System for data management based onhand gestures

• US 6,049,327 A
• Filed: 04/23/1997
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Modern Cartoons Limited
• Original Assignee: Modern Cartoons Limited
• Inventors: Baheshti, Babak, Walker, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Dennis-Doon
• Assistant Examiner(s): AWAD, AMR A
• Application Number:
  US08/838,938
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 600/595, 341/20
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/20 formed by printed-circuit technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/287 using a plurality of fixed, simultaneously operating transducers G01B7/293 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves

Abstract

A system is provided for manipulating computer generated animation in real time, such as a virtual reality program running on a computer. The system includes a data glove for managing data based on an operator'"'"'s hand gestures. The invented data glove comprises an elastic material that closely matches the shape of a wearer'"'"'s hand, enabling the wearer to move their hand freely. A movement sensing unit is provided for sensing any hand gestures of the wearer. The movement sensing unit comprises a flexible circuit board that extends along the dorsal region of the wearer'"'"'s fingers and hand. The circuit board includes a base with a signal processor for processing received signals generated by a plurality of movement sensors. The sensors transmit signals to the processor for determining any movement of the wearer'"'"'s hand. The sensors have a resistive material disposed on each side thereof, so that any flexure of the sensor causes the resistance values to diverge, preferably linearly. The resistance values on each side of the sensor diverge to a value corresponding to the degree of flexure of the sensor. A reference voltage is applied to each side of the sensor for establishing a voltage differential between its two sides. Any flexure of the sensor causes the resistance value of each side to change, for changing the reference voltage level between the two sides to indicate that the sensor has been flexed and the degree of flexure.

Claims

1. A device for measuring flexure comprising:

a printed flexible circuit board having a base region and a plurality of sensor electrodes extending outwardly therefrom, each of the sensors having a first side and a second side;

a layer of resistive material applied to each side of each of the sensor electrodes without mechanical connections, the resistive material applied to each side of the electrode, such that each side thereof has a similar resistance value when the sensor is in an initial position;

a power source for applying a different voltage level to each side of each sensor for establishing a voltage differential between the two sides and an initial voltage potential on each sensor,

said circuit board, said sensor electrodes, and said resistive material forming an integral unit;

wherein the layer of resistive material applied to each side of each sensor, without mechanical connections, comprises a variable resistance material that increases and decreases in value linearly in response to flexures thereof, such that each layer of resistive material has a similar resistance value when the sensor is in an initial position, the resistance material adapted to diverge in a linear manner upon any flexure of the sensor for shifting the voltage potential linearly to indicate flexure of the electrode and degree of flexure relative to the initial position thereof and wherein each layer of resistive material comprises a graphite based paint ranging in thickness from approximately 0.00025 inch to approximately 0.0010 inch.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

signal processing means for processing signals generated by the sensor electrodes, the sensor being of unitary construction, and said processing means being proximally located in relation to said sensor electrodes;

flexible conductor means for coupling the electrodes to the processing means, the conductor means comprising a pliable material for repeatedly flexing the conductor means without causing harm thereto; and

means for transmitting processed signals from the signal processing means to a computing means.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensor electrodes comprise elongated portions of flexible circuit board, the flexible printed circuit board comprising a first layer and a second layer of a flexible insulating material with the flexible conductor means interposed there between, the conductor means comprising a layer of copper having a selected thickness enabling the copper to be repeatedly flexed.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the copper conductor of each of the sensor electrodes is centered along its length, in relation to the first and second layer of insulating means, for balancing the copper to reduce strain thereon enabling the copper to be repeatedly flexed.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the electrode sensors are approximately 0.010 inch thick.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein the electrode sensors are at least 0.010 inch thick.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

data transmission means for transmitting signals generated by the sensors to a computing means; and

a sensor provided for sensing movement of each digit of the hand of the wearer, the electrodes generating signals determined by the flexure thereof to provide data representative of the hand gestures of the wearer to the computing means.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the resistive material comprises a variable resistance material that increases and decreases in resistive value linearly in response to flexures thereof, such that the resistance material has its initial resistance value when the electrode is in the initial position, the resistance value of the material adapted to increase and decrease linearly upon adduction and abduction of the hand inducing analogous flexure of the sensors, the changing resistance value shifting the voltage potential on the electrode linearly to indicate flexure of the electrode and degree of flexure relative to the initial position thereof.

9. The device of claim 3 wherein the conductor means comprises a layer of copper having a selected thickness for enabling the copper to be repeatedly flexed, the copper conductor of each of the sensors being perfectly centered along the length of the sensor for balancing the copper to reduce strain thereon enabling the copper to be repeatedly flexed.

10. A data management device for managing data based on an operator'"'"'s hand gestures, the device comprising:

a glove for coupling the device to a hand of a wearer;

a flexible circuit board coupled to the glove and interposed between a dorsal region of the hand of the wearer and the glove, the circuit board having a base region and a plurality of sensor electrodes of non-mechanical construction;

a layer of variable resistance resistive material applied to each side of each of the electrodes by non-mechanical means so that each side thereof has a common resistance value when the sensor electrode is in an initial position, the common resistance value of the resistive material diverging upon flexure thereof for indicating flexure of the sensor, wherein the resistance value of the material on one side of the sensor decreases, while the resistance on the other side increases, the resistance values on each side of the sensor diverging to a value corresponding to the degree of flexure of the sensor;

a power source for applying a different voltage level to each side of each sensor establishing a voltage differential between the two sides and an initial voltage potential on each sensor, wherein hand gestures by the wearer cause flexure of at least one of the sensors causing the resistance value of the material thereon to change, the changing resistance value shifting the initial voltage potential thereon for indicating flexure of the sensor representative of the hand gesture;

wherein each layer of non-mechanical applied resistive material comprises a variable resistance material that increases and decreases in resistive value linearly in response to flexures thereof, the common resistance value of the resistive material on each sensor diverges linearly upon adduction and abduction of the hand inducing analogous flexure of the sensors, the changing resistance value of the variable resistance material shifting the voltage potential on the sensor linearly to indicate flexure of the sensor and degree of flexure relative to the initial position thereof, the resistive value of the resistance material increasing and decreasing only during flexure of the sensors for shifting the voltage potential only during flexure of the sensors;

data transmission means for transmitting signals generated by the sensors to a computer means, and signal processing means coupled to the base region of the circuit board, the processing means for processing signals generated by the sensors to generate data representative of the hand gestures of the hand of the wearer for transmitting the date to the computing means with the transmission means; and

flexible conductor means for coupling the sensors to the processing means, the conductor means comprising a pliable metal enabling repeated flexure thereof;

the flexible circuit board comprising a first layer and a second layer of a flexible insulating material with the conductor means interposed there between.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein a sensor lacking any mechanically moving parts is provided for sensing movement of each digit of the hand of the wearer, the sensors comprising elongated portions of the flexible circuit board configured to extend along the dorsal region of each of the digits.

12. The device of claim 11 further comprising a sensor for sensing movement in at least one region of the hand, a sensed region extending along a web between two of the digits of the hand of the wearer.

13. The device of claim 12 further comprising a sensor for sensing movement in selected regions of the hand, one of the selected sensed regions extending along the web between the thumb and the index finger and another one of the selected sensed regions extending along the web between two of the remaining digits of the hand of the wearer.

14. The device of claim 10 wherein the glove has an aperture extending along a dorsal side thereof configured to retain the flexible circuit board therein, the circuit board lacking any mechanically moving parts, the circuit board retained in the aperture for preventing the circuit board from contacting the hand and for preventing the circuit board from inadvertently contacting external objects for inhibiting harm from coming to the circuit board.

15. The device of claim 10 wherein the glove comprises a substantially elastic material for conforming to the hand of the wearer while enabling freedom of movement thereof in conjunction with the flexible circuit board of unitary construction.