IP Library Granted Patent US 8,747,486
Granted Patent B2
US 8,747,486 · App. 13/824,825 · Granted Jun 10, 2014

Humanoid electric hand

Inventors: Haruhisa Kawasaki (Gifu, JP); Tetuya Mouri (Gifu, JP); Tatuya Hara (Gifu, JP); Hisayuki Shimomura (Kani, JP)
Assignees: Gifu University; Dainichi, Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,747,486
App. No.
13/824,825
Granted
Jun 10, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A humanoid electric hand includes a metacarpophalangeal joint and an interphalangeal joint. The interphalangeal joint bends or extends together with a bending or extending operation of the metacarpophalangeal joint, by linking a finger motor for driving a finger to a worm deceleration mechanism, an output gear of which moves rotationally to bend or extend the metacarpophalangeal joint, and by linking the metacarpophalangeal joint to the interphalangeal joint via a link mechanism.

Claims (12)

1. A humanoid electric hand comprising:

a metacarpophalangeal joint configured to perform a bending or extending operation;

an interphalangeal joint of a finger configured to bend or extend in response to the bending or extending operation;

a link mechanism including a driving link formed by two parts, the link mechanism linking the interphalangeal joint with the metacarpophalangeal joint and configured to bend or extend the interphalangeal joint in response to a bending or extending operation of the metacarpophalangeal joint;

a finger motor linked to the metacarpophalangeal joint for performing a bending or extending operation and configured to drive a worm deceleration mechanism including an output gear configured to rotate and bend or extend the metacarpophalangeal joint; and

elastic members linking the two parts of the driving link and comprising a first elastic member and a second elastic member, the first elastic member having a first modulus of elasticity and configured to compress in response to a force acting on the driving link in a direction of bending a joint angle of the interphalangeal joint, the second elastic member having a second modulus of elasticity higher than the first modulus of elasticity and configured to compress in response to a force acting on the driving link in a direction of-extending the joint angle of the interphalangeal joint.

2. The humanoid electric hand according to claim 1 , wherein

the second elastic member is configured to not extend when the first elastic member compresses.

3. The humanoid electric hand according to claim 1 , further including a thumb having a mechanism with two degrees of freedom for performing a turning operation and a bending or extending operation.

4. The humanoid electric hand according to claim 3 , wherein the mechanism of the thumb includes a thumb motor for performing the turning operation of the thumb, the thumb motor having a maximum output larger than that of the finger motor used for driving the bending or extending operation of each finger.

5. The humanoid electric hand according to claim 1 , further including a wrist portion having a mechanism with two degrees of freedom for performing a pronation or supination operation and a bending or extending operation of the wrist portion.

6. The humanoid electric hand according to claim 5 , wherein the mechanism of the wrist includes two motors and a differential deceleration mechanism for performing pronation or supination operation and the bending or extending operation of the wrist portion.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE DATE ASSIGNOR SHIMOMURA EXECUTED DATE OF ASSIGNMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 030976 FRAME 0579. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE DATE OF EXECUTION SHOULD BE MARCH 4, 2013 RATHER THAN MARCH 24, 2013.. Recorded Aug 13, 2013
From: KAWASAKI, HARUHISA; MOURI, TETUYA; HARA, TATUYA; SHIMOMURA, HISAYUKI
To: GIFU UNIVERSITY; DAINICHI, CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 031012/0315 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2013
From: KAWASAKI, HARUHISA; MOURI, TETUYA; HARA, TATUYA; SHIMOMURA, HISAYUKI
To: GIFU UNIVERSITY; DAINICHI CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 030976/0579 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2010-214578 · Sep 24, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130175816A1 · Jul 11, 2013