SMART RING

• US 20160077587A1
• Filed: 09/17/2014
• Published: 03/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kienzle, Wolf, Hinckley, Kenneth P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,582,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range

Abstract

The description relates to a smart ring. In one example, the smart ring can be configured to be worn on a first segment of a finger of a user. The example smart ring can include at least one flexion sensor secured to the smart ring in a manner that can detect a distance between the at least one flexion sensor and a second segment of the finger. The example smart ring can also include an input component configured to analyze signals from the at least one flexion sensor to detect a pose of the finger.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a smart ring configured to be worn on a first segment of a finger of a user;

at least one flexion sensor secured to the smart ring in a manner that can detect a distance between the at least one flexion sensor and a second segment of the finger; and

,

an input component configured to analyze signals from the at least one flexion sensor to detect a pose of the finger and correlate the pose to a position of a fingertip of the finger.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the input component is further configured to analyze additional signals from other sensors to identify additional information about the finger of the user.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the input component is located on a companion device to the smart ring or wherein the input component is located on the smart ring.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a gesture component, the gesture component configured to analyze the pose and additional signals from at least one other sensor to identify a gesture associated with the pose and the additional signals.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the input component is further configured to define a wrist coordinate system.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the wrist coordinate system includes a first axis relative to rotational movement of the finger and a second axis relative to flexion and/or extension of the finger.

7. A smart ring device, comprising:

a finger band configured to be worn on a first segment of a finger of a user;

a rotation sensor secured to the finger band in a manner such that the rotation sensor is configured to sense rotation of the finger about an axis that is generally perpendicular to a palm of a hand of the user that includes the finger; and

,

a proximity sensor secured to the finger band, the proximity sensor configured to sense a distance between the proximity sensor and a second segment of the finger.

8. The smart ring device of claim 7, wherein the proximity sensor is an infrared proximity sensor for sensing proximity signals related to the distance.

9. The smart ring device of claim 8, wherein the rotation sensor includes a gyroscope for sensing rotation signals related to the rotation.

10. The smart ring device of claim 9, further comprising an input component configured to interpret the rotation signals and the proximity signals as a change in a pose of the finger and correlate the pose to a position of a fingertip of the finger.

11. The smart ring device of claim 9, further comprising a communication component configured to communicate the rotation signals and the proximity signals to a companion device.

12. The smart ring device of claim 11, wherein the communication component comprises a Bluetooth transmitter.

13. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

obtaining rotation signals from a smart ring worn on a finger of a hand, the rotation signals reflecting rotation of the finger relative to the hand;

obtaining flexion signals reflecting flexion of the finger;

correlating the rotation signals and the flexion signals to positions of a fingertip of the finger; and

,

analyzing the positions of the fingertip to identify a control input performed by the finger.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the analyzing includes interpreting the rotation signals and the flexion signals as changes in a pose of the finger relative to a surface to identify the control input.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising implementing the control input on a companion device.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the implementing includes interpreting the control input relative to a computing environment of the companion device.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the obtaining the flexion signals comprises sensing the flexion signals with a flexion sensor on the smart ring or obtaining the flexion signals from the smart ring.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the flexion signals include a distance from the smart ring worn on a first segment of the finger to a second segment of the finger.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the obtaining the rotation signals and the obtaining the flexion signals comprise receiving the rotation signals and the flexion signals at a companion device, and wherein the companion device performs the analyzing.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the companion device comprises a smart phone, a smart watch, smart glasses, a tablet type computer, or a display device.