Tactile Glove Structure for Finger Motion Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tactile stimulation provision devices, such as gloves, face challenges in recognizing finger movements due to their thickness, which impedes finger motion and reduces the accuracy of external camera recognition.
Innovation Solution
A tactile stimulation provision device in the form of a glove is designed with a layered fabric structure and actuators that are closely fitted to the user's fingers, utilizing flexible circuit boards and stretchable sensors to enhance finger motion recognition and reduce device thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the glove is filled with electronic components to provide tactile stimulation, then the tactile stimulation function is improved, but the thickness of the glove increases making finger movement difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible printed circuit boards (FPC) instead of rigid circuits, and places actuators within thin fabric layers that can bend and stretch with finger movements. The FPC allows electrical connections while maintaining flexibility, and the actuators are integrated into the fabric structure rather than adding significant thickness, enabling both tactile stimulation and natural finger movement.
2Reliability
If the glove thickness is increased to accommodate electronic components, then the tactile stimulation capability is improved, but the finger motion recognition rate by external camera deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin fabric layers and flexible printed circuit boards that minimize the overall glove thickness. This ensures that the external camera can clearly capture finger movements through the fabric, maintaining high recognition rates while still accommodating the necessary electronic components for tactile stimulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions actuators at specific locations within the multi-layer fabric structure, optimizing their placement to provide tactile feedback without creating surface irregularities that would interfere with camera recognition. The components are distributed in a way that maintains a relatively smooth outer surface for optical tracking.
3Ease of operation
If the glove is made thinner to improve finger movement and camera recognition, then the ease of operation is improved, but the ability to provide tactile stimulation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates actuators within thin fabric layers and uses flexible printed circuit boards for electrical connections. This allows the glove to remain thin and flexible for natural finger movement while still incorporating functional components capable of providing effective tactile stimulation through targeted vibration and haptic feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into integrated components - the actuators serve both as tactile stimulation devices and as structural elements within the fabric layers. The flexible circuit board integrates electrical connectivity while maintaining flexibility, allowing thin construction without sacrificing tactile stimulation capability.
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 device facilitates easier finger movement and improves finger motion recognition rates using external cameras by maintaining close contact with the fingers, while providing tactile stimulation.
Implementation Method 1
A tactile stimulation provision device includes actuators and may provide tactile stimulation to a user by selectively vibrating the actuators
Implementation Method 2
The tactile stimulation provision device may further include stretchable sensors positioned to overlap finger upper portions of the second fabric
Data Source
AI summary
A tactile stimulation provision device in the form of a glove according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first fabric in the form of a glove, a second fabric having a shape covering a hand back portion and finger upper portions of the first fabric by extending from the finger upper portions to fingerprint portions of the first fabric, fixing patches covering fingerprint portions of the first fabric, and first actuators fixed between the fixing patches and the second fabric.