Charge amplifier, force sensor, and robot

{
  "publication_number": "US11979124B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Charge amplifier, force sensor, and robot",
  "abstract": "A charge amplifier includes: an input line thorough which an electric charge signal is propagated; an integration circuit including an input terminal coupled to the input line and an output terminal that outputs the voltage signal; a reset switch configured to reset the voltage signal by closing between the input terminal and the output terminal; a leakage current correction circuit including a first resistance circuit and a first switch coupled in series in this order between a first node, which has a first potential different from a potential of the input line, and the input line; and a control circuit configured to control the first switch based on the voltage signal so as to cancel at least a part of a leakage current flowing through the integration circuit.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A charge amplifier configured to convert an electric charge signal into a voltage signal, the charge amplifier comprising: an input line configured to propagate the electric charge signal; an integration circuit including an input terminal coupled to the input line and an output terminal that outputs the voltage signal; a reset switch configured to reset the voltage signal by electrically connecting between the input terminal and the output terminal; a leakage current correction circuit including a first resistance circuit and a first switch coupled in series between a first node, and the input line, the first node is applied a first potential different from a potential of the input line; and a control circuit configured to control the first switch based on the voltage signal to cancel at least a part of a leakage current flowing through the integration circuit, wherein the first switch and the reset switch are separate from each other and are disposed at different positions in the charge amplifier.",
    "2. The charge amplifier according to claim 1, wherein the first resistance circuit includes a diode that is reverse-bias coupled between the first node and the input line.",
    "3. The charge amplifier according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit includes a storage circuit configured to store information indicating a control signal that corresponds to the voltage signal and controls the first switch.",
    "4. The charge amplifier according to claim 1, comprising: a temperature detection circuit configured to detect a temperature, wherein the control circuit controls the first switch so as to cancel at least a part of the leakage current based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection circuit.",
    "5. The charge amplifier according to claim 1, wherein the leakage current correction circuit includes a second resistance circuit and a second switch coupled in series between a second node, which has a second potential different from both the first potential and the potential of the input line, and the input line.",
    "6. The charge amplifier according to claim 5, wherein the second resistance circuit includes a diode that is reverse-bias coupled between the second node and the input line.",
    "7. The charge amplifier according to claim 1, further comprising: a test voltage generation circuit configured to apply a test voltage to a test voltage input node; and a test switch configured to switch a coupling destination of a contact on the output terminal side of the reset switch to the output terminal or the test voltage input node.",
    "8. The charge amplifier according to claim 1, further comprising: an amplification circuit configured to amplify the voltage signal; and an amplification changeover switch configured to switch whether or not to input the voltage signal to the amplification circuit.",
    "9. A force sensor, comprising: the charge amplifier according to claim 1; and a force detection element configured to detect an external force and output the electric charge signal corresponding to the external force.",
    "10. The force sensor according to claim 9, further comprising a thermoelectric element configured to adjust a temperature of the leakage current correction circuit.",
    "11. A robot comprising the force sensor according to claim 9."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2020-042697, filed Mar. 12, 2020, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.\n\nThe present disclosure relates to a charge amplifier, a force sensor, and a robot.\n\nConventionally, as show in JP-A-11-148878, a charge amplifier is known in which a diode is provided with a reverse bias in an input line to cancel a leakage current generated in a field effect transistor (FET) and a capacitor by the leakage current of the diode.\n\nJP-A-11-148878 is an example of the related art.\n\nIn JP-A-11-148878, the leakage current of the FET varies with the potential difference between the source and drain of the FET. Accordingly, the leakage current of the FET is changed by the change of an input and output signal of an integration circuit, and there is possibility that the output signal characteristics are affected.\n\nOne aspect is a charge amplifier configured to convert an electric charge signal into a voltage signal, the charge amplifier includes: an input line through which the electric charge signal is propagated; an integration circuit including an input terminal coupled to the input line and an output terminal that outputs the voltage signal; a reset switch configured to reset the voltage signal by closing between the input terminal and the output terminal; a leakage current correction circuit including a first resistance circuit and a first switch coupled in ...",
  "cpc": [
    "H03F 3/70",
    "B25J 13/085",
    "B25J 19/028",
    "H03F 1/02",
    "H03F 2200/468",
    "H03F 3/45475"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25J 13/08",
    "B25J 19/02",
    "H03F 1/02",
    "H03F 3/70"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Seiko Epson Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Noriyuki Osumi"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-03-10",
  "publication_date": "2024-05-07",
  "grant_date": "2024-05-07",
  "priority_date": "2020-03-12",
  "application_number": "US-202117197338-A",
  "family_id": "77617433",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "US5252928A",
    "JPH11148878A",
    "US20020153957A1",
    "US20040183398A1",
    "JP2004289278A",
    "US20100237228A1",
    "US20120268202A1",
    "US20120161868A1",
    "JP2012169712A",
    "US20180149530A1",
    "JP6269800B2",
    "US20180313704A1",
    "US20190145798A1",
    "US20200264039A1",
    "US20200408618A1"
  ]
}