Compound strain gage carrier for multi-axis force/torque sensing
AssigneeX Development LLC
InventorAdam Reich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An example device includes a flexural element, a bendable carrier element, and a plurality of strain gages. The flexural element includes a plurality of surfaces, such as a planar surface and a perimeter surface. The bendable carrier element is shaped in order to conform to the plurality of surfaces of the flexural element when the carrier element is bent around the flexural element. The plurality of strain gages are attached to the carrier element when the carrier element is flat. Furthermore, the plurality of strain gages are positioned along the plurality of surfaces of the flexural element when the carrier element is bent around the flexural element to conform to the plurality of surfaces of the flexural element and the carrier element is attached to the flexural element.
Claims20
A device, comprising:
- a flexural element comprising a planar surface and a perimeter surface;
- a bendable carrier element that is shaped in order to conform to the planar surface and the perimeter surface of the flexural element when the carrier element is bent around the flexural element;
- and
- a plurality of strain gages attached to the carrier element when the carrier element is flat, wherein at least one of the plurality of strain gages is positioned along the planar surface and at least one of the plurality of strain gages is positioned along the perimeter surface of the flexural element when the carrier element is bent around the flexural element to conform to the planar surface and the perimeter surface of the flexural element and the carrier element is attached to the flexural element.
A method, comprising:
- attaching a plurality of strain gages to a carrier element when the carrier element is flat, wherein the carrier element is shaped in order to conform to a plurality of surfaces of a flexural element when the carrier element is wrapped around the flexural element;
- attaching a dielectric layer on the carrier element when the carrier element is flat;
- attaching a plurality of conductive traces and pads to the carrier element when the carrier element is flat, wherein the plurality of conductive traces and pads provide a plurality of electrical connections to the plurality of strain gages, and wherein the plurality of conductive traces are configured to bend with the carrier element when the carrier element is wrapped around the flexural element;
- wrapping the carrier element around the flexural element to conform the carrier element to the plurality of surfaces of the flexural element such that the plurality of strain gages are positioned along the plurality of surfaces of the flexural element;
- and
- attaching the carrier element to the flexural element such that the plurality of strain gages remain fixed along the plurality of surfaces of the flexural element.
A device, comprising:
- a flexural element comprising a planar surface and a perimeter surface, wherein the planar surface is perpendicular to the perimeter surface, wherein the flexural element is configured to resist applied loads in six degrees-of-freedom;
- a first plurality of strain gages applied to the planar surface of the flexural element by planar screen printing;
- and
- a second plurality of strain gages applied to the perimeter surface of the flexural element by rotary screen printing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.