Patent Description:
This research is conducted by Korea Institute of Science and Technology under the support of global frontier research project (Supervised by National Research Foundation of Korea, Project Series No. <NUM>) of the Ministry of Science and ICT.

3D motion capture systems are used in a variety of fields including sports, robotics, medical applications, games and graphics & animation all over the world, and there is a gradually increasing trend of the global market size using 3D motion capture systems.

To implement 3D motion capture systems, there is a need for technology development for systems for simultaneously measuring full body (including upper body and lower body) motions and finger motions in real time, and research and development of various types of products is now being conducted.

Detection of human's full body (including upper and lower bodies) motions or finger motions using an optical sensor using markers, an inertial sensor, an electromyography (EMG) sensor, a video camera, a location detection encoder and variable resistance has been studied and commercialized, and the inertial sensor has drift accumulated over time, the optical sensor using markers and the location detection encoder have some areas impossible to measure due to shadow areas, and the EMG sensor has errors caused by attachment and external mistakes.

Recently, to overcome these disadvantages, attempts have been made to detect various human motions using FBG sensors. For example, FBG sensors may be used as strain sensors to measure tensile forces applied to the axial direction of a measurement object, may be used as shape sensors to measure the direction and the degree of bending occurred in the measurement object, and may be used as tiltmeters to detect the tilt in the measurement object.

Human bodies move, bend and are tilted, and even twisted in the axial direction like arm movements. Therefore, to measure human body motions more precisely, it is necessary to measure torsion of the human bodies.

However, there are not many developed sensors for measuring axial twisting motions using FBG, and when shear forces by twisting are applied to FBG, forces by bending and tension are also transmitted at the same time, so it is difficult to separate the complex forces.

Additionally, there are some cases of numerical approaches of methods for individually distinguishing the results of complex reflected wavelength generated by bending and twisting, but since changes in wavelength by bending are much larger than changes in wavelength by twisting, there are high risks of errors due to the real-time classification operation. Accordingly, in the actual application to real-time 3D motion capture systems, there are limitations in numerically classifying and distinguishing a huge amount of wavelength change data and sending back location, angle or torsion information to graphical user interfaces (GUI) or actual models.

<CIT> discloses a torsion sensor using an optical waveguide in optical communication with a diffraction grating, preferably a tilted grating, and most preferably a tilted Bragg grating, which provides the optical waveguide and grating with a torsion-dependent collective optical transmission spectrum. Changes in the collective optical transmission spectrum of the waveguide and grating, induced by changes in the amount of torsion applied to the waveguide, may be detected by detecting a corresponding change in the intensity of optical radiation transmitted through the grating from a controlled optical source.

<CIT> discloses a strain measuring apparatus that is arranged with a light source and a gap along the object to be measured so that the light from the light source is emitted. Detecting expansion and contraction of the sensor optical fiber from the sensor optical fiber having a Bragg greeting portion that reflects light of a specific wavelength according to the expansion and contraction rate, and the light reflected by the Bragg greeting portion of the sensor optical fiber.

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a torsion sensor device, and specifically, proposes a fiber Bragg grating (FBG)-based sensor device for measuring the degree of axial torsion.

The invention is defined by the subject matter of independent claim <NUM>. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a torsion sensor device which measures a degree of torsion of a measurement object by using a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor, the torsion sensor device comprising an FBG sensor including a sensing unit formed in one section of an elongated optical fiber, and a fixing device for fixing and supporting the FBG sensor to cause displacement of the FBG sensor according to motion of the measurement object, wherein the fixing device includes a bending prevention member to enable the sensing unit to have torsion displacement without bending displacement, according to the motion of the measurement object.

According to the invention, the bending prevention member includes two supports to support the FBG sensor to allow the torsion displacement of the sensing unit, and a reinforcer connecting the two supports to prevent a relative bending movement between each support.

According to an embodiment, the reinforcer may be a tube which wraps around the sensing unit.

According to the invention, the fixing device further includes a beam to which the FBG sensor is attached, wherein the beam makes a twisting motion in response to a twisting movement of the measurement object, and the beam is positioned across the two supports and fixed to the supports.

According to the invention, the supports are ball bearings, the beam is fixed to inner rings of the ball bearings, and the reinforcer is fixed to outer rings of the ball bearings.

According to an embodiment, the sensing unit may be spirally wound on an outer periphery of the beam between the supports.

According to an embodiment, the beam includes a torsion beam on which the sensing unit is spirally wound and extension beams extending from two ends of the torsion beam to fix the FBG sensor, and the torsion beam is formed with a larger diameter than the extension beam.

According to an embodiment, the fixing device further includes fixing members disposed at two ends of the beam and attached to the measurement object to fix the torsion sensor device to the measurement object.

According to an embodiment, the fixing member includes a fixture which is fixed to the measurement object, and a key member which is inserted into a slit formed in the fixture.

According to an embodiment, the key member includes a body part to which the beam is fixed, and a rotation prevention part to prevent the key member from rotating relative to the fixture.

According to an embodiment, the fixing members may be formed at the two ends of the beam include a first fixing member fixed to the beam, and a second fixing member may not be fixed to the beam so that the beam slidably moves relative to the second fixing member.

Embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the principles disclosed herein may be embodied in many different forms.

In the detailed description of the present disclosure, a detailed description of well-known features and technologies may be omitted to avoid unnecessary ambiguity of the features of the embodiments.

In the drawings, the reference numbers indicate the elements. The shapes, sizes and areas in the drawings and the like may be exaggerated for clarity.

A measurement object refers to a variety of objects including, for example, humans, animals, machine and robots, which can make motions and/or movements of all or part of the object.

The term 'bend' or 'bent' as used herein represents that after bending, the axial central axis of the measurement object deviates from the axial central axis before bending. In the specification, 'bending movement', 'bending action' or 'bending motion' of the measurement object refers to movement and/or motion of the measurement object or movement and/or motion of a third party, causing bending to occur in all or part of the measurement object.

The term 'twisted' or 'twist' as used herein represents that the axial central axis after twisting does not deviate from the axial central axis before twisting, and rather, cross sections rotate around the axial central axis. In the specification, 'twisting movement', 'twisting action' or 'twisting motion' of the measurement object refers to movement and/or motion of the measurement object or movement and/or motion of a third party, causing twisting to occur in all or part of the measurement object. In the specification, twisting includes torsion.

In the specification, 'bending displacement' of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor refers to grating interval displacement of the FBG sensor occurred by 'bending motion' and/or 'bending movement' by the measurement object and/or the third party.

In the specification, 'torsion displacement' of the FBG sensor refers to grating interval displacement of the FBG sensor occurred by 'twisting motion' and/or 'twisting movement' by the measurement object and/or the third party.

Hereinafter, a detailed description of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be provided with reference to the accompanying drawings.

To help understanding, a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor <NUM> will be first described.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the FBG sensor <NUM> according to an embodiment.

The FBG sensor <NUM> includes a plurality of gratings T<NUM> to T<NUM> formed in one section of an elongated optical fiber <NUM>. In the specification, the section of the optical fiber <NUM> having the plurality of gratings are referred to as a "sensing unit <NUM>".

Although <FIG> mainly shows the sensing unit <NUM> for convenience, it will be understood that the remaining region of the optical fiber <NUM> not including gratings may extend to the left and right sides of the sensing unit <NUM>. The remaining region of the optical fiber <NUM> extending to the left and right sides of the sensing unit <NUM> acts as a passage for transmitting light into the optical fiber <NUM>, and the length and displacement does not affect the movement detection. In other words, the length of the remaining region of the optical fiber <NUM> other than the sensing unit <NUM> may be adjusted as needed, and the extension direction may be variously adjusted.

According to this embodiment, the optical fiber <NUM> includes a cladding <NUM> formed from glass and capable of freely flexing, and a core <NUM> formed along the lengthwise direction of the cladding <NUM> at the center of the cladding <NUM>. The refractive index of the cladding <NUM> and the refractive index of the core <NUM> are different from each other. For example, the refractive index of the cladding <NUM> is n<NUM>, and the refractive index of the core <NUM> is n<NUM> that is different from n<NUM>. The optical fiber <NUM> has, at two ends, a light entrance <NUM> through which light enters from a light source (not shown) and a light exit <NUM> through which light exits via the core <NUM>.

The core <NUM> in some regions of the optical fiber <NUM> has a plurality of grating nodes T<NUM>-T<NUM>, each grating node including a set of n (n ≥ <NUM>, a natural number) gratings, to form the sensing unit <NUM>.

The gratings are where the properties of parts of the core <NUM> change through ultraviolet light in the fabrication process of the optical fiber <NUM>, and have a different refractive index (for example, n<NUM> + Δn) from the cladding <NUM> and the core <NUM>.

The plurality of gratings is arranged at intervals Λ between the gratings. The intervals Λ between the gratings may be various. For example, the grating intervals Λ may be equal. Alternatively, when the FBG sensor includes n gratings, n-<NUM> grating intervals Λ<NUM>, Λ<NUM>,. Λn-<NUM> may be different from each other. For example, the intervals Λ<NUM>-Λ<NUM> between each grating of each grating node T<NUM>-T<NUM> may have a gradually increasing relationship (i.e., Λ<NUM> < Λ<NUM> < Λ<NUM> < Λ<NUM>). The interval between each grating node is so much larger than the intervals Λ<NUM>, Λ<NUM>, Λ<NUM>, Λ<NUM> between the gratings of the grating nodes.

According to the above-described configuration, incident light entering the light entrance <NUM> of the optical fiber <NUM> undergoes interference by the grating nodes. The reflected light outputted back through the light entrance <NUM> exhibits wavelength spectrum having peaks corresponding to each grating node.

<FIG> is a graph showing the wavelength spectrum of the reflected light outputted through the light entrance <NUM> of the FBG sensor <NUM> of <FIG>.

The grating interval Λ of the grating nodes and the wavelength λB of the reflected light have a relationship of the following [Equation <NUM>].

Here, neff is an indicator indicating the effective refractive index of the core.

The wavelengths λ<NUM>, λ<NUM>, λ<NUM>, λ<NUM> shown in the wavelength spectrum of <FIG> correspond to values obtained by substituting the intervals Λ<NUM>, Λ<NUM>, Λ<NUM>, Λ<NUM> between the gratings of each grating node into the above [Equation <NUM>]. In other words, each of the wavelengths λ<NUM>, λ<NUM>, λ<NUM>, λ<NUM> exhibits the wavelength of the reflected light reflected and outputted by each one grating node.

When strain is generated on the FBG sensor <NUM> at the location of the first grating node T<NUM>, the interval Λ<NUM> between the gratings of the first grating node T<NUM> will change, and accordingly, the leftward and rightward shift of the curve of the reflected wavelength λ<NUM> among the wavelength spectrums of <FIG> may be measured by the relationship of the above [Equation <NUM>]. Accordingly, when the leftward and rightward shift of the curve of the reflected wavelength λ<NUM> is measured, it may be determined that strain on the FBG sensor <NUM> at the location of the first grating node T<NUM>.

In general, when the measurement object moves with the FBG sensor being mounted on the measurement object, the movement of the measurement object may cause bending displacement and/or torsion displacement of the FBG sensor <NUM> together. In this case, wavelength change information may include information associated with the degree of torsion of the measurement object as well as the degree of bending. Therefore, to measure only the degree of torsion of the measurement object through the FBG sensor <NUM>, it is necessary to prevent the bending displacement of the FBG sensor <NUM>.

In the present disclosure, the wavelength change information measured while preventing the bending displacement of the FBG sensor <NUM> indicates information associated with only twisting movement in the general movement of the measurement object, as described below.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the torsion sensor device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in <FIG>, the torsion sensor device <NUM> according to this embodiment includes an FBG sensor <NUM>, and a fixing device <NUM> to fix and support the FBG sensor <NUM> to the measurement object (not shown) in order to cause displacement of the FBG sensor <NUM> with the movement of the measurement object.

The fixing device <NUM> incudes a beam <NUM> to which the FBG sensor <NUM> is attached and which makes a twisting motion at least in part in response to the twisting movement of the measurement object, and a fixing member <NUM> to fix the beam <NUM> to the measurement object.

According to this embodiment, the measurement object may be, for example, a human's arm. The elbow joint is a multi-degree of freedom joint in which a bending motion and/or a twisting motion occurs in combination during motion, and the torsion sensor device <NUM> according to this embodiment mechanically separates the twisting motion from the elbow's motion and measures the degree of torsion of the elbow joint.

To this end, the fixing device <NUM> according to this embodiment includes a bending prevention member <NUM> to allow the FBG sensor <NUM> to cause torsion displacement without bending displacement according to the movement of the measurement object.

As shown in <FIG>, the fixing member <NUM> is formed at two ends of the torsion sensor device <NUM>. The two fixing members <NUM> are each attached to a user's upper and lower arms (for example, fixed to the user's clothes). The beam <NUM> extends between the two fixing members <NUM> and runs across the user's elbow.

The beam <NUM> is made of, for example, a polymer material and has flexibility. When the user moves the elbow joint, a relative displacement of the two fixing members <NUM> occurs, and accordingly the beam <NUM> makes bending displacement and/or torsion displacement.

The FBG sensor <NUM> is attached to the surface of the beam <NUM> (see <FIG>) or attached to the inner periphery of the beam <NUM> through the inside of the hollow beam <NUM>. Accordingly, the FBG sensor <NUM> makes bending displacement and/or torsion displacement in response to the bending motion and/or the twisting motion of the beam <NUM>.

Parts of the optical fiber <NUM> extending to the left and right sides of the sensing unit <NUM> may be allowed to cause any displacement, but to separate and measure only the twisting movement of the elbow joint, according to this embodiment, at least the bending displacement of the sensing unit <NUM> is restricted through the bending prevention member <NUM>.

Although not shown in the drawings, the FBG sensor <NUM> passes through the beam <NUM> via a hole formed in the beam <NUM> outside of the bending prevention member <NUM> and extends out of the beam <NUM> through another hole formed in the beam <NUM> inside of the bending prevention member <NUM>.

In this instance, the sensing unit <NUM> of the FBG sensor <NUM> is disposed within the bending prevention member <NUM>.

The bending displacement of the sensing unit <NUM> is prevented by the bending prevention member <NUM> that wraps around the sensing unit <NUM>. The bending prevention member <NUM> is disposed in the middle of the beam <NUM>, and preferably the bending prevention member <NUM> and the sensing unit <NUM> are positioned at a corresponding location to a measurement location, for example, the location of the elbow joint.

<FIG> is a partial enlarged diagram of the torsion measuring sensor <NUM> of <FIG>, and <FIG> is a diagram in which a reinforcer <NUM> is omitted from <FIG>.

The bending prevention member <NUM> includes two supports <NUM> to support the FBG sensor <NUM> to allow a twisting motion of the beam <NUM> to cause torsion displacement of the FBG sensor <NUM>, and the reinforcer <NUM> connecting the two supports <NUM> to prevent a relative bending movement between the two supports <NUM>.

The reinforcer <NUM> according to this embodiment is a tube that completely wraps around the FBG sensor <NUM>, and the support <NUM> is a ball bearing. An inner ring <NUM> of the ball bearing is engaged with and fixed to the beam <NUM>, and an outer ring <NUM> of the ball bearing <NUM> is fixed to two ends of the reinforcer <NUM>.

The reinforcer <NUM> according to this embodiment may be formed from various types of materials such as metals or polymers, but has sufficient strength and length to avoid bending displacement by the movement of the human body.

Accordingly, the bending prevention member <NUM> including the reinforcer <NUM> and the supports <NUM> connected to the reinforcer <NUM> does not cause bending displacement in any direction by the movement of the measurement object. Additionally, the sensing unit <NUM> of the FBG sensor <NUM> covered with the bending prevention member <NUM> does not cause bending displacement.

On the other hand, the beam <NUM> fixed to the inner ring <NUM> capable of rotating relative to the outer ring <NUM> is allowed to make a twisting motion, so that the sensing unit <NUM> fixed to the beam <NUM> is allowed to cause torsion displacement.

The reinforcer <NUM> may be formed in the shape of, for example, at least one bar connecting the two supports <NUM> to prevent a relative bending movement between the supports <NUM>, but may have a tube shape, thereby preventing the bending displacement of the FBG sensor <NUM> irrespective of the movement direction of the measurement object.

The supports <NUM> may include a variety of components which support the ball bearing as well as the beam <NUM> but do not interrupt the twisting motion of the beam <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the sensing unit <NUM> of the FBG sensor <NUM> is spirally wound on the outer periphery of the beam <NUM> passing through the bending prevention member <NUM>. The FBG sensor <NUM> includes the spirally positioned sensing unit <NUM> to cause greater displacement to occur in the sensing unit <NUM> by the torsion of the beam <NUM>, thereby inducing a sufficient amount of wavelength change necessary to measure.

According to this embodiment, when the FBG sensor <NUM> is wound on a torsion beam <NUM> under tension applied to the FBG sensor <NUM>, the sensing unit <NUM> has a wider grating interval in a little further stretched state than when tension is not applied. The grating interval in this state is set as the initial state by the torsion sensor device <NUM>.

When the beam <NUM> is twisted in the direction in which the sensing unit <NUM> is wound as the elbow joint moves in a direction, the sensing unit <NUM> on the torsion beam <NUM> is extended and the grating interval increases. On the contrary, when the beam <NUM> is twisted in the opposite direction to the direction in which the sensing unit <NUM> is wound as the elbow joint moves in a different direction, the sensing unit <NUM> on the torsion beam <NUM> is compressed and shrinks by the elastic recovery, and the grating interval decreases.

When the grating interval increases, the wavelength change direction is positive, and when the grating interval decreases, the wavelength change direction is negative. Accordingly, the torsion direction of the measurement object may be identified through the wavelength change direction (sign).

Further, it is possible to measure the degree of torsion of the beam <NUM> (i.e., the degree of torsion of the measurement object) through the grating interval changes.

For example, the torsion displacement of the sensing unit <NUM> and the twisting motion of the beam <NUM> have a relationship of the following [Equation <NUM>].

In [Equation <NUM>], Δ Λ denotes the torsion displacement of the sensing unit <NUM> attached to the circular beam <NUM>, d denotes the diameter of the circular beam to which the FBG sensor is attached, I denotes the length of the circular beam to which the FBG sensor is attached, and Δ δ denotes the torsion angle of the circular beam to which the FBG sensor is attached. When the grating interval is known, the torsion angle of the beam <NUM> will be found.

The torsion angle of the beam <NUM> and the degree of torsion of the measurement object have a proportional relationship, and thus the degree of torsion of the measurement object may be inferred and calculated through the torsion angle of the beam <NUM>.

The winding number, winding shape and winding angle in which the FBG sensor <NUM> is wound on the torsion beam <NUM> may be appropriately adjusted by the use and size of the sensor device.

Meanwhile, the beam <NUM> according to this embodiment includes a torsion beam <NUM> to fix the sensing unit <NUM> of the FBG sensor <NUM> and an extension beam <NUM> extending from two ends of the torsion beam <NUM> to fix the FBG sensor <NUM> outside of the bending prevention member <NUM>.

As shown, the torsion beam <NUM> is formed with a larger diameter than the extension beam <NUM>. The torsion beam <NUM> has the diameter sufficient to prevent the FBG sensor <NUM> from coming into contact with the reinforcer <NUM> within the bending prevention member <NUM>.

According to this embodiment, the torsion beam <NUM> is formed from a material having flexibility, for example, a polymer material, and the extension beam <NUM> is formed from a material having stiffness, for example, a metal.

Accordingly, according to this embodiment, when the measurement object makes a twisting motion, the two extension beams <NUM> are not twisted itself and rotate relative to each other, and they serve to transmit torque to the torsion beam <NUM>. That is, according to this embodiment, it is the torsion beam <NUM> where substantial torsion displacement occurs in the beam <NUM>.

As described above, it will be understood that the twisting motion of the beam <NUM> includes not only torsion displacement of the entire beam <NUM> but also torsion displacement of at least part of the beam <NUM>.

The embodiments of the present disclosure allow only the torsion beam <NUM> disposed at a measurement region, such as elbow joints, to substantially cause torsion displacement, so that the grating interval of the sensing unit <NUM> may change immediately in response to the movement of the measurement object. Thereby, it is possible to reduce measurement errors, compared to the case in which the entire elongated beam <NUM> makes torsion displacement.

As in this embodiment, when the sensing unit <NUM> is spirally positioned on the surface of the torsion beam <NUM> having a larger diameter, the diameter d of the circular beam increases in the above [Equation <NUM>]. For the same amount of wavelength change, it is possible to calculate the torsion angle Δ δ more precisely, resulting in the improved resolution of the sensor device.

Meanwhile, to calculate the degree of torsion of the measurement object through the torsion angle of the beam <NUM>, the sensing unit <NUM> and the torsion beam <NUM> are brought into contact with the measurement object as closely as possible.

When the beam <NUM> is constrained by the fixing member <NUM> with the two fixing members <NUM> being fixed to the measurement object, as the beam <NUM> bends along the bending movement direction of the measurement object, the sensing unit <NUM> and the torsion beam <NUM> may grow apart from the measurement object.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the structure of the fixing member <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The fixing member <NUM> according to this embodiment includes a fixture <NUM> attached to the measurement object, and a key member <NUM> which is inserted into a slit <NUM> formed in the fixture <NUM>.

The key member <NUM> is fixed to the end of the extension beam <NUM>. The key member <NUM> may be inserted into the slit <NUM> formed in the fixture <NUM>, and may slidably move in the slit <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the key member <NUM> according to an embodiment.

The key member <NUM> includes a body part <NUM> fixed to the extension beam <NUM> and a rotation prevention part <NUM> protruding from one side of the body part <NUM>. The slit <NUM> is formed to conform to the shape of the key member <NUM>.

For accurate measurement, when the fixing member <NUM> moves with the movement of the measurement object, the beam <NUM> also moves in response to the movement. If the beam <NUM> rotates uselessly relative to the fixing member <NUM> when the fixing member <NUM> moves, an accurate twisting motion is not transmitted.

According to this embodiment, with the rotation prevention part <NUM>, the key member <NUM> does not rotate relative to the fixture <NUM>, so that a twisting force (for example, torque) by the twisting motion of the measurement object may be accurately transmitted to the beam <NUM>.

The key member <NUM> does not need to have a key shape of which part is protruding, and may be formed with a structure in which an angled edge or a protrusion acts as the rotation prevention part to prevent the relative rotation to the fixture <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the fixed state of the two ends of the torsion sensor device <NUM>.

According to this embodiment, a first fixing member <NUM> fixed to one end of the extension beam <NUM> is fixed not to move relative to the extension beam <NUM>. On the other hand, a second fixing member <NUM> fixed to the other end of the extension beam <NUM> has a structure in which the above-described key member is slidably moveable relative to the fixture and is not fixed to the extension beam <NUM>.

The first fixing member <NUM> may have a different structure from the second fixing member <NUM>, and may have the same structure as the second fixing member <NUM>, but the key member <NUM> may be fixed to the fixture <NUM> to disallow it to slidably move.

As shown in <FIG>, when the measurement object makes bending displacement, the key member <NUM> of the second fixing member <NUM> is not fixed to the fixture <NUM> of the second fixing member. Thereby, the key member <NUM> of the second fixing member <NUM> slidably moves on the slit <NUM> of the second fixing member <NUM>.

As a result, even when the measurement object does a great bending action, the bending displacement of the beam <NUM> is minimized. It is possible to prevent the factors such as shear forces applied to the two ends of the beam <NUM> from affecting the torsion displacement of the FBG sensor <NUM>, and keep the sensing unit <NUM> in close contact with the measurement object.

<FIG> is a graph showing experimental data of the torsion angle of the beam-change in wavelength acquired using the FBG sensor device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the torsion sensor device <NUM> may have the resolution having torsion displacement of about <NUM> pm per <NUM>° torsion angle of the beam. This is only the experimental results, and the resolution of the torsion sensor device may be adjusted by designing the dimensions of the beam based on [Equation <NUM>] and [Equation <NUM>]. Additionally, when the fabricated torsion sensor device fails to measure a twisting motion of the measurement object, the problem can be solved by designing the beam again without needing to fabricate the entire device again.

There is an increasing demand for robots in various fields all over the world. In particular, there is a demand for jointless robots (for example, flexible endoscopic robots, snake robots), but to measure the accurate performance of the robots, it is necessary to measure torsion of the corresponding robots.

In addition, with the development of virtual reality and market expansion, to fabricate more precise motion sensors, it is necessary to measure torsion of motion measurement objects.

Claim 1:
A torsion sensor device (<NUM>) adapted to measure a degree of torsion of a measurement object with a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor (<NUM>), the torsion sensor device (<NUM>) comprising:
the FBG sensor (<NUM>) including a sensing unit (<NUM>) formed in one section of an optical fiber; and
a fixing device (<NUM>) for fixing and supporting the FBG sensor (<NUM>) to cause displacement of the FBG sensor (<NUM>) according to motion of the measurement object,
wherein the fixing device (<NUM>) includes a bending prevention member (<NUM>) adapted to enable the sensing unit (<NUM>) to have torsion displacement without bending displacement, according to the motion of the measurement object, wherein the bending prevention member (<NUM>) includes: two supports (<NUM>) to support the FBG sensor (<NUM>) adapted to allow the torsion displacement of the sensing unit (<NUM>); and a reinforcer (<NUM>) connecting the two supports adapted to prevent a relative bending movement between each support, wherein the fixing device (<NUM>) further includes a beam (<NUM>) to which the FBG sensor (<NUM>) is attached, wherein the beam (<NUM>) is adapted to twist in response to a twisting movement of the measurement object, and the beam (<NUM>) is positioned across the two supports (<NUM>) and fixed to the supports (<NUM>),
characterized in that the supports (<NUM>) are ball bearings, the beam (<NUM>) is fixed to an inner ring (<NUM>) of the ball bearings, and the reinforcer (<NUM>) is fixed to an outer ring (<NUM>) of the ball bearings.