WO2019045555A1 - Intuitive control for controlling an electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention refers to an intuitive control for electronic device control, comprising a housing that houses an electronic card and comprising on its front face and top a plurality of smart proximity buttons; a central switch arranged in the lower front part of the housing; a flexible harness coupled to some ends of the housing so that the control is attached to the inside of the palm of a user's hand; and a means of communication between the control and the electronic device.

Description

 INTUITIVE CONTROL FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE CONTROL

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of intuitive controls for electronic device control by dynamic tracking of hand movements, in order that the user controls various devices and electronic equipment such as computer cursors, also smartphones and tablets, direct electronic remote control toys such as airplanes, helicopters, ships, cars, etc., manipulative robots for the manufacturing industry (assembly arms of production lines) and special tele-operated remote units for safety of operators in environments or situations of high risk.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, traditional pointing devices have been designed for use on a horizontal desktop surface, with the user sitting upright and not engaged in any other activity, in such a way that traditional pointing devices, as well as control commands often they are not practical in many scenarios. For example, a traditional mouse does not allow a user to use it without a surface, nor do it in a relaxed posture, also a control command usually requires the use of both hands of the user.

The present invention provides a solution to the aforementioned drawbacks since many of the users would like to navigate without having to stretch to reach a surface to support the mouse or use both hands to control a command. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1a illustrates the control of the present invention in the hand of the user. Figure 1b illustrates the operation process of the control of the present invention in the hand of the user.

 Figure 2 illustrates the intelligent proximity buttons of the present invention.

Figure 3 illustrates the communication protocols of the command of the present invention.

 Figure 4 illustrates the multiple applications of the control of the present invention. Figures 5-7, illustrate the manner of use of the control of the present invention.

Figures 8a and 8b illustrate the semipreferent modality of touch and optical multisensors by smart button.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to what is illustrated in figures 1a, 1b, 2-7, 8a and 8b, the present invention relates to an intuitive control for electronic device control that is comprised of a housing (1) that houses a small rectangular electronic card about 6cm long by 2cm wide with a thickness of 5mm, the housing (1) having a back face that makes contact with the palm of the hand, is made of soft and semi-deformable material to subtly adapt to the shape of the palm and provide greater comfort; a flexible harness (7) for the control to be attached to the inside of the palm of the user's hand, the housing (1) has on its front face 3 intelligent proximity buttons consisting of concave cavities in which there are sensors specials that serve as 3 of the 4 main intelligent proximity buttons, equivalent in a computer mouse to the left button (3), middle button (4) and the enable button (5).

The control further comprises a central switch (6) in the lower front part thereof, to be put in sensitivity level change mode; an intelligent optical sensor that is able to recognize the movements, distance, direction and position of the thumb, functioning as an analog lever at the same time, as a simple and common intelligent button of superior proximity (2) in the upper part of the control, equivalent in the computer mouse to the right switch, has two LEDs (9, 11) RGB (red green blue) to indicate battery and charge states (only for wireless versions that have rechargeable batteries) while indicating the level of sensitivity selected with the central switch (6) for changing the sensitivity level.

 The intuitive control for electronic device control further comprises a very small piezoelectric speaker (10) to produce sounds and indicate audibly when a "switch pulse" has been detected, and a communication means (8) between the control and the device electronic to be controlled, which can be a USB cable as illustrated in the preferred embodiment of figure 1a, serial connector, or a wireless transmitter module with rechargeable batteries (depends on the platform and final application).

Internal functional description

Once the control has been connected to the final application console, when activated with the "intelligent proximity button" upper (2) enabled, as can be seen in figure 1b, the command begins to read constantly (approximately 1000 readings per second), a sensor:

Gyroscope that is in charge of obtaining readings of rotations and angular movements performed by the user's wrist, and this data is passed through successive integrations (mathematical process) to obtain the angle of inclination at each respective moment in order to know how many degrees He has rotated the hand of the person in any direction and thus know where he is pointing or directing the gadget to control. At the same time there are finger detectors called "intelligent proximity buttons", as illustrated in figure 2, whose function is to serve as conventional buttons and which are formed in the PCB (internal part of the control) by a copper surface (3a) that is connected to a capacitive "touch" circuit to detect the capacitance of the human fingers (34) when approaching it, at the same time as on the other side of the PCB (internal part of the command) and through 2 small orifices (32) there is an optical system consisting of a small infrared light emitter (30) and another receiver (31), whose purpose is to generate an infrared illumination field (33) in front of the copper surface (3a) that it is in a concave cavity on the front face of the control (the so-called "proximity smart button") and in which, when the human finger is approached, more or less infrared light is reflected in the detector, with which the distance can be determined between the finger and the smart button and if the finger approaches or moves away from that area.

The objective of using a finger detector instead of a conventional switch, is because the conventional switch has mechanical parts and to operate requires a minimum force against it so that it can be pressed and closed its electrical circuit, this generates additional pressure and unwanted movements that are added to the control of the control in precise movements (the pressing of conventional buttons in this command generates an unwanted movement), so, when putting this intelligent finger detector that combines detection by light with detection " touch "by capacitance you get a very sophisticated version of a" smart proximity button "that is ultra sensitive with zero pressure from a finger distance that can be adjusted with algorithms automatically for each user when calibrating and adjust the control in a personal way. These two data: angles of rotation and inclination of the control (subject to the hand), together with the detection of fingers by the "Smart proximity buttons" is mathematically pre-processed, and then interpreted to understand which type of movement and actions is making the hand of the user (in real time) and once these actions have been interpreted hand in hand, it is verified in a register (recorded from the factory for each respective commercial application to which it is intended) to what command, exit protocol and console or final application platform you have to send this information so that I send it in a way that the gadget can understand and perform what the user commands through the movements of his hand and fingers.

More specifically, the operation of the device is found in the block diagram of Figure 1b, in which: A motion sensor (91) is illustrated; finger sensors (92), readings and signal pre-processing (100); event detection (101); signal processing and interpretation (102); assignment of commands (103); configuration register to select output (104) and an output selector (105) to an SPI (20) Peripheral interface in series, an I2C (21) Inter-integrated circuit (Inter-I ntegrated Circuit), a SERIAL (22) , a USB (23) Universal Serial Bus or a PARALLEL port (24).

The basic use of this intuitive control for control of electronic gadgets by dynamic tracking of hand movements, was designed and developed to be a means through which users could control various devices and electronic equipment such as computer cursors (also smartphones and tablets), directing remote-controlled electronic toys (such as airplanes, helicopters, ships, cars, etc.), manipulative robots for the manufacturing industry (assembling arms of production lines) and special remote-operated units for security of the operators in high-risk environments or situations, the most basic examples of the use of this command are shown in figure 4 and its explanation follows:

as a substitute for a computer mouse: where a USB connector is added to the control so that it can be connected to a computer, tablet or smartphone (or wireless mouse with rechargeable batteries and wireless communication module), and is configured to be recognized and work commands USB mouse. And when placed in the hand and activate the "intelligent proximity button" enable, if the person rotates the wrist as if pointing up the computer cursor, it will move up in proportion to the movement of the hand, if the person turns the wrist as if pointing down, the computer cursor will move down in proportion to the movement of the hand, if the person rotates the wrist as if pointing to the right, the computer cursor will move towards the right in proportion to the movement of the hand, if the person turns the wrist as if pointing to the left the computer cursor will move to the left in proportion to the movement of the hand, and the "Smart proximity buttons" (2, 3, 4) will work respectively as if they were exactly the 3 computer buttons (Left, Right, and Medium)

remote control for toys and special units: here the remote works in a very similar way as in the previous example, with the difference that, instead of controlling a computer cursor, it will be used to control vehicles operated by remote control, for example in a remote control. electronic car, by turning the wrist as if pointing to the left, the car will move to the left in proportion to the movement of the hand (in the same way for the other directions) and having special functions of the vehicle for each "smart button" proximity "of the control (analog or digital), for example activation of drill or lighting lights or load unloading.

Control to control and program sequences in manipulative industrial robots: in this case the control demonstrates its greatest potential since its use is to operate robotic arms in production lines and basically the movements of the hand that the operator makes will be the same as the robotic arm plus the predefined functions of each "intelligent proximity button" of the control (analog or digital), for example: clamping parts, welding stitch, igniting polishing, activating air pump or electro-valve for directed paint jet, etc.

It is important to indicate that the functions of the "intelligent proximity buttons" are pre-defined for standard applications as a substitute for computer mouse where the "intelligent proximity buttons" correspond to the Enable buttons, Left switch, Right switch, Medium switch. And for other applications such as remote control vehicles and industrial robotic arms, the specific functions of "smart proximity buttons" are defined in conjunction with each respective manufacturer and, if the manufacturer requires it, this information will remain confidential. with your own

Sensitivity adjustment

As illustrated in figure 7, this function consists of changing the sensitivity level of the gyroscope of super fine movements to very abrupt movements for greater adaptability of the user to his pulse and tasks to be performed, and the sensitivity is adjusted as follows: Simply press and hold the center switch (6) to change the sensitivity level while turning or rotating the forearm with firm, right or left wrist and selecting the preset level of sensitivity with the color of a RGB led from the part top of the command (as the forearm and wrist rotate, the color of the RGB led changes with the angle to indicate the level), and when the desired level is reached, the central switch (6) is released.

Enabling and disabling the sound of the control For more comfort of the user to not have conventional mechanical buttons where you feel when you have pressed the switch, or that you hear the typical "click" (as in computer mice) was added a piezoelectric micro-horn, which is capable of generating sounds similar to the "click" so that the user, by not feeling the "intelligent proximity button", can hear a more familiar "click" and assimilate that the activation of the some "intelligent proximity button" on the remote. The function of generating a sound to indicate when a finger detection has been correctly carried out (equivalent to a switch press), can be turned on or off as follows:

 Prender sound: without pressing the "intelligent proximity button" of enabling (5) the "intelligent proximity button" (2) on the upper part is kept pressed as illustrated in figure 1a, corresponding to the thumb next to said "intelligent proximity button" and then the central switch (6) of sensitivity level change is pressed (for a moment) and the central switch (6) of sensitivity change is released and an instant later the "smart button" is released of proximity "superior (2), you will hear a sound similar to a" click "while the RGB LED flashes white, indicating that the sound function was enabled for the" Buttons ".

 Turn off sound: without pressing the "intelligent proximity button" of activation (5) the "smart proximity button" (2) on the top of the remote (button visible in figure 1a) corresponding to the thumb on the "intelligent proximity button" upper (2) and then the central switch (6) of sensitivity level change is pressed, an instant later the upper "intelligent proximity button" (2) is released and another instant later it is released the central switch (6) of change of sensitivity, nothing will be heard while the RGB led flashes white, indicating that the sound function for the "Buttons" has been disabled.

Adjustment and calibration of the control with the hand of the user This function records the data of optical reflexibility and capacitance of the user in the internal memory of the remote control at a distance preferred by each individual, with which greater personalized comfort is obtained according to the tastes, sizes, physiognomies and skin color of each specific user.

The way to obtain this function is: the central switch (6) of sensitivity level change is kept pressed and then a fast wrist movement must be made upwards, the central switch (6) of level change is released sensitivity, and put the fingers at the most comfortable distance near the "smart proximity buttons" (there is a distance of 0 at a maximum of 2 cm) and the values are recorded, to work with them as if that were the maximum distance from which the respective functions of each of the "intelligent proximity buttons" will be activated.

 The way in which this command can be made cross-platform for various final applications is thanks to the fact that it can be communicated in various ways with various electronic devices, and this it does thanks to the different outputs of electronic communication that it has, as can be seen in figure 3, on the back and under the cover of soft material, semi-moldable, waterproof, anti-skid and anti-perspiration (for orthopedic purposes) there are several ports that can be used to connect in the most appropriate way to the device with which you will work; registering when manufacturing what port will be used to communicate and with what electronic communication protocol with specific commands, being the following electronic communication protocols because they are standard:

SPI (20): Serial peripheral interface (Serial Peripheral Interface), which is one of the 2 main communication protocols in the world of embedded electronics as it is used to communicate with virtually any other electronic device.

 I2C (21): Inter-integrated circuit (Inter-integrated Circuit), which is one of the 2 main communication protocols in the world of embedded electronics as it is used to communicate with virtually any other electronic device.

 SERIAL (22): protocol widely used to communicate with various modules (such as wireless) at the same time as embedded electronics and industrial robots.

 USB (23): (Universal Serial Bus) selected mainly for compatibility in computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones where it will be used as a substitute for conventional optical mice.

PARALLEL (24): it is used more for the electronic interface with some ports of industrial robots. With support for the aforementioned communication protocols, the command has the ability to communicate to various electronic modules to perform the transfer of data and commands (user commands), and these modules with which it can be linked are:

RS232 (25): a transeiver used for long-distance wire communication widely used in industry and especially in robotics.

RS485 (26): differential transeiver (has greater immunity to electrical and electronic noise) that is used for long distance wired communication widely used in industry and especially in robotics.

Bluetooth (27): these are commercial modules for transmitting and receiving information wirelessly (in small areas) through the same well-known and popular communications protocol (widely used today).

Wifi (28): these are commercial modules for transmitting and receiving information wirelessly through medium-coverage local networks, or in multi-user and multi-machine environments.

 Ethernet (29a): these are commercial modules for transmitting and receiving information in a wired way through very wide coverage networks, or in automated environments such as the manufacturing or construction industry.

RF and RC (29b): these are commercial modules for transmitting and receiving information wirelessly with medium-high coverage, or in the open field, more oriented to surveillance or personal entertainment (such as remote-controlled vehicles).

Modalities

 Multi sensor configuration:

It can also be configured with multiples of 2 or more sensors (or any other multiple in linear arrangement as in figure 8a or in matrix arrangement as in figure 8b by smart button on the front as well as the superior "smart proximity button" (2) for greater compatibility to the different sizes and physiognomies of the hand of each respective user, these multisensors working together for the detection of each respective finger, detecting their presence, distance, speed and direction (if each respective one approaches or moves away) smart button finger) which provides the possibility of being a digital button (simple finger detection closed or open) or analog button by providing a corresponding value with the distance between the finger and the sensor. USB mouse: it consists of a substitute of the typical optical mouse for computers, tablets and smartphones, connecting by a USB cable and connector and being recognized by the PC immediately as a mouse (without the need to install any other software or driver in it) )

 Connected to the computer works only when the "intelligent proximity button" is enabled (ideally with the ring finger) to follow the horizontal and vertical movements of the hand and convert them into directions, speeds and displacements of the computer cursor along with the function of the 3 buttons (left, middle and right) while preserving the aforementioned functions of sensitivity adjustment, enabling and disabling control sound, adjusting and calibrating the control with the user's hand

Wireless mouse

 It works exactly as the previous mode, with the difference that it is not connected by USB cable, but rather it connects to the computer wirelessly through WIFI or BLUETOOTH with the incorporation of their respective communication modules and requires rechargeable batteries incorporated in the control to function (due to not having an external power source)

Control for industrial robots:

This modality consists of an intuitive command to control manipulative robots in the manufacturing industry by means of hand movements (but not limiting or restricting exclusively to it), connected through their respective communications protocol (and previously programmed their commands respective in agreement with each respective manufacturer with which an agreement is made) can be controlled with intuitive movements and volunteers of the hand and fingers in real time, these robotic arms for adjustments, particular movements or to record in his memory required sequences of actions that he must carry out to hold, manipulate, transport or process some piece or specific part in the production line of repetitive way when it is detected and required automatically and independently.

Remote control for toys:

This is about providing various remote control toy manufacturers for RC carts, scale planes, etc. of a command for the end user who, connected to its respective wireless communication module and rechargeable batteries, is able to send the user's orders to the toy to control, move, direct and manipulate it at will through the movements of the hand and fingers that the control detects. Command for special units:

 This modality practically identical to the previous one, with the difference that here it is not about controlling toys, but rather tele-directed special units for situations of high risk for the operator as they can be (but not limited exclusively to these examples):

Exploration submarines for maritime-mercantile or oceanographic activities

pressure excavators for oil wells

cargo cranes in construction

interceptors and surveillance robots in police and military activities

Claims

CLAIMS Having described my invention, I consider it a novelty and therefore claim as my exclusive property contained in the following claims: An intuitive control for electronic device control, comprising: a housing (1) housing an electronic card and comprising on its front and top face a plurality of intelligent proximity buttons (2, 3, 4, 5);  a central switch (6) arranged in the lower front part of the housing (one);  a flexible harness (7) coupled to ends of the casing (1) so that the casing (1) of the control is fastened to the inside of the palm of a user's hand;  a means of communication (8) between the control and the electronic device. 2. An intuitive control for electronic device control according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the plurality of intelligent proximity buttons (2, 3, 4, 5), has a copper surface (3a) that connects to a capacitive touch circuit to detect the capacitance of the human fingers (34) when approaching it, at the same time as on the other side of a PCB (internal part of the control) and through 2 small holes (32) there is a system optical which consists of a small infrared light emitter (30) and another receiver (31), whose purpose is to generate an infrared illumination field (33) in front of the copper surface (3a) that is in a concave cavity on the front face of the knob and in which, when the human finger approaches, it causes more or less infrared light to be reflected in the detector, with which the distance can be determined and if the finger approaches or moves away from that area. 3. An intuitive control for electronic device control according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication means (8) between the control and the electronic device can be a USB cable, a serial, parallel connector, or a wireless transmitter module with rechargeable batteries that depends on the platform and final application. 4. An intuitive control for electronic device control according to claim 1, characterized in that various electronic devices and equipment such as computer cursors, smartphones and tablets are controlled by means of same, as well as remote controlled electronic toys such as airplanes, helicopters, ships, cars, etc. 5. An intuitive control for electronic device control according to claim 1, characterized in that manipulative robots for the manufacturing industry and remote-operated special units are controlled by the safety of the operators in high-altitude environments or situations. risk. 6. An intuitive control for electronic device control according to claim 1, characterized in that the central switch (6) has the function of setting the sensitivity level change mode. 7. An intuitive control for electronic device control according to claim 1, characterized in that it is rectangular in shape, about 6 cm long by 2 cm wide with a thickness of 5 mm. 8. An intuitive control for electronic device control according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the plurality of intelligent proximity buttons (2, 3, 4, 5), consist of concave cavities in which there are special sensors that They serve as 3 of the 4 main equivalent buttons on a computer mouse with the right button, left button (3), middle button (4) and the enable button (5). 9. An intuitive control for electronic device control according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a smart button of superior proximity (2) in the upper part of the housing (1), equivalent in the computer mouse to the right switch and has two LEDs (9 and 11) RGB (red green blue) to indicate battery and charge states (only for wireless versions that have rechargeable batteries) while indicating the level of sensitivity selected with the central switch (6 ) of sensitivity level change, hand calibration, and sound enable and disable indicator. 10. An intuitive control for electronic device control according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a very small piezoelectric speaker (10) to produce sounds and indicate audibly when a "switch pulse" has been detected. An intuitive control for electronic device control according to claim 9, characterized in that the intelligent upper proximity button (2) corresponding to the thumb can detect the distance, position, direction and speed of the thumb to function as a lever analog finger digital apart from the traditional functions of detecting finger pressing or not a digital "button", with what becomes a digital analog intelligent button (equivalent to a button and a small joystick for the thumb). 12. An intuitive control for electronic device control according to claim 1, characterized by a linear and matrix configuration of multiple touch and optical sensors by intelligent button to obtain better performance by detecting and tracking the movements and positions of the fingers at the same time that increases the flexibility and compatibility with the different sizes and physiognomies of the hands of each respective end user. 13. An intuitive control for electronic device control according to claim 1, characterized in that all the intelligent buttons (2, 3, 4, 5) have the ability to operate in two ways: as digital buttons (button depressed detection or no) and as an analog-digital button, by being able to provide the distance of the finger to each respective sensor, with which it is possible to calculate the speed, direction and position of this, giving the possibility of controlling more precisely any parameter (such as speed of a motor or closing angle of a robotic tong). 14. An intuitive control for electronic device control according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing on its back (side in contact with the palm of the hand) is formed by a series of materials that together provide a non-skid surface and antiperspirant, at the same time that the filling is a soft flexible and moldable material to be able to adapt subtly to the partial shape of the palm of the user's hand to provide greater comfort.