Handheld Key-Paddle Input Device with 3-Axis Gimbal Wrist Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional human-computer input devices like keyboards and pointing devices require a horizontal surface for effective use, limiting their utility in mobile applications, and virtual key-paddle devices lack kinesthetic and tactile feedback, leading to errors and unintended activations.
Innovation Solution
A key-paddle device with a third axis of motion and detection in the pivots connecting the paddles, allowing for 270 distinct key events through wrist rotations, including adduction/abduction, extension/flexion, and pronation/supination, with sensors discriminating between neutral, clockwise, and counterclockwise rotations, and incorporating ergonomic design features for thumb and finger key activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a virtual key-paddle device uses cameras or sensing mechanisms to sense wrist and finger movements, then the device can be used without a horizontal surface, but the device lacks kinesthetic and tactile feedback leading to errors and unintended activations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates tactile feedback mechanisms including spring-loaded paddles that provide resistance and feedback to the user's finger movements, and kinesthetic feedback through the mechanical structure that allows the user to feel the position and movement of the paddles. This feedback loop enables the user to sense their input actions physically, reducing errors and unintended activations while maintaining mobility.
2Ease of operation
If a hand-held key-paddle device uses two paddles connected via 2-axis pivots with key-switches under each finger and thumb, then the device can provide keyboard input functionality, but the device requires discrimination among multiple steps in the rotational position of the paddles increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2-axis pivots to 3-axis gimbals, adding an additional rotational dimension. This third axis of rotation provides more degrees of freedom for paddle movement, allowing for more intuitive mapping of wrist and finger movements to key inputs while reducing the complexity of position discrimination through the natural mechanics of gimbal movement.
3Reliability
If conventional keyboards and pointing devices are used, then accurate key input can be achieved, but the devices require a horizontal surface limiting utility in mobile applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical keyboards and pointing devices with a hand-held key-paddle device that uses wrist and finger movement sensing. The mechanical structure incorporates springs, pivots, and gimbals to create a portable input device that maintains tactile feedback while eliminating the requirement for a horizontal surface, enabling use in mobile and handheld applications.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is provided for user input to a computer. The apparatus consists of movable left and right paddles connected to the ends of a tie bar by 3-axis gimbles. The paddles are shaped to facilitate holding the device and rotating the paddles while keeping a user's fingers and thumbs free to activate tactile key-switches positioned under them. The position of the gimbles relative to the tie bar cause the paddles to rest in a neutral position when the apparatus is pressed between a user's hands. The gimbles rotate off the neutral position based on a user's wrist position. Both the rotations of the paddles and the status of the key-switches are used to determine the input codes sent to a paired computer. A display on the paired computer shows left and right arrays of icons representing available inputs and highlights the inputs currently accessible by the user's fingers and thumbs based on the paddle positions.