members attached to said rotatable member and substantially parallel to one another and perpendicular to the radial arm of the second axis;
• said second set being substantially perpendicular to said first set.