US-12623541-B2 - Dual axis rotational mechanism

US12623541B2US 12623541 B2US12623541 B2US 12623541B2US-12623541-B2

Abstract

Generally described, one or more aspects of the present disclosure relate to the configuration and management of one or more components to facilitate dual axis rotation. More specifically, one or more aspects of the present application relate to the configuration or management of a rotation mechanism to facilitate the dual axis rotation of a display device. Illustratively, the display device is mounted on rotation mechanism that facilitates a dual axis rotation utilizing a single actuator, dual rotation joints, and associated linkages. The rotation component further includes at least one additional floating joint that provides additional tension forces relative to a third axis. Still further, in accordance with further embodiments, a control component can be utilized to generate control signals relating to rotation of the single actuators, such as establishing control positions and duty cycles.

Inventors

Ding Jin
Aneesh Kaliyanda
Harold Mejia Ruiz
Shakeel Theodore

Assignees

TESLA, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220516

Claims (16)

1 . A rotation mechanism comprising a linkage structure including: a mounting structure, the mounting structure including plurality of anchor points, wherein the anchor points are attachable to a component; a first rotational joint having a center axis and configured to receive rotational input; a second rotational joint connected to the first rotational joint, wherein the first and second rotational joint are arranged so that rotational forces applied to the first rotational joint are applied to the second rotational joint such that the second rotational joint rotates, at least in part, about the center axis of the first rotational joint; a linear channel formed within a central axis of the mounting structure, the linear channel having a set of surfaces defining movement along the linear channel; and a third rotational joint making contact with the linear channel based on a tension member, wherein the third rotational joint is a floating joint and is configured to control movement of the rotation mechanism along a linear axis to allow the linkage structure to absorb forces presented to the third rotational joint via the tension member.
2 . The rotation mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a lock nut for the third rotational joint for dampening vibration forces.
3 . The rotation mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a bushing in between a contact point in the set of surfaces of the linear channel and the third rotational joint.
4 . The rotation mechanism of claim 1 , where the set of surfaces in the linear channel include a set of horizontal surfaces for contacting corresponding horizontal surfaces provided by the third rotational joint.
5 . The rotation mechanism of claim 1 , where the set of surfaces in the linear channel include a set of angular surfaces for contacting corresponding angular surfaces provided by the third rotational joint.
6 . The rotation mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the mounting structure includes a set of arms for locating the anchor points opposing a central axis of the mounting structure.
7 . The rotation mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the tension member is a spring.
8 . The rotation mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a control unit for providing control instructions to a single actuator connected to the first rotational joint.
9 . A rotation mechanism comprising a linkage structure including: a mounting structure, the mounting structure including plurality of anchor points, wherein the anchor points are attachable to a component; a first rotational joint having a center axis and configured to receive rotational input from a single actuator; a second rotational joint connected to the first rotational joint, wherein the first and second rotational joint are arranged so that rotational forces applied to the first rotational joint are applied to the second rotational joint such that the second rotational joint rotates, at least in part, about the center axis of the first rotational joint; a third rotational joint, wherein the third rotational joint is a floating joint and is configured to control movement of the rotation mechanism along a linear axis to allow the linkage structure to absorb forces presented to the third rotational joint via a tension member; and a linear channel formed within a central axis of the mounting structure, the linear channel having a set of horizontal surfaces for contacting corresponding horizontal surfaces provided by the third rotational joint and a set of angular surfaces for contacting corresponding angular surfaces provided by the third rotational joint.
10 . The rotation mechanism of claim 9 further comprising a lock nut for the third rotational joint for dampening vibration forces.
11 . The rotation mechanism of claim 9 further comprising a bushing in between a contact point in the set of surfaces of the linear channel and the third rotational joint.
12 . The rotation mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the mounting structure includes a set of arms for locating the anchor points opposing a central axis of the mounting structure.
13 . The rotation mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the tension member is a spring.
14 . The rotation mechanism of claim 9 further comprising a control unit for providing control instructions to the single actuator, wherein the single actuator is connected to the first rotational joint.
15 . The rotation mechanism of claim 9 further comprising a bushing between the third rotational joint and the mounting structure.
16 . A rotation mechanism comprising a linkage structure including: a mounting structure, the mounting structure including plurality of anchor points, wherein the anchor points are attachable to a component; a first rotational joint having a center axis and configured to receive rotational input; a second rotational joint connected to the first rotational joint, wherein the first and second rotational joints are arranged so that rotational forces applied to the first rotational joint are applied to the second rotational joint such that the second rotational joint rotates, at least in part, about the center axis of the first rotational joint; a linear channel formed within a central axis of the mounting structure, the linear channel having a set of surfaces defining movement along the linear channel; and a third rotational joint making contact with the linear channel based on a tension member, wherein the third rotational joint is a floating joint configured to translate along a linear axis defined by the linear channel to absorb forces presented to the third rotational joint via the tension member.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/201,884, entitled DUAL AXIS ROTATIONAL MECHANISM and filed on May 17, 2021. U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/201,884 is incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND Generally described, a variety of vehicles, such as electric vehicles, combustion engine vehicles, hybrid vehicles, etc., can be configured with various sensors and components to facilitate operation. For example, vehicles can be configured with various display devices that present information to occupants of the vehicle. The display devices may be embedded or integrated into a vehicle, such as integrated with at least a portion of the dashboard. Alternative, the display devices may be free standing or at least partially independent of other vehicle structures. During operation of the vehicle, the occupants may wish to adjust an orientation of the display devices, such as rotation along one or more axis. For example, a display device may be rotated with reference to an x-axis, a y-axis, or a z-axis. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various features will now be described with reference to the following drawings. Throughout the drawings, reference numbers may be re-used to indicate correspondence between referenced elements. The drawings are provided to illustrate examples described herein and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a linkage structure for using in rotational mechanism in accordance with one or more aspects of the present application; FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a linkage structure for using in rotational mechanism in accordance with one or more aspects of the present application; FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a set of components including a display device, rotational mechanism and linkage structure in accordance with one or more aspects of the present application; FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a set of components including a display device, rotational mechanism and linkage structure in accordance with one or more aspects of the present application; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a set of components including a display device, rotational mechanism and linkage structure illustrating a first rotational state responsive to a rotational force in accordance with one or more aspects of the present application; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a set of components including a display device, rotational mechanism and linkage structure illustrating a second rotational state responsive to a rotational force in accordance with one or more aspects of the present application; FIGS. 5A-5D are perspective views of a rotational joint and linear channel utilized in a linkage structure in accordance with various embodiments of the present application; FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a logical representative of various components of a control mechanism for operating a rotational mechanism including a linkage structure in accordance with aspects of the present application; and FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrative of a routine implemented by the control components for the determination of operational parameters of the actuator for the application of rotational forces to the linkage structure of the rotational mechanism. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Generally described, one or more aspects of the present disclosure relate to the configuration and management of one or more components to facilitate dual axis rotation. More specifically, one or more aspects of the present application relate to the configuration or management of a rotation mechanism to facilitate the dual axis rotation of a display device. Illustratively, the display device is mounted on rotation mechanism that facilitates a dual axis rotation utilizing a single actuator, dual rotation joints, and associated linkages. The rotation component further includes at least one additional floating joint that provides additional tension forces relative to a third axis. Still further, in accordance with further embodiments, a control component can be utilized to generate control signals relating to rotation of the single actuators, such as establishing control positions and duty cycles. Traditional approaches to automating rotation mechanisms are limited to have individual actuators control rotation relative to a single axis. For example, a rotation mechanism facilitating rotation along a single axis would utilize a single actuator that controls rotation along a single axis. In a more complex example, a traditional rotation mechanism facilitating rotation along two axes would utilize multiple actuators for each rotational axis (e.g., two actuators to control two axis of rotation). Such traditional approaches can be inefficient or complex in terms of the number of parts forming the rotation mechanism. Additionally, such traditional rotation mechanisms require some form of synchronization signals or components to coordinate the operation