IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,235,469
Granted Patent B2
US 11,235,469 · App. 16/451,121 · Granted Feb 1, 2022

Robot controller and robot system

Inventors: Hirosada Horiguchi (Minowa, JP); Shuichi Wakabayashi (Okaya, JP); Makiko Hino (Matsumoto, JP); Kei Kamakura (Hara, JP)
Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
B25J9/1674B25J9/1697G01B11/25
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,235,469
App. No.
16/451,121
Granted
Feb 1, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A robot controller is a robot controller that couples a three-dimensional measuring device configured to perform three-dimensional measurement of an object using a laser beam and a human detection sensor configured to detect a person based on an image obtained by imaging a detection range including the object, the robot controller including a human detection signal receiver configured to receive, from the human detection sensor, a signal indicating that the person is present within the detection range and a robot arm controller configured to control a robot arm based on the signal. When the human detection signal receiver receives, from the human detection sensor, the signal indicating that the person is present within the detection range, the robot arm controller controls the robot arm to set an emitting direction of the laser beam to a direction different from a direction of the person.

Claims (24)

1. A robot controller that couples a three-dimensional measuring device configured to perform three-dimensional measurement of an object using a laser beam and a human detection sensor configured to detect a person based on an image obtained by imaging a detection range including the object, the robot controller comprising:

a human detection signal receiver configured to receive, from the human detection sensor, a signal indicating that the person is present within the detection range; and

a processor configured to control a robot arm based on the signal, wherein

when the human detection signal receiver receives, from the human detection sensor, the signal indicating that the person is present within the detection range, the processor controls the robot arm to set an emitting direction of the laser beam to a direction different from a direction of the person,

wherein the detection range of the human detection sensor includes an irradiation range of the laser beam.

2. The robot controller according to claim 1 , wherein the processor controls the robot arm to emit the laser beam toward a member that absorbs or scatters a part of the laser beam.

3. The robot controller according to claim 1 , wherein

the detection range is divided into two or more regions, and

when the human detection signal receiver receives, from the human detection sensor, the signal indicating that the person is present within the detection range of the human detection sensor, the processor controls the robot arm to emit the laser beam toward a side of a region different from a region where the person is detected.

4. A robot system, comprising:

a robot including a robot arm;

a three-dimensional measuring device disposed in the robot arm and configured to perform three-dimensional measurement of an object using a laser beam;

a human detection sensor disposed in the robot arm and configured to detect a person based on an image obtained by imaging a detection range including the object; and

a robot controller configured to control the robot, wherein

the robot controller includes:

a human detection signal receiver configured to receive, from the human detection sensor, a signal indicating that the person is present within the detection range; and

a processor configured to control the robot arm based on the signal, and

when the human detection signal receiver receives, from the human detection sensor, the signal indicating that the person is present within the detection range, the processor controls the robot arm to set an emitting direction of the laser beam to a direction different from a direction of the person,

wherein the detection range of the human detection sensor includes an irradiation range of the laser beam.

5. The robot system according to claim 4 , further comprising a member configured to absorb or scatter a part of the laser beam, wherein

the processor controls the robot arm to emit the laser beam toward the member that absorbs or scatters a part of the laser beam.

6. The robot system according to claim 4 , wherein

the detection range is divided into two or more regions, and

when the human detection signal receiver receives, from the human detection sensor, the signal indicating that the person is present within the detection range of the human detection sensor, the processor controls the robot arm to emit the laser beam toward a side of a region different from a region where the person is detected.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2019
From: HORIGUCHI, HIROSADA; WAKABAYASHI, SHUICHI; HINO, MAKIKO; KAMAKURA, KEI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 049574/0981 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2018-120987 · Jun 26, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190389065A1 · Dec 26, 2019
Cited By (2)
US 12,578,189 US 12,596,002