IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,318,346
Granted Patent B2
US 12,318,346 · App. 17/516,196 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Controller, crutch and wearable robot including the same

Inventors: Kyu Jung Kim (Seoul, KR); Hyun Seop Lim (Gyeonggi-do, KR); Sang In Park (Gyeonggi-do, KR); Ju Young Yoon (Gyeonggi-do, KR); Beom Su Kim (Gyeonggi-do, KR); Dong Jin Hyun (Gyeonggi-do, KR); Ki Hyeon Bae (Gyeonggi-do, KR)
Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation
A61H3/02A61H3/00G06F3/02A61H2201/5028
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,318,346
App. No.
17/516,196
Granted
Jun 3, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A controller includes: a head part including a display unit providing information and images and a button unit having operation buttons; and a body part joined to the head part, where the display unit includes a projection portion engaged with the body part, the body part includes a recessed portion into which the projection portion is inserted, a first uneven portion is provided on an outer circumferential surface of the projection portion, a second uneven portion having a shape corresponding to that of the first uneven portion is provided on an inner circumferential surface of the recessed portion, and at least one of the first uneven portion or the second uneven portion includes a plurality of uneven portions.

Claims (74)

1. A controller, comprising:

a head part including a display unit providing information and images and a button unit having a plurality of operation buttons; and

a body part joined to the head part,

wherein the display unit includes a projection portion engaged with the body part,

wherein the body part includes a recessed portion into which the projection portion is inserted,

wherein a first uneven portion is provided on an outer circumferential surface of the projection portion,

wherein a second uneven portion having a shape corresponding to that of the first uneven portion is provided on an inner circumferential surface of the recessed portion,

wherein at least one of the first uneven portion or the second uneven portion includes a plurality of uneven portions,

wherein the button unit protrudes from a side surface of the display unit, the button unit includes a plurality of stepped areas protruding from the side surface of the display unit, and the plurality of operation buttons are provided on top surfaces of the plurality of stepped areas, respectively, and

wherein when a direction in which the stepped areas are spaced apart from the display unit is referred to as a first direction, the stepped areas include:

a first stepped area extending from the display unit;

a second stepped area extending from the first stepped area; and

a third stepped area extending from the second stepped area, and

the plurality of operation buttons include:

a first button provided on the top surface of the first stepped area;

a second button provided on the top surface of the second stepped area; and

a third button provided on the top surface of the third stepped area.

2. The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the second uneven portion includes the plurality of uneven portions, and the first uneven portion includes a single uneven portion.

3. The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the display unit further includes a ball plunger provided on the outer circumferential surface of the projection portion and disposed closer to the body part than the first uneven portion.

4. The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the top surfaces of the first to third stepped areas are inclined downward in the first direction.

5. The controller according to claim 4 , wherein the top surfaces of the first to third stepped areas are inclined downward in a second direction in which the body part is directed toward the display unit.

6. The controller according to claim 5 , wherein a degree of inclination of the top surface of the third stepped area downward in the second direction is greater than that of the top surface of the second stepped area, and

a degree of inclination of the top surface of the second stepped area downward in the second direction is greater than that of the top surface of the first stepped area.

7. The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the first button is movable in a vertical direction with respect to the top surface of the first stepped area.

8. The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the second button is a scroll wheel button.

9. The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the third button has a hinge structure which is rotatable on a rotation axis.

10. The controller according to claim 5 , wherein the body part includes:

a main body; and

a first protrusion provided on a circumferential surface of the main body, extending in longitudinal and circumferential directions of the main body, and having a spiral shape.

11. The controller according to claim 10 , wherein the body part further includes a second protrusion provided on one end portion of the main body in a direction opposite to the second direction, and extending along the circumferential direction of the main body.

12. The controller according to claim 11 , wherein one end portion of the main body in the direction opposite to the second direction has a plurality of recesses arranged in the second direction, and

the second protrusion is detachably attached to the main body through the plurality of recesses.

13. The controller according to claim 11 , wherein the body part further includes a third protrusion provided on the other end portion of the main body in the second direction, and extending along the circumferential direction of the main body.

14. The controller according to claim 5 , wherein the second stepped area is stepped downward from the first stepped area, and the third stepped area is stepped downward from the second stepped area.

15. A crutch for supporting a user, the crutch comprising:

a controller; and

a crutch body to which the controller is fixed,

wherein the controller includes:

a head part including a display unit providing information and images and a button unit having a plurality of operation buttons; and

a body part joined to the head part,

the display unit includes a projection portion engaged with the body part,

the body part includes a recessed portion into which the projection portion is inserted,

a first uneven portion is provided on an outer circumferential surface of the projection portion,

a second uneven portion having a shape corresponding to that of the first uneven portion is provided on an inner circumferential surface of the recessed portion, and

at least one of the first uneven portion or the second uneven portion includes a plurality of uneven portions,

wherein the button unit protrudes from a side surface of the display unit, the button unit includes a plurality of stepped areas protruding from the side surface of the display unit, and the plurality of operation buttons are provided on top surfaces of the plurality of stepped areas, respectively, and

wherein when a direction in which the stepped areas are spaced apart from the display unit is referred to as a first direction, the stepped areas include:

a first stepped area extending from the display unit;

a second stepped area extending from the first stepped area; and

a third stepped area extending from the second stepped area, and

the plurality of operation buttons include:

a first button provided on the top surface of the first stepped area;

a second button provided on the top surface of the second stepped area; and

a third button provided on the top surface of the third stepped area.

16. A wearable robot, comprising:

a crutch including a controller, and a crutch body to which the controller is fixed; and

an exoskeleton driven by the controller and worn by a user,

wherein the controller includes:

a head part including a display unit providing information and images and a button unit having a plurality of operation buttons; and

a body part joined to the head part,

the display unit includes a projection portion engaged with the body part,

the body part includes a recessed portion into which the projection portion is inserted,

a first uneven portion is provided on an outer circumferential surface of the projection portion,

a second uneven portion having a shape corresponding to that of the first uneven portion is provided on an inner circumferential surface of the recessed portion, and

at least one of the first uneven portion or the second uneven portion includes a plurality of uneven portions,

wherein the button unit protrudes from a side surface of the display unit, the button unit includes a plurality of stepped areas protruding from the side surface of the display unit, and the plurality of operation buttons are provided on top surfaces of the plurality of stepped areas, respectively, and

wherein when a direction in which the stepped areas are spaced apart from the display unit is referred to as a first direction, the stepped areas include:

a first stepped area extending from the display unit;

a second stepped area extending from the first stepped area; and

a third stepped area extending from the second stepped area, and

the plurality of operation buttons include:

a first button provided on the top surface of the first stepped area;

a second button provided on the top surface of the second stepped area; and

a third button provided on the top surface of the third stepped area.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2021
From: KIM, KYU JUNG; LIM, HYUN SEOP; PARK, SANG IN; YOON, JU YOUNG; KIM, BEOM SU; HYUN, DONG JIN; BAE, KI HYEON
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057984/0805 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2021-0015686 · Feb 3, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220241133A1 · Aug 4, 2022
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