Touchless Machine Control Using Proximity Gesture Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional machine controllers require physical contact, posing risks of contamination and contact-related hazards, and existing touchless technologies are complex, impractical, and expensive for simple device control.
Innovation Solution
A multi-purpose touchless machine controller using proximity sensors and an Input Transforming Processor (ITP) to interpret user gestures for device operation, with adaptive learning and feedback mechanisms to ensure accurate control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional physical contact controllers (joysticks, buttons) are used, then device control functionality is achieved, but contamination transmission and contact-related hazards occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based control systems (joysticks, buttons) with an optical sensing system using proximity sensors. The system detects hand gestures and movements through optical fields without requiring physical contact, thereby eliminating contamination transmission while maintaining control functionality. The processor interprets sensor signals to generate appropriate control commands for the device.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If existing touchless control technologies are implemented, then contactless operation is achieved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes components already present in modern devices (proximity sensors, processors) to create touchless control functionality. Rather than implementing a completely new complex system, the invention leverages existing hardware capabilities to achieve contactless operation with minimal additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The proximity sensors and processor are designed to handle multiple control functions through a unified touchless interface. The system can detect various gestures (approach, retreat, lateral movements) and translate them into different device operations, providing multi-functional control without requiring separate mechanisms for each function.
3Ease of operation
If proximity sensors are used for touchless control, then contactless operation is achieved, but unintended inputs from ambient movements may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors sensor output signals and uses feedback mechanisms to distinguish between intentional user gestures and ambient movements. The processor analyzes patterns of sensor activation and correlates them with expected user behavior, filtering out spurious signals caused by environmental factors while maintaining sensitivity to deliberate control inputs.
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
Provides safe, effective, and cost-effective touchless control with minimal unintended inputs, accessible to handicapped users, and suitable for various industries with compact, intuitive operation.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor under the joystick determines the direction in which the joystick has been moved and instructs the device to perform an operation associated with the determined direction
Data Source
AI summary
An example system may include a controller having a processor and memory, wherein the processor is configured to: receive output data from at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors; analyze the output data to determine an operation of the device corresponding to the output data; generate an operation output data based on the operation of the device; and provide the operation output data to the device to cause the device to execute the operation.