Add-on capacitive touchscreen aid

Abstract

An apparatus that allows a glove wearer or the wearer of a prosthetic limb to operate a device having a capacitive touchscreen is disclosed. The first embodiment of the disclosed invention is a conductive finger sock that can be applied to the tip or all of a digit of a non-conductive artificial limb. The second embodiment is an adhesive element having a conductive material such as conductive thread or a conductive sponge material. The adhesive element can be attached to a glove or to a prosthetic limb or may be used as an actual bandage. The third embodiment is directed to a factory integrated conductive tip that is part of a digit of a non-conductive artificial limb. The conductive element may be attached to the wearer's skin by a conductive line or may be used without the conductive line and thus may function in isolation.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The disclosed invention relates generally to capacitive touchscreens and to the operation of capacitive touchscreens. More particularly, the disclosed invention relates to an aid that may be attached to a prosthetic limb as a sock, may be attached to a variety of surfaces as an adhesive aid or may be integrated with a prosthetic limb. The disclosed invention allows the wearer to operate a capacitive touchscreen without limitations ordinarily associated with such use.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The capacitive touchscreen relies on the capacitance of the human body to break or alter an electric field set up around a button so configured. Capacitive sensing is a general phrase that includes a variety of different methods of achieving capacitive coupling. Many sensors rely on capacitive technology, such as position sensors, moisture level sensors, fluid level sensors and the like. Capacitive sensors do not rely on mechanical elements, thus increasing reliabilit...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent provides three solutions for people who wear gloves or prosthetic devices and have difficulty using devices with capacitive touchscreens. These solutions offer practical and effective ways for people to operate these touchscreens.

Problems solved by technology

When the human finger, having a charge of its own, comes into contact with the touchscreen a distortion of the screen's electrostatic field results.

While this arrangement is suitable for many applications it is not applicable in those applications where no direct contact between the capacitive touchscreen and the human operator can be made.

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