Input system and input apparatus

• US 8,704,757 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Kurashima, Shigemi, Sakurai, Satoshi, Yuba, Takashi, Uchiyama, Takuya, Yanagi, Masahiro, Arita, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): MANDEVILLE, JASON M
• Application Number:
  US12/155,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20080303788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,146 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-160, 345/169
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

An input system executes an input to an information processing apparatus depending on the hand motion. Plural myoelectric sensors are provided on an area between a wrist of the person and bases of a second finger to a fifth finger, and detect myoelectric signals depending on the hand motion. A setting portion outputs at least one command to make the person execute at least one particular motion in a state where the myoelectric sensors are worn on the hand, and associates the detected myoelectric signals after the output of the command with the particular motion corresponding to the command. An input portion identifies the hand motion from myoelectric signals detected based on the hand motion after the termination of the association and the association result of the setting portion, and executes the input to the information processing apparatus depending on the identified hand motion.

Claims

1. An input system executing an input to an information processing apparatus depending on the hand motion of a person, comprising:

a plurality of myoelectric sensors that are provided on a hand of the person in an area between a wrist of the person and bases of a second finger to a fifth finger, and output myoelectric signals depending on the hand motion;

a setting portion that outputs at least one command to make the person execute at least one particular motion using the hand in a state where the plurality of myoelectric sensors are worn on the hand;

one or more processors configured to;

perform a sensor calibration subroutine of detecting and storing initial output myoelectric signals for each of the myoelectric sensors for a predetermined period of time in which the hand of the person is maintained in a constant posture; and

when the setting portion outputs a command including a message that represents the input, the message indicating a motion to be made by the hand of the person, perform an associative subroutine of detecting output myoelectric signals for each of the myoelectric sensors for a predetermined period of time in which the motion is made by the hand of the person, calculate first difference signals indicative of a difference between the detected output myoelectric signals and the initial output myoelectric signals, extract time-series characteristic master data of the myoelectric sensors from the first difference signals, associate the time-series characteristic master data of the myoelectric sensors with the motion, and store a result of the association; and

an input portion that identifies the hand motion from second difference signals calculated depending on the myoelectric signals output by the plurality of myoelectric sensors based on the hand motion of the person after termination of the associative subroutine, and executes the input to the information processing apparatus depending on the identified hand motion.

2. The input system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a main body portion that maintains the plurality of myoelectric sensors at preset positions, and is shaped or is substantially shaped in a form of annulus.

3. The input system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the main body portion is provided with an output portion outputting the at least one command from the setting portion.

4. The input system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one command from the setting portion includes a command recognized through the sight of the person.

5. The input system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one command from the setting portion includes a command recognized through the hearing of the person.

6. The input system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input from the input portion to the information processing apparatus is executed by wireless communication.

9. The input system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the setting portion outputs the at least one command only when it is determined that the hand and each of the fingers are in the constant posture.

10. The input system as claimed in claim 9, wherein

the input portion executes the input to the information processing apparatus depending on the identified hand motion only when a comparison between the first difference signals and the second difference signals is within a predetermined threshold.

7. An input apparatus executing an input to an information processing apparatus depending on the hand motion of a person, comprising:

a main body portion that is shaped or is substantially shaped in the form of annulus and is worn so as to surround the palm and the back of a hand of the person in a state where the hand of the person from a second finger to a fifth finger is inserted into the main body portion;

a plurality of myoelectric sensors that are provided on the main body portion, and detect and output myoelectric signals depending on the hand motion of the person;

a setting portion that outputs at least one command to make the person execute at least one particular motion using the hand in a state where the plurality of myoelectric sensors are worn on the hand;

one or more processors configured to;

perform a sensor calibration subroutine of detecting and storing initial output myoelectric signals for each of the myoelectric sensors for a predetermined period of time in which the hand of the person is maintained in a constant posture; and

when the setting portion outputs a command including a message that represents the input, the message indicating a motion to be made by the hand of the person, perform an associative subroutine of detecting output myoelectric signals for each of the myoelectric sensors for a predetermined period of time in which the motion is made by the hand of the person, calculate first difference signals indicative of a difference between the detected output myoelectric signals and the initial output myoelectric signals, extract time-series characteristic master data of the myoelectric sensors from the first difference signals, associate the time-series characteristic master data of the myoelectric sensors with the motion, and store a result of the association; and

an input portion that identifies the hand motion from second difference signals calculated depending on the myoelectric signals output by the plurality of myoelectric sensors based on the hand motion of the person after termination of the associative subroutine, and executes the input to the information processing apparatus depending on the identified hand motion.

8. The input apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of myoelectric sensors are disposed in at least palm side of the hand.

11. The input apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein

the setting portion outputs the at least one command only when it is determined that the hand and each of the fingers are in the constant posture.