Muscle Sensor Remote Control for Minimal Effort Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote control technologies for home appliances and vehicles require significant physical movement or complex gestures, making them less intuitive and accessible for users with limited mobility or those who need minimal physical effort.
Innovation Solution
The integration of alerting sensors and muscle sensors allows for remote control of appliances using directional signals and small muscle contractions, enabling intuitive and minimal physical movement-based control, such as facial recognition or voice commands, to activate and adjust the operation of devices like refrigerators, automobiles, and wheelchairs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional remote controls use large limb motions or complex gestures, then the control range and visibility are improved, but the physical effort and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical remote control systems (infrared transmitters requiring hand movements) with a biomechanical system that detects muscle contractions directly. Electromyography sensors capture electrical signals from muscle fibers, translating minimal physical effort into control commands without requiring complex gestures or large limb motions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary detection system between the user's intent and the appliance control. Muscle sensors act as intermediaries that detect subtle muscle contractions before they result in visible movement, translating internal physiological signals into external control commands with minimal physical effort.
2Ease of operation
If remote control requires minimal physical movement, then accessibility for users with limited mobility is improved, but the signal detection precision becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical movement-based detection with electrophysiological signal detection. Electromyography sensors measure the electrical potential differences generated by muscle fiber contraction, providing high-precision detection of minimal physical movements that would be imperceptible to traditional mechanical or optical sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from mechanical displacement or optical position to electrical signal amplitude and frequency. By measuring the voltage changes associated with muscle contraction rather than physical movement, the system achieves high precision detection with minimal physical effort required from the user.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple appliances are controlled remotely, then versatility is improved, but the selection and activation process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service selection mechanism where the system automatically detects which appliance the user intends to control through directional muscle signals or gaze direction. The alerting sensor package identifies the target appliance and activates it automatically, eliminating the need for manual selection processes and reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal control system that can interface with multiple different appliance types through a single muscle detection interface. The same sensor package and detection methodology work across refrigerators, televisions, wheelchairs, and other appliances, providing versatility without requiring separate control mechanisms for each device.
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
This solution provides intuitive and accessible remote control of various devices using minimal physical gestures, facilitating easy selection and operation of appliances, even for users with limited mobility, and incorporates noise filtering and signal analysis for accurate control signals.
Implementation Method 1
The muscle sensor package includes a plurality of muscle sensors, such as electromyography sensors, for sensing small muscle contractions to produce a raw muscular signal
Implementation Method 2
In one embodiment, the alerting sensor package includes an optical sensor for detecting a direction of a user's face or body
Implementation Method 3
In another embodiment, the alerting sensor package includes a microphone for detecting a direction of a user's voice
Implementation Method 4
The processor may be configured to filter noise from the raw muscular signal to extract an accurate control signal
Data Source
AI summary
A remote control system detects a directional signal at an alerting sensor package; activates an appliance to accept a control signal in response to the directional signal; accepts the control signal at the appliance from a muscle sensor package; and adjusts operation of the appliance in response to the control signal.