Fiber Optic Wearable Pose Sensing Without Occlusion or IMU Drift

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable devices face challenges with occlusion issues and inaccuracies due to reliance on line-of-sight sensors and drift in IMUs, necessitating a more reliable and precise motion tracking solution.

Innovation Solution

Integration of fiber optic components in wearable devices for light reflection and curvature analysis to determine user pose, utilizing a wearable structure with light emitters, optical switches, photo sensors, and control circuitry for real-time data processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If cameras are used for motion tracking, then visual data can be captured, but occlusion issues occur due to reliance on clear line of sight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotion tracking accuracyVSAvoidtracking reliability under occlusion

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces optical/mechanical line-of-sight sensors (cameras) with fiber optic sensors that use light transmission through bent paths to detect joint angles. This substitution eliminates occlusion issues because the fiber optic sensors are embedded in clothing and follow the body's contours, maintaining contact and measurement capability regardless of visual obstructions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces fiber optic cables as intermediary elements that are embedded in wearable clothing. These cables transmit light from LEDs through the fabric and body contours to sensors, acting as a mediator that maintains measurement capability even when direct line of sight is blocked by body parts or clothing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If IMUs are used for motion tracking, then movement data can be gathered, but drift occurs over time leading to inaccuracies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata gathering capabilityVSAvoidlong-term measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces inertial measurement units (accelerometers and gyroscopes) with fiber optic bend sensors. The fiber optic system measures joint angles directly through light transmission properties without integration over time, eliminating the drift problem inherent in IMUs that accumulate errors through sequential integration of acceleration and angular velocity data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If traditional sensors are used, then motion data can be collected, but electromagnetic interference affects non-line-of-sight sensors when exposed to metal or signals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotion detection accuracyVSAvoidelectromagnetic interference susceptibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electronic sensors (IMUs, magnetic sensors) with fiber optic sensors that use light transmission instead of electrical signals. This substitution makes the system immune to electromagnetic interference because optical fibers transmit information through light rather than electrical currents, eliminating susceptibility to EMI from metal objects or electromagnetic signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Provides consistent and accurate motion tracking with immunity to electromagnetic interference, enabling precise motion capture in environments where traditional sensors fail.

Implementation Method 1

By utilizing light transmission and reflection, fiber optic components can provide high-resolution data on movement and positioning

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Implementation Method 2

Each passive sensor of the respective set of passive sensors is configured to reflect a portion of light transmitted to the fiber optic component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS20260007331A1Methods and devices for determining body pose using fiber optic components

Publication Date: 2026.01.08 META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

An example device includes a wearable structure configured to couple to a user's body. The wearable structure includes a light emitter coupled to a plurality of fiber optic components and configured to transmit a light output and an optical switch coupled to the plurality of fiber optic components. The wearable structure further includes a photo sensor coupled to the optical switch. The photo sensor is configured to detect a reflected portion of the light output from the light emitter and output a corresponding photo sensor signal. The wearable structure also includes control circuitry coupled to the photo sensor and configured to determine a curvature of a respective fiber optic component based on analysis of the corresponding photo sensor signal, and determine a pose of the user based on the curvature of the respective fiber optic component.