METHODS AND DEVICES OF MULTI-FUNCTIONAL OPERATING SYSTEM FOR CARE-TAKING MACHINE

• US 20090177297A1
• Filed: 03/11/2009
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Tu, Mao-Feng, Yeh, Syh-Shiuh, Sun, Chin-Chu
• Granted Patent: US 7,963,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/85
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0261 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence

Abstract

The methods and devices of a multi-functional operating interface for a care-taking machine. The multi-functional operating interface of the care-taking machine includes: muscle stretch sensor, multiplexer amplifying wave filter, analog-to-digital signal converter, image processing unit, and muscle pattern database and control bus. Aided by the present muscle template training method and potential image data collecting and processing method, it can become an interface that offers the user of a care-taking machine instantaneous and unlimited controllability of the machine, enabling such people, either sick or handicapped, to enjoy more convenience and better life.

Claims

1. A method for multi-functional control interface for care-taking machine, which is used to construct an interface that provides the user with high degree of freedom and instant controllability that the user can use any movable parts of the body to exert highly free control of an equipment, comprising the following steps:

detecting operation movements—

detect the movements on the movable parts of the user'"'"'s body and generate corresponding electric signals;

amplifying and filtering electric signals detected by the above step and then output analog signals;

converting said analog signals into digital electric signals;

processing images—

arranging and converting said digital electric signal generated by said A/D converting step into gray level potential images, and processing said potential images and grouping them according to characteristics highlighted;

outputting control commands—

a muscle template database provides a set of characteristics for tallying with those highlighted in the above step;

after that, said muscle template database presents a corresponding commands; and

transmitting control commands—

a control bus receives the commands outputted in the above step and transmit said commands to related interface, signal converter, or control unit so as to control a specific equipment.

2. The method for multi-functional control interface for care-taking machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control movement detecting step is performed via that a muscle stretch sensor detects deformations produced by the movable parts of the body and generates corresponding electric signals.