Acoustic Wearable for Hands-Free Gesture Input in Artificial Reality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional artificial reality systems face limitations in user mobility and gesture sensing, as hands-on controllers restrict movement and traditional wearables struggle to effectively sense motions and gestures.
Innovation Solution
A wearable apparatus with a signal generator and acoustic sensor that propagates and detects acoustic waves to determine physical contact with objects, allowing for hands-free input and enhanced user interaction in artificial reality systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hands-on controllers are used to enable user input, then input capability is improved, but user mobility and movement freedom deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical controllers with an acoustic sensing system that uses acoustic waves to detect finger gestures. The wearable device incorporates acoustic sensors that listen for specific acoustic signatures of finger movements, eliminating the need for physical controllers and enabling hands-free operation while maintaining input capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic waves as an intermediary medium to detect finger gestures. Instead of direct mechanical contact with controllers, the system uses acoustic emissions from finger movements as a mediator to convey input information to the wearable device, enabling remote and contactless interaction.
2Ease of operation
If traditional wearables are used to sense motions, then wearability is improved, but sensing accuracy and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical motion sensors with acoustic sensing technology. The acoustic sensors detect vibrations and acoustic emissions from finger gestures, providing more reliable and accurate sensing while maintaining the wearable form factor. This substitution enables precise gesture recognition without the limitations of mechanical sensors.
3Length of stationary object
If acoustic waves are propagated via the user's body, then sensing range is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the user's body as an acoustic waveguide to propagate acoustic signals from the fingers to the wearable device on the wrist. The body naturally conducts acoustic vibrations, eliminating the need for additional energy-intensive transmission mechanisms. This self-service approach leverages the user's anatomy to extend sensing range without proportionally increasing energy consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables dynamic, hands-free detection of physical touch and release, improving user mobility and interaction within artificial reality environments by accurately interpreting finger gestures without the need for traditional controllers.
Implementation Method 1
The signal generator may propagate an acoustic wave via a body of the user toward a specific body part
Implementation Method 2
The acoustic sensor may detect an acoustic reflection of the acoustic wave propagated by the signal generator
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for directional acoustic sensing may include a wearable dimensioned to be donned by a user of an artificial reality system. The wearable may include a signal generator that propagates an acoustic wave via a body of the user toward a specific body part. The wearable may also include an acoustic sensor that detects an acoustic reflection of the acoustic wave propagated by the signal generator. The wearable may further include at least one processing device that is communicatively coupled to the acoustic sensor. The processing device may determine that the specific body part has made physical contact with an object based at least in part on the acoustic reflection. In response, the processing device may generate an input command for the artificial reality system that accounts for the specific body part making physical contact with the object. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.