Finger Motion Ring with Bend Sensor for Non-Intrusive Gesture Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for measuring finger motion and recognizing hand gestures are often obtrusive and fail to capture the full range of hand motion effectively, particularly in mobile and non-intrusive applications.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device comprising a distal loop around the intermediate phalanx, a proximal loop around the proximal phalanx, a joint-spanning strip with a bend sensor, and optionally inertial motion sensors attached to the finger nails, which measure finger motion and configuration using energy changes from the bend sensor and inertial sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If gloves, exoskeletons, or finger-tip covers are used to measure finger motion, then motion measurement capability is improved, but the device becomes obtrusive and interferes with flexible hand use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the motion sensing functionality from the entire hand (gloves) or finger tips (tip covers) and concentrates it in a single ring worn on the finger. This extraction allows motion measurement while maintaining natural hand flexibility and dexterity, as the ring is minimally intrusive compared to full gloves or exoskeletons.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring device uses flexible materials and thin-film structures that conform to the finger shape, allowing natural finger movement without restriction. The flexible design enables the device to move with the finger rather than constrain it, preserving flexible hand use while enabling motion capture.
2Ease of operation
If motion-sensing rings are used to measure finger motion, then the device becomes less obtrusive, but the ability to locate sensors near the ends of fingers for full-finger motion capture is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ring device incorporates multiple sensor types (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers) that can detect various aspects of finger motion including linear acceleration, rotational movement, and magnetic field changes. This multi-functional sensing capability allows the single ring location to capture comprehensive finger motion data that would otherwise require multiple sensors positioned at different finger locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical sensor positioning (physical placement of multiple sensors at finger tips and joints) with field-based sensing using inertial measurement units and magnetic sensors. These sensors can detect motion characteristics from a single location on the finger, substituting the need for mechanically distributed sensor arrays while maintaining measurement capability.
3Measurement precision
If camera-based motion capture is used to measure hand motion, then full range of motion can be captured, but the system loses mobility and becomes less wearable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces external camera-based optical measurement systems with onboard inertial sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers) integrated into the wearable ring. This substitution enables the system to function without external cameras or complex optical infrastructure, providing autonomous motion capture capability that maintains full mobility and wearability while measuring the full range of finger and hand motion.
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 accurate and non-intrusive measurement of finger and hand motion, suitable for human-to-computer interfaces in various environments, including noisy and public settings, and for complex three-dimensional object manipulation.
Implementation Method 1
a bend sensor which is part of the joint-spanning strip. Changes in energy transmitted through, or generated by, the bend sensor are used to measure the motion and/or configuration of the proximal interphalangeal joint.
Implementation Method 2
one or more inertial motion sensors which are removably attached to one or more finger nails
Data Source
AI summary
This invention can be embodied in a wearable device or system for measuring finger motion and recognizing hand gestures comprising a distal loop which encircles the intermediate phalanx of a finger, a proximal loop which encircles the proximal phalanx of the finger, a joint-spanning strip which connects these two loops, and a bend sensor which is part of the joint-spanning strip. Changes in energy transmitted through, or generated by, the bend sensor are used to measure the motion and/or configuration of the proximal interphalangeal joint.