CHARACTER INPUT DEVICE USING BIO RADAR UNIT AND TILT SENSOR

• US 20080291158A1
• Filed: 02/07/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• Inventors: Park, Kyu-Ho, Park, Ki-Woong, Ko, Sung-Ahn
• Granted Patent: US 8,199,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a character input device for a mobile device or a wearable terminal. A bio radar unit senses the positions of the fingers of a user. A tilt sensor senses the tilt of the hands of the user. A microprocessor calculates the final input information of the user by processing signals received from the bio radar unit and the tilt sensor. A wireless communication module transmits the final input information to the mobile device or the wearable terminal of the user. A speaker device outputs a feedback sound corresponding to the final input information of the user. The character input device is wearable on a wrist of the user. The bio radar unit transmits a signal, measures the distance between the character input device and a finger by measuring the strength of a reflected wave reflected from the finger with which the signal collides, and measures the angle of the finger related to activation.

Claims

1. A character input device for a mobile device or a wearable terminal, comprising:

a bio radar unit for sensing positions of fingers of a user;

a tilt sensor for sensing a tilt of hands of the user;

a microprocessor for calculating final input information of the user by processing signals received from the bio radar unit and the tilt sensor; and

a wireless communication module for transmitting the final input information to the mobile device or the wearable terminal of the user.

2. The character input device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the character input device is formed to be wearable on a wrist of the user.

3. The character input device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a speaker device for outputting a feedback sound corresponding to the final input information of the user.

4. The character input device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bio radar unit transmits a signal, measures a distance between the character input device and a finger by measuring a strength of a reflected wave reflected from the finger with which the signal collides, and measures an angle of the finger related to activation.

5. The character input device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the microprocessor calculates a position of the finger based on a direction of the finger using a ratio of a detected time period to a total scan period, and calculates a distance between the finger and the character input device using a strength of the reflected wave signal based on a radar Doppler effect, thereby detecting input information.

6. The character input device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the microprocessor, when no input activation is performed by a finger, senses input of a special key corresponding to the tilt based on the following table by measuring the tilt of hands using the tilt sensor:

Left Hand Right Hand Tilt Special Key Tilt Special Key ↑

Home ↑

Up ↓

End ↓

Down ←

Back Space ←

Left →

Space →

Right Both Left and Right Hands ↑

Page Up Both Left and Right Hands ↓

Page Down

7. The character input device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the microprocessor previously stores reference information, including coordinate values corresponding to respective positions of keys on a virtual keyboard, initial range values detectable based on positions of fingers of the user, and fingertip thickness information obtainable when fingers are placed at the respective positions of the keys on the keyboard, and determines an input character by comparing the stored reference information with the detected input information.

8. The character input device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the microprocessor, when three or more fingers of the user are detected as input, processes this case as a character input error, and does not perform detection of input.

9. The character input device as set forth in claim 8, wherein the microprocessor, when two fingers of the user are detected to be used for input, detects fingertip thickness information of each of the fingers, and obtains final input information by comparing a ratio of a value of the detected fingertip thickness information to a value of fingertip thickness information of the reference information for one of the two fingers with a ratio of a value of the detected fingertip thickness information to a value of fingertip thickness information of the reference information for a remaining finger.