WO2018011331A1

WO2018011331A1 - Motor driven turntable with foldable sensor mast

Info

Publication number: WO2018011331A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/067665
Authority: WO
Inventors: Farhad FARAHBAKHSHIAN; Peter Kreuzgruber
Original assignee: Naked Labs Austria Gmbh
Priority date: 2016-07-13
Filing date: 2017-07-13
Publication date: 2018-01-18

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus, in particular biometrical apparatus, comprising a motor driven turntable (22) with a chassis (11) and a mast (4) comprising sensors (6) for characterization of an object standing or lying on the turntable (22). The mast (4) is fixed via a hinge (3) to the chassis (11) of the turntable (22).

Description

MOTOR DRIVEN TURNTABLE WITH FOLDABLE SENSOR MAST

Subject of the invention is a microprocessor controlled and motor driven turntable with an intermateable and foldable mast as carrier for sensors and other metering equipment used for characterization of an object standing or lying on the turntable. The turntable might be also applied for medical diagnostics and body feedback for persons and pets, equipped with appropriate sensors for all types of diagnostics, computer components for data processing, and interface units for data transmission, installed on the mast or into the corpus of the turntable.

The invention relates to a microprocessor controlled and motor driven turntable with a sensor mast for use in biometrical apparatus for biofeedback and medical diagnostic purposes, for persons or pets. The mast allows installation of various sensors as used for characterization of the objects on the turntable.

Turntables for various objects used in photography as object supports.

Usually in such applications, the turntable is driven from a externally controlled motor, but no data acquisition within the turntable is provided.

The invention relates to an apparatus, in particular biometrical apparatus, comprising a motor driven turntable with a chassis and a mast comprising sensors for characterization of an object standing or lying on the turntable.

From the CN 104751338 A an apparatus for disclosing a human body ecological is known. It comprises a turntable, which is used for driving the scanned person to rotate, thus a millimeter wave scanner can scan the human body in an all-around manner. The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, in particular a biomet cal apparatus that is designed such that the usability is improved.

The aforementioned object is achieved by means apparatus exhibiting the features disclosed in the independent patent claim 1 .

Proposed is an apparatus, in particular biometrical apparatus. The apparatus comprises a motor driven turntable with a chassis. Furthermore the apparatus comprises a mast comprising sensors for characterization of an object positioned, in particular standing or lying, on the turntable. The mast is fixed via a hinge to the chassis of the turntable. Thus the mast and the turntable are foldable to each other.

It is advantageous if the hinge includes a spring for tilting-up the mast automatically into a vertical position.

In an advantageous further aspect, the mast is dismountable in parts for allowing the transport of the turntable in a compact form.

It is advantageous if the parts of the mast are provided at cutting lines, wherein one cutting line of the mast is provided nearby the hinge.

It is advantageous if the parts of the mast are provided with a snap-in fixture and an electrical connector.

It is advantageous if the apparatus includes a snap-in locking device so that the mast can either be fixed laterally to the turntable or the mast preferably will automatically tilt-up, if the lock is released.

It is advantageous if the locking device consists of a blade unit on the mast and a catcher unit, which is mounted to chassis of the turntable. In an advantageous further aspect, the catcher unit has a button for releasing the blade unit and thus the mast.

In an advantageous further aspect, the mast is fixed to an extendible arm that is mounted to a guideway within the main body.

For ensuring an appropriate upright angle of the mast in operation, it is advantageous if at least one sensor of the mast ist an acceleration sensor for measuring the angle of the mast, in particular relative to the ground and/or to the turntable.

It is advantageous if the mast comprises a microcontroller unit that provides the data of the acceleration sensors via wireless or wire based interface.

It is advantageous if the chassis is acting as a bottom plate and a lower plate of a housing of the turntable.

It is advantageous if the chassis comprises a trust bearing and/or a bevel gear to apply a driving torque a toothed ring fixed on the bottom plate, and/or a motor to provide a driving torque for the gear, and/or an electronic circuitry for interpreting and analyzing sensor data and for motor control.

An apparatus for weight watching, monitoring of muscle building or reduction of body fat, for mobile and home applications, requires a feature for space saving temporary storage with the capability to quickly reestablish full functionality without doing elaborate installation. As the apparatus is somewhat enlarged due to the sensor mast, a strategy is required to secure the mast from breaking when a force or a torque is applied, e.g. by leaning against the mast. Despite of folding, the apparatus needs to bring accurate results and that requires precise information of the inclination of the sensor mast. The present invention renders such functionality possible, as a motor driven turntable with attached sensor mast comprises one or more of the following features:

(a) a rigid, motor driven top plate, withstanding the weight of a person or a pet standing or an object lying on a turntable, with a toothed ring mounted to the bottom side and acting as driven wheel of the driving gear, whereby the symmetry axes of the top plate and the toothed ring are coincident; and/or

(b) a chassis acting as bottom plate and lower part of the housing

comprising;

(i) a thrust bearing fixed directly or via spacer to the chassis, whereby the symmetry axes of the chassis and the thrust bearing are coincident, and/or

(ii) a hypoid or bevel gear to apply the driving torque to the toothed ring fixed to the top plate, and/or

(iii) a motor fixed within the chassis to provide the driving torque for the gear, and/or

(iv) electronic circuitry for interpreting and analyzing sensor data and for motor control; and/or

(c) a mast, comprising sensors as required for characterization of the object to be tested, and furthermore

(i) is fixed to an extendible arm that is mounted to a guideway within the chassis of the turntable, and/or

(ii) is mounted via a hinge to the corpus and/or the chassis or the extendible arm of the turntable, and/or

(iii) comprises a spring, so when it is locked first to the corpus and/or the chassis of the turntable an then released that it automatically will tilt-up, and/or

(iv) dismounts into parts, if an exceeding force or torque is applied, and/or

(v) comprises acceleration sensors for measuring the angle of the mast and furthermore a microcontroller unit that provides the data of the acceleration sensors via a wireless or wire based interface.

Additional advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments. The drawings show in: Figure 1a a vertical plan of the embodiment of a motor driven turntable with control console of the present invention in working position,

Figure 1 b a top view of the embodiment of a motor driven turntable with a control console,

Figure 2a a vertical plan when the turntable is folded,

Figure 2b a side view when the turntable is folded,

Figure 3a a cross-section of the vertical view of the turntable, and

Figure 3b a top view of the turntable with top-plate removed.

Fig.1 a and 1 b show vertical plan and top view of the embodiment of a motor driven turntable with control console of the present invention in working position.

The main body 1 of the turntable 22 stands flat on the floor and an extendible arm 2 is pulled out at its maximum. While one end of the extendible arm 2 remains within the main body 1 of the turntable 22 and may be fixed in a snap-in position, the other end may be permanently fixed with a hinge 3. The mast 4 is mounted to the hinge 3 and a spring 23 within the hinge 3 tilts-up the mast 4 to vertical position where it is fixed also in a snap-in element.

To allow transport of the turntable 22 in a compact form, the mast 4 is dismountable in parts 5. To allow a simply plug together, the parts 5 of the mast 4 are provided at the cutting lines 25 with each a not shown snap-in fixture and an electrical connector. The dismountability of the mast 4 is also a protection against break. So if a force is applied to the mast 4 that is larger than the mast 4 or the hinge 3 can withstand, the mast 4 will simply disassemble. For this, a cutting line 25 of the mast 4 may also be provided nearby the hinge 3.

As the main purpose of the mast 4 is to carry sensors 6 for metering the object put on the turntable 22, precise information of the horizontal distance from object to the sensor 6 is required. Therefore, each part of the mast 4 as well as the main body 1 of the turntable 22 includes an accelerometer 7 for detection of the inclination angle, and the distance from sensor 6 to the rotation axis of the turntable 22 can be calculated by use of elementary trigonometry.

To allow a compact storage of the turntable 22 after use, the extendible arm is pushed into the main body 1 and the mast 4 needs just to be tilt. A snap-in locking device 24, consisting of a blade unit 8 on the mast 4 and a catcher unit 9, mounted to the corpus and/or the chassis 1 1 of the turntable 22 is provided. The catcher unit 9 also might include a button to release the blade 8 rand thus the mast 4. The spring 23 in the hinge 3 will then tilt-up the mast 4 again.

Fig.2a and 2b show vertical plan and side view when the turntable 22 is folded. The mast 4 lies flat on the corpus and/or the chassis 1 1 of the turntable 1 and is protected against tilting-up by the catcher 9. Side-up feet 10 allow putting the turntable 22 down space-saving.

Fig.3a shows a cross-section of the vertical view of the turntable 22, and Fig.3b shows the top view of the turntable 22 with top-plate 12 removed. The chassis 1 1 contains all components required for the drive and support of the top plate 12, fixture of the mast 4, power supply and electronic

subassemblies. The top plate 12 rests on a deep grove ball thrust bearing or a roller thrust bearing 13 that is supported from a spacer 14. The spacer 14 may have a ring shaped structure, with exception of a cut-out required for the guideway 15 of the extendible arm 2, or it may consist of a couple of individual supports arranged in a ring. The cross-section of the spacer 14 may have the form of any profile that has capability to bear the applied load.

The drive consists mainly of a motor 16, a driving gear 17, and a gear ring 18 that might be also a part of a crown wheel. If required to achieve low angular speed, a gear might be integrated to the motor 16, too.

Sideways, the top plate 1 is provided with a skirt 19 that hides the gap between top plate 12 and chassis 1 1 . On the lower side of the skirt, cantilever snap-fits 20 are arranged alongside the circumference that secures together with a beading 21 on the chassis 1 1 and the top plate 12. To avoid attrition, the snap-fits 20 shall not touch with the beading in normal operation. Hence, transversal shift of the top plate 12 is prevented from the deep grove of the ball thrust bearing or slanted rollers, if a roller thrust bearing is used, vertical shift is prevented from the snap-fits 20.

The guideway 15 of the extendible arm 2 is a channel with sidewalls fixed to the chassis 1 1 and cover panel snap-fixed to the side wall. At the outlet, the channel is tapered to prevent that the extendable arm 2 can be pulled out completely. At the fronts of the tapering, a sensor 6 is mounted that measures if the extendable arm 2 is pulled-out to its maximum.

Furthermore, the chassis 1 1 contains a measurement system for the rotation angle of the top plate 12. A microprocessor that is also within the chassis 1 1 collects data of rotation angle, pull-out sensor 6 of the extendable arm 2 and the acceleration sensors 7 and provides data to a computational unit that evaluates data of the measurement object on the turntable. Summarized, the motor driven turntable 22 with the attached sensor mast 4 comprises

(a) the rigid, motor driven top plate 12, withstanding the weight of a person or a pet standing or an object lying on the turntable22, with the toothed ring mounted to the bottom side and acting as driven wheel of the driving gear 17, whereby the symmetry axes of the top plate 12 and the toothed ring are coincident;

(b) the chassis 1 1 acting as bottom plate and lower part of the housing comprising;

(i) the thrust bearing 13 fixed directly or via spacer 14 to the chassis 1 1 , whereby the symmetry axes of the chassis 1 1 and the thrust bearing 13 are coincident, and/or

(ii) the hypoid or bevel gear 17 to apply the driving torque to the toothed ring fixed to the top plate 12, and/or

(iii) the motor 16 fixed within the chassis 1 1 to provide the driving torque for the gear 17, and/or

(iv) electronic circuitry for interpreting and analyzing sensor data and for motor control, and/or

(c) the mast 4, comprising sensors 6 as required for characterization of the object to be tested.

The mast 4 is fixed to an extendible arm 2 which is mounted to a guideway 15 within the chassis 1 1 of the turntable 22.

Furthermore, the mast 4 is fixed via the hinge 3 to the corpus and/or the chassis 1 1 or a cantilever of the turntable 22.

The hinge 3 also comprises a spring 23 and/or the corpus and/or the chassis 1 1 of the turntable 22 also comprises a locking device 24 so that the mast 4 can either be fixed laterally to the turntable 22 or the mast 4 preferably will automatically tilt-up, if the locking device 24 is released. The mast 4 will dismount into parts 5 if a force or torque applied exceeds a tolerable value.

The motor driven turntable 22 with the mast 4 comprises acceleration sensors 7 for measuring the angle of the mast 4.

The mast 4 comprises a microcontroller unit that provides the data of the acceleration sensors 7 via a wireless and/or wire based interface.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown or described. Rather, any and all combinations of the individual features described, as shown in the figures or described in the description, and to the extent that a corresponding combination appears possible and sensible, are subject matters of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

main body

extendible arm

hinge

mast

parts

sensors

acceleration sensors

blade unit

catcher unit

side up feet

chassis

top plate

bearing

spacer

guideway

motor

driving gear

gear ring

skirt

snap-fits

beading

turntable

spring

locking device

cutting lines

Claims

P a t e n t C l a i m s

1 . Apparatus, in particular biometrical apparatus and/or 3D body

scanner, comprising

a motor driven turntable (22) with a chassis (1 1 ) and

a mast (4) comprising sensors (6) for characterization of an object positioned on the turntable (22),

wherein the mast (4) is fixed via a hinge (3) to the chassis (1 1 ) of the turntable (22) so that the mast (4) and the turntable (22) are foldable to each other.

2. Apparatus according to the previous claim, wherein the hinge (3)

includes a spring (23) for tilting-up the mast (4) automatically into a vertical position.

3. Apparatus according to one or several of the previous claims, wherein the mast (4) is dismountable in parts (5) for allowing the transport of the turntable (22) in a compact form and/or for protecting the mast (4) against breaking.

4. Apparatus according to one or several of the previous claims, wherein the parts (5) of the mast (4) are provided at cutting lines (25), wherein one cutting line (25) of the mast (4) is provided nearby the hinge (3).

5. Apparatus according to one or several of the previous claims, wherein the parts (5) of the mast (4) are provided with a snap-in fixture and a electrical connector.

6. Apparatus according to one or several of the previous claims, wherein it includes a snap-in locking device (24) so that the mast (4) can either be fixed laterally to the turntable (22) or the mast (4) preferably will automatically tilt-up, if the locking device (24) is released.

7. Apparatus according to one or several of the previous claims, wherein the locking device (24) consists of a blade unit (8) on the mast (4) and a catcher unit (9), which is mounted to chassis (1 1 ) of the turntable (22).

8. Apparatus according to one or several of the previous claims, wherein the catcher unit (9) has a button for releasing the blade unit (8) and thus the mast (4).

9. Apparatus according to one or several of the previous claims, wherein the mast (4) is fixed to an extendible arm (2) that is mounted to a guideway (15) within the main body (1 ).

10. Apparatus according to one or several of the previous claims, wherein the sensors (6) of the mast (4) are acceleration sensors (7) for measuring the angle of the mast (4).

1 1 . Apparatus according to one or several of the previous claims, wherein the mast (4) comprises a microcontroller unit that provides the data of the acceleration sensors (6) via wireless or wire based interface.

12. Apparatus according to one or several of the previous claims, wherein the chassis (1 1 ) is acting as a bottom plate and a lower plate of a housing of the turntable (22).

13. Apparatus according to one or several of the previous claims, wherein the chassis (1 1 ) comprises

a trust bearing (13),

and/or a gear (17) to apply a driving torque to a toothed ring fixed on the bottom plate,

and/or a motor (16) to provide a driving torque for the gear (17) and/or an electronic circuitry for interpreting and analyzing sensor data and for motor control.