Wrist-worn device-based inputs for an operating system
Inventors
Cipoletta, David O. • Ang, Dexter W. • Yu, Nathan • Kowalczyk, Michael P.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11199908-B2
Publication Date
2021-12-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
A user interface device includes at least a biopotential sensor and a location sensor. The user interface device is constructed to be worn by a person. A responsive device, such as a computer, receives data based on the outputs from the biopotential sensor and the location sensor, and performs actions based on the received data. Primitive gestures detected in the received data are associated with inputs of an operating system of the responsive device. For a wrist-worn device, a primitive gesture can be based on a pose of the hand or location of a wrist or both. The association of primitive gestures with inputs of the operating system can include associating primitive gestures with mouse inputs, inputs to request launching an application or switching applications, or inputs to perform other operations.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a wrist-worn wearable device that senses biopotentials at the wrist related to activity of muscles of a hand and also senses a location of the wrist. The wearable device outputs a biopotential signal and a location signal and transmits data based on the outputs to a second device, which includes a processor, computer storage, one or more applications, and an operating system, and includes a locked state and an active state.
The system uses primitive gesture data derived from the biopotential signal and the location signal, including a wake word gesture and an application launch gesture, to control the second device. Transmitting first data indicating that the person performed a wake word gesture causes an instruction to be passed to the operating system, which transitions the second device from the locked state to the active state, and transmitting second data indicating that the person performed an application launch gesture causes an instruction to be passed to the operating system to launch an application.
The system further includes a motion silencing state and a biopotential sensing state that define responsiveness to the biopotential sensor output. When in the motion silencing state, the system is nonresponsive to the output of the biopotential sensor, and when in the biopotential sensing state, the system is responsive to the output of the biopotential sensor. The system transitions from the motion silencing state to the biopotential sensing state when the location sensor detects an absence of movement of the wrist relative to the body of the person.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes two independent claims: one directed to a system and one directed to a method. Across these independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on wrist-worn biopotential and location sensing transmitted to a second device, state-based responsiveness, and gesture-driven operating system instructions for unlocking and launching applications.
Wrist-worn biopotential and location sensing for data transmission
A wearable device worn at a wrist includes a biopotential sensor that senses biopotentials at the wrist related to activity of muscles of a hand and a location sensor that senses a location of the wrist, and transmits data based on the outputs to a second device.
Wake word gesture instruction to transition locked to active
First data indicating that the person performed a wake word gesture causes a first instruction to be passed to the operating system of the second device, transitioning the second device from the locked state to the active state.
Application launch gesture instruction to launch an application
Second data indicating that the person performed an application launch gesture causes a second instruction to be passed to the operating system of the second device to launch an application of the one or more applications.
State-based motion silencing and biopotential sensing with location-based transition
A motion silencing state in which the system is nonresponsive to the output of the biopotential sensor and a biopotential sensing state in which the system is responsive to the output of the biopotential sensor, with transition from the motion silencing state to the biopotential sensing state when the location sensor detects an absence of movement of the wrist relative to the body of the person.
Determining wake word gesture and application launch gesture for OS control
A method using a wearable device with a biopotential sensor and a location sensor includes sensing biopotentials at the wrist, sensing a location of the wrist, transmitting first data based on the biopotential signal and location signal, determining that the person performed a wake word gesture, and passing a first instruction to the operating system to transition the second device from a locked state to an active state.
Determining application launch gesture and passing OS instruction
The method transmits second data based on the biopotential signal and the location signal, determines that the person performed an application launch gesture, and passes a second instruction to the operating system causing an application to be launched.
Across the independent claims, the coverage requires wrist-worn biopotential and location sensing with transmission to a second device, determination of a wake word gesture to unlock the device, determination of an application launch gesture to launch an application, and state-based responsiveness in which motion silencing disables biopotential responsiveness until the location sensor detects an absence of movement of the wrist.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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