Force Sensing Technology for Diverse Industries

Publication ID: 24-11857379_0002_PTD

Published: October 28, 2025

Category:New Applications & Use Cases

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Force Sensing Technology for Diverse Industries,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857379_0002_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857379_0002_PTD

This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,379.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

The inventive concept leverages force sensing technology to address unmet needs in various industries, including sports, agriculture, infrastructure inspection, prosthetics, and gaming.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent focused on force sensed surface scanning systems for anatomical organs. However, the core technology has broader applications. This inventive concept addresses the limitation of the original patent by applying the force sensing technology to entirely new industries and use cases, solving specific problems in each domain.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The inventive concept comprises a force sensing component, which generates force sensing data informative of a contact force applied to a surface. This data is processed by a controller to construct a specific model, depending on the industry application. For instance, in sports, the controller constructs an athlete-specific performance model. In agriculture, the controller constructs a soil deformation offset model indicative of soil compaction. In infrastructure inspection, the controller constructs a structural integrity model. In prosthetics, the controller constructs a customized fit model. In gaming, the controller constructs a gamer-specific performance model.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The novelty of this inventive concept lies in the application of force sensing technology to diverse industries, which was not originally considered. The inventive step is the recognition of the versatility of the force sensing technology and its potential to solve specific problems in various domains.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments may include different types of force sensing components, such as optical, capacitive, or resistive sensors. Variations may also include different controller architectures, such as cloud-based or edge computing, to process the force sensing data.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in various industries, including sports analytics, precision agriculture, infrastructure maintenance, prosthetics design, and gaming experiences. The target market includes companies and organizations operating in these industries, as well as research institutions and government agencies.

CPC Classifications

Section	Class	Group
A	A61	A61B90/03
A	A61	A61B34/20
A	A61	A61B34/30
A	A61	A61B90/06
G	G06	G06T7/10
A	A61	A61B2034/2068
A	A61	A61B2090/065
A	A61	A61B2090/378
G	G06	G06T2207/10028
G	G06	G06T2207/30004

Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)

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Field of Art

Medical robotics, surgical navigation systems, and force sensing technologies with applications in surface scanning, biomechanical modeling, and precision medical instrumentation

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A person with advanced engineering or biomedical engineering background, expertise in robotic systems, sensor technologies, computational modeling, and experience with medical imaging and surface scanning techniques

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the force sensing technology disclosed in the source patent for surgical surface scanning represents a generalizable approach that can be readily adapted to multiple domains by substituting the specific anatomical scanning context with alternative surface interaction scenarios. The core technical principle of generating force sensing data and constructing a deformation model is fundamentally consistent across the disclosed variations. The systematic application of force sensing technology to different industries represents a predictable extension of the source patent's core technological framework.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element

Surface scanning end-effector generating force sensing data about contact force applied to an anatomical organ

PTD Variation

Force sensing component applied to sports equipment, farming tools, infrastructure surfaces, prosthetic interfaces, and gaming controllers

Obviousness Reasoning

Known technique of translating sensor technology across domains with predictable results, representing a standard engineering design approach to technology transfer

Source Patent Element

Surface scanning controller configured to define surface deformation offset based on viscoelastic property parameters

PTD Variation

Controllers constructing domain-specific models like soil compaction, athlete performance, structural integrity

Obviousness Reasoning

Predictable algorithmic extension applying consistent computational modeling principles to different contextual inputs

Source Patent Element

Constructing intraoperative volume model through surface scanning and force sensing

PTD Variation

Constructing performance, integrity, and customization models across diverse industries

Obviousness Reasoning

Finite set of computational modeling approaches that a PHOSITA would recognize as interchangeable based on specific domain requirements

Source Patent Element

Robotic system with force sensing end-effector for precise surface interaction

PTD Variation

Robotic and wearable devices across sports, agriculture, infrastructure, prosthetics, and gaming domains

Obviousness Reasoning

Obvious technological adaptation applying consistent robotic sensing principles to different interaction contexts

Source Patent Element

Generating volumetric models through surface scanning and force data

PTD Variation

Constructing domain-specific models using force sensing data as primary input

Obviousness Reasoning

Predictable computational technique representing standard engineering approach to model generation across technical domains

35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on US Patent 11857379's disclosure of force sensing surface scanning technologies, the present publication demonstrates that a person having ordinary skill in the art would find the disclosed variations obvious through straightforward technological adaptation, representing anticipatory prior art that would render obvious any subsequently claimed implementations of force sensing modeling across diverse technological domains.

Original Patent Information

Patent Number	US 11,857,379
Title	Force sensed surface scanning systems, devices, controllers and methods
Assignee(s)	Koninklijke Philips N.V.