Capacitive Sensor Gloves

• US 20100090966A1
• Filed: 10/14/2008
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Gregorio, Pedro
• Application Number:
  US12/250,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20100090966A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 19/0024 with accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2600/00 Uses of garments specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

A glove usable to activate a capacitive touch screen comprises a body configured to cover the palm and back of the hand and a plurality of finger sheaths configured to cover the fingers and thumb. An electrically conductive material is disposed preferably at the tip of at least one of the finger sheaths. The conductive material may be a thin sheet of conductive material, a disc of conductive material, or a fibrous conducting material woven into the fabric of the finger sheath. When the tip of the finger sheath is brought toward contact with a capacitive touch screen, the electrically conducting material effects the touch screen in a manner similar to the tip of a bear fingertip to cause the touch screen to recognize the gloved touch.

Claims

1. A glove comprising:

a body configured to cover the palm and back of the hand;

a plurality of finger sheaths configured to cover the fingers and having tips;

at least one of the finger sheaths having an electrically conducting material disposed at least at the tip of the finger sheath.

2. A glove as claimed in claim 1 and wherein finger sheaths have an outer layer and wherein the electrically conducting material is disposed beneath the outer layer.

3. A glove as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the electrically conducting material comprises a metal disc.

4. A glove as claimed in claim 2 and wherein the metal disc comprises brass.

5. A glove as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the electrically conducting material comprises conductive carbon.

6. A glove as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the electrically conducting material comprises graphite.

7. A glove as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the electrically conducting material comprises metal wire.

8. A glove as claimed in claim 7 and wherein the metal wire is woven into the material of the finger sheath.

9. A glove as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the electrically conducting material comprises nano-coated silver fibers.

10. A glove as claimed in claim 9 and wherein the nano-coated silver fibers are woven into the material of the finger sheath.

11. A glove as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the electrically conducting material comprises aluminized Mylar.

12. A glove as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the electrically conducting material comprises a carbon impregnated semiconductor.

13. A glove capable of activating a capacitive touch screen, said glove comprising a body configured to cover the palm and back of the hand and a plurality of finger sheaths having tips and being configured to cover the fingers and thumb of the hand, and an electrically conductive material disposed at least at the tip of at least of one of said finger sheaths for activating a capacitive touch screen when said tip of said finger sheath is brought toward engagement with the capacitive touch screen.

14. The glove of claim 13 and wherein the finger sheath has an outer layer and wherein the electrically conductive material is disposed beneath the outer layer.

15. The glove of claim 14 and wherein the finger sheath has an inner layer beneath the outer layer and wherein the electrically conductive material is disposed within the inner layer.

16. The glove of claim 15 and wherein the electrically conductive material is configured as a fiber and is woven into the inner layer.

17. The glove of claim 13 and wherein the electrically conductive material is woven into the material of the finger sheath.

18. A method of activating a capacitive touch screen with a gloved hand wherein the glove has finger sheaths having tips that cover the fingers of the hand, the method comprising the steps of disposing an electrically conductive material at least at the tip of at least one of the finger sheaths and moving the tip toward engagement with a capacitive touch screen.

19. The method of claim 18 and where the disposing step comprising weaving an electrically conductive fiber into the material of the finger sheath.

20. The method of claim 18 and wherein the finger sheaths have an outer layer and wherein the disposing step comprises disposing the electrically conductive material beneath the outer layer.

21. A glove for use with a capacitive touch screen comprising a glove body and a plurality of finger sheaths, at least one of said finger sheaths carrying an electrically conductive material at a location where said finger sheath is to be used to engage a capacitive touch screen.

22. A device for interacting with a capacitive touch screen, the device comprising:

a body;

a tip portion for engaging a capacitive touch screen, the tip portion being normally non-conducting; and

an electrically conducting material disposed at least at the tip portion of the device.

23. The device of claim 22 and wherein the device is the cap of a pen or pencil.

24. The device of claim 22 and wherein the electrically conducting material is disposed beneath the surface of the tip portion.