Hall-effect finger-mounted computer input device

• US 8,246,462 B1
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Tran, Nghia, Blackburn, Michael R., Phan, Hoa V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richards, N Drew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dulka, John P
• Application Number:
  US12/476,301
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37, 345/158, 345/181
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 52/00 Hall-effect devices integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10N59/00

Abstract

A Hall-effect system for providing inputs into a processor includes at least one magnet for establishing a magnetic field, a remote sensor unit and a receive station. The magnet is sized and adapted to be worn on a user'"'"'s finger, while the remote sensor unit is adapted to be worn on a user'"'"'s thumb. The remote sensor unit includes a Hall-effect sensor that senses changes in the magnetic field due to the motion of the magnet relative to the Hall-effect sensor. The Hall-effect sensor detects the magnetic field changes, and the remote sensor unit generates a sensor output corresponding to the magnetic field changes. The receive station is connected to the processor. The receive station receives the output from the remote sensor unit and converts the sensor output into an input for the processor.

Claims

1. A device for providing inputs to a processor comprising:

at least one magnet adapted to be worn at the extremity of one of a user'"'"'s finger or a user'"'"'s thumb, said magnet for establishing a magnetic field;

a remote sensor unit adapted to be worn at the extremity of the other of said user'"'"'s finger or said user'"'"'s thumb, said remote sensor unit including a Hall-effect sensor for sensing changes in said magnetic field due to motion of said magnet as said finger and

said thumb are moved while in direct contact with each other, said remote sensor unit generating a sensor output corresponding to said changes in said magnetic field;

said remote sensor unit further including a microtransmitter and a microcontroller incorporated therein, and,

a receive station connected to said processor, said receive station receiving said sensor output, and converting said sensor output into an input for said processor during operation of said device.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a power source incorporated into said remote sensor unit for selective activation of said Hall-effect sensor.

3. A method for providing inputs to a processor, said method comprising the steps of:

A) establishing a magnetic field with a magnet that is adapted to be worn at the extremity of one of a user'"'"'s finger or a user'"'"'s thumb;

B) sensing Hall-effect changes in said magnetic field due to motion of said magnet with a remote sensor unit, said remote sensor unit being adapted to be worn at the extremity of the other said user'"'"'s finger or said user'"'"'s thumb;

C) generating a sensor output with said remote sensor unit by rubbing said thumb and said finger together, said sensor output corresponding to said changes in said magnetic field said generating step accomplished using a microcontroller incorporated within said remote sensing unit;

D) transmitting said sensor output to a receive station that is connected to said processor, said transmitting step accomplished using a microtransmitter incorporated within said remote sensing unit; and

,

E) converting said sensor output into an input for said processor, said step E) being accomplished simultaneously with said step C) and said step D).

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

F) incorporating a power source into said remote sensor unit for selective accomplishment of step B) and step C).