Patent · US Expired

Robot calibration system

US6070109A · kind A · utility

55Cited by
15References
31Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 10, 1998
Grant dateMay 30, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 10, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05B2219/40621
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A robot calibration system includes a calibration sensor that provides an indication of when a first reference point that remains fixed relative to a robot base is a fixed distance from a second reference point that is located on the robot arm. The robot arm is moved through a plurality of orientations and each time that the fixed distance between the two reference points is achieved, robot joint position information is determined. The preferred calibration sensor includes a string that extends between the two reference points and activates a signal generator each time that the string is taut as caused by the orientation of the robot arm. The generated signal indicates that the two reference points are separated by the fixed distance. The determined robot joint positions are then used to determine a calibration factor which varies depending on the needs of a particular situation. Example calibration factors are useful for correcting errors in robot kinematic information, locating the workcell reference frame and locating the tool center point reference frame.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.