FINGER-WORN DEVICE AND INTERACTION METHODS AND COMMUNICATION METHODS

• US 20110210931A1
• Filed: 03/17/2011
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rainbow Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Rainbow Ltd.
• Inventors: SHAI, Saar
• Application Number:
  US13/049,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20110210931A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/06 Transformation of speech into a non-audible representation, e.g. speech visualisation or speech processing for tactile aids G10L15/26 takes precedence

Abstract

Disclosed herein are finger-worn devices in various embodiments, and related systems, interfaces and methods of use. In some embodiments, a finger-worn device may be connected and disconnected from other devices. In some embodiments, a finger-worn device may relay tactile information to a finger wearing said finger-worn device, and/or to a finger operating said finger-worn device. In some embodiments, a finger-worn device may be operated to generate sound, whereas in some embodiments, a finger-worn device may be operated to generate visual output. In some embodiments, interfaces are intended to react, or be controlled or influenced by a finger-worn device or plurality thereof. In some methods, a finger-worn device may be operated for registering input in systems which can sense and process sounds, whereas in other methods a finger-worn device may be operated for registering input in systems which can sense and process light.

Claims

1. An adapter for physically connecting a finger-worn device to another device, said adapter comprising a section which can fit into a cavity of said finger-worn device.

2. A finger-worn device including means for connecting to another device, said finger-worn device operable while connected to said another device and while worn on a finger.

3. The finger-worn device of claim 2, wherein operating said finger-worn device while connected to said another device and while worn on a finger is for registering input in said another device.

4. A device comprising a section which can fit into a cavity of a finger-worn device, said section comprising means for connecting said finger-worn device to said device.

5. A system comprising:

(a) a finger-worn device; and

(b) a stylus,

wherein at least one of said finger-worn device and said stylus has means for connecting to the other.

6. A system comprising:

(a) a finger-worn device having means for distorting sound of voice; and

(b) means for sensing sound of voice distorted by said means for distorting sound of voice; and

(c) means for registering sound of voice as input.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising means for distinguishing between sound of voice and sound of voice distorted by said means for distorting sound of voice

8. A method for registering input comprising the steps of:

(a) finger-worn device distorting sound of voice spoken generally near mouth; and

(b) sensing sound of voice distorted by said finger-worn device; and

(c) identifying distortion in sensed sound of voice.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of operating said finger-worn device.

10. A method for selecting an interface item comprising the steps of

(a) touching a first object displayed on a touch-screen;

and

(b) touching a second object displayed on said touch-screen; and

(c) operating a finger-worn device.

11. A method for adjusting a value in an interface comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting touch on an object displayed on a touch-screen; and

(b) displaying a menu on said touch-screen; and

(c) detecting touch on an item of said menu; and

(d) operating a finger-worn device.

12. A method for executing a command in an interface comprising the steps of

(a) setting context for input from a finger-worn, device;

and

(b) sensing operation of said finger-worn device; and

(c) recognizing operation of said finger-worn device; and

(d) registering input corresponding to said operation.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of providing a tactile indication for said context for input.

14. A method for performing a function in an interface of a touch-screen comprising the steps of

(a) changing a state of an item of said interface by operating a finger-worn device in a first manner;

and

(b) interacting with said item by touching said touch-screen; and

(c) changing a state of said item by operating said finger-worn device in a second manner.

15. A method for estimating the location of a tip of a finger comprising the steps of

(a) detecting the location of a finger-worn device worn on said finger;

and

(b) detecting the direction of said finger-worn device.