Assist Wear Item Controller Using Contact Sensor Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing assist wear items lack an efficient method to easily adjust the driving power of expansion/contraction actuators, leading to inconvenient and unintended changes in assist power during user movements.
Innovation Solution
The assist wear item incorporates a controller that uses contact sensors to detect specific contact patterns, allowing users to intuitively increase or decrease the driving power of actuators by touching designated areas, preventing unintended power changes through timed detection of first and second contacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If contact sensors are used to detect contact patterns for adjusting actuator power, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows users to adjust assist power themselves by simply touching designated areas on the wear item. The contact sensors detect these touch inputs and automatically adjust the actuator driving power without requiring external terminals or complex configuration procedures. This self-service approach significantly improves ease of operation while keeping the control logic relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or manual adjustment mechanisms with an electronic contact detection system. Instead of using physical dials, switches, or external control terminals, the system uses contact sensors to detect touch patterns and electronically adjusts the actuator power. This substitution simplifies the user interface while managing system complexity through integrated control.
2Measurement precision
If multiple contact sensors are arranged to detect specific contact patterns, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wear item is divided into multiple detection zones, each equipped with contact sensors. By segmenting the detection area into distinct zones (e.g., first detection area, second detection area), the system can precisely identify which area was touched and interpret different touch patterns (single touch, double touch, sequential touch) to control different actuators or adjustment parameters. This segmentation improves measurement precision while managing complexity through modular zone design.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the wear item are assigned different functions based on local quality principles. Specific areas are designated for specific control functions (e.g., touching one area increases power, touching another area decreases power). This localized functional assignment allows precise control interpretation from simple touch inputs without requiring complex sensor arrangements throughout the entire device.
3Reliability
If contact sensors detect contact during actuator driving, then reliability is improved, but object-generated harmful factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system requires a specific sequence of actions to trigger power adjustment: first a contact in a first detection area, then a contact in a second detection area within a predetermined time period. This preliminary action sequence ensures that accidental single touches during actuator operation do not trigger unintended power changes. The sequential requirement filters out spurious inputs while maintaining reliable control when the proper two-step sequence is intentionally performed.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact sensors provide continuous feedback to the control unit about user interactions with the wear item. The control unit processes this feedback in real-time, distinguishing between intentional adjustment commands (following the specified touch sequence) and accidental contacts. This feedback mechanism enhances reliability by ensuring power adjustments only occur when the correct interaction pattern is detected, preventing unintended changes during normal actuator operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An assist wear item is worn on a portion of a living body and has an inner surface brought into contact with the portion. The assist wear item includes assisting actuators, contact sensors, and a controller. Each assisting actuator is driven to expand and contract. The assisting actuators are linearly arranged along an expansion/contraction direction of a muscle at the portion. Each contact sensor detects a contact with an outer surface of the assist wear item. If the controller receives a detection result indicating a first contact from a first contact sensor among the contact sensors and receives a detection result indicating a second contact from a second contact sensor within a first time period after reception of the detection result indicating the first contact, the controller increases or decreases a driving power of expansion/contraction driving of an assisting actuator corresponding to the second contact sensor.