US 12,440,164 B2
Apparatus and method for estimating optical-based force
Byung Hoon Ko, Hwaseong-si (KR); Seung Woo Noh, Seongnam-si (KR); Tak Hyung Lee, Seoul (KR); Sang Yun Park, Hwaseong-si (KR); and Jin Woo Choi, Ansan-si (KR)
Assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed by SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed on Jul. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/866,940.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2022-0037581 (KR), filed on Mar. 25, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0301593 A1, Sep. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/021 (2006.01); A61B 5/022 (2006.01); A61B 5/024 (2006.01); G01L 1/24 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 5/6843 (2013.01) [A61B 5/02108 (2013.01); A61B 5/02225 (2013.01); A61B 5/02427 (2013.01); A61B 5/6831 (2013.01); G01L 1/24 (2013.01); A61B 2562/0233 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus configured to estimate an optical-based force, the apparatus comprising:
a main body;
a cover disposed at a first side of the main body and configured to contact an object;
a support part connected to two sides of the cover, supporting the cover, and protruding toward an inside of the main body; and
an optical sensor contacting an outer surface of the support part, the optical sensor comprising a light source configured to emit light onto a reflector contacting an outer surface of the cover, a detector configured to detect light reflected from the reflector, and a circuit unit configured to estimate a contact force of the object based on the detected light.