Tendon-Driven Exoskeleton Loops for Adaptive Haptic Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Haptic gloves face challenges in fitting various hand sizes, hygiene, and ease of use due to the need for individual sizing and securement, which affects user experience and health.
Innovation Solution
A tendon-driven exoskeleton haptic feedback device with adjustable loops around the fingers and thumb, using anchoring finger caps with haptic actuators and tendons that automatically adjust to fit snugly around the user's hand, providing haptic feedback and easy donning and doffing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If haptic gloves are made to fit various hand sizes, then user comfort and experience improve, but manufacturing cost increases due to producing multiple sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The haptic glove uses adjustable loops with tensioning mechanisms that can dynamically change the size and fit of the glove. The loops are configured to be adjustable between multiple size configurations, allowing a single glove to adapt to different hand sizes rather than requiring multiple pre-sized gloves.
Solution Approach 2:
The glove incorporates tensioning mechanisms that allow the loops to be adjusted between relaxed and tensioned states, changing the dimensional parameters of the glove to fit different hand sizes. This parameter adjustment capability enables one glove design to serve multiple sizing requirements.
2Productivity
If haptic gloves are worn repeatedly by multiple users, then more data can be collected, but hygiene deteriorates due to bacteria accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The haptic glove is designed as a loop-based structure where the loops can be easily removed and replaced. This segmentation allows the loops to be separated from the main glove body, enabling users to swap loops or clean them separately, improving hygiene for multi-user scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The loops are designed as replaceable components that can be easily discarded or cleaned. In multi-user scenarios, loops can be replaced between users or cleaned quickly, functioning as disposable or easily renewable components to maintain hygiene without compromising the permanent electronic components of the glove.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If haptic gloves are made washable, then hygiene is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to washable electronics requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The glove is segmented into washable loop components and non-washable electronic components. The loops can be removed and washed separately, while the electronic components remain in the main glove body that does not require washing. This segmentation enables hygiene maintenance without requiring the entire glove including electronics to be washable.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic components are extracted from the washable portions of the glove. The loops that contact the user's skin can be removed and washed, while the electronics remain in a separate, non-washable portion of the glove, eliminating the need for expensive washable electronics.
4Manufacturing precision
If loops are individually secured to fingers, then fit precision is improved, but time consumption increases during donning and doffing
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple loops are connected together to form a continuous loop structure that can be donned and doffed as a single unit. The loops are configured to work together as an integrated system, allowing the user to put on or remove all loops simultaneously rather than securing each loop individually, significantly reducing the time required for donning and doffing while maintaining fit precision through the tensioning mechanism.
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 offers a hygienic, adjustable, and comfortable fit for users of all hand sizes, improving user experience by minimizing material contact and allowing easy cleaning, while providing precise haptic feedback.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of tendons coupled to the loops and the anchoring finger caps. The tendons may be configured to extend along the user's fingers and thumb. The tendons may be configured to cause the loops to decrease in diameter to conform to the user's fingers and thumb.
Data Source
AI summary
A haptic feedback device to be worn on top of a user's hand comprises a plurality of loops configured to be circumscribed around the user's fingers and thumb, a plurality of anchoring finger caps configured to be circumscribed around extremities of the user's fingers and thumb, at least one haptic actuator housed within each of the anchoring finger caps, and a plurality of tendons coupled to the loops and the anchoring finger caps, the tendons configured to extend along the user's fingers and thumb. The tendons are configured to cause the loops to decrease in diameter to conform to the user's fingers and thumb.