Motorola Corporation

Georgia Tech Research Corporation

Robert Andrew Charles

Wayne J Book

Jeff R Beasley

Michael B Kirschner

Sacha C Hall

A trajectory guidance apparatus can guide motion with passive actuators with at least two degrees of freedom. The trajectory guidance apparatus has a linkage that is mounted to a reference and an interaction part that is to be manipulated by a master, such as a human, gravity g, water flow, a spring, or other force generator. The linkage has at least two force elements adapted to move the interaction part so that the interaction part is guided and can be moved along a prescribed path at a prescribed velocity relative to the reference. A controllable passive coupling connects the force elements and is adapted to impart passive forces against each force element of the linkage. The passive forces are derived substantially solely from a quantity of energy that is imparted to the interaction part by the master, not from other sources. A control mechanism controls the passive coupling, dynamically if desired, so that the interaction part is moved along a prescribed path of travel at a prescribed velocity by the force elements. The control mechanism essentially shifts energy from one force element to another force element during movement of the linkage so that the prescribed path and velocity are maintained.

Trajectory guidance apparatus and method

A battery pack (30) is assembled with a flexible circuit board (38), a first tab (40), and a second tab (42). The flexible circuit board (38) has an exposed area of isolated conductor (46) which is located directly under the intersection of the first tab (40) and the second tab (42), a point where the two are resistance welded together (44). When a weld current is applied at this point (44), the isolated conductor area (46) acts as a current sink such that current flows primarily through the second (lower) tab (42). This method allows both tabs or elements to be of the same or similar thickness and electrical properties, and facilitates automated battery pack assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Chamblee, GA, United States of America

Robert Andrew Charles