Sensors for Electronic Finger Devices

• US 20190310713A1
• Filed: 09/19/2018
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2018
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Paul X., Lehmann, Alex J., Sun, Tianjia, Jo, Yoonhoo, Sun, Hongcheng
• Application Number:
  US16/136,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20190310713A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• 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 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• 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 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/039 Accessories therefor, e.g. mouse pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0393 Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads

Abstract

A system may include one or more finger-mounted devices such as finger devices with U-shaped housings configured to be mounted on a user'"'"'s fingers while gathering sensor input and supplying haptic output. The sensors may include strain gauge circuitry mounted on elongated arms of the housing. When the arms move due to finger forces, the strain gauge circuitry can measure the arm movement. The sensors may also include ultrasonic sensors. An ultrasonic sensor may have an ultrasonic signal emitter and a corresponding ultrasonic signal detector configured to detect the ultrasonic signals after passing through a user'"'"'s finger. A two-dimensional ultrasonic sensor may capture ultrasonic images of a user'"'"'s finger pad. Ultrasonic proximity sensors may be used to measure distances between finger devices and external surfaces. Optical sensors and other sensors may also be used in the finger devices.

Claims

1. A finger device configured to be worn on a finger of a user, comprising:

a housing configured to be coupled to the finger without covering a lower finger pad surface of the finger;

an ultrasonic sensor coupled to the housing; and

control circuitry configured to gather input from the sensor as the finger moves and configured to provide haptic output to the finger using the haptic output device.

2. The finger device defined in claim 1 wherein the housing has a U shape with first and second opposing sides configured to rest respectively on first and second opposing sides of the finger, wherein the ultrasonic sensor comprises a two-dimensional ultrasonic imaging sensor, wherein the finger device further comprises a haptic output device, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to supply haptic output to the finger using the haptic output device.

3. The finger device defined in claim 2 wherein the ultrasonic sensor is mounted on the first side.

4. The finger device defined in claim 1 wherein the housing has a U shape with first and second opposing sides configured to rest respectively on first and second opposing sides of the finger.

5. The finger device defined in claim 4 wherein the ultrasonic sensor comprises an ultrasonic signal emitter and an ultrasonic signal detector.

6. The finger device defined in claim 5 wherein the ultrasonic signal emitter is mounted to the first side and wherein the ultrasonic signal detector is mounted to the second side.

7. The finger device defined in claim 4 wherein the housing extends along a longitudinal axis of the finger and wherein the ultrasonic sensor comprises an ultrasonic signal emitter coupled to the first side and configured to emit ultrasonic signals along the longitudinal axis.

8. The finger device defined in claim 4 wherein the housing extends along a longitudinal axis of the finger and wherein the ultrasonic sensor comprises an ultrasonic signal emitter coupled to the first side and configured to emit ultrasonic signals along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

9. The finger device defined in claim 4 wherein the first and second sides have respective first and second curved cross-sectional profiles.

10. A finger device configured to be worn on a finger of a user, comprising:

a U-shaped housing having first and second portions configured to rest respectively on first and second opposing sides of the finger without covering a lower finger pad surface of the finger, wherein the first and second portions have respective first and second elongated arms that rest against the finger; and

strain gauge circuitry configured to receive strain measurements as the first and second elongated arms bend.

11. The finger device defined in claim 10 further comprising:

a haptic output device coupled to the U-shaped housing; and

control circuitry configured to gather the strain measurements from the strain gauge circuitry as the finger moves and configured to provide haptic output to the finger using the haptic output device.

12. The finger device defined in claim 11 wherein the first and second elongated arms each have a curved cross-sectional profile.

13. The finger device defined in claim 12 wherein the first and second elongated arms each have a bent tip that wraps partway around a tip of the finger.

14. The finger device defined in claim 13 wherein the U-shaped housing has a longitudinal axis and wherein the first and second elongated arms extend parallel to the longitudinal axis.

15. The finger device defined in claim 14 wherein the U-shaped housing has a first slot adjacent to the first elongated arm and a second slot adjacent to the second elongated arm.

16. The finger device defined in claim 15 wherein the U-shaped housing has third and fourth arms with curved profiles that extend partly under respective left and right sides of the finger.

17. The finger device defined in claim 13 wherein the U-shaped housing has a longitudinal axis and wherein the first and second elongated arms extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.

18. The finger device defined in claim 10 further comprising an elastomeric member coupled to the U-shaped housing that is configured to contact side portions of the finger without contacting the lower finger pad surface of the finger.

19. A finger device configured to be worn on a finger of a user, comprising:

a housing having first and second portions configured to rest respectively on first and second opposing sides of the finger while leaving a finger pad surface of the finger exposed;

a haptic output device coupled to the housing; and

an optical sensor; and

control circuitry configured to provide haptic output to the finger using the haptic output device based on measurements from the optical sensor.

20. The finger device defined in claim 19 wherein the optical sensor is coupled to the first portion and comprises:

a light-emitting device configured to emit light; and

a light-detecting device configured to measure the emitted light, wherein the control circuitry is configured to provide the haptic output based on measurements of the emitted light by the light-detecting device.

21. The finger device defined in claim 19 wherein the optical sensor includes a light emitter and a light detector configured to detect emitted light from the light emitter that has passed through the finger.

22. The finger device defined in claim 21 wherein the light emitter comprises a light-emitting diode.

23. The finger device defined in claim 19 wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect color changes in the finger.