GLOVE-BASED INPUT DEVICE

• US 20090212979A1
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: William Catchings
• Original Assignee: William Catchings
• Inventors: Lewis, John, Al-Zoubi, Ameir, Catchings, David, Crenshaw, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US12/390,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20090212979A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves

Abstract

A glove-based input device is provided. The glove-based input device comprises at least one selector, at least one motion sensor, a processor, a transmitter, and a glove structure adopted for placing over a hand, the glove-structure retaining the selector, the motion sensor, the processor, and the transmitter. The processor receives a selection input from the at least one selector and a motion input from the at least one motion selector. The transmitter is in communication with the processor and is configured to wirelessly transmit the selector input and the motion input to an electronic device.

Claims

1. A glove-based input device, comprising:

at least one selector;

at least one motion sensor;

a processor to receive a selection input from the at least one selector and a motion input from the at least one motion selector;

a transmitter in communication with the processor configured to wirelessly transmit the selection input and the motion input to an electronic device; and

a glove structure adopted for placing over a hand that retains the selector, the motion sensor, the processor, and the transmitter.

2. The glove-based input device of claim 1, wherein the at least one selector comprises a switch.

3. The glove-based input device of claim 2, wherein the switch is mechanically biased open and closes responsive to pressure.

4. The glove-based input device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one selector is located proximate to a finger tip of the glove structure.

5. The glove-based input device of claim 1, wherein the at least one selector comprises twelve selectors, wherein three selectors of the twelve selectors are retained by each of four fingers of the glove structure.

6. The glove-based input device of claim 1, wherein the at least one motion sensor comprises at least one accelerometer.

7. The glove-based input device of claim 1, wherein the at least one motion sensor comprises at least one gyro sensor.

8. The glove-based input device of claim 1, wherein the at least one motion sensor comprises a multi-axis motion sensor.

9. The glove-based input device of claim 1, wherein the processor conditions the selection inputs from at least one of the selection inputs and the motion inputs before the transmitter wirelessly transmits the selection inputs and motion inputs.

10. The glove-based input device of claim 1, further comprising a transducer, wherein the processor transmits outputs to the transducer and wherein the glove structure retains the transducer.

11. The glove-based input device of claim 4, wherein the transducer is one of a vibrator, a heater, a light emitting diode (LED), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a visual display, and a speaker.

12. The glove-based input device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter wirelessly transmits based on at least one of WiFi wireless communication technology, BlueTooth wireless communication technology, and industrial-scientific-medical (ISM) wireless communication technology.

13. The glove-based input device of claim 1, further including a power source, wherein the processor receives power from the power source and the glove structure retains the power source.

14. A glove-based input device, comprising:

at least one selector;

at least one motion sensor;

a processor to receive a selection input from the selector and a motion input from the motion selector and to communicate the selection input and the motion input via a wired communication link to an electronic device; and

a glove structure adopted for placing over a hand that retains the selector, the motion sensor, and the processor.

15. The glove-based input device of claim 14, wherein the processor receives power through one of the wired communication link or a power chord.

16. A glove-based input device, comprising:

a glove structure adopted for placing over a hand;

a plurality of switches retained by finger portions of the glove structure, wherein the switches are mechanically biased open and are operable to be closed when pressure is applied between a thumb and the switch and wherein each switch is operable to provide an indication of an open state and a closed state;

an at least one motion sensor retained by one of a palm portion of the glove structure and a back-of-hand portion of the glove structure, wherein each motion sensor is operable to provide an indication of motion; and

a processor in communication with the switches and the motion sensor and operable to transmit indications of the state of the switches and motion indications to an electronic device to provide inputs to the electronic device.

17. The glove-based input device of claim 16, wherein the glove structure comprises a fabric woven or nonwoven of threads.

18. The glove-based input device of claim 16, further comprising a feedback component comprising at least one of a vibrator, a light emitting diode (LED), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a visual display, a heater, and a speaker.

19. The glove-based input device of claim 16, further including a wireless transmitter in communication with the processor, wherein the processor transmits to the electronic device by a wireless communication link promoted by the transmitter.

20. The glove-based input device of claim 16, wherein the processor transmits to the electronic device by a wired communication link.