Foot-operated controller

• US 20070246334A1
• Filed: 02/14/2007
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey Elkins
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Elkins
• Inventors: Elkins, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US11/706,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20070246334A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/86.500
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/68 Operating or control means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/70 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/704 computer-controlled, e.g. robotic control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/705 Electromagnetic data transfer for implantable prostheses A61F2250/0002
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7635 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45172 Prosthesis

Abstract

A practical control device having up to eight independent channels of communication for simultaneously operating a plurality of electromechanical devices or for simultaneously performing a plurality of independent functions on an electromechanical device, such as a prosthetic hand, includes a foot-operated controller and a microprocessor. The foot-controller includes a plurality of pressure sensors mounted at selected locations on a substrate. The microprocessor converts sensor inputs from the foot-operated controller into commands for a controllable electromechanical device such as a prosthetic hand. Commands may be communicated via a radio transmitter or via hard-wiring.

Claims

1. A foot-operated controller comprising:

a shoe insole insert including a substrate having a plurality of pressure sensors mounted at selected locations on the substrate to facilitate control of a controllable device by application of pressure from selected parts of a human foot to the sensors; and

a microprocessor for receiving input from the sensors and converting the sensor inputs into commands for the controllable device.

2. The foot-operated controller of claim 1, further comprising a radio transmitter for converting pressure exerted on the sensors by various parts of a foot into control signals that are broadcast to a receiver and transmitted to an electromechanical device.

3. The foot-operated controller of claim 1, in which the microprocessor is hard-wired to the controllable device.

4. The foot-operated controller of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a ball of a human foot.

5. The foot-operated controller of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a heal of a human foot.

6. The foot-operated controller of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a toe of a human foot.

7. The foot-operated controller of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a ball of a human foot, and at least one other sensor is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a heal of a human foot.

8. The foot-operated controller of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a ball of a human foot, and at least one other sensor is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a toe of a human foot.

9. The foot-operated controller of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a heal of a human foot, and at least one other sensor is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a toe of a human foot.

10. The foot-operated controller of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a ball of a human foot, at least one other sensor is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a heal portion of a human foot, and at least a third sensor is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a toe of a human foot.

11. A human controlled robotic system, comprising:

a mechanical device that performs automated physical tasks under direct human supervision;

a foot-operated controller including a shoe insole insert having a substrate and a plurality of pressure sensors mounted at selected locations on a substrate to facilitate control of the mechanical device by application of pressure from selected parts of a human foot to the sensors; and

a microprocessor for receiving input from the sensors and converting the sensor inputs into commands to the mechanical device.

12. The human controlled robotic system of claim 11, wherein the mechanical device is a prosthetic hand.

13. The human controlled robotic system of claim 11, wherein the mechanical device is an exoskeletal device.

14. The human controlled robotic system of claim 11, wherein the mechanical device is a power-assisted glove.

15. The human controlled robotic system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a ball of a human foot.

16. The human controlled robotic system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a heal of a human foot.

17. The human controlled robotic system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a toe of a human foot.

18. The human controlled robotic system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a ball of a human foot, and at least one other sensor is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a heal of a human foot.

19. The human controlled robotic system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a ball of a human foot, and at least one other sensor is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a toe of a human foot.

20. The human controlled robotic system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a heal of a human foot, and at least one other sensor is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a toe of a human foot.

21. The human controlled robotic system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a ball of a human foot, at least one other sensor is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a heal portion of a human foot, and at least a third sensor is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a toe of a human foot.

22. A device for evaluating foot dexterity, comprising:

a shoe insole insert including a substrate having a plurality of pressure sensors mounted at selected locations on the substrate to facilitate measurement of human foot dexterity; and

a microprocessor for receiving inputs from the sensors for evaluation of human foot dexterity.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a ball of a human foot.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a heal of a human foot.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a toe of a human foot.

26. The device of claim 22, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a ball of a human foot, and at least one other sensor is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a heal of a human foot.

27. The device of claim 22, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a ball of a human foot, and at least one other sensor is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a toe of a human foot.

28. The device of claim 22, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a heal of a human foot, and at least one other sensor is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a toe of a human foot.

29. The device of claim 22, wherein at least one of the sensors is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a ball of a human foot, at least one other sensor is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a heal portion of a human foot, and at least a third sensor is located at a portion of the shoe insole insert corresponding with a toe of a human foot.