Motion sensor for detecting bending or pivoting
First Claim
1. A motion sensor comprising:
- a helically coiled member defining an internal open ended channel having a first open end portion opposite a second end portion and allowing the transmission of light therebetween, the helically coiled member being bendable when a lateral force is applied thereto;
a light emitter adjacent the first open end portion positioned to emit light into the channel for at least a portion of the light to travel through the channel toward the second open portion, at least a portion of the light traveling through the channel being reflected by the helically coiled member into the channel when the helically coiled member is bent; and
a light detector adjacent the second open end portion positioned to receive light that traveled through the channel, an amount of light received by the light detector varying depending at least in part on an amount by which the helically coiled member has been bent, and the light detector being further configured to transmit a signal indicating the amount of light received by the light detector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A motion sensor having a coiled member, light emitter, and light detector. The coiled member is bendable in response to lateral forces applied thereto. The coiled member defines an internal open ended channel having a first end opposite a second end. The emitter is adjacent the first end and emits light into the channel. At least a portion of that light travels through the channel toward the second portion. An amount of light reaching the detector is determined at least in part by how much the coiled member is bent. The detector is adjacent the second end and receives light from the channel. The detector is configured to transmit a signal indicating an amount of light received. The signal may be used by a motion capture system to animate a computer generated animation. Multiple motion sensors may be incorporated into a glove and positioned to detect bending of finger joints.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A motion sensor comprising:
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a helically coiled member defining an internal open ended channel having a first open end portion opposite a second end portion and allowing the transmission of light therebetween, the helically coiled member being bendable when a lateral force is applied thereto; a light emitter adjacent the first open end portion positioned to emit light into the channel for at least a portion of the light to travel through the channel toward the second open portion, at least a portion of the light traveling through the channel being reflected by the helically coiled member into the channel when the helically coiled member is bent; and a light detector adjacent the second open end portion positioned to receive light that traveled through the channel, an amount of light received by the light detector varying depending at least in part on an amount by which the helically coiled member has been bent, and the light detector being further configured to transmit a signal indicating the amount of light received by the light detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A bend sensor for use with a motion capture system, the bend sensor comprising:
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an elongated coil spring configured to deflect laterally in response to a laterally applied force and defining a longitudinally extending internal light transmitting channel; a light emitter adjacent one end of the coil spring positioned to emit light into the internal channel of the coil spring, at least a portion of the light being reflected by the coil spring into the internal channel when the coil spring is deflected laterally; and a light detector adjacent the other end of the coil spring positioned to receive light from the internal channel of the coil spring, an amount of light received from the internal channel of the coil spring varying depending at least in part on an amount by which the coil spring has been deflected laterally, and the light detector being further configured to transmit a signal to the motion capture system indicating an the amount of light received by from the internal channel of the coil spring.
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14. A system for use with a first member configured to pivot relative to a second member, the system comprising:
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a bend sensor comprising a helically coiled member having an interior channel, a first end couplable to the first member, and a second end couplable to the second member, the bend sensor further comprising a light emitter coupled to one of the first and second ends, and a light detector coupled to the other of the first and second ends, the light emitter emitting light into the interior channel, the helically coiled member being configured to bend laterally when (i) the first end is coupled to the first member, (ii) the second end is coupled to the second member, and (iii) the first member is pivoted relative to the second member, the helically coiled member being further configured to reflect at least a portion of the light into the interior channel when the helically coiled member is bent, an amount of light from the light emitter traveling through the interior channel and reaching the light detector varying based at least in part on an amount by which the helically coiled member is bent, the light detector being configured to transmit a signal encoding an indication of an amount of light received by the light detector; and a motion capture system configured to receive the signal transmitted by the light detector, identify a bend amount associated with the indication of the amount of light received by the light detector encoded in the signal, and animate a computer generated animation based on the bend amount. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A glove for use with a hand comprising a plurality of joints, the glove comprising:
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a bend sensor for each of the plurality of joints, each bend sensor being positionable adjacent a selected one of the joints and configured to transmit a signal indicating by how much the selected one of the joints is bent, each bend sensor comprising; a spring coiled about an interior channel, the spring being configured to bend when the selected one of the joints is bent; a light emitter positioned to emit light into the interior channel of the spring, at least a portion of the light being reflected by the spring into the interior channel when the spring is bent; and a light detector positioned to receive light from the interior channel of the spring, an amount of light received by the light detector varying depending at least in part on an amount by which the spring has been bent, and the light detector being further configured to transmit a signal indicating the amount of light received by the light detector. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification