The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 19, 2008
Filed:
Aug. 22, 2006
Katsushi Iikubo, Nagoya, JP;
Hidehito Sasaki, Nagoya, JP;
Hidenori Suzuki, Nagoya, JP;
Hiromasa Tsukahara, Nagoya, JP;
Chikao Harada, Nagoya, JP;
Hitoshi Hirano, Nagoya, JP;
Hiroshi Masuda, Nagoya, JP;
Katsushi Iikubo, Nagoya, JP;
Hidehito Sasaki, Nagoya, JP;
Hidenori Suzuki, Nagoya, JP;
Hiromasa Tsukahara, Nagoya, JP;
Chikao Harada, Nagoya, JP;
Hitoshi Hirano, Nagoya, JP;
Hiroshi Masuda, Nagoya, JP;
Unex Corporation, Nagoya, JP;
Abstract
An apparatus for holding a sensor such that the sensor touches an object at an arbitrary position in a three-dimensional space, the apparatus including a base member; a rotatable member which is rotatable relative to the base member about a vertical axis line; a first link device including a first stationary link, a first movable link, and two first pivotable links which are pivotably connected to the first stationary link and the first movable link, such that the first stationary link, the first movable link, and the two first pivotable links cooperate with each other to define a quadrilateral, wherein the first stationary link is fixed to the rotatable member such that the first movable link is movable in a plane containing the axis line; a second link device including two second pivotable links, and a second stationary link and a second movable link which are pivotably connected to the two second pivotable links, such that the two second pivotable links, the second stationary link, and the second movable link cooperate with each other to define a quadrilateral, wherein the second stationary link is fixed to the first movable link such that the second movable link is movable in the plane containing the axis line, and wherein the second movable link supports the sensor; a first biasing device which produces a thrust having a directional component resisting a load applied to the first movable link; and a second biasing device which produces a thrust having a directional component resisting a load applied to the second movable link.