Method and Apparatus for Wearable Remote Interface Device

• US 20090096746A1
• Filed: 10/12/2007
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Kruse, Barbara, Steger, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 8,031,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883

Abstract

A method and apparatus of using a wearable remote interface device capable of detecting inputs from movements are disclosed. The wearable remote interface device, which could be attached to a finger or a hand or any parts of a body, includes a sensor, a filter, an input identifier, and a transmitter. The sensor, in one embodiment, is capable of sensing the movement of the finger or any part of body in which the wearable remote interface device is attached with. Upon detecting the various movements associated with the finger, the filter subsequently removes any extraneous gestures from the detected movements. The input identifier, which could be a part of the filter, identifies one or more user inputs from the filtered movements. The transmitter transmits the input(s) to a processing device via a wireless communications network.

Claims

1. A wearable remote interface device comprising:

a sensor capable of sensing movements of the wearable remote interface device;

a filter coupled to the sensor and configured to remove extraneous gestures from the movements;

an input identifier coupled to the filter and operable to generate an input in response to the movements; and

a transmitter coupled to the input identifier and capable of transmitting the input to a processing device via a wireless communications network.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a finger attaching mechanism coupled to the wearable remote interface device and capable of attaching the wearable remote interface device to a finger.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a calibrator coupled to the sensor and capable of calibrating the wearable remote interface device into one of multiple virtual input and output interface devices.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the calibrator is capable of calibrating the wearable remote interface device into a virtual keyboard.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising an actuator coupled to the sensor and operable to provide tactile feedback.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the tactile feedback indicates a confirmation of the input.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor capable of sensing movements of the wearable remote interface device further includes:

a first detector capable of detecting a contact with a first surface; and

a second detector capable of detecting a collision with a second surface.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the first detector and the second detector are the same device;

and wherein the first surface and the second surface are the same surface.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor capable of sensing movements of the wearable remote interface device further includes a tracking component capable of tracking physical position of the wearable remote interface device.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the filter removes extraneous motion relating to natural muscle reflex from the movement.

11. An embedded device configured to be embedded in a body under skin includes the device of claim 1.

12. A method for providing inputs from a remote interactive interface device, comprising:

activating at least one sensor and actuator in a wearable remote interface device;

detecting input motions relating to the wearable remote interface device;

filtering extraneous gesture motion from the input motion;

identifying at least one input command from the input motion; and

transmitting the input command to a processing device via a wireless communications network.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising attaching the wearable remote interface device to a finger.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising calibrating the wearable remote interface device to a virtual mouse in response to a surface.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising calibrating the wearable remote interface to a virtual keyboard and a virtual mouse in response to a surface.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

generating a tactile feedback signal in response to the input command; and

providing a tactile feedback via the actuator in accordance with the tactile feedback signal acknowledging receipt of the input command.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein detecting input motions relating to the wearable remote interface device further includes sensing a contact between the finger and a surface.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein detecting input motions relating to the wearable remote interface device further includes sensing a collision between the finger and a surface.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein detecting input motions relating to the wearable remote interface device further includes sensing a physical location of the finger relative to a surface.

20. A system comprising:

a processing device capable of executing instructions; and

a fingertip remote haptic device coupled to the processing device via a wireless communications network, wherein the fingertip remote haptic device further includes,

a sensor configured to detect movements including a contact input and a collision input between a finger and a surface;

a filter coupled to the sensor and capable of removing extraneous information from the movements;

a command generator coupled to the filter and operable to generate input in response to the movements;

an actuator coupled to the filter and capable of providing a tactile feedback to the finger confirming the input.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the fingertip remote haptic device further includes a calibrator coupled to the sensor and configured to calibrate the fingertip remote haptic device to a virtual keyboard in response to the surface.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the sensor is further capable of tracking relative position between the fingertip remote haptic device and the surface.

23. A security system comprising:

an actuator capable of receiving haptic signals and generating haptic feedback;

a wireless detecting device coupled to the actuator and configured to generate haptic signals to indicate the system is near a hidden switch;

a calibrator coupled to the wireless detecting device and operable to calibrate a virtual switch utilizing haptic feedback;

a sensor coupled to the calibrator and capable of detecting the motion of the system in accordance with the virtual switch; and

a filter couple to the sensor and configured to send a command to the hidden switch in response to the motion.

24. The security system of claim 23, wherein the sensor coupled to the calibrator and capable of detecting the motion of the system is further capable of detecting a collision input and a contact input.

25. The security system of claim 23, wherein the hidden switch includes a keypad capable of receiving secret codes for authentication.