Grippable Input Device with Bend Sensors and Vibration Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional input devices, such as data gloves and joysticks, face challenges in accurately detecting finger movements for digital data input, particularly in requiring excessive finger movement, difficulty in simultaneous five-finger input, and cumbersome operation due to their design and size, which hinders quick and precise data entry.
Innovation Solution
An input device with grippable, elastic manipulation portions that use sensors to detect displacement and generate vibrations based on bend amounts, allowing for intuitive and precise digital data input without the need for a pouch-like design, enabling easier character input and motion detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a data glove with pouch-like main body is used to accommodate the user's hand, then the device can receive hand motions for input, but the device becomes large in size and takes considerable time to put on and take off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential sensing function from the pouch-like main body structure. The sensor unit is separated and integrated directly into the finger portions, eliminating the need for a large pouch-like enclosure while maintaining the ability to detect hand motions. This allows the input device to be compact yet functional.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible finger portions that can be bent by the user's fingers, replacing the rigid pouch-like structure. These flexible elements maintain contact with the user's hand for motion detection while being thin and lightweight, significantly reducing the overall device volume and making it easier to wear.
2Measurement precision
If a finger bend amount threshold is set for button press recognition, then digital data can be output when the threshold is exceeded, but it is difficult for users to know the necessary finger bend amount, requiring excessive finger movement that tires the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a vibration unit that provides tactile feedback to the user based on the detected finger bend amount. When the bend amount approaches or exceeds the threshold, the vibration unit generates vibrations to notify the user, allowing them to adjust their finger movement to the appropriate level without excessive bending, thereby reducing user fatigue while maintaining precise detection.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the user to bend their fingers to a fixed threshold that may be difficult to judge, the system uses partial action by providing progressive vibration feedback as the threshold is approached. This allows the user to stop bending at the point where vibrations begin, rather than having to overshoot to a predetermined threshold, reducing the excessive action required.
3Productivity
If conventional input devices like joysticks or joypads are used for character input, then characters can be entered through keyboard display and cursor manipulation, but the manipulation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical manipulation of joysticks, joypads, and cursor control with direct finger bend detection. Each finger's bending motion is directly converted into input signals, eliminating the need for mechanical intermediary devices and complex cursor navigation, thereby simplifying the input process and increasing character input speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor unit can detect bending motions of multiple fingers simultaneously and map them to different input functions. This multi-functional capability allows the device to handle various input operations (character input, command selection, confirmation) through a unified finger-bending interface, improving productivity without increasing manipulation complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If five buttons are allocated to five fingers for simultaneous input, then digital data can be input from all fingers, but it is very difficult for users to know the sufficient finger bend amount for each finger and to bend specific fingers accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns different detection characteristics to different finger portions. Each finger has its own sensor unit optimized for detecting that specific finger's bend amount. The vibration units are also distributed to each finger portion, providing localized feedback. This local optimization allows each finger to be detected and controlled independently with high precision, enabling accurate simultaneous multi-finger input.
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
The input device provides a compact, user-friendly solution for digital data input by utilizing vibration feedback to indicate finger bend thresholds, facilitating accurate and efficient data entry with reduced user fatigue and increased ease of use compared to traditional devices.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor that detects a displacement amount of the manipulation portion
Implementation Method 2
a vibration means that generates vibrations; and a control means that makes the vibration means generate vibrations in accordance with information indicative of the displacement amount
Implementation Method 3
a manipulation portion that can be manipulated and displaced, e.g., bendable or slidable, by the user
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an input device capable of detecting a motion of a hand of a user (102) and suitable to perform input of digital data with. The input device (100) can be gripped by a hand of the user (102) and serves to input information to a given apparatus. The input device (100) includes: manipulation portions (112a to 112e) which can be bent by manipulation of the user (102); bend sensors (114a to 114e) for detecting bend amounts of the manipulation portions (112a to 112e); vibrators (120) for generating vibrations to be transmitted to the user (102); and a processor (118). The processor (118) generates vibration in the vibrator according to the information on the bend amounts of the manipulation portions (112a to 112e) detected by the bend sensors (114a to 114e).