Motion assistive device and maintenance management system for motion assistive device

A motion assistive device comprising a drive unit configured to aid or execute an operation of a joint, and a control unit configured to control the drive unit,

• the drive unit including:
• a motor configured to provide an inputted driving force;
• and
• a controller configured to produce a drive signal supplied to the motor based on a control signal sent from the control unit,
• wherein the controller includes:
• a motor monitoring unit configured to calculate a remaining lifetime of the motor by subtracting a total operation time of the motor from a lifetime of the motor;
• and
• a motor control unit configured to gradually decrease the drive signal supplied to the motor at a predetermined rate when the remaining lifetime of the motor calculated by the motor monitoring unit reaches a preset value;
• wherein the drive unit further includes:
• a case housing the motor;
• a rotating body housed within the case and having a circumferential surface that rotates relative to the case when the motor is driven;
• a fluorescent band disposed on and extending along the circumferential surface of the rotating body while inclined with respect to a circumferential direction of the rotating body;
• a light-emitting portion configured to irradiate the fluorescent band with light;
• a detecting unit that remains stationary relative to the case and includes a light-receiving surface opposite the fluorescent band, the detecting unit being configured to detect position information about the fluorescent band in an axial direction of the rotating body by receiving light emitted by the fluorescent band;
• and
• a calculating unit configured to calculate a relative rotation angle between the case and the rotating body based on the position information about the fluorescent band detected by the detecting unit.

A motion assistive device comprising a drive unit configured to aid or execute an operation of a joint, and a control unit configured to control the drive unit,

• the drive unit including:
• a motor configured to provide an inputted driving force;
• and
• a circuit board on which a controller is mounted, the controller producing a drive signal supplied to the motor based on a control signal sent from the control unit,
• wherein the controller includes:
• a motor monitoring unit configured to monitor an operational status of the motor;
• and
• a motor control unit configured to limit the drive signal supplied to the motor based on a result of monitoring by the motor monitoring unit in order to prevent an overload state of the motor;
• wherein the drive unit further includes:
• a case housing the motor;
• a rotating body housed within the case and having a circumferential surface that rotates relative to the case when the motor is driven;
• a reflecting band disposed on and extending along the circumferential surface of the rotating body while inclined with respect to a circumferential direction of the rotating body,
• a first light-emitting portion configured to irradiate the reflecting band with light;
• a second light-emitting portion disposed away from the first light-emitting portion in an axial direction of the rotating body and configured to irradiate the reflecting band with light;
• a detecting unit that remains stationary relative to the case and includes a light-receiving surface opposite the reflecting band, the detecting unit being configured to detect position information about the reflecting band in the axial direction of the rotating body by receiving light from the first light-emitting portion that is reflected by the reflecting band and light from the second light-emitting portion that is reflected by the reflecting band;
• and
• a calculating unit configured to calculate a relative rotation angle between the case and the rotating body based on the position information about the reflecting band detected by the detecting unit.

A maintenance management system for a motion assistive device, the maintenance management system comprising:

• a motion assistive device comprising a drive unit configured to aid or execute an operation of a joint, and a control unit configured to control the drive unit;
• the drive unit including:
• a motor configured to provide an inputted driving force;
• and
• a circuit board on which a controller is mounted, the controller producing a drive signal supplied to the motor based on a control signal sent from the control unit,
• wherein the controller includes:
• a motor monitoring unit configured to monitor an operational status of the motor;
• and
• a motor control unit configured to limit the drive signal supplied to the motor based on a result of monitoring by the motor monitoring unit in order to prevent an overload state of the motor;
• wherein the drive unit further includes:
• a case housing the motor;
• a rotating body housed within the case and having a circumferential surface that rotates relative to the case when the motor is driven;
• and
• a communication unit configured to transmit information including history information about a drive status of the motor;
• a fluorescent band disposed on and extending along the circumferential surface of the rotating body while inclined with respect to a circumferential direction of the rotating body;
• a light-emitting portion configured to irradiate the fluorescent band with light;
• a detecting unit that remains stationary relative to the case and includes a light-receiving surface opposite the fluorescent band, the detecting unit being configured to detect position information about the fluorescent band in an axial direction of the rotating body by receiving light emitted by the fluorescent band;
• and
• a calculating unit configured to calculate a relative rotation angle between the case and the rotating body based on the position information about the fluorescent band detected by the detecting unit;
• wherein the maintenance management system further comprises:
• a receiver unit provided at a center for managing an operational status of the motion assistive device and configured to receive the history information about the drive status of the motor that the drive unit transmits via the communication unit and a communication network;
• a database configured to store the history information about the drive status of the motor that is inputted via the receiver unit;
• an analyzing unit configured to generate information about a lifetime of the drive unit or a presence or an absence of an overload state in the drive unit by analyzing the history information stored in the database;
• and
• a transmitter unit configured to transmit maintenance information to the drive unit when it is determined that the motor needs maintenance based on a result of analysis by the analyzing unit.

A motion assistive device comprising a drive unit configured to aid or execute an operation of a joint, and a control unit configured to control the drive unit,

• the drive unit including:
• a motor configured to provide an inputted driving force;
• and
• a controller configured to produce a drive signal supplied to the motor based on a control signal sent from the control unit,
• wherein the controller includes:
• a motor monitoring unit configured to calculate a remaining lifetime of the motor by subtracting a total operation time of the motor from a lifetime of the motor;
• and
• a motor control unit configured to gradually decrease the drive signal supplied to the motor at a predetermined rate when the remaining lifetime of the motor calculated by the motor monitoring unit reaches a preset value;
• wherein the drive unit further includes:
• a case housing the motor;
• a rotating body housed within the case and having a circumferential surface that rotates relative to the case when the motor is driven;
• a reflecting band disposed on and extending along the circumferential surface of the rotating body while inclined with respect to a circumferential direction of the rotating body,
• a first light-emitting portion configured to irradiate the reflecting band with light;
• a second light-emitting portion disposed away from the first light-emitting portion in an axial direction of the rotating body and configured to irradiate the reflecting band with light;
• a detecting unit that remains stationary relative to the case and includes a light-receiving surface opposite the reflecting band, the detecting unit being configured to detect position information about the reflecting band in the axial direction of the rotating body by receiving light from the first light-emitting portion that is reflected by the reflecting band and light from the second light-emitting portion that is reflected by the reflecting band;
• and
• a calculating unit configured to calculate a relative rotation angle between the case and the rotating body based on the position information about the reflecting band detected by the detecting unit.