Toyota Research Institute has been granted a patent for deformable sensors with magnetically modified membrane stiffness. The sensors include a membrane, housing, first magnet, second magnet, and base member to adjust stiffness. GlobalData’s report on Toyota Research Institute gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
Smarter leaders trust GlobalData
According to GlobalData’s company profile on Toyota Research Institute, was a key innovation area identified from patents.
Deformable sensor with magnetically modified membrane stiffness
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11920992B2) discloses a deformable sensor designed to modify its stiffness using magnets and an electrified coil. The sensor comprises a membrane coupled to a housing to create a sensor cavity, with a first magnet on the membrane's inner surface and a second magnet at the base within the cavity. The base member between the cavity base and the second magnet can elongate or contract to adjust the proximity between the magnets, thereby altering the sensor's stiffness. Additionally, a positional sensor measures the magnets' position, and a floor sensor observes membrane deformation and controls the second magnet's movement based on these factors.
Furthermore, the patent describes a method for magnetically modifying the sensor's stiffness by adjusting the repulsion between the first magnet and an electrified coil at the base of the sensor cavity. By modifying the electric current intensity in the coil, the repulsion intensity can be altered, thereby changing the sensor's stiffness. External input can also be used to adjust the electric current intensity, providing a way to control the sensor's behavior. The deformable sensor can also include multiple first magnets on the membrane's inner surface, enhancing its functionality and versatility in various applications.
To know more about GlobalData’s detailed insights on Toyota Research Institute, buy the report here.
Premium Insights
From
The gold standard of business intelligence.
Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors.
GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
