SENSOR

• US 20100148042A1
• Filed: 01/18/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nanyang Technological University
• Original Assignee: Nanyang Technological University
• Inventors: Chen, I-Ming, Goh, Young Koon, Yeo, Song Huat, Duh, Been-Lim, Lim, Kwang Yong
• Application Number:
  US12/600,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20100148042A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/231.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1071 measuring angles, e.g. using goniometers A61B5/1123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence

Abstract

A sensor for angle measurement of a joint is disclosed. The sensor comprises a code strip, a linear encoder configured to detect relative movement between the linear encoder and the code strip, and a microcontroller configured to compute angular rotation of the joint from linear displacement obtained by the relative movement. The relative movement corresponds to rotation of the joint. A corresponding method and system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A sensor for angle measurement of a joint, the sensor comprising:

a code strip;

a linear encoder configured to detect relative movement between the linear encoder and the code strip; and

a microcontroller configured to compute angular rotation of the joint from linear displacement obtained by the relative movement;

wherein the relative movement corresponds to rotation of the joint.

2. A sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the linear encoder is an optical linear encoder.

3. A sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the code strip is a linear incremental code strip.

4. A sensor as claimed in claim 3, wherein the code strip comprises a substrate having a plurality of micro lines thereon.

6. A sensor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a wire having a first end for attaching to the joint and a second end for attaching to one of:

the linear encoder and the code strip.

7. A sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is programmed with an identifier for the sensor.

8. A sensor as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sensor is in an array of sensors, each sensor having an individual identifier, the array being one of:

each sensor in the array providing individual sensor data to a gateway, and each sensor for a limb being operatively connected for providing limb data to the gateway.

9. A sensor as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a guide tube configured to constrain the wire to move only axially.

10. A sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the linear encoder is adjacent the code strip and is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation onto the code strip and to sense an interruption to a reflective path of the electromagnetic radiation.

26. A system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a wire having a first end for attaching to the joint and a second end for attaching to one of:

the linear encoder and the code strip.

29. A system as claimed in claim 26, further comprising a guide tube configured to constrain the wire to move only axially.

5. (canceled)

11-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A system for angle measurement and motion capture of a joint, the system comprising at least one sensor based on relative movement between a linear encoder and a code strip, the system further comprising a gateway adapted to synthesize information received from the sensor with biometric data and to transmit synthesized information using a forward kinematics model to an output location.

22. A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the linear encoder is an optical linear encoder.

23. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the code strip is a linear incremental code strip.

24. A system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the code strip comprises a substrate having a plurality of micro lines thereon.

27. A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the microcontroller is programmed with an identifier for the sensor.

28. A system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the sensor is in an array of sensors, each sensor having an individual identifier, the array being one of:

each sensor in the array providing individual sensor data to a gateway, and each sensor for a limb being operatively connected for providing limb data to the gateway.

31. A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the linear encoder is adjacent the code strip and is to emit electromagnetic radiation onto the code strip and to sense an interruption to a reflective path of the electromagnetic radiation.

25. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

32. A method for angle measurement and motion capture of a joint, the method comprising:

attaching a sensor to a joint;

effecting relative movement between a linear encoder and a code strip in the sensor, the relative movement corresponding to rotation of the joint;

converting electrical signals from the linear encoder arising from the relative movement into position information and rotational angle of the joint.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the linear encoder is an optical linear encoder.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein the code strip is a linear incremental code strip.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the code strip comprises a substrate having a plurality of micro lines thereon.

37. A method as claimed in claim 32, further comprising a wire having a first end for attaching to the joint and a second end for attaching to one of:

the linear encoder and the code strip.

38. A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the microcontroller is programmed with an identifier for the sensor.

39. A method as claimed in claim 38, wherein the sensor is in an array of sensors, each sensor having an individual identifier, the array being one of:

each sensor in the array providing individual sensor data to a gateway, and each sensor for a limb being operatively connected for providing limb data to the gateway.

36. (canceled)

40-41. -41. (canceled)