Abstract:
The method is for entering data into a computer device ( 11 ) and comprises providing a wearable device ( 10 ) that is attached to a hand ( 200 ). The device ( 10 ) has extensions ( 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 ) disposed below metacarpophalangeal joints ( 212 ) and first bone segments ( 202 ) of the fingers ( 208 ). The extensions ( 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 ) have sensors ( 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 ) in operative engagement with sensor channels ( 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 ) mounted thereon. The first bone segments ( 202 ) may be moved relative to second bone segments ( 214 ) at the metacarpophalaneal joints ( 212 ) to bend at least one of the sensor channels ( 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 ). One of the sensors ( 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 ) sensing the bending of one the sensor channels ( 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 ) and sending an activation signal ( 57 ) to a computer device ( 11 ) in operative engagement with the device ( 10 ).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a wearable device for one-handed and two-handed activities that may involve the metacarpophalangeal joint of the hands. The device may be used in the interaction with a computer program.  
         BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Conventional data input interfaces with computers most often requires keyboards. It is sometimes cumbersome to use keyboards especially if the computer or communication device is very small so that each letter or command button is also very small. For example, it is very inconvenient to enter text messages into a mobile phone or PDA because the devices are so small. In other situations, it is simply inconvenient to use a conventional keyboard because there is not sufficient room for the user to use the relatively large keyboards. There is a need for a convenient and reliable way of entering data into a computer device.  
           [0003]    The present invention is a method for entering data into a computer device and comprises the steps of providing a wearable device that is attached to a hand. The device has extensions disposed below metacarpophalangeal joints and first bone segments of the fingers. The extensions have sensors in operative engagement with sensor channels mounted thereon. The first bone segments may be moved relative to second bone segments at the metacarpophalangeal joints to bend at least one of the sensor channels. One of the sensors sensing the bending of one the sensor channel and sending an activation signal to a computer device in operative engagement with the device.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]    [0004]FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of the wearable device for the palm of a right hand;  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 2 is a perspective bottom view of the device of FIG. 1;  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 3 is a perspective top view of the wearable device for the palm of a left hand;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 4 is a perspective bottom view of the device of FIG. 3;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the wearable device shown in FIG. 1 mounted in a hand; and  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 6 is a perspective top view of an alternative embodiment of the wearable device for the back of a left hand. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]    With reference to FIGS.  1 - 5 , the present invention is a wearable data input interface device  10  for entering information into, for example, a computer  11  connected thereto without using a conventional keyboard. The device  10  is, preferably, made of a flexible material such as a suitable polymeric material. In the most preferred embodiment, a bio-compatible silicone material may be used. The device  10  has a central area  12  suitable for a right hand  200  of a person and five extensions  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22 . Between the extensions  20 ,  22 , there is a relatively large protruding bent hook  24  that extends upwardly and towards the central area  12 . Similarly, a smaller hook  26  is disposed between the extensions  18 ,  20  and a hook  28  is disposed between the extensions  16 ,  18 .  
         [0011]    When a person puts her palm of her right hand  200  on the central area  12  so that the proximal phalanx of the fingers, such as the proximal phalanx or bone segment  202 , rest on the extensions  14 - 20  and the thumb  206  rests on the extension  22 , the hooks  24 ,  26 ,  28  may be engaged by the hand  200  to hold the hand  200  to the device  10  so that the person may lift the hand  200  without loosing the grip of or contact with the device  10 . More specifically, the hook  24  grabs the hand between the thumb  206  and the index finger  208 , the hook  26  engages the area between the index finger  208  and the middle finger and the hook  28  engages the area between the middle finger and the third finger. In this way, most of the fingers extend beyond the extensions, as described in detail below, and the index finger, middle finger, third finger and little finger rest on the extensions  20 ,  18 ,  16 ,  14  respectively and the thumb rests on the extension  22 . The device  10  may be available in different sizes such as small, medium, large and extra large to suit different palm sizes. Because the fingers extend beyond the extensions, there is no need to add any sensors to the finger tips, such as the finger tip  210 , and the fingers may be used for other purposes when the person is not interacting with the computer. With a glove and sensors disposed on the finger tips, it is often necessary to remove the gloves before the hands and fingers can be used to do other tasks so as not to damage the sensors on the gloves.  
         [0012]    Preferably, the device  10  has a set of built-in channels so that a sensor channel  15  extends from a back  13  of the central area  12  to a mid-portion of the extension  14 . Similarly, sensor channels  17 ,  19 ,  21  extend to the extensions  16 ,  18 ,  20 , respectively. When the hand  200  is correctly positioned on the device  10  and the hooks  24 ,  26 ,  28  hold the hand  200  in place, the ends of the sensor channels  15 ,  17 ,  19 ,  21  are positioned about half way along the promixal phalanx, such as phalanx  202 , and beyond the metacarpophalangeal joints disposed between each finger and the hand  200 . For clarity, FIG. 5 only shows a metacarpophalangeal joint  212 . A sensor channel  23 , best shown in FIG. 1, extends to the extension  22  that supports the thumb  206  of the hand  200  of the person. Similarly, the channel  21  extends to the extension  20  on which the joint  212  and the phalanx  202  may rest. Preferably, the channels are defined inside the polymeric material of the device  10 . The extensions  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 , preferably, have optical receivers  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  that are disposed at the end of each channel, respectively. For example, when the metacarpophalangeal joint  212  is bent, the receiver  56  receives less light from a transmitter unit  216  disposed, for example, at the back end  13  because the channel  21  is bent. When less light is received by the receiver  56 , an activation signal  57  may be transmitted in the channel  21  back to the computer  11 , as outlined in more detail below.  
         [0013]    An important feature of the present invention is that the movements of the metacarpophalangeal joint  212 , disposed between the proximal phalanx  202  and an ossa metacarpalia or the bone segment  214  of the hand  200 , is measured. When the metacarpophalangeal joint  212  of the index finger  208  moves, that is the angle between the phalanx  202  and bone segment  214  changes, then the sensor  56  on the extension  20  that bears against the proximal phalanx  202  of the index finger  208  registers this movement. More particularly, the movement in the metacarpophalangeal joint  212  that bears against the extension  20  may be registered by the optical receiver  56  that cooperates with the sensor channel  21  that, in turn, is in operative engagement with the extension  20 .  
         [0014]    Any suitable type of sensor may be used including, but not limited to, optronics, accelerometers and piezoelectric membranes. Optronical devices is a combination of a light source, light conductor and light receiver that are connected by electronic circuits so that when the metacarpophalangeal joint of a finger is moved, as in typing a letter, the optronical device registers that the length of the light beam is shortened by the bending of one of the channels in the extensions of the device  10 . It is also possible to let a light source be generated at the extensions so that when the extensions are bent, less amount of light is transmitted that may be registered by receiver at the bottom of the device  10 . Another option is to register any movement of the direction of the light beam.  
         [0015]    When the device of the present invention is used as a text input interface device, it is not necessary that the user is actually using a conventional keyboard. It is sufficient to press against a table surface or thigh etc to move the metacarpophalangeal joint.  
         [0016]    It is desirable to require a minimum of movement before the receiver of the signals generated by the joint movements draws the conclusion that the joint has moved to make sure that only typing movements of the joint are registered as such.  
         [0017]    Accelerometers may register the acceleration of the movement of the joints when the fingers are typing. The peak of the acceleration is reached at the point of the impact of the fingers on the surface below. It is also possible to place piezo-electrical membranes on an inside between the device  10  and the palm to measure stretches and tension in the membrane when the joints, and thus the extensions in operative engagement therewith, move during typing. The signal that may be generated by the joint movements may be in a coded form that is later de-coded at the receiving computer  11 . In this way, the user must use the devices  10 ,  36  in connection with the program in the computer because the program must first decode the signals from the device  10 ,  36  prior to analyzing the information of the signals.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 shows an underside  30  of the device  10  that has a numeric keypad  32  removably attached to the underside  30 . The keypad  32  is similar to a keypad of a modern telephone with digits from 0 to 9 and * and # buttons. Additional keys may be added, e.g. +, − and /. The keypad  32  may have sensors, such as piezo-electrical membranes, under each digit of the keypad. FIG. 3 shows an upperside  35  of a device  36  that has extensions  38 - 46  for a left hand of a person. Similar to the device  10 , the device  36  has built in sensor channels  39 - 47  that extend across the device  36  and terminate at the extensions  38 - 46 , respectively. FIG. 4 shows an underside  37  having a mouse arrangement  34  that may be removably attached to the underside  37 . The keypad  32  and the mouse  34  are connected to the computer  11  and may function the same way as a conventional keypad of a keyboard and a free standing mouse. In other words, by pressing the buttons on the keypad  32 , the desired digits appear on the computer  11  and the cursor may be moved and activated by the mouse  34 . The keypad  32  and the mouse  34  may be attached to either the left or right hand of the person using the device  10 , as desired by the user. For example, if the keypad is attached to the underside of the device  10  on the right hand of the user, the user may use the left hand to punch in numbers on the keypad  32 .  
         [0019]    Of course, the keypad  32  and the mouse  34  may be removed from the devices  10 ,  36  when it is only necessary to enter text data into the computer  11 .  
         [0020]    The signals from the sensor channels in the devices  10 ,  36  may be transmitted wireless to the computer  11  with, for example, the use of “Bluetooth” technique. It may also be possible to transmit the signal via a wire  9  that is connected to the computer  11 .  
         [0021]    When the devices are used as a text input interface, the devices  10 ,  36  transmit signals back to the computer  11  that detects which extension is activated and in which order the extensions are activated to determine the most likely words or sentences typed. It is important to note that it is not necessary for the operator to hit a specific spot on the table or whatever surface the fingers are hitting. It is enough to move the joints sufficiently to transmit a signal regardless where on the table surface the finger tips hit. For example, when the user moves the joint of the right index finger, the extension  20  transmits the activation signal  57  back to the computer  11 .  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 shows a perspective top view of an alternative embodiment of a device  59  of the present invention that is adapted to be fitted on the back of a left hand  100 . One advantage of having the device  59  on the back of the hand is that it frees up the inside of the hand for other tasks. In this way, all the measurements of the finger movements are performed on the back of the hand and the fingers, as described in detail below.  
         [0023]    The device  59  and its sensor technique are very similar to the earlier described devices and works according to the same principles. More particularly, the device  59  has a wrist section  61  that may be a bendable material that is attached around the wrist of the left hand  100 . The section  61  may include a processor, power source and other items to drive the device  59 .  
         [0024]    The device  59  has a flexible and conforming layer  60 . The layer  60  is made of a suitable material such as a silicone polymer or any other suitable material. One function of the layer  60  is to maintain a flexible shape of the device so that the sensors are not tangled up. An upper segment  102  of the layer  60  has grip portions  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  and  70  that may engage bottom portions of fingers  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  and a thumb  112 , respectively. The grip portions may b have a semi-circle shape that firmly holds the finger while at the same time the grip portions are easily removable. The grip portions may also form a full circle so that the fingers are inserted into openings formed therein. The layer  60  has channels  63 ,  65 ,  67 ,  69 , and  71  defined therein that extend from a middle portion of the wrist section  61  to the grip portions  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  and  70 , respectively. The channels are adapted to contain sensors such as sensors  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120  and  122 , respectively, that are connected to the wrist section  61  so that signals may be transferred to the computer  73  for further analysis. Any suitable sensor may be used to detect the movement of the hand/fingers, particularly the movement of the metacarpophalangeal joints. By using the sensors to measure movements of the joints on the back of the hand, the accuracy of the measurements may be improved because the movements of the joints are more distinct than the movements that are measured on the inside of the hand. Suitable sensors may include, but not be limited to, optronics, accelerometers and piezoelectric membranes. As described above, when the metacarpophalangeal joints are bent, the receivers at the wrist device  61  of the device  59  receive less light from the sensors because the channel is bent. When less light is received by the receivers, an activation signal may be transmitted back to the computer  73 , as described in detail above for the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]    For extra comfort, the skin of the back of the hand  100  may be exposed between thin finger-like sections  124 ,  126 ,  128 ,  130  and  132 . The exposure may reduce the perspiration of the back of the hand and to make it more comfortable to wear the device  59 .  
         [0026]    The wrist section  61  may be connected to the computer  73  via a cable  72 . The wrist section  61  may also be connected to the computer  73  via wireless technology such as the Bluetooth technology. Similar to the first embodiment, the device  59  may be equipped with a mouse or calculator function that is disposed on the inside of the hand  100 . The device  59  may be adapted to be fitted on a right hand also by changing the order of the various grip portions so that the user has a device on each hand.  
         [0027]    While the present invention has been described in accordance with preferred compositions and embodiments, it is to be understood that certain substitutions and alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.