Data processing: structural design – modeling – simulation – and em – Simulating electronic device or electrical system – Computer or peripheral device
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-30
2001-10-16
Teska, Kevin J. (Department: 2123)
Data processing: structural design, modeling, simulation, and em
Simulating electronic device or electrical system
Computer or peripheral device
C341S020000, C702S150000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304840
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a system for processing information comprising an apparatus for manually controlling information input. The invention further relates to such an apparatus.
BACKGROUND ART
Such a system is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,484, incorporated herein by reference. The known system has a finger-mounted input device for manually entering information into a computer. The device uses a pressure sensor and a pair of acceleration sensors removably attached to the finger tip of a user. The pressure sensor senses a pressure when the finger presses against an object, e.g., a table surface. The acceleration sensors measure the acceleration of the finger. The sensors are mounted in a flexible glove. The signals of the sensors are relayed to a computer that calculates the relative position of the finger. Twice integrating an acceleration measured gives a coordinate of the current position of the finger relative to a begin position. The pressure sensor is used to validate the signal of the acceleration sensors. The known system allows a user to enter data into the system as if he or she were typing on a physical keyboard, such as the standard QWERTY keyboard.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an alternative input devices. Further, the known input device covers the users hand, palm, thumb and fingers. The inventors have recognized that such an embodiment impedes functions of the hand other than interacting with a keyboard, such as opening a can of soda, picking up the telephone, scribbling something on a notepad, consulting a dictionary, or simply blowing one's nose. It is therefore a further object of the invention to provide a more user-friendly alternative to the known system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To this end, the invention provides a system for processing information. The system comprises a computer and an apparatus that is mountable to a hand of a user. The apparatus enables user-interaction with the computer based on a bending of a user's finger. The system maps the finger's bending at an angle in a specific range onto a specific one of multiple information items. The bending is sensed, e.g., at the finger's proximal interphalangeal joint or the metacarpophalangeal joint. The apparatus preferably comprises a glove that leaves uncovered at least an upper part of at least one of the user's fingers. The apparatus communicates with the computer via a wired or wireless connection. In the latter case, the user-friendliness of the fingerless glove as a manual computer input device is increased even more. The communication preferably uses IR so that the gloves can be used with a laptop while the user is traveling by plane. As known, passengers are not allowed to operate their personal RF devices onboard a plane.
The invention is based on the insight that when a person is interacting with a manual computer input device, e.g., a QWERTY keyboard, the angle at which the finger bends can be used to decode a specific data entry, here a key. The angle is sensed by using, for example, a strain gauge, a switch with multiple positions (e.g., mechanical or magnetic), a potentiometer, a tube with resistance that changes its, resistance when stretched, conductive rubber, etc. A key hit is sensed by an accelerometer suitably placed, e.g., over the proximal interphalangeal joint, the metacarpophalangeal joint or over the proximal phalanx. Alternatively, a key hit is sensed by an abrupt rate of change of the angle measured, or a mechanical of electric switch at one or more of the joints.
In the preferred embodiment, the glove leaves uncovered the upper part of the user's finger. Accordingly, normal finger functions are not impeded and the glove permits full sensation in the fingertips. The invention can be used to enter data into the computer via a virtual alphanumeric keyboard, or a virtual musical keyboard. The virtual keyboard is merely a rigid surface to tap one's fingers on. The invention can be used in a variety of ways that permit entering data into a computer based on the angle of the user's fingers, e.g., playing a virtual wind instrument like a clarinet or a flute. In the latter case, additional data could be entered based on a pressure applied to the instrument's mouth piece.
The inventors have also recognized that a specific finger may control more than one column of keys. For example, interacting with a QWERTY-keyboard using ten-finger typing typically lets the index finger and the small finger each control two or more columns. Preferably, a lateral selection mechanism is added to the longitudinal selection mentioned above in order to distinguish between abduction and adduction of the finger. For example, a magnetic reed switch is mounted on the index finger and a magnet on a neighboring finger. Alternatively, a strain gauge is mounted in the portion between the index and middle finger. This portion is susceptible to stretching when the lateral distance between these fingers increases. Alternatively, a magnet and a Hall sensor is used to measure abduction. A variety of sensing mechanisms, both for the longitudinal and lateral orientations is feasible, based on sensing a magnitude of a particular quantity or a change in a physical quantity, e.g., distance or proximity, angle, moment of force, etc. The little finger of the right hand is typically used to control three or more columns. In order to discriminate between more than two columns, the lateral selection mechanism comprises, for example, multiple sensors with different sensitivity ranges or multi-position switches.
A typical PC keyboard comprises more keys than the ones for a QWERTY functionality. For example, the PC-keyboard has a row of keys for the Arabic numerals 1, 2, . . . , 9, and 0, and a row of function keys. Accordingly, such a keyboard has five rows: three for QWERTY, one for the Arabic numerals, and one for the function keys. One way to discriminate between the rows is to have the sensors introduced above being capable of sensing in at least five different locations on the device, and of generating a respective signal corresponding to a respective one of the locations. Another way is to have a sensor mounted to the user's hand that changes the interpretation of the virtual row being controlled when the sensor is activated. For example, the sensor is mounted to the palm of the hand and gets activated when the user presses down his/her palm. Thereupon, the signals from the sensing subsystem are interpreted as originating from the function keys or the Arabic numeral keys.
The device preferably also comprises visual indications as to the functionality or functionalities of the keys to be operated by the device. For example, a glove implementation of the invention for use with a virtual QWERTY keyboard has characters printed on a portion visible to the user (e.g., on the fingers of the glove or on the back of the hand near the base of each finger) so as to facilitate wielding the device properly by the uninitiated user.
The glove is preferably programmable in the sense that the user can calibrate its sensors so as to get the glove adapted to his/her finger size or movements. For example, the user sets the sensors by stretching and bending the fingers and spreading them. The sensors thus are made to give signals according to the fingers' extreme positions. The computer software can therefore adapt to the range of the user's movements.
The invention is especially useful in combination with a virtual desktop system as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/887,593 (PHA 23,258), incorporated herein by reference.
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patent: 4414537 (1983-11-01), Grimes
patent: 5047952 (1991-09-01), Kramer et al.
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patent: 5280265 (1994-01-01), Kramer et al.
patent: 5444462 (1995-08-01), Wambach
patent: 5581484 (1996-12-01), Prince
patent: 5610528 (1997-03-01), Neely et al.
patent: 6084576 (2000-07-01), Leu et al.
Hong et
Fu Wayne
Hajjar Ira
Migachyov Larisa
Vance Scott
Broda Samuel
Teska Kevin J.
U.S. Philips Corporation
Verdonk Peter
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