Wrist Worn Platform for Sensors

• US 20150035743A1
• Filed: 07/31/2013
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Rosener, Douglas K.
• Application Number:
  US13/956,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20150035743A1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for sensors are disclosed. In one example, a sensor system includes a wrist worn apparatus and a plurality of sensors. The wrist worn apparatus includes a communications interface, a user interface, a processor, and a memory including an application to receive a sensor data. The plurality of sensors are configured to send sensor data to the wrist worn apparatus. In one example, each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to be worn on a user finger.

Claims

1. A sensor system comprising:

a wrist worn apparatus comprising;

a wireless communications interface;

a wired communications interface;

a plurality of sensors;

a user interface;

a processor;

a memory comprising an application to receive a sensor data; and

a plurality of motion sensors coupled to the wired communications interface, wherein each motion sensor of the plurality of motion sensors is configured to be worn on a user finger.

2. The sensor system of claim 1, further comprising one or more wireless sensors configured to transmit a wireless sensor data to the wireless communications interface.

3. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein a sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to detect a user wrist or forearm orientation.

4. The sensor system of claim 3, wherein the user wrist or forearm orientation is along an x-axis direction, y-axis direction, or z-axis direction.

5. The sensor system of claim 3, wherein the user wrist or forearm orientation is a forearm ventral side facing the user or a forearm dorsal side facing the user.

6. The sensor system of claim 1, further comprising a switch configured for one handed operation coupled to the wired communications interface, wherein the switch is configured to be worn on a user finger and operated by a user finger.

7. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the application is configured to process the sensor data to determine a finger motion relative to a user hand or user wrist motion or position.

8. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the application is configured to transmit the sensor data to a computer via the wireless communications interface.

9. A wrist worn sensor hub comprising:

a wireless communications interface configured to receive a first sensor data from one or more wireless sensors;

a wired communications interface configured to receive a second sensor data from one or more wired sensors;

one or more onboard sensors disposed on the wrist worn sensor hub configured to output a third sensor data;

a user interface;

a processor; and

a memory comprising an application to receive the first sensor data, the second sensor data, and the third sensor data.

10. The wrist worn sensor hub of claim 9, further comprising an I2C data bus configured to receive the first sensor data, second sensor data, or third sensor data.

11. The wrist worn sensor hub of claim 9, wherein the second sensor data comprises motion data associated with a first user finger, second user finger, third user finger, fourth user finger and fifth user finger.

12. The wrist worn sensor hub of claim 9, wherein the application is configured to process the third sensor data to detect whether the wrist worn sensor hub is worn or not worn on a user wrist.

13. The wrist worn sensor hub of claim 9, wherein the one or more onboard sensors comprise an ambient light sensor, a pulse sensor, a capacitive sensor, a pressure sensor, a motion sensor, a conductivity sensor, a skin temperature sensor, or a humidity sensor.

14. The wrist worn sensor hub of claim 9, wherein the first sensor data, second sensor data, or third sensor data is capable of being processed to detect a user wrist or forearm orientation.

15. The wrist worn sensor hub of claim 9, wherein the user interface comprises:

a microphone and a speaker.

16. The wrist worn sensor hub of claim 9, wherein the application is configured to activate or deactivate one or more wrist worn sensor hub components responsive to the first sensor data, second sensor data, or third sensor data.

17. The wrist worn sensor hub of claim 9, wherein the one or more wired sensors or one or more wireless sensors are disposed in the fingers of a user-wearable glove.

18. The wrist worn sensor hub of claim 9, wherein the one or more wired sensors or one or more wireless sensors comprise a hand sensor configured to be worn on a user hand.

19. The wrist worn sensor hub of claim 9, wherein the application is configured to process the first sensor data, second sensor data, or third sensor data to determine a finger motion relative to a user hand or user wrist motion or position.

20. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more computers, cause the one more computers to perform operations comprising:

receiving a motion sensor data at a wrist worn apparatus associated with movement of one or more user fingers;

transmitting the motion sensor data to a computing device;

processing the motion sensor data at the computing device to identify a user action; and

performing an action at an application executing on the computing device responsive to the user action.

21. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 20, wherein the motion sensor data is received at the wrist worn apparatus via a wired communications interface.

22. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 20, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a sensor data operable to detect a user wrist or forearm orientation.

23. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 20, wherein receiving a motion data comprises receiving a first motion data associated with movement of a first user finger, receiving a first motion data associated with movement of a first user finger, receiving a second motion data associated with movement of a second user finger, receiving a third motion data associated with movement of a third user finger, receiving a fourth motion data associated with movement of a fourth user finger, and receiving a fifth motion data associated with movement of a fifth user finger.

24. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 20, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a sensor data operable to detect a user wrist or forearm orientation, and wherein processing the motion sensor data at the computing device comprises determining a finger motion relative to a user hand or user wrist motion or position.