Hand-attachable controller with direction sensing

• US 5,796,354 A
• Filed: 02/07/1997
• Issued: 08/18/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reality Quest Corporation
• Original Assignee: Reality Quest Corporation
• Inventors: Kirby, Morgan H., May, Richard L., Curran, Kenneth J., Gibbs, Douglas R., Dick, David J., Cartabiano, Michael C., Storer, William J. A., Ullman, Adam N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US08/797,588
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 273/198 B, 273/438, 463/37, 463/46, 463/47, 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/184, 364/190, 364/709.01, 364/709.02, 364/709.08, 364/709.11, 341/20, 341/173, 341/176, 341/21, 340/825.19
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves

Abstract

Disclosed is a hand attachment for providing command signals to control movement of at least one object responsive to hand movement. The hand attachment includes a glove base assembly having an upper surface including a palm surface and a finger surface. The finger surface has a plurality of finger pads, each depressible by a finger of a user wearing the hand attachment to cause a specific movement of the object. A glove is attached to the glove base assembly such that at least a portion of the glove overlays the palm surface. At least one sensing device detects directional movement of a user'"'"'s hand relative to the user'"'"'s arm. Electronics within the glove base assembly convert the detected directional movement to command signals for controlling the movement of the object in directions corresponding to the movement.

Claims

1. A hand attachment for providing command signals to control movement of at least one object responsive to hand movement, comprising:

a glove base assembly having an upper surface including a palm surface and a finger surface, said finger surface including a plurality of finger pads for depression by a finger of a user wearing the hand attachment to cause a specific movement of said at least one object;

a glove attached to said glove base assembly, wherein at least a portion of said glove overlays said palm surface;

at least one sensing device for detecting directional movement of the user'"'"'s hand relative to the user'"'"'s arm; and

circuit means for converting the detected directional movement to command signals for controlling the movement of said at least one object in directions corresponding to the hand movement.

2. The hand attachment of claim 1, wherein said glove is composed of fabric and is attached to said palm surface.

3. The hand attachment of claim 1, wherein said at least one object comprises a video element on a video display.

4. The hand attachment of claim 1, wherein said glove is finger-less.

5. The hand attachment of claim 1, wherein said finger surface and said palm surface define an angle in the range of about 100 to 140 degrees.

6. The hand attachment of claim 1, wherein said finger surface is defined by four planar finger members and said finger pads, each of said finger members separated from one another and each having at least one aperture for receiving an associated finger pad.

7. The hand attachment of claim 1, wherein said sensing device comprises an optical sensor.

8. The hand attachment of claim 1, further comprising an automatic centering switch coupled to said circuit means, wherein activation of said switch enables said circuit means to establish a neutral position as a current relative position of a user'"'"'s hand as sensed by said at least one sensing device, such that all control directions are referenced to said neutral position.

9. The hand attachment of claim 1, further comprising an indicator coupled to said at least one sensing device for indicating when a user'"'"'s relative hand position is in a neutral position from which all control directions are referenced.

10. The hand attachment of claim 1, further comprising a mode switch coupled to said circuit means for enabling the sensitivity of object movement as a function of hand movement to be varied.

11. The hand attachment of claim 1, wherein said palm surface includes a centralized arch to enhance support of a user'"'"'s palm.

12. The hand attachment of claim 1, wherein said palm surface includes a ridge corresponding only to said index, middle and ring fingers to facilitate access of at least one of said finger pads by a pinky of the user.

13. The hand attachment of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensing device is attached to said glove.

14. The hand attachment of claim 13, wherein said at least one sensing device comprises a first sensing device attached to a top portion of said glove for sensing movement of the user'"'"'s hand in a first plane, and a second sensing device attached to a side portion of said glove for sensing movement of the user'"'"'s hand in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane.

15. The hand attachment of claim 1, further comprising at least one thumb pad disposed on a side surface of said glove base assembly for depression by a user'"'"'s thumb to cause a specific movement or action of said object.

16. The hand attachment of claim 15, wherein said specific movement of the object caused by depression of said at least one thumb pad is in a direction identical to a directional movement being sensed by one of said at least one sensing device.

17. The hand attachment of claim 1, further comprising a glove base support fastened within said glove for supporting a user'"'"'s palm.

18. The hand attachment of claim 17, wherein said glove base support includes a centralized dome to enhance support of a user'"'"'s palm.

19. The hand attachment of claim 1, wherein said circuit means for converting the detected directional movement to command signals includes a field programmable gate array (FGPA), said FPGA further coupled to said finger pads and operative to provide command signals indicative of which of said finger pads is depressed.

20. The hand attachment of claim 19, wherein said glove base assembly comprises:

a top glove base defining said palm surface and a portion of said finger surface, said top glove base having a plurality of apertures through which a corresponding plurality of said finger pads protrude, said finger pads defining the remaining portion of said finger surface;

a bottom glove base affixed to said top glove base;

at least one finger printed circuit board disposed between said top and bottom glove bases, underlaying said finger surface and having switch contacts thereon corresponding to said finger pads;

a thumb printed circuit board attached to a side portion of said bottom glove base and having at least one switch contact;

at least one thumb pad affixed to said bottom glove base, disposed adjacent to said at least one switch contact of said thumb printed circuit board; and

a main printed circuit board between said top and bottom glove base assemblies, coupled to each of said switch contacts, to said at least one sensing device and to an electrical connector that interfaces with an external display interface, said main printed circuit board including said FPGA.