Wearable Finger Contact Identification Using Surface Vibrations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable sensors struggle to accurately detect and identify fast and repetitive finger contacts on real surfaces within virtual environments, often requiring cumbersome equipment and suffering from latency and misinterpretation issues, especially when using optical sensors or piezoelectric transducers.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device equipped with move sensors, preferably accelerometers, integrated into elastic and flexible fixation means that detect vibrations from finger contacts on surfaces, using machine learning algorithms to identify the specific finger and time of contact with high accuracy and low latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optical sensors (cameras) are used to detect finger contacts, then ample movements can be detected accurately, but fast and repetitive finger contacts on real surfaces cannot be distinguished reliably and latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical sensing systems with inertial sensors (accelerometers and gyroscopes) that detect mechanical vibrations caused by finger contacts. This substitution enables reliable detection of fast, repetitive contacts with low latency by measuring physical vibrations rather than relying on optical image processing, which struggles with rapid sequential contacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes mechanical vibrations generated when fingers contact real surfaces. Inertial sensors detect these vibrations through the structure supporting the virtual interface, allowing the system to identify finger contacts, distinguish between different fingers, and determine contact timing with high precision and minimal delay.
2Measurement precision
If piezoelectric transducers are placed on fingertips to detect contact, then contact detection accuracy improves, but the equipment becomes cumbersome requiring gloves or similar devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sensing function from the fingers themselves and places inertial sensors on the structure supporting the virtual interface. This eliminates the need for cumbersome finger-mounted transducers or specialized gloves, as the sensors detect vibrations transmitted through the structure when fingers contact the surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The structure supporting the virtual interface acts as an intermediary that transmits vibrations from finger contacts to the inertial sensors. This mediator enables contact detection without requiring direct sensor attachment to the fingers, simplifying the overall system while maintaining detection accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If multiple cameras are arranged around the user to distinguish finger contacts, then detection accuracy improves, but the installation becomes expensive and lacks flexibility for nomad activities
Solution Approach 1:
The inertial sensor system serves multiple functions: detecting finger contacts, distinguishing between different fingers, determining contact timing, and identifying contact location. This single sensing approach replaces the need for multiple cameras arranged around the user, providing both accuracy and flexibility for various applications including nomad activities.
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 reliable and efficient detection of finger contacts on surfaces with an accuracy of over 95% and latency as low as 30 ms, allowing seamless interaction with virtual environments without the need for additional sensors on the fingers or hands.
Implementation Method 1
a wearable device, comprising at least one inertial sensor, preferably an accelerometer, integrated into a structure which supports said virtual interface, said accelerometer being adapted to detect vibrations resulting from an impact of said finger on said surface
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to wearable device (1) adapted to detect contacts of fingers (F) on a surface (S), and to identify the responsible finger. It comprises move sensors adapted to collect the vibrations resulting from the contact of the fingers on a surface. It comprises a memory comprising reference vibration profiles (T), corresponding to the impact of at least one finger (F) of a user (U) to a surface (S). A computing unit (32) is configured allows to identify the finger responsible for the impact sensed by the move sensors (10, 10a, 10b). The invention further relates to a manufacturing process of such a device and to a method of sensing the contact of a finger on a surface.