Sensor glove

• US 7,862,522 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2006
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Barclay, PerformRx, LLC
• Original Assignee: David Barclay
• Inventors: Silver, Glenn, Versteegh, Johan, Barclay, David, Lanoil, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): HENSON, DEVIN B
• Application Number:
  US11/501,547
• Time in Patent Office: 1,610 Days
• Field of Search: 600/595, 7337901-37903, 738/654, 601/33, 601/40, 335/12, 482/44, 482/47, 623/57, 623/64, 901 1- 18, 414 2- 7
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6806 Gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves

Abstract

A Sensor glove is an instrument, in the same way that a piano is an instrument. The Sensor glove is purchased and the owner then learns to use it and the sensors therein to develop the performance of a sound, character or model, or to “conduct” or “play” the sensor movements and experience the response of the model in real time. Several performers with a number of the Sensor glove can control over 200 motors or hundreds of control points on a character at one time, manipulate audio data, or computer images etc. The characteristics of the sensors on the gloves can be adjusted to the needs and demands of the wearer or the many performer and wearers in those venues where multiple performers are used with many gloves to control or produce the motions and sounds of many distinct characters in a screen play.

Claims

1. A sensor glove worn on the fingers and hand of a performer, for providing analog signals representing the motion of one or more fingers in the glove, the sensor glove comprising:

a palmer region, and

at least one finger region, the finger region being worn on a finger, the finger region being attached to the palmer region, the finger region and palmer region each having

a corresponding palmer surface and

a dorsal surface,

a rigid reference base, the rigid reference base having a top surface and an underside, the rigid reference base underside being coupled to the dorsal surface of the palmer region,

a mechanical link and means for coupling motion between the dorsal surface of the finger region and the rigid reference base to a control input for a pot to change the resistance of the pot in response to a bending motion of the finger in the finger region with respect to the rigid reference base,

a mechanical link and means for translating a first and second degree of freedom motion of the thumb with respect to the rigid reference base into a thumb control signal, and

a rigid flap, the rigid flap having an upper and lower surface, a first force sensitive resistor being coupled to the rigid flap upper surface, the rigid flap being pivotally coupled to the rigid reference base on a rotational axis transverse to the extended direction of a finger, the force sensitive resistor being positioned on the rigid flap upper surface at a location under the finger, the rigid flap lower side being supported or raised by motion of the thumb to permit the finger to provide a force to the first force sensitive resistor to change the resistance of the first force sensitive resistor in response to an increase in pressure between the thumb and the finger with the rigid flap and force sensitive resistor therebetween.

2. The sensor glove of claim 1 further comprising:

an index finger region for receiving the index finger, the sensor glove having

a vertical motion sensing pot having a case coupled to the top of the rigid reference base and an input axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, the input axis of the vertical sensing pot being above the top surface of the rigid reference base, the vertical sensing pot input axis having a shaft with a bell crank there on, a link coupling the distal surface of the finger region of the index finger with an arm of the bell crank to provide rotational motion in a vertical plane to the input axis shaft in response to vertical motion of the top surface of the index finger region, and

a horizontal motion sensing pot having a case coupled to a vertical flange, the vertical flange being integrally coupled to the top of the rigid reference base, the horizontal motion sensing pot having an input axis normal to the plane of the palmer region,

the input axis of the horizontal sensing pot having a shaft with a bell crank there on, a link coupling the distal surface of the finger region of the index finger with an arm of the horizontal sensing pot bell crank to provide rotational motion in a horizontal plane to the input axis shaft in response to horizontal motion of the top surface of the index finger region.

3. The sensor glove of claim 1 further comprising:

means for independently sensing vertical motion of the thumb with respect to the top surface of the rigid reference base and

means for independently sensing horizontal motion of the thumb with respect to the top surface of the rigid reference base further comprising;

a frame for mounting and holding

a bearing rod in horizontal relation with the top surface of the rigid reference base, the bearing rod being positioned in substantially co-parallel relation and displaced to be on the thumb side of the top surface of the rigid reference base,

a swing plate having a displaced bore for receiving the bearing rod, the swing plate being free to rotate on the bearing rod in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rigid reference base, the plate having a swing plate bearing with an axis normal to the plane of the swing plate,

an L-bracket coupled to the swing plate by the swing plate bearing positioned in an upper region of the L-bracket, the lower region of the L-bracket being formed to extend in the direction of the thumb, the L-bracket being free to rotate on the swing plate bearing in the plane of the swing plate, the lower region of the L-bracket having a distal end positioned along the length of the thumb and a proximal end under the swing plate bearing

a link of wire flexibly coupling the distal end of the L-bracket to the thumb finger region, the wire transferring motion of the thumb finger region in the vertical plane and in the horizontal plane to the distal end of the L-bracket,

a thumb motion bell crank supported and free to pivot on the bearing rod, the thumb motion bell crank having a vertical pivot bore and a horizontal transfer bore, and

a ball linkage rod having a ball linkage on a lower end coupled to the L-bracket and a ball linkage on an upper end coupled to the vertical pivot bore in the thumb motion bell crank.

4. The sensor glove of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one bend sensor, each bend sensor being mechanically coupled to the dorsal side of a finger region, each said bend sensor being positioned to be in close proximity to a sense location for providing a fine bend signal characterizing a bend motion of the glove finger region corresponding to the sense location.

5. A sensor glove worn on the fingers and hand of a performer, for providing analog signals representing the motion of one or more fingers in the glove, the sensor glove comprising:

a palmer region, and

at least one finger region, the finger region being worn on a finger, the finger region being attached to the palmer region, the finger region and palmer region each having

a corresponding palmer surface and

a dorsal surface,

a rigid reference base, the rigid reference base having a top surface and an underside, the rigid reference base underside being coupled to the dorsal surface of the palmer region,

a mechanical link and means for coupling motion between the dorsal surface of the finger region and the rigid reference base to a control input for a pot to change the resistance of the pot in response to a bending motion of the finger in the finger region with respect to the rigid reference base,

a mechanical link and means for translating a first and second degree of freedom motion of the thumb with respect to the rigid reference base into a thumb control signal,

a rigid flap, the rigid flap having an upper and lower surface, a first force sensitive resistor being coupled to the rigid flap upper surface, the rigid flap being pivotally coupled to the rigid reference base on a rotational axis transverse to the extended direction of a finger, the force sensitive resistor being positioned on the rigid flap upper surface at a location under the finger, the rigid flap lower side being supported or raised by motion of the thumb to permit the finger to provide a force to the first force sensitive resistor to change the resistance of the first force sensitive resistor in response to an increase in pressure between the thumb and the finger with the rigid flap and force sensitive resistor therebetween,

means for independently sensing vertical motion of the thumb with respect to the top surface of the rigid reference base and

means for independently sensing horizontal motion of the thumb with respect to the top surface of the rigid reference base, and for providing a vertical thumb motion signal and a horizontal thumb motion signal to a signal conditioner.

6. A sensor glove worn on the fingers and hand of a performer, for providing analog signals representing the motion of one or more fingers in the glove, the sensor glove comprising:

a palmer region, and

at least one finger region, the finger region being worn on a finger, the finger region being attached to the palmer region, the finger region and palmer region each having

a corresponding palmer surface and

a dorsal surface,

a rigid reference base having a longitudinal axis extending from the palmer region to

a wrist region, the wrist region extending to cover the base ends of the metacarpal bones rearward beyond and covering the scaphoid and lunate bones,

the rigid reference base having a top surface and an underside,

the rigid reference base underside being coupled to the dorsal surface of the palmer region, the rigid reference base covering the palmer region and having integral fight and left flanges extending downward below the dorsal surface of the palmer region covering the hand, and rearward to a proximal end terminating after the wrist region,

a radial bar pivotally coupled to a first pivot axis transverse to and passing through the proximal end of the fight and left flanges of the rigid reference base,

an arm plate having a longitudinal axis extending from a distal end pivotally coupled to the radial bar and a proximal end attached to the dorsal side of the glove,

an accelerometer having at least a first sensitive axis, the accelerometer being coupled to the arm plate to provide at least a first acceleration signal corresponding to acceleration experienced along its first sensitive axis, the sensitive axis of the accelerometer being fixed to the longitudinal axis of the arm plate and the forearm, the sensitive axis of the accelerometer being substantially decoupled from rotation of the hand with respect to the forearm by operation of the pivot coupling at the distal end of the arm plate, and

a rigid flap, the rigid flap having an upper and lower surface, a first force sensitive resistor being coupled to the rigid flap upper surface, the rigid flap being pivotally coupled to the rigid reference base on a rotational axis transverse to the extended direction of a finger, the force sensitive resistor being positioned on the rigid flap upper surface at a location under the finger, the rigid flap lower side being supported or raised by motion of the thumb to permit the finger to provide a force to the first force sensitive resistor to change the resistance of the first force sensitive resistor in response to an increase in pressure between the thumb and the finger with the rigid flap and force sensitive resistor therebetween.

7. The sensor glove of claim 6 further comprising:

means for independently sensing vertical and horizontal motion of the thumb with respect to the top surface of the rigid reference base and

means for independently sensing horizontal motion of the thumb with respect to the top surface of the rigid reference base further comprising;

a frame for mounting and holding

a bearing rod in horizontal relation with the top surface of the rigid reference base, the bearing rod being positioned in substantially co-parallel relation and displaced to be on the thumb side of the top surface of the rigid reference base,

a swing plate having a displaced bore for receiving the bearing rod, the swing plate being free to rotate on the bearing rod in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rigid reference base, the plate having a swing plate bearing with an axis normal to the plane of the swing plate,

an L-bracket coupled to the swing plate by the swing plate bearing positioned in an upper region of the L-bracket, the lower region of the L-bracket being formed to extend in the direction of the thumb, the L-bracket being free to rotate on the swing plate bearing in the plane of the swing plate, the lower region of the L-bracket having a distal end positioned along the length of the thumb and a proximal end under the swing plate bearing

a link of wire flexibly coupling the distal end of the L-bracket to the thumb finger region, the wire transferring motion of the thumb finger region in the vertical plane and in the horizontal plane to the distal end of the L-bracket,

a thumb motion bell crank supported and free to pivot on the bearing rod, the thumb motion bell crank having a vertical pivot bore and a horizontal transfer bore, and

a ball linkage rod having a ball linkage on a lower end coupled to the L-bracket and a ball linkage on an upper end coupled to the vertical pivot bore in the thumb motion bell crank.

8. A sensor glove worn on the fingers and hand of a performer, for providing analog signals representing the motion of one or more fingers in the glove, the sensor glove comprising:

a palmer region, and

at lease one finger region, the finger region being worn on a finger of the performer, the finger region being attached to the palmer region, the finger region and palmer region each having

a corresponding palmer surface and

a dorsal surface,

a rigid reference base having a longitudinal axis extending from the palmer region to

a wrist region, the wrist region extending to cover the base ends of the metacarpal bones rearward beyond and covering the performer'"'"'s scaphoid and lunate bones,

a rigid reference base having a top surface and an underside,

the rigid reference base underside being coupled to the dorsal surface of a palmer region of the rigid reference base covering the palmer region and having integral fight and left flanges extending downward below the dorsal surface of the hand, and rearward to a proximal end terminating after the wrist region,

a mechanical link means for independently translating a first and second degree of freedom motion of the thumb with respect to the rigid reference base into independent first and a second thumb control signals the mechanical link means further comprising;

a frame for mounting and holding a bearing rod in horizontal relation with the top surface of the rigid reference base, the bearing rod being positioned in substantially co-parallel relation and displaced to be on the thumb side of the top surface of the rigid reference base,

a swing plate having a displaced bore for receiving the bearing rod, the swing plate being free to rotate on the bearing rod in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rigid reference base, the plate having a swing plate bearing with an axis normal to the plane of the swing plate,

an L-bracket coupled to the swing plate by the swing plate bearing positioned in an upper region of the L-bracket, the lower region of the L-bracket being formed to extend in the direction of the thumb, the L-bracket being free to rotate on the swing plate bearing in the plane of the swing plate, the lower region of the L-bracket having a distal end positioned along the length of the thumb and a proximal end under the swing plate bearing

a link of wire flexibly coupling the distal end of the L-bracket to the thumb finger region, the wire transferring motion of the thumb finger region in the vertical plane and in the horizontal plane to the distal end of the L-bracket,

a thumb motion bell crank supported and free to pivot on the bearing rod, the thumb motion bell crank having a vertical pivot bore and a horizontal transfer bore, and

a ball linkage rod having a ball linkage on a lower end coupled to the L-bracket and a ball linkage on an upper end coupled to the vertical pivot bore in the thumb motion bell crank.