Abstract:
An apparatus that allows a glove wearer or the wearer of a prosthetic limb to operate a device having a capacitive touchscreen is disclosed. The first embodiment of the disclosed invention is a conductive finger sock that can be applied to the tip or all of a digit of a non-conductive artificial limb. The second embodiment is an adhesive element having a conductive material such as conductive thread or a conductive sponge material. The adhesive element can be attached to a glove or to a prosthetic limb or may be used as an actual bandage. The third embodiment is directed to a factory integrated conductive tip that is part of a digit of a non-conductive artificial limb. The conductive element may be attached to the wearer&#39;s skin by a conductive line or may be used without the conductive line and thus may function in isolation.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The disclosed invention relates generally to capacitive touchscreens and to the operation of capacitive touchscreens. More particularly, the disclosed invention relates to an aid that may be attached to a prosthetic limb as a sock, may be attached to a variety of surfaces as an adhesive aid or may be integrated with a prosthetic limb. The disclosed invention allows the wearer to operate a capacitive touchscreen without limitations ordinarily associated with such use. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The capacitive touchscreen relies on the capacitance of the human body to break or alter an electric field set up around a button so configured. Capacitive sensing is a general phrase that includes a variety of different methods of achieving capacitive coupling. Many sensors rely on capacitive technology, such as position sensors, moisture level sensors, fluid level sensors and the like. Capacitive sensors do not rely on mechanical elements, thus increasing reliability. Because of their relatively low production cost and high degree of durability, capacitive sensors find multiple applications in a broad variety of areas. 
         [0003]    In the computer area, capacitive sensing often finds applications as a human interface device. The capacitive sensing device used most often in this application is the capacitive touchscreen which is used in hand-held communication devices of all kinds, such as mobile phones, and other mobile information devices. 
         [0004]    The typical capacitive touchscreen includes an insulator screen. The insulator typically is glass. A coating of a transparent conductor, such as indium tin oxide (ITO), is formed over the insulator glass. In operation, the screen sets up an electrostatic field. When the human finger, having a charge of its own, comes into contact with the touchscreen a distortion of the screen&#39;s electrostatic field results. This distortion is measurable as a change in capacitance. 
         [0005]    While this arrangement is suitable for many applications it is not applicable in those applications where no direct contact between the capacitive touchscreen and the human operator can be made. This situation can arise in many situations, including where the user wears thick gloves or where the user has a prosthetic limb. In both cases the charge of the human finger or electrical some form of conductivity is not present and the field on the screen is thus not distorted. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, as in so many areas of vehicle technology, there is room in the art of capacitive touchscreens for an alternative configuration that allows glove wearers or wearers of prosthetic limbs to operate the touchscreen. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The disclosed invention provides solutions to the challenges faced by both the wearers of gloves and the wearers of prosthetic devices when trying to operate devices having capacitive touchscreens. There are three solutions provided in the disclosed invention. Each of the solutions offers the user with a practical and effective approach to operating a capacitive touchscreen. 
         [0008]    The first embodiment of the disclosed invention is directed to a conductive finger sock that can be applied to a digit of a non-conductive artificial limb. The finger sock may cover the whole digit of the artificial limb or may cover only the tip. The finger sock may be connected by lead wire to a patch on an area of the user&#39;s skin, thereby providing the tip of the finger sock with the electrical charge from the user&#39;s skin, or may be isolated. 
         [0009]    The second embodiment is an adhesive element having a conductive material such as an conductive thread or a conductive sponge material. Like the first embodiment, a lead wire may be provided for attachment to the user&#39;s skin or may be isolated. The adhesive element may be applied to a variety of surfaces, including an artificial limb, a glove, or may be used as an actual bandage. 
         [0010]    The third embodiment of the disclosed invention is directed to a factory integrated conductive tip that is part of a digit of a non-conductive artificial limb. The conductive tip may be connected by lead wire to a patch on an area of the user&#39;s skin, thereby providing the tip of the finger sock with the electrical charge from the user&#39;s skin, or may be isolated. 
         [0011]    Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent when viewed in light of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should now be made to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings and described below by way of examples of the invention wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a prosthetic device having a conductive sock attachment of the disclosed invention substantially placed over one finger; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a prosthetic device having an alternative conductive sock attachment of the disclosed invention partially covering one finger; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a prosthetic device having a conductive adhesive aid of the disclosed invention fitted thereto; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a prosthetic device having an alternative conductive adhesive aid of the disclosed invention fitted thereto; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a prosthetic device having an alternative conductive adhesive aid of the disclosed invention fitted thereto; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a conductive adhesive aid of the disclosed invention in the form of a conductive adhesive patch; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the conductive adhesive patch of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  illustrates a glove with the conductive adhesive patch of  FIGS. 6 and 7  in position on a glove; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a palm side view of a prosthetic device having a factory integrated conductive tip; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is sectional view of a portion of the prosthetic device of  FIG. 9  and illustrating the factory integrated conductive tip in section. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    In the following figures, the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components. In the following description, various operating parameters and components are described for different constructed embodiments. These specific parameters and components are included as examples and are not meant to be limiting. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 1 and 2  relate to a conductive sock or tip that can be attached to a finger of a prosthetic device. The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  covers substantially all of the finger while the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2  covers only a portion of the finger. Selecting between the two would be the choice of the wearer. 
         [0025]    With respect to  FIG. 1 , a side view of a prosthetic device  10  is illustrated. The prosthetic device  10  is attached to the user&#39;s forearm  12 . It is to be understood that the illustrated prosthetic device  10  as well as those shown in throughout the illustration and description of the disclosed invention are for discussion purposes only as variations of these configurations as well as other prosthetic devices may be used in conjunction with the adhesive patch of the disclosed invention. 
         [0026]    The prosthetic device  10  includes a body portion  14  and a finger  16 . Attached to the finger  16  is an aid of the disclosed invention in the form of a finger sock  18 . The sock  18  may be composed of any one of several materials and may be woven or formed in any one of a variety of known methods. The finger sock  18  includes a finger portion  20  and a wrist portion  22 . 
         [0027]    Attached to the tip of the finger portion  20  of the finger sock  18  is a conductive portion  24 . The conductive portion  24  may be formed from any of several electrically conductive media, such as a conductive thread, conductive wire or conductive foam. 
         [0028]    In order to convey an electric current between the conductive portion  24  and the user&#39;s forearm  12  a conductive arrangement is provided. Particularly, a skin-contacting adhesive patch  26  is provided for attachment to the user&#39;s skin. The skin-contacting adhesive patch  26  includes an adhesive portion for attachment to the skin and a conductive portion that is placed into contact with the wearer&#39;s skin when the skin-contacting adhesive patch  26  is used. A conductive line  28  is almost entirely embedded in the prosthetic device  70  and connects the electrically conductive medium of the pad conductive portion  24  with the conductive portion of the skin-contacting adhesive patch  26 . 
         [0029]    The conductive sock  18  may be used with or without the conductive line  28  and the adhesive patch  26 . The complete circuit presented by use of the conductive line  28  and the adhesive patch  26  is needed in applications where the connection back to the body portion  12  is needed. One such situation is in the automotive setting where a vehicle operator must use a vehicle center screen that can detect if the driver or passenger is attempting to push screen commands. If the vehicle is moving, they will not accept commands from the driver but will accept commands from the passenger. In such a circumstance the unit determines the source by looking at the capacitive circuit between the display surface, the hand and the body, and the top of the seat cushion. In such a situation a complete circuit would be needed. 
         [0030]    Alternatively, while it may be helpful or necessary to have an electrical connection made by the conductive line  28  and the adhesive patch  26 , such an arrangement is not necessary in all computer human machine interface (HMI) situations. For example, it is known to use a plastic stylus to operate a touch screen. Being of a plastic construction the stylus is not conductive, but instead includes a conductive foam tip that breaks the field of the capacitive sensor or switch. Such an arrangement is sufficient to effectively operate most applications such as iPads™, iPods™, or any of a variety of electronic communication tablets. 
         [0031]    With respect to  FIG. 2 , a side view of a prosthetic device  30  is illustrated. The prosthetic device  30  is attached to the user&#39;s forearm  32 . The prosthetic device  30  includes a body portion  34  and a finger  36 . Attached to the finger  36  is a finger tip sock  38  which is an alternate embodiment of the finger sock  18  shown in  FIG. 1  and discussed in relation thereto. As is the case for the sock  18 , the finger tip sock  38  may be composed of any one of several materials and may be woven or formed in any one of a variety of known methods. 
         [0032]    Attached to the tip of the finger tip sock  38  is a conductive portion  40 . The conductive portion  40  may be formed from any of several electrically conductive media, such as a conductive thread, conductive wire or conductive foam. An optional adhesive patch  42  and optional conductive line  44  may be provided. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 3 through 5  relate to an aid according to a first embodiment of the disclosed invention that may be attached to standard prosthetic limbs.  FIGS. 6 through 8  relate to an adhesive patch that may be used directly on the skin or may be attached to a user&#39;s glove. 
         [0034]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , a side view of a prosthetic device  50  is illustrated. The prosthetic device  50  is attached to the wearer&#39;s arm  52 . The prosthetic device  50  includes a body portion  54  and a finger portion  56 . The finger portion  56  includes a movable finger  58  and a fixed finger  60 . 
         [0035]    Attached to the tip of the fixed finger  60  is an aid of the disclosed invention in the form of a pad  62 . The back side of the pad  62  includes an adhesive for attachment to the tip of the fixed finger  60 . 
         [0036]    The front side of the pad  62  includes an electrically conductive medium, such as a conductive wire or conductive foam. 
         [0037]    An optional skin-contacting adhesive patch  64  is provided for attachment to the user&#39;s skin. The skin-contacting adhesive patch  64  includes an adhesive portion for attachment to the skin and a conductive portion that is placed into contact with the wearer&#39;s skin when the skin-contacting adhesive patch  64  is used. An optional conductive line  66  is partially embedded in the prosthetic device  50  and connects the electrically conductive medium of the pad  62  with the conductive portion of the skin-contacting adhesive patch  64 . 
         [0038]    With respect to  FIG. 4 , an alternate configuration of a prosthetic device is shown, illustrated as prosthetic device  70 . The prosthetic device  70  is attached to the user&#39;s forearm  72 . 
         [0039]    The prosthetic device  70  includes a body portion  74  and a finger  76 . Attached to the finger  76  is an aid of the disclosed invention in the form of a pad  78 . The back side of the pad  78  includes an adhesive for attachment to the tip of the finger  76 . 
         [0040]    The front side of the pad  78  includes an electrically conductive medium, such as a conductive wire or conductive foam. 
         [0041]    An optional skin-contacting adhesive patch  80  is provided for attachment to the user&#39;s skin. The skin-contacting adhesive patch  80  includes an adhesive portion for attachment to the skin and a conductive portion that is placed into contact with the wearer&#39;s skin when the skin-contacting adhesive patch  80  is used. An optional conductive line  82  is almost entirely embedded in the prosthetic device  70  and connects the electrically conductive medium of the pad  78  with the conductive portion of the skin-contacting adhesive patch  80 . 
         [0042]    With respect to  FIG. 5 , an additional alternate configuration of a prosthetic device is shown, illustrated as prosthetic device  90 . The prosthetic device  90  is attached to the user&#39;s arm  92 . 
         [0043]    The prosthetic device  90  includes a body portion  94  and a finger  96 . Attached to the finger  96  is an aid of the disclosed invention in the form of a pad  98 . The back side of the pad  98  includes an adhesive for attachment to the tip of the finger  96 . 
         [0044]    The front side of the pad  98  includes an electrically conductive medium, such as a conductive wire or conductive foam. 
         [0045]    An optional skin-contacting adhesive patch  100  is provided for attachment to the user&#39;s skin. The skin-contacting adhesive patch  100  includes an adhesive portion for attachment to the skin and a conductive portion that is placed into contact with the wearer&#39;s skin when the skin-contacting adhesive patch  100  is used. An optional conductive line  102  is almost entirely embedded in the prosthetic device  90  and connects the electrically conductive medium of the pad  98  with the conductive portion of the skin-contacting adhesive patch  100 . 
         [0046]    It is to be understood that while the embodiments of the disclosed invention of  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5  illustrate the use of a skin-contacting adhesive patch  64 ,  80  and  100 , another means of contacting the skin of the wearer may be employed, such as having an optional electrically conductive surface formed on an inner wall of the prosthetic device  50 ,  70  or  90  respectively such that the wearer&#39;s skin is brought into contact with the electrically conductive surface when the prosthetic device is fitted. An optional conductive line such as one of conductive lines  66 ,  82  or  102  would connect the electrically conductive surface with the pad  62 ,  78  or  98  respectively. 
         [0047]      FIGS. 6 and 7  disclose an alternate embodiment of the aid of the disclosed invention. This embodiment may be used either as a bandage for a wounded or compromised finger. 
         [0048]    Referring to both  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an adhesive bandage  110  is illustrated. The bandage  110  has a flexible body  112 . As a preferred embodiment of the adhesive bandage  110  a first arm  114 , a second arm  114 ′, and a third arm  116  extend from the flexible body  112 . A greater or lesser number of arms may be selected. 
         [0049]    The back sides of the arms are provided with an adhesive for removable attachment to the user. The first arm  114  includes an adhesive  118 , the second arm  114 ′ includes an adhesive  118 ′, and the third arm  116  includes an adhesive  120 . The adhesives  118 ,  118 ′ and  120  may be selected from any one of several known adhesives appropriate for the stated purpose. 
         [0050]    A conductive surface  122  is optionally included to provide conductivity between the user&#39;s fingertip skin and the capacitive touchscreen. The conductive surface may be a conductive thread, conductive foam, or any other conductive material. 
         [0051]      FIG. 8  illustrates an additional application of the adhesive bandage  110  of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . With respect to  FIG. 6 , the adhesive bandage  110  is illustrated in use with a glove  130 . The glove  130  includes a palm side  132  and an index finger part  134 . 
         [0052]    According to this use, the adhesive bandage  110  is not in direct contact with the skin. Instead a conductive line  136  is attached at one end to the conductive surface  122  and at the other end to a skin-contacting adhesive patch  138 . The skin-contacting adhesive patch  138  is provided for attachment to the user&#39;s skin in the same manner as the skin-contacting adhesive patches  64 ,  80  and  100  discussed above with respect to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 . The skin-contacting adhesive patch  138  includes an adhesive portion for attachment to the skin and a conductive portion that is placed into contact with the wearer&#39;s skin when the skin-contacting adhesive patch  138  is used. It is to be understood that while the embodiments of the disclosed invention of  FIG. 8  illustrates the use of a skin-contacting adhesive patch  138 , another means of contacting the skin of the wearer may be employed such as having an optional electrically conductive surface formed on an inner wall of the grove  130  respectively such that the wearer&#39;s skin is brought into contact with the electrically conductive surface when the glove is fitted. 
         [0053]    As a further alternate embodiment of the disclosed invention, a conductive element may be provided as a factory integrated conductive tip. This embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  in which a prosthetic device  150  is shown attached to the wearer&#39;s arm  152 . The prosthetic device  150  includes a body portion  154  and a finger portion  156 . The finger portion  156  includes an integrated conductive tip  158 . The integrated conductive tip  158  may be attached to the finger portion  156  by any of several known arrangements, such as by an attachment band  160 . The integrated conductive tip  158  may be made from any of several known conductive materials discussed above in relation to other embodiments of the disclosed invention. 
         [0054]    An optional skin-contacting adhesive patch  162  may be provided for attachment to the user&#39;s skin. The skin-contacting adhesive patch  162  includes an adhesive portion for attachment to the skin and a conductive portion that is placed into contact with the wearer&#39;s skin when the skin-contacting adhesive patch  162  is used. A conductive line  164  is partially embedded in the prosthetic device  150  and connects the electrically conductive medium of the tip  158  with the conductive portion of the skin-contacting adhesive patch  162 . 
         [0055]    Each of the embodiments of the aid of the disclosed invention set forth above overcomes the challenges faced by prosthetic device wearers and by persons needing to wear a bandage or wearing a glove. It is to be understood that the foregoing discussion discloses and describes exemplary embodiments of the disclosed invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the true spirit and fair scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.