Layered Wearable Sensor System for Flexible Finger Movement Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable sensors, such as data gloves, are limited in their ability to easily change sensor configurations to accommodate various actions and tasks, making it difficult to measure a wide range of finger-related movements and actions in different fields, such as manufacturing and industrial settings.
Innovation Solution
A wearable sensor system featuring a layer-shaped body that surrounds the wrist to fingertip area, composed of at least two overlapping layers, allowing for the easy combination and rearrangement of sensors to suit specific applications, including the use of multiple types of sensors like strain, pressure, and acceleration sensors, and notification units for feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a data glove with fixed sensor configuration is used to measure finger movements, then three-dimensional finger bending and stretching can be accurately understood, but it becomes difficult to freely replace sensors to measure various other actions such as pressure, acceleration, and sound
Solution Approach 1:
The glove is divided into multiple independent layers (first glove body, second glove body, third glove body) that can be worn in combination. Each layer can be equipped with different types of sensors, allowing flexible configuration for different measurement needs without redesigning the entire glove structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The layered glove structure serves multiple functions: it provides a platform for various sensor types, maintains wearability, and allows different sensor combinations for different applications. The same base structure supports strain sensors, pressure sensors, acceleration sensors, and microphones depending on the measurement requirements.
2Measurement precision
If specialized sensors are installed in specific regions of the glove to measure particular actions, then measurement precision for those specific actions is improved, but the device becomes less adaptable to other measurement needs
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors are segmented into different layers rather than being permanently integrated into a single glove structure. This allows specific sensor types to be placed in appropriate layers for optimal measurement precision while enabling easy replacement by changing the sensor configuration in the desired layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor configuration is made dynamic and changeable rather than static. Users can adjust which sensors are active in which layers based on the specific measurement task, allowing the system to adapt to different measurement precision requirements for different actions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple types of sensors are integrated into a single glove to measure various actions, then measurement versatility is improved, but the glove structure becomes more complex and difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of integrating all sensor types into a single complex glove, the system segments sensors across multiple simpler glove layers. Each layer can be manufactured independently with its specific sensor type, then combined during use. This reduces manufacturing complexity for each individual component while maintaining overall measurement versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple simple glove layers with different sensor types are merged into a wearable system. Each layer is simple to manufacture independently, but when combined, they provide comprehensive measurement capabilities for various actions including finger movements, pressure, acceleration, and sound.
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable sensor that is worn on a human body includes a layer-shaped body that has a shape of surrounding the body between a wrist and a fingertip of a hand of the human body and forms at least two layers that are at least partially overlapped with each other, and at least one sensor that is provided on at least one of the at least two layers.