Apparatus for extending control and methods thereof
First Claim
1. An accessibility apparatus, which is a control apparatus for engaging and actuating particular powered functions of anatomical support apparatus and auxiliary apparatus and is configured suitably for use by at least one patient having muscular or neural limitations that cause input limitations for the patient, the entire body or portions thereof of said patient being positioned and supported in a preferred configuration for treatment of said patient or in an optimal orientation for comfort or health for said patient, said input limitations of said patient including at least one input limitation selected from the group consisting of:
- limited muscle control, limited dexterity, and limited strength,said control apparatus adjustably adapted to at least one input limitation of said patient, in which said control apparatus;
(i) determines at least one intended command of said patient from a physical contact input applied by said patient to some portion of a transducer mechanical assembly of said control apparatus, and(ii) generates at least one control signal therefrom for controlling at least one controlled apparatus of said anatomical support apparatus and/or said auxiliary apparatus;
the adjustable adaptation to said at least one input limitation of said patient other than solely comprised of;
(i) geometry, orientation, or arrangement of input structures,(ii) timing or sequence of inputs, or(iii) any combination thereof;
said physical contact input other than a voice signal and other than an exclusively electrical phenomenon generated by brain tissue;
said physical contact input transduced otherwise than solely by;
(i) non-contact tracking of the motion of an eyeball,(ii) optical transducers not requiring physical contact with some portion of said transducer mechanical assembly,(iii) sip-and-puff apparatus,(iv) touch-responsive screens lacking adjustable adaptation parameters to adjust response by said control apparatus to said at least one input limitation of said patient, or(v) any combination thereof;
said control apparatus comprising;
(a) a transducing apparatus configured to transduce said physical contact input of said patient operating under said input limitations, said physical contact input representing said at least one intended command of said patient to said controlled apparatus, said transducing apparatus containing transducers, wherein at least one of said transducers is selected from the group consisting of;
(i) digital transducers of at least two (2) bits of resolution,(ii) analog sensors and(iii) magnetically activated digital transducers, andsaid transducing apparatus further configured to generate from said physical contact input at least one electrical signal;
(b) a decision making apparatus wherein said transducing apparatus and said decision making apparatus is adjustably adapted via at least one adjustable adaptation parameter such that said decision making apparatus determines said at least one intended command of said patient from said electrical signal,(c) at least one signal generator, wherein said decision making apparatus is further configured to direct said signal generator to generate said control signal sufficient to direct said controlled apparatus to effect said intended command; and
(d) a transmittance apparatus configured to convey said control signal to said controlled apparatus such that it effects said at least one intended command of said patient;
wherein;
a) said transducing apparatus is comprised of first and second hand-held pendants configured to at least transduce grip intensities of said patient on at least one of said pendants into at least one electrical signal corresponding to an applied intensity, wherein at least one of said first and second hand-held pendants comprises a first housing and second housing joined along at least one end or side, said first and second housing configured such that at least some portion of said first housing is separated from at least some portion of said second housing such that said portion of said first housing moves or deforms relative to said portion of said second housing upon application of said grip intensities,b) said decision making apparatus is configured (1) to advance from a current state to one of a plurality of available states upon an adjustably predetermined first grip intensity being one of said grip intensities and being applied to said first hand-held pendant, and (2) to activate a new current state upon an adjustably predetermined second grip intensity being one of said grip intensities and being applied to said second hand-held pendant, andc) adjustability of the grip intensity required for activation of either of said pendants is comprised of the at least one said adjustable adaptation parameter,whereby said control apparatus enables said patient to control at least one predetermined function of said controlled apparatus by applying said first grip intensity to said first hand-held pendant to induce said decision making apparatus to advance said current state of control apparatus through said available states until said new current state is a desired state for said patient, said desired state being subsequently activated by said patient applying said second grip intensity to said second hand-held pendant, and said desired state remaining activated until said patient ceases applying said second grip intensity (D19).
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Accused Products
Abstract
An adjustably adapted control apparatus for facilitating control of controlled apparatus 109 by users who have limited means of physical input for activating currently available control means. Transducing apparatus 102-106 transduces a physical contact input 101 of a user with input limitations, decision making apparatus 107 determines the intended commands of the user based on adjustable adaptation parameters, and directs control signals 109 from signal generator 108 through transmittance apparatus 108, causing the controlled apparatus to effect the intended commands of the user.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An accessibility apparatus, which is a control apparatus for engaging and actuating particular powered functions of anatomical support apparatus and auxiliary apparatus and is configured suitably for use by at least one patient having muscular or neural limitations that cause input limitations for the patient, the entire body or portions thereof of said patient being positioned and supported in a preferred configuration for treatment of said patient or in an optimal orientation for comfort or health for said patient, said input limitations of said patient including at least one input limitation selected from the group consisting of:
- limited muscle control, limited dexterity, and limited strength,
said control apparatus adjustably adapted to at least one input limitation of said patient, in which said control apparatus; (i) determines at least one intended command of said patient from a physical contact input applied by said patient to some portion of a transducer mechanical assembly of said control apparatus, and (ii) generates at least one control signal therefrom for controlling at least one controlled apparatus of said anatomical support apparatus and/or said auxiliary apparatus; the adjustable adaptation to said at least one input limitation of said patient other than solely comprised of; (i) geometry, orientation, or arrangement of input structures, (ii) timing or sequence of inputs, or (iii) any combination thereof; said physical contact input other than a voice signal and other than an exclusively electrical phenomenon generated by brain tissue; said physical contact input transduced otherwise than solely by; (i) non-contact tracking of the motion of an eyeball, (ii) optical transducers not requiring physical contact with some portion of said transducer mechanical assembly, (iii) sip-and-puff apparatus, (iv) touch-responsive screens lacking adjustable adaptation parameters to adjust response by said control apparatus to said at least one input limitation of said patient, or (v) any combination thereof; said control apparatus comprising; (a) a transducing apparatus configured to transduce said physical contact input of said patient operating under said input limitations, said physical contact input representing said at least one intended command of said patient to said controlled apparatus, said transducing apparatus containing transducers, wherein at least one of said transducers is selected from the group consisting of; (i) digital transducers of at least two (2) bits of resolution, (ii) analog sensors and (iii) magnetically activated digital transducers, and said transducing apparatus further configured to generate from said physical contact input at least one electrical signal; (b) a decision making apparatus wherein said transducing apparatus and said decision making apparatus is adjustably adapted via at least one adjustable adaptation parameter such that said decision making apparatus determines said at least one intended command of said patient from said electrical signal, (c) at least one signal generator, wherein said decision making apparatus is further configured to direct said signal generator to generate said control signal sufficient to direct said controlled apparatus to effect said intended command; and (d) a transmittance apparatus configured to convey said control signal to said controlled apparatus such that it effects said at least one intended command of said patient; wherein; a) said transducing apparatus is comprised of first and second hand-held pendants configured to at least transduce grip intensities of said patient on at least one of said pendants into at least one electrical signal corresponding to an applied intensity, wherein at least one of said first and second hand-held pendants comprises a first housing and second housing joined along at least one end or side, said first and second housing configured such that at least some portion of said first housing is separated from at least some portion of said second housing such that said portion of said first housing moves or deforms relative to said portion of said second housing upon application of said grip intensities, b) said decision making apparatus is configured (1) to advance from a current state to one of a plurality of available states upon an adjustably predetermined first grip intensity being one of said grip intensities and being applied to said first hand-held pendant, and (2) to activate a new current state upon an adjustably predetermined second grip intensity being one of said grip intensities and being applied to said second hand-held pendant, and c) adjustability of the grip intensity required for activation of either of said pendants is comprised of the at least one said adjustable adaptation parameter, whereby said control apparatus enables said patient to control at least one predetermined function of said controlled apparatus by applying said first grip intensity to said first hand-held pendant to induce said decision making apparatus to advance said current state of control apparatus through said available states until said new current state is a desired state for said patient, said desired state being subsequently activated by said patient applying said second grip intensity to said second hand-held pendant, and said desired state remaining activated until said patient ceases applying said second grip intensity (D19).
- limited muscle control, limited dexterity, and limited strength,
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2. A control apparatus configured suitably to enable a person having two hands capable of gripping, but suffering from neural or muscular limitation of physical contact inputs (PCI), to control at least one device, said control apparatus comprising:
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(a) a transducing apparatus (TA) configured to transduce a plurality of PCI of said person suffering from at least one input limitation comprising limited; muscle control (MC), dexterity (D), or strength (S); said PCI comprising grip intensities and representing a plurality of intended commands (IC) of said person to at least one controlled apparatus (CA); said TA comprising a first and second grip unit configured suitably to be received in a first and second hand of said person, and disposed accessible thereto, and each configured to be activated by an adjustably predetermined grip intensity, and to generate therefrom at least one electrical signal; at least one said first and second grip unit comprising a first housing and second housing joined along at least one end or side, said first and second housing configured such that at least some portion of said first housing is separated from at least some portion of said second housing such that said portion of first housing moves or deforms relative to said portion of second housing; (b) a decision making apparatus (DMA) configured to receive said electrical signal, and further configured to determine therefrom a current said IC, wherein said DMA is configured to cycle through a plurality of states in a state machine upon a first appropriate grip intensity (AGI) being applied to said first grip unit; said states representing functions available for activation, and said DMA being further configured to activate a current state upon a second AGI being applied to said second grip unit, thereby activating a represented function corresponding to the current state; said DMA configured to determine said first and second AGI regardless of variations therein and corresponding variations in the at least one electrical signal generated therefrom, said DMA being adjustably adapted to accommodate changes in said input limitation via at least one first adjustable adaptation parameter (AAP) selected from the group comprising; thresholds, filters, and any combination thereof; (c) at least one signal generator, directed by said DMA to generate at least one control signal; and (d) a transmittance apparatus configured to convey said control signal to said CA, such that it effects said IC of said person toward said device. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A control apparatus configured suitably to enable a person having at least one hand capable of gripping, but suffering from neural or muscular limitation of physical contact inputs, to control at least one device, said control apparatus comprising:
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(a) a transducing apparatus (TA) configured to transduce at least one physical contact input (PCI) of said person suffering from at least one input limitation comprising limited; (i) muscle control, (ii) dexterity, or (iii) strength; said PCI comprising a grip intensity representing at least one intended command (IC) of said person to at least one controlled apparatus (CA), said IC being an intent to activate at least one function of said CA; said TA comprising a grip unit configured suitably to be at least partially received in said hand of said person, and disposed accessible thereto, said grip unit comprising a first housing and second housing joined along at least one end or side, said first and second housing configured such that at least some portion of said first housing is separated from at least some portion of said second housing such that said portion of said first housing moves or deforms relative to said portion of said second housing upon application of said grip intensity; said grip unit further comprising at least one analog force sensor comprising a force sensitive resistor or strain gage, said grip unit configured to be activated by an adjustably predetermined grip intensity, and to generate therefrom at least one electrical signal; said grip intensity comprising; (i) a pinch grip with strength between 0 and 200 Newtons, and pressing said grip unit between a thumb of said hand and a portion of said hand or between a digit of said hand and a sufficiently firm object, or (ii) a grip, on a sufficiently firm object, with strength between 0 and 1,100 Newtons; (b) a decision making apparatus (DMA) configured to receive said electrical signal, and further configured to determine therefrom said IC, wherein said DMA is configured to activate said at least one function upon an appropriate grip intensity being applied to said grip unit; said DMA further configured to determine said appropriate grip intensity regardless of variations therein and corresponding variations in the at least one electrical signal generated therefrom, said DMA being adjustably adapted to accommodate changes in said input limitation via at least one first adjustable adaptation parameter (AAP) selected from the group comprising; thresholds, filters, and any combination thereof; (c) at least one signal generator, directed by said DMA to generate at least one control signal; and (d) a transmittance apparatus configured to convey said control signal to said CA, such that it effects said IC of said person.
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Specification