Pressure-Sensitive Haptic Controller for Virtual Hand Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data gloves for virtual reality environments are expensive, cumbersome, and lack force feedback, while vision-based technologies require the hand to be in the camera's field of view and do not provide accurate hand movement replication or tactile feedback.
Innovation Solution
A handheld device with pressure-sensitive buttons and a gyroscope that fits in the palm, providing intuitive control over a virtual hand's articulation and orientation, and includes actuators for tactile feedback, attached to a 3-D mouse for full-range motion and force feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If data gloves with complex sensor systems are used to track hand movements, then hand movement detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sensor systems in data gloves with an optical imaging system. A camera captures images of the user's hand, and image processing algorithms extract hand pose and movement data. This substitution eliminates the need for multiple sensors, wires, and mechanical components, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy of the hand using camera imaging and generates a virtual hand representation that mirrors the physical hand's movements. This copying approach allows accurate hand tracking without requiring physical sensors on the hand, simplifying the system architecture.
2Ease of operation
If data gloves are worn for extended periods to enable hand tracking, then hand movement control is maintained, but user comfort deteriorates due to physical burden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need to wear data gloves by using an external camera-based system. The camera captures hand images from a distance, and software processes these images to track hand movements. This removes physical discomfort, heat buildup, and restriction of movement while maintaining full hand control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical system (camera) that mediates between the user's physical hand and the virtual environment. The camera acts as a non-contact intermediary, capturing hand movements and translating them into virtual hand control without requiring direct physical coupling through gloves.
3Device complexity
If vision-based technologies are used to capture hand images, then device complexity is reduced, but the hand must remain in camera field of view which limits user movement freedom
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a 2D camera field-of-view constraint to a 3D spatial tracking system. Multiple cameras or a single camera with depth sensing capabilities track the hand's position in three-dimensional space, allowing the hand to move freely throughout the environment while maintaining continuous tracking and control.
4Loss of information
If existing data glove systems are used, then hand tracking is achieved, but force feedback to the user's hand cannot be provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a haptic feedback device as an intermediary between the virtual environment and the user's hand. This device provides tactile feedback sensations that correspond to virtual object interactions, enabling force feedback without requiring complex integration into the hand itself. The feedback mediator translates virtual contact forces into physical sensations the user can feel.
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 comfortable and intuitive control of a virtual hand with tactile feedback, allowing users to naturally manipulate virtual objects and receive physical sensations, reducing the need for complex sensors and camera constraints.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor configured to detect the degree (e.g., depth or strength of pressing) with which the button is pressed
Implementation Method 2
The housing of the handheld device furthermore includes a gyroscope for detecting multiple degrees of motion, with as full a range of motion as possible, and for detecting orientation with respect to the housing of the handheld device
Implementation Method 3
The buttons of the housing of the handheld device include an actuator and vibrator for imparting onto the fingers of the user tactile feedback related to data generated by the 3-D visualization software of the virtual world
Data Source
AI summary
A device for dexterous interaction in a virtual world in disclosed. The device may include a housing including a plurality of buttons and a plurality of vibration elements each associated with at least one of the plurality of buttons. An orientation sensor detects orientation of the housing, and a bearing is configured to allow the housing to freely rotate in a plurality of directions. A processor is in communication with the plurality of buttons, the plurality of vibration elements, and the orientation sensor. A transmitter/receiver unit is configured to receive data from the processor and configured to send and receive data from a central processing unit.