Wearable Digital Input Device for Multipoint Free Space Data Collection and Analysis

• US 20120319940A1
• Filed: 05/15/2012
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel Bress, James Edward Dunstan, Mark Bernard Jacobs, Steven Bress
• Original Assignee: Daniel Bress, James Edward Dunstan, Mark Bernard Jacobs, Steven Bress
• Inventors: Bress, Daniel, Dunstan, James Edward, Bress, Steven, Jacobs, Mark Bernard
• Granted Patent: US 9,218,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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

Abstract

A new computer wearable input device, referred to as Imagine, may be used to control electronic devices in a natural, intuitive, convenient and comfortable manner, having a form factor which does not impede normal daily or business activities. For example, an Imagine may serve as an alternative to input devices such as a mouse, keyboard, or game controller. An Imagine device is able to recognize complex gestures, such as a person signing American Sign Language. An Imagine device may include a plurality of motion sensors affixed to a user'"'"'s fingers and a plurality of motion sensors affixed to a user'"'"'s wrists, a processing component and a communication component designed to communicate with a second electronic device.

Claims

1. A wearable digital input device comprising:

a. digit movement sensors configured to be worn on a plurality of digits, such that one sensor is affixed to one digit,

b. two wrist movement sensors configured to be worn on a wrist, one sensor on a right wrist and one sensor on a left wrist,

c. an input component configured to accept data from the movement sensors,

d. a processing component configured to interpret data from the movement sensors, and

e. an output component configured to output a signal from the processing component to an electronic device.

2. The wearable digital input device of claim one further comprising:

two hand sensors configured to be worn on the back of a palm, one sensor on the back of a right palm and one sensor on the back of a left palm.

3. The wearable digital input device of claim one wherein there are 10 digit movement sensors.

4. The wearable input device of claim one further comprising;

one or more movement sensors encased in a clip, designed to be positioned on a user'"'"'s clothes, belt, footwear, eyewear and/or headphones.

5. The wearable input device of claim one wherein a plurality of movement sensors include an accelerometer.

6. The wearable input device of claim one wherein a plurality of movement sensors include a gyroscope.

7. The wearable digital input device of claim one further comprising:

a switch useable by a second individual who is not wearing the digital input device for the purpose of indicating start/stop gesture input.

9. The wearable digital input device of claim seven wherein the switch is operable by a thumb.

8. The wearable digital input device of claim one further comprising:

a switch for the purpose of indicating start/stop gesture input.

10. The wearable digital input device of claim one wherein the processing component further includes:

logic and circuitry to identify when the device is not in use, and subsequently put the device is low power mode.

11. The wearable digital input device of claim one further comprising:

a user feedback component.

12. The wearable digital input device of claim one further comprising:

a gesture-based language translating component comprising;

a. logic and circuitry to interpret gestures to words,

b. audio files,

c. logic and circuitry to play an audio file which matches a gesture,

d. an audio speaker.

13. The wearable digital input device of claim one wherein the electronic device includes additional logic and circuitry configured to interpret the sensor data and output said sensor data in a predetermined format for a particular electronic device.

14. The wearable digital input device of claim one further comprising:

a plurality of movement sensors at specific locations, said specific locations to include head, foot, heel, ankle and elbow.

15. The wearable digital input device of claim thirteen wherein the head movement sensor is enclosed in an earring.

16. The wearable digital input device of claim one further comprising:

a plurality of movement sensors at non-specific locations, designed to be worn anywhere a user can make a controlled motion.

17. The wearable digital input device of claim fifteen wherein the movement sensors at non-specific locations are enclosed in body piercing jewelry.

18. The wearable digital input device of claim one further comprising:

a motion cancelling component, to eliminate the motion of a moving vehicle.

19. The wearable digital input device of claim one further comprising:

a microphone and associated logic and circuitry to allow voice input.

20. The wearable digital input device of claim one further comprising:

an e-field sensor.

21. The wearable digital input device of claim one wherein some digit movement sensors are proximity sensors.

22. The wearable digital input device of claim one wherein some digit movement sensors are light sensors.

23. The wearable digital input device of claim one wherein some digit movement sensors are magnetic sensors.

24. The wearable digital input device of claim one wherein the processing component is further configured to include a time component to the data from the movement sensors.

25. A wearable digital input device comprising:

a. digit movement sensors configured to be worn on a plurality of digits, on one hand, such that one sensor is affixed to one digit,

b. a wrist movement sensor configured to be worn on a wrist,

c. an input component configured to accept data from the movement sensors,

d. a processing component configured to interpret data from the movement sensors, and

e. an output component configured to output a signal from the processing component to an electronic device.