IP Library Granted Patent US 11,796,357
Granted Patent B2
US 11,796,357 · App. 17/661,989 · Granted Oct 24, 2023

Magnetic encoder calibration

Inventor: Alex Khripin (Waltham, MA)
Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
G01D18/001B25J9/1692G01D5/2448G01D5/347
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,796,357
App. No.
17/661,989
Granted
Oct 24, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for calibrating a position measurement system includes receiving measurement data from the position measurement system and determining that the measurement data includes periodic distortion data. The position measurement system includes a nonius track and a master track. The method also includes modifying the measurement data by decomposing the periodic distortion data into periodic components and removing the periodic components from the measurement data.

Claims (40)

1. A computer-implemented method when executed by data processing hardware causes the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising:

receiving measurement data associated with a position measurement system that is configured to measure an absolute position of a joint of a robot, the measurement data comprising periodic distortion data;

decomposing the periodic distortion data into periodic components;

generating a calibration profile based on removing the periodic components of the periodic distortion data from the measurement data; and

calibrating the position measurement system using the calibration profile.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the position measurement system comprises an off-axis position measurement system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operations comprise determining that the measurement data comprises the periodic distortion data.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining that the measurement data comprises the periodic distortion data comprises filtering out low-frequency content of the measurement data to isolate high-frequency content of the measurement data, the high-frequency content of the measurement data comprising the periodic distortion data.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein decomposing the periodic distortion data into periodic components comprises mapping the periodic distortion data using derivatives of harmonics of the measurement data.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the position measurement system is coupled to the joint of the robot.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein receiving the measurement data comprises:

executing a calibration mode for the position measurement system, the calibration mode configured to actuate a limb of the robot through a range of motion about the joint; and

receiving the measurement data from the position measurement system, the measurement data associated with the actuation of the limb of the robot.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the position measurement system comprises a nonius track and a master track.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the measurement data comprises first measurement data for the master track and second measurement data for the nonius track; and

the periodic distortion data is present in each of the first measurement data and the second measurement data.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measurement data corresponds to velocity measurement data as a function of time.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the periodic distortion data corresponds to at least one of a gain error, sensor saturation, or a physical variation in magnetic pole spacing at the position measurement system.

12. A system comprising:

data processing hardware; and

memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware, the memory hardware storing instructions that when executed on the data processing hardware cause the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising:

receiving measurement data associated with a position measurement system that is configured to measure an absolute position of a joint of a robot, the measurement data comprising periodic distortion data;

decomposing the periodic distortion data into periodic components;

generating a calibration profile based on removing the periodic components of the periodic distortion data from the measurement data; and

calibrating the position measurement system using the calibration profile.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the position measurement system comprises an off-axis position measurement system.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the operations comprise determining that the measurement data comprises the periodic distortion data.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein determining that the measurement data comprises the periodic distortion data comprises filtering out low-frequency content of the measurement data to isolate high-frequency content of the measurement data, the high-frequency content of the measurement data comprising the periodic distortion data.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein decomposing the periodic distortion data into periodic components comprises mapping the periodic distortion data using derivatives of harmonics of the measurement data.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the position measurement system is coupled to the joint of the robot.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein receiving the measurement data comprises:

executing a calibration mode for the position measurement system, the calibration mode configured to actuate a limb of the robot through a range of motion about the joint; and

receiving the measurement data from the position measurement system, the measurement data associated with the actuation of the limb of the robot.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the position measurement system comprises a nonius track and a master track.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein:

the measurement data comprises first measurement data for the master track and second measurement data for the nonius track; and

the periodic distortion data is present in each of the first measurement data and the second measurement data.

21. The system of claim 12 , wherein the measurement data corresponds to velocity measurement data as a function of time.

22. The system of claim 12 , wherein the periodic distortion data corresponds to at least one of a gain error, sensor saturation, or a physical variation in magnetic pole spacing at the position measurement system.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2023
From: KHRIPIN, ALEX
To: BOSTON DYNAMICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 064959/0540 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 19, 2023
From: BOSTON DYNAMICS, INC.
To: BOSTON DYNAMICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 064961/0473 →
Continuity (2)
Division 16518191 · Jul 22, 2019
Related Publication 20220260398A1 · Aug 18, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,270,686