Systems, articles, and methods for capacitive electromyography sensors
First Claim
1. A capacitive electromyography (“
- EMG”
) sensor comprising;
a substrate, wherein the substrate includes a first surface and a second surface, the second surface opposite the first surface across a thickness of the substrate;
a first sensor electrode carried by the second surface of the substrate, wherein the first sensor electrode comprises an electrically conductive plate having a first surface that faces the substrate and a second surface that is opposite the first surface;
circuitry communicatively coupled to the first sensor electrode, wherein at least a portion of the circuitry is carried by the first surface of the substrate;
at least one electrically conductive pathway, wherein the first sensor electrode is communicatively coupled to the circuitry by the at least one electrically conductive pathway and wherein the at least one electrically conductive pathway passes through the substrate; and
a dielectric layer formed of a dielectric material that has a relative permittivity of at least about 10, wherein the dielectric layer coats the second surface of the first sensor electrode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, articles, and methods for improved capacitive electromyography (“EMG”) sensors are described. The improved capacitive EMG sensors include one or more sensor electrode(s) that is/are coated with a protective barrier formed of a material that has a relative permittivity εr of about 10 or more. The protective barrier shields the sensor electrode(s) from moisture, sweat, skin oils, etc. while advantageously contributing to a large capacitance between the sensor electrode(s) and the user'"'"'s body. In this way, the improved capacitive EMG sensors provide enhanced robustness against variations in skin and/or environmental conditions. Such improved capacitive EMG sensors are particularly well-suited for use in wearable EMG devices that may be worn by a user for an extended period of time and/or under a variety of skin and/or environmental conditions. A wearable EMG device that provides a component of a human-electronics interface and incorporates such improved capacitive EMG sensors is described.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A capacitive electromyography (“
- EMG”
) sensor comprising;a substrate, wherein the substrate includes a first surface and a second surface, the second surface opposite the first surface across a thickness of the substrate; a first sensor electrode carried by the second surface of the substrate, wherein the first sensor electrode comprises an electrically conductive plate having a first surface that faces the substrate and a second surface that is opposite the first surface; circuitry communicatively coupled to the first sensor electrode, wherein at least a portion of the circuitry is carried by the first surface of the substrate; at least one electrically conductive pathway, wherein the first sensor electrode is communicatively coupled to the circuitry by the at least one electrically conductive pathway and wherein the at least one electrically conductive pathway passes through the substrate; and a dielectric layer formed of a dielectric material that has a relative permittivity of at least about 10, wherein the dielectric layer coats the second surface of the first sensor electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- EMG”
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10. A wearable electromyography (“
- EMG”
) device comprising;at least one capacitive EMG sensor responsive to muscle activity corresponding to a gesture performed by a user of the wearable EMG device, wherein in response to muscle activity corresponding to the gesture performed by the user the at least one capacitive EMG sensor provides at least one signal, and wherein the at least one capacitive EMG sensor includes; a first sensor electrode comprising an electrically conductive plate; and a dielectric layer formed of a dielectric material that has a relative permittivity of at least about 10, wherein the dielectric layer coats the first sensor electrode; a processor communicatively coupled to the at least one capacitive EMG sensor to in use process signals provided by the at least one capacitive EMG sensor; and an output terminal communicatively coupled to the processor to transmit signals output by the processor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- EMG”
Specification