Patent Reveals Breakthrough in End Effector Bump Detection for Robots

A new patent granted to John Keith Bentley and his team from Texas Instruments Incorporated has unveiled a novel method for detecting end effector bumps in robots using contact shock transients sensing units. This technology is expected to significantly impact the manufacturing industry, particularly in the semiconductor sector, where precise handling and minimal damage to delicate wafers are crucial.

Key Takeaways:

• The patent (US Patent Number 12343880) describes an apparatus comprising a contact shock transients sensing unit coupled to a robot arm to detect contact shock transients and generate a signal corresponding to these transients.
• The control unit measures the amount of the signal generated, determines whether it exceeds one or more predetermined thresholds, and executes one or more predetermined operations based on the determination.
• The predetermined operations include identifying the location of the robot arm in the manufacturing process where the amount of the signal exceeds the one or more predetermined thresholds.
• The contact shock transients sensing unit can be coupled to the control unit via a wireless communication and can detect contact shock transients generated by pressure, acceleration, strain, and temperature.
• The patent also outlines a method for detecting contact shock transients generated by a robot arm, generating a signal corresponding to these transients, measuring the amount of the signal, determining whether the amount exceeds one or more predetermined thresholds, and executing one or more predetermined operations based on the determination.
• The system includes a robot control unit configured to control the movement of the robot arm, a contact shock transients sensing unit coupled to the robot arm, and a processing unit coupled to the contact shock transients sensing unit.
• The contact shock transients sensing unit can comprise a piezo electric sensor, which generates electrical signals corresponding to contact shock transients.

Statistics:

• The patent was filed on January 11, 2021, and published online on July 1, 2025.
• The patent number is 12343880.
• The inventors, John Keith Bentley, Adolphus Edward McClanahan, Anthony Wayne Myers, and Ronald Tracy White, are from Texas Instruments Incorporated.
• The patent claims 10 methods and 16 apparatus configurations for detecting end effector bumps using contact shock transients sensing units.

Sources:

• U.S. Patent Number 12343880, filed January 11, 2021, and published online on July 1, 2025.
• Bentley, J.K. (2021). End effector bump detector. U.S. Patent Number 12343880.