493 results about "Finger movement" patented technology

The invention provides an articulating mechanism useful, for example, for remote manipulation of various surgical instruments and diagnostic tools within, or to, regions of the body. Movement of segments at the proximal end of the mechanism results in a corresponding, relative movement of segments at the distal end of the mechanism. The proximal and distal segments are connected by a set of cables in such a fashion that each proximal segment forms a discrete pair with a distal segment. This configuration allows each segment pair to move independently of one another and also permits the articulating mechanism to undergo complex movements and adopt complex configurations. The articulating mechanisms may also be combined in such a way to remotely mimic finger movements for manipulation of an object or body tissue.

“Real-world” gestures such as hand or finger movements / orientations that are generally recognized to mean certain things (e.g., an “OK” hand signal generally indicates an affirmative response) can be interpreted by a touch or hover sensitive device to more efficiently and accurately effect intended operations. These gestures can include, but are not limited to, “OK gestures,”“grasp everything gestures,”“stamp of approval gestures,”“circle select gestures,”“X to delete gestures,”“knock to inquire gestures,”“hitchhiker directional gestures,” and “shape gestures.” In addition, gestures can be used to provide identification and allow or deny access to applications, files, and the like.

A high dimensional touchpad (HDTP) controls a variety of computer windows systems and applications by detecting a user's finger movement in the left-right, forward-backward, roll, pitch, yaw, and downward pressure directions. Measurements obtained from the touchpad of at least two attributes of finger movement at two different time intervals are used to provide a first and a second finger position attribute used to control an application on an electronic device. The finger roll angle is determined by detecting the edge and the peak region of a finger contact area. Also, a visual color displayed in an application operating on an electronic device is controlled by a measured-angle value of a finger in contact with a touchpad.

A biometric method and system for personal authentication using sequences of partial fingerprint signatures provides a high security capability to various processes requiring positive identification of individuals. This approach is further enhanced by employing a frequency domain technique for calculating a Similarity Index of the partial fingerprint signatures. In a baseline usage, the sequential partial fingerprint sequence techniques augments sentinel systems for gaining access to restricted areas, and when used in combination with financial cards, offer a unique and greatly simplified means for authenticating or identifying individuals. A highly automated technique initially obtains a reference set of linear partial fingerprint signatures which serve as reference data against which later proffered candidate data in the form of at least two linear partial fingerprint signatures are compared for authentication. The particular two candidate signatures used and the sequence in which they are submitted are selected with the user's consent and serve as a PIN-like unique personal code. In an advanced embodiment, a pair of proximity sensors located along each of the linear tracks used for developing the linear partial signatures produce finger sensing signals which compensate for finger movement speeds and hence significantly improves the calculated Similarity Index values. The use of only partial fingerprint data greatly allays the concerns of widespread fingerprint dissemination by many individuals.

Gestures for converting from a position control mode to a motion continuation mode are disclosed. A position control mode can be invoked when the user simultaneously places two or more fingers upon a sensor panel. The fingers can then be moved around to effect position control. A motion continuation mode can be invoked when one or more fingers are lifted off (but at least one finger remains in contact with the sensor panel). If the motion continuation mode is invoked, a virtual control ring can be generated, and scrolling of the viewable area or dragging of the cursor or object can continue in a particular direction specified by a velocity vector pointed in the direction of finger movement at the time the motion continuation mode is invoked, and having a magnitude proportional to the velocity of the finger at the time the motion continuation mode was invoked.

The invention provides an articulating mechanism useful, for example, for remote manipulation of various surgical instruments and diagnostic tools within, or to, regions of the body. Movement of segments at the proximal end of the mechanism results in a corresponding, relative movement of segments at the distal end of the mechanism. The proximal and distal segments are connected by a set of cables in such a fashion that each proximal segment forms a discrete pair with a distal segment. This configuration allows each segment pair to move independently of one another and also permits the articulating mechanism to undergo complex movements and adopt complex configurations. The articulating mechanisms may also be combined in such a way to remotely mimic finger movements for manipulation of an object or body tissue.

A wearable indicia reader is worn on the back of a user's hand such that the act of pointing the user's index finger is sufficient to align the indicia reader and trigger the indicia-reading process. Triggering is achieved by sensing the user's finger in an image or by breaking a light path in a photogate.

A tactile touch-sensitive device for use as an electronic input device for navigating an electronic document on a display device is described. The tactile aspect of the device provides a document location indicator, such as a protrusion or a depression, which may be perceived through the sense of touch. The device may incorporate additional features such as multiple modes of navigation, namely isotonic and isometric scrolling. Various sensors, such as force sensors and capacitive sensors, may provide the user with coarse and fine scrolling capabilities through different types of interactions with the scrollbar. The force sensors may allow the user to alter the rate of scrolling by adjusting the magnitude of force applied. Additionally, capacitive sensors may detect absolute positions of a user's finger movement and navigate through a document pursuant to those movements.

A fingerprint sensing module for a touch screen device. The fingerprint sensing module includes a sensor, a light source, a motion detector, and an image processor. The sensor sets to capture portions for a fingerprint image as a finger is slid over the sensor. The motion detector determines a rate of the finger movement as the finger is slide over the touch screen device. The image processor reads fingerprint images from the sensor and the fingerprint motion data from the motion detector. The image processor subsequently combines portions of the fingerprint images into a complete fingerprint in accordance with the rate of the finger's movement.

A wearable computing system can comprise a device attachment mechanism and a push to talk actuator. The device attachment mechanism can include a device coupler and a body affixer. The device coupler can detachably couple a portable computing device to the device attachment mechanism. The body affixer can detachably affix the device attachment mechanism to a forearm of a user positioned between a wrist of the user and an elbow of the user. The push to talk actuator can be activated by the user utilizing at least one of an arm, a hand, a wrist, and a finger movement. The push to talk actuator can be coupled to an actuator attachment mechanism that is wearably attached to the user in a hands-free fashion.

A pen or stylus for use with a finger activated computer touchpad uses capacitively coupled voltage signals to simulate the capacitive effect of a finger on the touchpad. In addition, the pen has buttons that can be utilized to capacitively couple control signals to the touchpad that are interpreted by application software as specific user-defined inputs. The pen has a conductive tip that is placed into contact with the touchpad. By biasing the touchpad electrodes with a properly timed voltage signal, the pen alters the charging time of the electrodes in the touchpad. This alteration in charging time is interpreted by the touchpad as a change in capacitance due to the presence of a user's finger. Thus, the pen can be used with touchpads that were designed to only detect finger movements.

A motion sensitive mechanical keyboard configured to enable a standard look and feel mechanical keyboard to sense hand / finger motion over the surface of the keys. Command and cursor input (e.g., pointing and gestures) can be received from the user on the motion sensitive mechanical keyboard without requiring the user to move the user's hand off the keyboard. Hand / finger motion can be detected by optical sensors via an in-keyboard-plane slot camera system. The motion sensitive mechanical keyboard can operate in two or more modes—e.g., a typing mode and a mouse mode—and operating the keyboard in mouse mode or switching between the modes can be facilitated by holding (depressing and holding) or tapping (depressing and releasing) arbitrary combinations of keys.

A low-cost, virtual environment, rehabilitation system and a glove input device for patients suffering from stroke or other neurological impairments for independent, in-home use, to improve upper extremity motor function, including hand and finger control. The system includes a low-cost input device for tracking arm, hand, and finger movement; an open source gaming engine; and a processing device. The system is controllable to provide four types of multiple patient / user interactions: competition, cooperation, counter-operative, and mixed.

An apparatus for remotely operating a computer using a combination of voice commands and finger movements. The apparatus includes a microphone and a plurality of control elements in the form of touch-sensitive touchpads and / or motion-sensitive elements that are used to operate the computer and to move an on-screen cursor. At least one touchpad is used to selectively switch between a command-mode of operation in which the computer interprets spoken words as commands for operating the computer and any software applications being used, and a text-mode of operation in which the computer interprets spoken words literally as text to be inserted into a software application. The apparatus is ergonomically designed to enable it to be easily worn and to enable a user to operate a computer from a standing, sitting or reclining position. The apparatus can be used to operate a computer for traditional computing purposes such as word processing or browsing the Internet, or for other purposes such as operating electronic devices such as a television and / or other household appliances. The apparatus eliminates the need for a keyboard and a mouse to operate a computer. In addition, the apparatus can be used as a telephone.

A method of music notation with 7 spaces for the notes of the C major scale, with the remaining notes of the 12 tone scale overlapping these spaces. 5 staff lines per octave can be used to show the position of the accidental notes. Distinct colors are assigned to the 12 notes of the scale. Two distinct groups of colors are used, one for coloring the C major notes, the other for coloring the remaining 5 notes of the scale. The spaces representing Cs are marked with a colored shape at the left of the staff and shaded horizontally across the page. The notes are shapes whose width is proportional to their durations. Aids are placed above and below the staff to indicate hand and finger movements. Assembly kits with visual aids are provided. The colors can be used on conventional notation.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method is performed at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display. The method can include: displaying graphics on the touch screen display, detecting a finger contact on the touch screen display, and, in response to the detected finger contact, inserting an insertion marker in the graphics at a first location. The method can further include detecting a finger movement on the touch screen display and, irrespective of initial distance from finger to insertion marker on the touch screen display, moving the insertion marker in accordance with the detected finger movement from the first location to a second location in the graphics.

A touchless sensing unit (110) and method (200) for operating a device via touchless control is provided. The method can include detecting (210) a finger (310) within a touchless sensory space (101), and handling (220) a control of the device (100) in accordance with a movement of the finger. A first finger movement can be recognized for acquiring a control, and a second finger movement for selecting a control. The method can include estimating (230) a location of the finger in the touchless sensory space for acquiring the control, and identifying a finger movement (250) of the finger at the location for selecting the control.

A process is disclosed of scrolling an image on a user interface device configured to display the image on a display screen and enable a user to input with the user's finger touch on a touch screen in association with the displayed image, the process including: scrolling the image in response to the finger's drag motion on the touch screen; and, in response to an event occurring in which, after the drag motion ended, the finger is held in touch with the touch screen at substantially the same location as where the finger was located when the drag motion ended, without releasing from the touch screen, further scrolling the image to perform follow-up scrolling, after experiencing an idle period or not.

A sensor which uses a plurality of partial fingerprint readers (imagers), and various computational algorithms, to detect changes in fingerprint images as a function of finger movement. The sensor can provide both finger motion information and fingerprint images. The sensor uses multiple partial fingerprint readers, arranged in different directions on a surface, to detect finger motion in two dimensions. The sensor can also detect the relative speed and direction of finger movement. Some sensor embodiments use deep finger penetrating radio frequency (RF) based circuits, which can be inexpensively printed or formed on the surface of robust and flexible dielectric materials such as Kapton tape. The sensor also has textured surfaces to help guide the user. The sensor both small and robust, and is well suited for control applications for low-cost mass market microprocessor controlled devices such as cell phones, MP3 players, laptop computers, and other devices.

A wearable sensor system with gesture recognition for measuring physical performance 98 includes a sensor ring 100 for providing signals corresponding to finger movement to an information processor 101. The sensor ring 100 internally includes an accelerometer 106 for measuring motion of a predetermined finger, the measured motion corresponding to an exercise routine performed by a user of the system 98, a processor 109 for conditioning the signals from the accelerometer 106, and a transceiver 108 for transmitting the conditioned signals to the information processor 101 for display and feedback to the user for accessing the quality of the exercise. The system 98 further includes means for allowing the user to start and stop the processing of the measured finger motion by moving the finger with sensor ring 100 thereon a predetermined distance and speed.

A system (100) and method (160) for activating a touchless control is provided. The method can include detecting (162) a movement of a finger in a touchless sensing field, identifying (164) an activation cue in response to the finger movement, and activating (166) a touchless control of an object in response the activation cue. The method can include focusing the touchless sensing field (210) to produce a touchless projection space (220). An activation cue can be a positioning of a finger (302) within a bounded region (304) of the touchless projection space for a pre-determined amount of time. In one arrangement, cursor (124) navigation and control can be provided in accordance with touchless finger movements.

The present invention provides method and system for recording hand-painted, hand-drawn and handwritten information defined by a hand and / or fingers movement. The system corresponding to the invented method comprises: a computing device with a display, an input device comprising: an end-point coupled to a force sensor, additional motion sensors, IC circuit for digitizing the information from sensors and processing the data related to the force and motion vectors components; hardware and software for providing a digital description of how the device has been pressed to the surface and how the device has been moved. Besides above mentioned applications the method and system can also be used for precise cursor navigation on the display, computer gaming and as a universal remote control for electronic equipment and appliances or as a security device with multi-level authentication. With an addition of several components the input device can be used as a smart cell-phone.

A method and apparatus for detecting the alertness of an equipment operator by displaying a moving icon, and asking the operator to track the movements of the icon, either by following it with the eyes in a head mounted display, or by following it with a finger on a touch screen. The operator's performance can be measured by tracking the gaze of the operator's eyes, or by tracking the operator's finger movements. The performance of the operator can be compared to that particular person's history of test results, or to a data base of test results of other operators. The characteristics of the icon can be varied, and distractions can be provided on the display or screen. Control of the display or screen, tracking of the operator's eyes or finger, and analysis of the test results, can all be performed by a computer.

The present invention provides the Free Fingers Typing Technology by fingers tapping on a surface, a technology that allows the user to type, point / select (on the display of a computer or computer-based-device) or play music with bare fingers without keyboard, without display pointing / selecting device and even without computer. The invention provides at least: one methodology to execute the finger movements, one convention to code the finger movements, two techniques to recognize the finger movements, a family of apparatus to optically monitor and recognize finger movements as well as the specifications of a plurality of related computer programmes all used with the objective of interpreting finger-surface taps and converting them into computer characters, keyboard key strokes, functions of display-pointing / selecting device, music notes etc. . . . The invention provides means for free fingers typing, pointing / selecting and music playing suitable for all devices requiring a keyboard such as computers, personal digital assistants, cellular phones, gaming devices, musical instruments or other keyboard or display pointing / selecting based devices

A neurological device having a forearm support releasably attached to a user's arm, at least one finger sleeve adapted to be releasably attached to at least one finger, at least one tensor strut having a first end releasably coupled to the at least one finger sleeve and an opposite second end coupled to the forearm support, at least one sensor coupled to at least one of the at least one finger sleeve and the at least tensor strut and configured to detect finger movement and generate electrical signals that are indicative of the movement, and a data device coupled to the sensor and configured to receive the electrical signals and calculate at least one of a range of motion of the at least one finger, a speed of movement of the at least one finger, number of repetitions between flexion and extension of the at least one finger and a pressure exerted by the at least one finger during flexion from the electrical signals. The calculated data is used to remotely track user compliance and rehabilitation compliance by a healthcare provider.

Enhanced accuracy finger position and motion sensors devices, algorithms, and methods are disclosed that can be used in a variety of different applications. The sensors can be used in conjunction with partial fingerprint imagers to produce improved fingerprint scanners. The finger motion sensors may also be used (either with or without a partial fingerprint imager) to control electronic devices. When several of these finger motion and position sensors are aligned in different directions, finger motion over a two dimensional surface may be detected. This creates a finger controlled “mouse” computer input device. Motion of a finger along the surface of such sensors may allow a user to control the movement of an indicator on a display screen, and control a microprocessor device. Such techniques are particularly useful for small space constrained devices, such as cell phones, smart cards, music players, portable computers, personal digital accessories, and the like.

A substrate having a fingerprint sensing system usable as a command interface using finger movements. A user's fingerprint pattern is recognized and compared to previously stored reference patterns. If the fingerprint pattern matches a previously stored pattern, the user is then permitted to enter certain commands via the same interface system. For example, in the case of an automobile, a user may identify themselves with their fingerprint, and then perform such functions as unlocking the doors, setting the seat to a selected location, or even pre-starting the car prior to their entering the automobile. The very same devices which perform the fingerprint identification and sensing are also used for the input sensing and command recognition to perform the various commands. A user is thus able to securely control desired functions in an automobile, while being assured that an unauthorized user will not have access to the automobile, even as they were able to obtain the command interface device.