WO1993015476A1 - Transducer arrangement for controlling machine(s) by perception of distance, especially for making choices from the computer's menu - Google Patents
Transducer arrangement for controlling machine(s) by perception of distance, especially for making choices from the computer's menu Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1993015476A1 WO1993015476A1 PCT/HU1992/000003 HU9200003W WO9315476A1 WO 1993015476 A1 WO1993015476 A1 WO 1993015476A1 HU 9200003 W HU9200003 W HU 9200003W WO 9315476 A1 WO9315476 A1 WO 9315476A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- sensors
- transducer arrangement
- distance
- menu
- finger
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/011—Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality
- G06F3/014—Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
- G06F3/0362—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F2203/00—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/00 - G06F3/048
- G06F2203/033—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/033
- G06F2203/0331—Finger worn pointing device
Definitions
- the subject of the invention is a transducer arrangement for controlling machine((s) by perception of distance, especially for making choices from the computer's menu, where the output of the sensors, being displaceable closer or further from each other, is connected to a signal processing unit.
- a device can be activated mechanically, being operated by hand or foot.
- the directly controlled part of the machine can be mechanic handle, lever, lock, steering wheel, switch-stick, hand-wheel, steering-rod, etc.; electric contact, switch, push-button, potentiometer, sliding contact, seisin, etc.; electronic push-button, keyboard, capacity-sensor, optical sensor, microphone or adequately configurated sets of any of those.
- the mechanic work needed to activate them can be between the tiresome force and the application of the zero-force touch-sensor.
- the complexity of the mental process pertaining to one instance of actiavation can be of any degree from the simplest, which requires only the perception of one binary signal an the output of a control signal of the same type (this is e.g. the case of a prescribed action when noting an optic signal: the driver brakes when the tail light in front of him is on), to the most complicated mental processes, as the perception of many analog signals, decision depending on the complicated dependencies between them, and as a result to produce a selected value of a variable control signal - e.g. the value of a key in a full keyboard - as it is the case when typist read the text or dictated to.
- the possible rapidity of the process consisting of the sequence of activation instances depends on the device and the person applying it: on the device to the extent, that how rapid it makes it possible to percept the result of one activation instance in the sequence (the possible rapidity of signalling back through sensing) to decide the next activation (the possible rapidity of processing a stimulus and of the decision - that can be increased significantly by exercising), and to pass the activity (that is the time between the start of the activation and the start of the control signal resulting from it).
- the strain characteristics of the activation processes are of the broadest variety: they can be compared to each other on the base of the two qualities, that how long can the machine be operated uninteruptedly by the same person without catastrophic decrease in quality, and that how intensive can one perform another activity during the work. From this point of view, ideal strain characteristics are shown perhaps by the controlling system of the automobile: it can be operated long time without getting tired in parallel with rather significantly more complicated other activities. In contrast, there is a big strain caused by handling the computer, despite the law physical work, if the program communicates intensively with the operator. The greater strain caused by the computer can be accepted undoubtedly by comparing it to the control of other machines - e.g.
- menu-selection The application of the two above methods is called menu-selection, and the device for that is the menu-selector.
- control signals have to be only few, and the full menu of the operation has to be shown to the operator or known in advance. Consequently, the menu-selector is just the application of traditional principles to handle computers. To realise these principles in practice is rather dificult for any machine. Usually the acceptability of the construction of the machine depends on it. None is it fully developed when epoche-making new machines are emerging, as today in the computer technology. The menu selector devices of the computer are now in an era of being renewed again and again. Common characteristic of the broadly known hand-operated menu selectors is, that the hand has always to manipulate on an object situated independently from the body, of the operator: on keyboard, joystick, mouse, touch-screen, etc.
- the "data-glove” is of pioneering significance from another point of view also: it achieves freedom from the situation of the whole body. It is enough for the operator to use only one hand to work. Other position-free devices: e.g., the pocket-calculator, TV-set infra-red telecontrol ler are situation-free only to the extent that both hands of the operator are occupied.
- the designers of the data-glove had got the progressive idea to achieve freedom from situation of the body by making the control action with a sensor which is directly connected to the hand's movement. It's mounted on to the hand in such a way, that it transmits the data of change coused by the hand's movements to the machine, e.g. to a robot or computer. So, it's possible even to plan controlling movements along all the three dimensions of the space.
- the data glove has the disadvantage of utilising those geometric features of the hand, which are possible to sense and to map only in an extremly complicated way, therefore it's application is uneconomical to transmit simpler control actions.
- the most general disadvatage of the known menu-selector devices is, that they do not provide in parallel both freedom from the situation of the body and useability with one hand only.
- An exception is the data-glove with the disadvantage, that it "overshoots" the aim.
- the device itself hasn't the above characteristics of menu-selecting: choosing between a small number of possible operations and being the menu known in advance or displayed.
- the menu is known in advance or can be displayed
- the situation of the operator's body is independent from the situation of any other object(s), needed to the control operation.
- the invention is based on the realization that the variation of a very simple feature of the hand, the distance of the fingertips from each other, is sufficient for control actions.
- the action is done along one single dimension of space, that it is economical to use in some simpler control operations, as e.g., the menu-selection, or other simple movements of the hand. That distance should be onlyconverted into electrical signal by distance transducers.
- the sensors can be fixed to the thumb and the fingers, favourably to the tips of those of the operator who controls the machine (s), and the tranducers can be controlled by causing the distance between them to get shorter or longer.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a realization example of the transducer arrangement, as in the invention, when using ultrasonic sensors fixed on to fingertips.
- - Figure 2 shows the structure of an ultrasonic sensor of the same example in cross-section.
- FIG. 4 shows the output signals of the comparator and the contents of the counter in the signal processing unit of Figure 2.
- the sensor which is the ultrasonic receiver 3 in the example, is fixed to thimble 2 which can be pulled onto the thumb 1; as well as the other sensor, which is the ultrasonic sender 5 in the example, is fixed to that thimble 2 which can be pulled on to the forefinger 4.
- the sensed data will be sent on the leads 6 from the ultrasonic receiver 3 and the ultrasonic sender 5 to the electronic signal-processing unit illustrated on Figure 3 but not being shown on Figure 1. It's possible to fix a thimble 2 onto all other fingers as needed, i.e. onto the middle finger 7, the ring finger 8 and the little finger 9, the ultasonic sender 5 being possible to fix to that thimble 2.
- the suitable position of the sensors on the fingers is the tip of the finger or the touching side of the finger just at the last joint, so that they can "see” each other, but they mustn't cover the touching pad of the fingers and so hinder the operator in making use of its hand.
- the sensors fixed on the different fingers can serve for different functions too.
- the sensors fixed on the thumb 1 and the middle finger 7 can serve as an on/off switch of some function of the machine(s). If we fix a sensor onto the little finger as well, the change of the distance between the thumb 1 and the little finger 9 can be used as an on/off switch.
- Figure 2 shows the structural solution of the thimble (the same which is shown on Figure 1) pulled onto the forefinger 4 and the ultrasonic sender 5 fixed on it.
- This sulution is the same for any of the thimbles pulled onto the thumb 1, forefinger 4, middle finger 7, ring finger 8 and little finger 9. The difference between them is only that the inner diameter has to be fitted in any case to the diameter of the respective finger.
- the ultrasonic sender 5 and the ultrasonic receiver 3 may happen to be manufactured in a case of the same shape.
- Those are cylindric metal cases, with two connecting pins on the insulator bottom of the cylinder and a surface on the top serving for capturing or radiation of the sound respectively.
- the thimble is of some unusual shape (it can be manufactured by, e.g., pressure casting) with a cylindric boring, which can hold the ultrasonic sender 5 or the ultrasonic receiver 3, at an angle of about 80 degrees to the thumble's longitudinal axis.
- the ultrasonic sender 5 or the ultrasonic receiver 3 is soldered to the disk 21 by its connecting pins.
- the disk 21 can be made of printed circuit material. Its diameter is somewhat larger than that of the ultrasonic sender 5 and ultrasonic receiver 3, consequently it leans against the step made in the boring where the ultrasonic sender 5 and ultrasonic receiver 3 are to be fixed. It's held in this supported position by the spring 24.
- Figure 3 shows the electronic signal processing unit in which the integrated circuit oscillator's output is connected firstly through a signal-forming resistor and choking coil to the piezoceramic sender 11 - that is identical with the ultrasonic sender 5 - , secondly to one of the inputs of a phase comparator, i.e. to the input driving the integrated circuit monostable multivibrator of the comparator.
- the phase comparator consists, as the connection diagram shows on the figure, of the integrated circuit monostable multivibrators 25,26 and 28, the integrated circuit NAND gate 27, the integrated circuit D-flip-flop 12, the integrated circuit Schmitt-trigger 15 and delaying RC circuits as well.
- the condenser microphone 13 being identical with the ultrasonic receiver 3, is connected to the other input of the phase comparator through amplifier transistors and the integrated circuit Schmitt trigger 14.
- the phase comparator has two outputs. One of them is connected to the enabling input of the up-down counter 16 through the delay circuit consisting of the integrated circuit Schmitt trigger 15 and the RC circuit in front of him, while the other is connected firstly to the up-down control input of the up-down counter 16 and secondly to the input of a differentiating circuit.
- the differentiating circuit consists, as the connection diagram shows on the figure, of the integrated circuit Schmitt trigger 17, the integrated circuit inverters 29 and 30, limiting Zener diodes, RC circuits making negative impuls from the change of the logic signal from high to low, the integrated circuit NAND gate 27 which derives the OR function of those impulses and of the impulse resetting the up-down counter 16.
- the output of the differentiating circuit is connected to the impulse counting input of the up-down counter 16, while the outputs of the up-down counter 16 are the outputs of the electronic signal processing unit.
- the outputs of the signal processing unit may be connected to a transmitter such as working without wire connection (e.g. wireless or infrared connection) as well.
- the resetting inputs of the up-down counter 16 are linked with the resetting contacts 18 and 19 positioned beside the ultrasonic receiver 3 and the ultrasonic sender 5.
- the measurement display unit 20 is connected to the outputs of of the up-down counter 16.
- the oscillator 10 provides an ultrasonic frequency signal of about 40 Khz for the piezoceramic sender 11.
- Figure 1 shows the space between the thumb 1 and the forefinger 4, being a region of a resolution of about 8 mm. Namely, the 40 kHz frequency corresponds with a sound-wavelength of about 8 mm.
- the condenser microphone 13 converts the received soundwaves into a sinusoidal electronic signal of the same frequency but of a delayed phase in contrast to that signal driving the sender.
- the phase comparator is essentially an electronic circuit sensing the identity of the phase of two different sine waves.
- Figure 4 illustrates its output signals as the function of the distance between the piezoceramic sender 11 and the condenser microphone 13.
- the phase delay being identical with the time delay between the input signals of the phase comparator, results from the time being required to the propagation of the sound through the air from the ultrasonic sender 5 to the ultrasonic receiver 3, which is proportional to the length of the way done in the air and is overwhelming in contrast to the delay caused by other parts of the arrangement.
- the delay, the time lag makes a phase difference which changes by a whole period when the distance changes by the wavelength, i.e. by 8 mm.
- the phase comparator recognizing that the phase of the two signals are identical means that the phase difference between them is zero or the multiple of the cicle time. This means at the same time that the distance between the ultrasonic sender 5 and the ultrasonic receiver 3 is the multiple of the wavelength of the ultrasound, which is in our case 8 mm.
- phase comparator signals with one of its outputs, being the output of the integrated circuit monostable multivibrator 28, that the phase difference between the two signals is within certain small + and - limits, while the other output, being the output of the integrated circuit D flip-flop 12. means that if it is, which signal is ahead (is the pase difference + or -). This later output retains its value also when the phase difference isn't within the limits, i.e. the value of the measured distance is inside an 8 mm long sector and not in any boundary region of the sectors. Consequently, this later signal shows whether the value of the distance entered the 8 mm long sector by increasing or decreasing.
- the signal showing the phase difference between the input signals of the phase comparator changes its value by a "hysteresis character" when the value of the measured distance alters by increasing and decreasing between the opposite boundary regions of an 8 mm long sector.
- the output signals of the phase comparator shown by Figure 4 are suitable for driving and controlling the up-down counter 16 in such a way that its content shows always the number referring to that 8 mm long sector of distance which corresponds to the measured distance.
- the signal from the phase comparator representing the phase identity being the output of the integrated circuit monostable multivibrator 28, controls the enabling input of the up-down counter 16 in such a way that when the compared inputs become of equal phase, it enables triggering the up-down counter 16 after a certain delay produced by a delay circuit consisting of the integrated circuit Schmitt trigger 15 and the RC circuit in front of him. That delay is necessary because the counter triggering signal, the value of which shows whether the received signal is delayed or the other, inverts its value at varying distance when the phase just becomes equal within the given limits. This change, however, mustn't be allowed to clock the counter.
- This same signal inverts its value also later, when the phase continues to alter within the given limits and the situation that the received signal is delayed or the other is inverted about in the middle of the field of tolerance.
- the output of the integrated circuit monostable multivibrator 28 enables already to trigger the up-down counter 16 because the delay which began at the point of time the phase was just becoming equal within the given limits ended long ago.
- the triggering takes place in such a way that the signal, the value of which shows whether the received signal is delayed or the other, being the output of the integrated circuit D flip-flop 12, prepares the up-down control input of the up-down counter 16 for the respective count direction. From the inversion of this same signal, the differentiating circuit makes the impuls which triggers the up-down counter 16.
- An experimental transducer arrangement displays on a LED display the distance between the thumb and a finger.
- the display and its driver circuit, as well as the circuits connecting the sensors to him, are the stable parts of the equipment.
- the leads can be moved freely and are 1 - 2 m long.
- the non-shielded lead beeing grounded resets the display to zero in the nearest position of the thumb and finger to each other. Removing them remoter from each other increments the display by one per 8 mm, while moving them backwards closer to each other decrements that.
- FIG. 2 illustrates the fact, that an adequately constructed thimble doesn't hinder the operator to work even with the traditional keyboard:
- the thimble 2 pulled onto the forefinger 4 allows to push the key 22 of the keyboard in such a way that the key 23 and the other ones remain untouched.
- the invention makes it more economical the mental and physical energy consumption of the human activity.
- the invention can be used in this sense by applying it in that field of the ergonomics dealing with the man-machine interaction: it is a new means to control the generally taken "MACHINE" by man. This is the most general definition of the sphere of the application.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Position Input By Displaying (AREA)
- Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/HU1992/000003 WO1993015476A1 (en) | 1992-01-27 | 1992-01-27 | Transducer arrangement for controlling machine(s) by perception of distance, especially for making choices from the computer's menu |
AU11953/92A AU1195392A (en) | 1992-01-27 | 1992-01-27 | Transducer arrangement for controlling machine(s) by perception of distance, especially for making choices from the computer's menu |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/HU1992/000003 WO1993015476A1 (en) | 1992-01-27 | 1992-01-27 | Transducer arrangement for controlling machine(s) by perception of distance, especially for making choices from the computer's menu |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1993015476A1 true WO1993015476A1 (en) | 1993-08-05 |
Family
ID=10980936
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/HU1992/000003 WO1993015476A1 (en) | 1992-01-27 | 1992-01-27 | Transducer arrangement for controlling machine(s) by perception of distance, especially for making choices from the computer's menu |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
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AU (1) | AU1195392A (en) |
WO (1) | WO1993015476A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6236037B1 (en) | 1998-02-20 | 2001-05-22 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Finger touch sensors and virtual switch panels |
US6388247B2 (en) | 1998-02-20 | 2002-05-14 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Fingernail sensors for measuring finger forces and finger posture |
CN102262459A (en) * | 2011-06-11 | 2011-11-30 | 厦门馨家园网络科技有限公司 | Finger-sleeve type handwriting pen capable of being automatically fastened and unfastened |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4414537A (en) * | 1981-09-15 | 1983-11-08 | Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated | Digital data entry glove interface device |
EP0211984A1 (en) * | 1985-08-19 | 1987-03-04 | Inc. Vpl Research | Computer data entry and manipulation apparatus |
WO1989012858A1 (en) * | 1988-06-15 | 1989-12-28 | Katsumi Kadota | Manual data input/output system |
US4988981A (en) * | 1987-03-17 | 1991-01-29 | Vpl Research, Inc. | Computer data entry and manipulation apparatus and method |
-
1992
- 1992-01-27 AU AU11953/92A patent/AU1195392A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1992-01-27 WO PCT/HU1992/000003 patent/WO1993015476A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4414537A (en) * | 1981-09-15 | 1983-11-08 | Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated | Digital data entry glove interface device |
EP0211984A1 (en) * | 1985-08-19 | 1987-03-04 | Inc. Vpl Research | Computer data entry and manipulation apparatus |
US4988981A (en) * | 1987-03-17 | 1991-01-29 | Vpl Research, Inc. | Computer data entry and manipulation apparatus and method |
US4988981B1 (en) * | 1987-03-17 | 1999-05-18 | Vpl Newco Inc | Computer data entry and manipulation apparatus and method |
WO1989012858A1 (en) * | 1988-06-15 | 1989-12-28 | Katsumi Kadota | Manual data input/output system |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6236037B1 (en) | 1998-02-20 | 2001-05-22 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Finger touch sensors and virtual switch panels |
US6388247B2 (en) | 1998-02-20 | 2002-05-14 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Fingernail sensors for measuring finger forces and finger posture |
CN102262459A (en) * | 2011-06-11 | 2011-11-30 | 厦门馨家园网络科技有限公司 | Finger-sleeve type handwriting pen capable of being automatically fastened and unfastened |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU1195392A (en) | 1993-09-01 |
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