Muscle stretch sensor

• US 7,520,864 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Tu, Mao-Feng, Yeh, Syh-Shiuh, Sun, Chin-Chu
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOEKSTRA, JEFFREY GERBEN
• Application Number:
  US11/067,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20060149167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 600/587, 600/595, 600/372, 600/384, 600/391, 623 24- 25
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0261 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence

Abstract

The methods and devices of a multi-functional operating interface for a care-taking machine. The multi-functional operating interface of the care-taking machine includes: muscle stretch sensor, multiplexer amplifying wave filter, analog-to-digital signal converter, image processing unit, and muscle pattern database and control bus. Aided by the present muscle template training method and potential image data collecting and processing method, it can become an interface that offers the user of a care-taking machine instantaneous and unlimited controllability of the machine, enabling such people, either sick or handicapped, to enjoy more convenience and better life.

Claims

1. A multi-functional care-taking machine interface that provides a user with operation, wherein the interface comprises:

a muscle stretch sensor, comprising;

a sub-layer, made of a resilient material, attached to any moveable parts of the user;

an attachment layer, attached to a surface of said sub-layer;

a plurality of strain gauges, attached on top of said attachment layer in an array, for detecting the deformation of any movable part of a body of the user to generate corresponding electric signals;

a stimulation source, which provides stimulations for said strain gauges;

a plurality of cables, which connect said strain gauges with said stimulation source and said signal bus; and

a cover layer, which covers said attachment layer, said strain gauges, said stimulation source, said signal bus, and said cables to prevent contamination and damage;

a multiplexer amplifying filter amplifying and filtering the electric signals generated by said strain gauges and output analog signals, wherein said multiplexer amplifying filter further comprises;

a stimulation circuit providing said stimulation source;

a detecting and amplifying circuit converting mechanical strains into electric signals and amplifying the electric signals, wherein said detecting and amplifying circuit further comprises;

a quarter bridge circuit, converting the mechanical strains into electric signals;

a detect amplifying circuit, which further comprises a plurality of detect amplifiers that amplify the detected electric signals; and

an operational amplifier circuit, which further comprises an operational amplifier that re-amplifies the detected electric signals;

a multiplex circuit activating scanning; and

an analog multiplexer and de-multiplexer circuit receiving commands from the multiplex circuit to activate scanning;

an analog-to-digital converter converting the analog signals outputted by said multiplexer amplifying filter into digital electric signals;

an image processing unit arranging and converting said digital electric signal into gray level potential images, processing the images and highlighting their characteristics;

a muscle template database storing movement characteristics, and passing the movement characteristics to said image processing unit for further tallying so that corresponding commands can be given; and

a control bus receiving said commands, and passing said commands to any one of related interfaces, signal converting units, and other control units.

2. The multi-functional care-taking machine interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control bus is connected to software interfaces, internet transceivers, digital-to-analog converters, analog controllers, or digital controllers.

3. The multi-functional care-taking machine interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein a number and arrangement of said strain gauges is adjusted based on convenience and freedom of control.

4. The multi-functional care-taking machine interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stimulation circuit further comprises:

at least a rectifier diode, at least a precision operational amplifier, and at least a high output current outputting operational amplifier.

5. The multi-functional care-taking machine interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein a multiplexer address circuit comprises said analog multiplexer and de-multiplexer circuit.

6. The multi-functional care-taking machine interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stimulation source produced by said stimulation circuit is used by said detecting and amplifying circuit.

7. The multi-functional care-taking machine interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detecting and amplifying circuit is utilized in parallel.

8. The multi-functional care-taking machine interface as claimed in claim 7, wherein outputs of said operational amplifier circuit is transmitted to the analog multiplexer and de-multiplexer circuit to wait for commands from the multiplexer address circuit to conduct scanning.