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:
Sep. 01, 2015
Filed:
Feb. 29, 2012
Bryan J Bergelin, Houston, TX (US);
Chris A. Ihrke, Hartland, MI (US);
Donald R. Davis, Novi, MI (US);
Douglas Martin Linn, White Lake, MI (US);
Adam M Sanders, Huntersville, NC (US);
R. Scott Askew, Houston, TX (US);
Evan Laske, Troy, MI (US);
Kody Ensley, Polson, MT (US);
Bryan J Bergelin, Houston, TX (US);
Chris A. Ihrke, Hartland, MI (US);
Donald R. Davis, Novi, MI (US);
Douglas Martin Linn, White Lake, MI (US);
Adam M Sanders, Huntersville, NC (US);
R. Scott Askew, Houston, TX (US);
Evan Laske, Troy, MI (US);
Kody Ensley, Polson, MT (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
The United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A grasp assist system includes a glove and sleeve. The glove includes a digit, i.e., a finger or thumb, and a force sensor. The sensor measures a grasping force applied to an object by an operator wearing the glove. The glove contains a tendon connected at a first end to the digit. The sleeve has an actuator assembly connected to a second end of the tendon and a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller includes a configuration module having selectable operating modes and a processor that calculates a tensile force to apply to the tendon for each of the selectable operating modes to assist the grasping force in a manner that differs for each of the operating modes. A method includes measuring the grasping force, selecting the mode, calculating the tensile force, and applying the tensile force to the tendon using the actuator assembly.