Patent ID: 8736219
Filing Date: 2014-05-27
Classification: B25J,H02P,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An industrial robot comprising: a robotic arm movable about at least one axis; an electric motor having an input and coupled to the robotic arm so that movement of the electric motor causes movement of the robotic arm about the at least one axis; power electronics electrically coupled to the electric motor input and actuating the electric motor for movement of the robotic arm about the axis; at least two independent current paths, wherein each of the at least two independent current paths is configured so that when the current path is electrically coupled to the electric motor input, the electric motor input is shorted through the independent current path, causing the electric motor to brake; and a controller electrically coupling two or more of the at least two independent current paths to the electric motor input in response to emergency braking conditions, thereby causing emergency braking of the electric motor, wherein one of the at least two independent current paths comprises a first switch connected directly to the input of the electric motor; and the controller electrically couples one of the at least two independent current paths to the motor, in response to emergency braking conditions, by causing the first switch to enter a closed state, thereby shorting the motor input.