Systems, articles, and methods for electromyography sensors
First Claim
1. A differential electromyography (“
- EMG”
) sensor comprising;
a first sensor electrode formed of an electrically conductive material;
an amplifier;
a first electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples the first sensor electrode and the amplifier;
a first capacitor electrically coupled in series between the first sensor electrode and the amplifier in the first electrically conductive pathway;
a first resistor electrically coupled in series between the first sensor electrode and the amplifier in the first electrically conductive pathway;
a ground electrode formed of an electrically conductive material;
a second electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples to the ground electrode;
a third electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples the first electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway;
a second capacitor electrically coupled in the third electrically conductive pathway in between the first electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway;
a fourth electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples the first electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway;
a second resistor electrically coupled in the fourth electrically conductive pathway in between the first electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway;
a second sensor electrode formed of an electrically conductive material;
a fifth electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples the second sensor electrode and the amplifier;
a third capacitor electrically coupled in series between the second sensor electrode and the amplifier in the fifth electrically conductive pathway;
a third resistor electrically coupled in series between the second sensor electrode and the amplifier in the fifth electrically conductive pathway;
a sixth electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples the fifth electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway;
a fourth capacitor electrically coupled in the sixth electrically conductive pathway in between the fifth electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway;
a seventh electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples the fifth electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway; and
a fourth resistor electrically coupled in the seventh electrically conductive pathway in between the fifth electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, articles, and methods for surface electromyography (“EMG”) sensors that combine elements from traditional capacitive and resistive EMG sensors are described. For example, capacitive EMG sensors that are adapted to resistively couple to a user'"'"'s skin are described. Resistive coupling between a sensor electrode and the user'"'"'s skin is galvanically isolated from the sensor circuitry by a discrete component capacitor included downstream from the sensor electrode. The combination of a resistively coupled electrode and a discrete component capacitor provides the respective benefits of traditional resistive and capacitive (respectively) EMG sensor designs while mitigating respective drawbacks of each approach. A wearable EMG device that provides a component of a human-electronics interface and incorporates such capacitive EMG sensors is also described.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A differential electromyography (“
- EMG”
) sensor comprising;a first sensor electrode formed of an electrically conductive material; an amplifier; a first electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples the first sensor electrode and the amplifier; a first capacitor electrically coupled in series between the first sensor electrode and the amplifier in the first electrically conductive pathway; a first resistor electrically coupled in series between the first sensor electrode and the amplifier in the first electrically conductive pathway; a ground electrode formed of an electrically conductive material; a second electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples to the ground electrode; a third electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples the first electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway; a second capacitor electrically coupled in the third electrically conductive pathway in between the first electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway; a fourth electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples the first electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway; a second resistor electrically coupled in the fourth electrically conductive pathway in between the first electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway; a second sensor electrode formed of an electrically conductive material; a fifth electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples the second sensor electrode and the amplifier; a third capacitor electrically coupled in series between the second sensor electrode and the amplifier in the fifth electrically conductive pathway; a third resistor electrically coupled in series between the second sensor electrode and the amplifier in the fifth electrically conductive pathway; a sixth electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples the fifth electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway; a fourth capacitor electrically coupled in the sixth electrically conductive pathway in between the fifth electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway; a seventh electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples the fifth electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway; and a fourth resistor electrically coupled in the seventh electrically conductive pathway in between the fifth electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- EMG”
-
6. A wearable electromyography (“
- EMG”
) device comprising;at least one differential 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 a gesture performed by the user the at least one differential EMG sensor provides signals, and wherein the at least one differential EMG sensor includes; a first sensor electrode formed of an electrically conductive material; an amplifier; a first electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples the first sensor electrode and the amplifier; a first capacitor electrically coupled in series between the first sensor electrode and the amplifier in the first electrically conductive pathway; a first resistor electrically coupled in series between the first sensor electrode and the amplifier in the first electrically conductive pathway; a ground electrode formed of an electrically conductive material; a second electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples to the ground electrode; a third electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples the first electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway; a second capacitor electrically coupled in between the first electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway in the third electrically conductive pathway; a fourth electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples the first electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway; a second resistor electrically coupled in between the first electrically conductive pathway and the second electrically conductive pathway in the fourth electrically conductive pathway; a second sensor electrode formed of an electrically conductive material; a fifth electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples the second sensor electrode and the amplifier; a third capacitor electrically coupled in between the second sensor electrode and the amplifier in the fifth electrically conductive pathway; and a third resistor electrically coupled in between the second sensor electrode and the amplifier in the fifth electrically conductive pathway; a processor communicatively coupled to the at least one differential EMG sensor to process signals provided by the at least one differential EMG sensor; and an output terminal communicatively coupled to the processor to transmit signals output by the processor. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
- EMG”
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9. A differential capacitive electromyography (“
- EMG”
) sensor comprising;a first sensor electrode to resistively couple to a user'"'"'s skin, wherein the first sensor electrode includes a plate of electrically conductive material; circuitry communicatively coupled to the first sensor electrode of the differential capacitive EMG sensor; a first capacitor to galvanically isolate the circuitry from the user'"'"'s skin, the first capacitor electrically coupled in series between the first sensor electrode and the circuitry; a second sensor electrode to resistively couple to the user'"'"'s skin, wherein the second sensor electrode includes a plate of electrically conductive material; and a second capacitor to galvanically isolate the circuitry from the user'"'"'s skin, the second capacitor electrically coupled in series between the second sensor electrode and the circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- EMG”
Specification