KR20160149403A

KR20160149403A - Wearable data input device and method thereof

Info

Publication number: KR20160149403A
Application number: KR1020150086300A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 김준석
Original assignee: 김준석
Priority date: 2015-06-18
Filing date: 2015-06-18
Publication date: 2016-12-28

Abstract

A wearable data input device according to the present invention includes a body part which is formed with a glove shape to surround a thumb and open the remaining fingers, a position display unit which is installed on the thumb part of the body part and displays a position when the thumb is located in the joints of the remaining fingers, a position detecting unit which is installed in the body part and detects the position of the thumb, a control unit which is electrically connected to the position display unit and the position detecting unit and calculates a mapped key value through the position information of the detected thumb, and a signal transmitting unit which transmits the key value calculated in the control unit to an external device. Accordingly, the present invention can input data to the external device through the natural movement of the finger.

Description

[0001] WEARABLE DATA INPUT DEVICE AND METHOD THEREOF [0002]

The present invention relates to a data input device, and more particularly, to a data input device in which a user inputs data by using a computer, or wearable data capable of inputting various data necessary for executing a program when an information communication terminal such as a PDA And a data input device.

In general, in the case of a keyboard that is an input device of a computer or an electronic device, it is possible to display a keyboard in a flat display window such as a flat keyboard or a smartphone or a tablet PC separately connected to the computer, Shaped flat shape.

As a method of inputting a key on the keyboard, the current keyboard is placed in a corresponding position until the key is manually selected, and the key is recognized by pressing or touching the corresponding key position with a finger or a pen Is used.

In order to operate a flat keyboard, the wrist and fingers must be kept at a constant angle while being placed on the keyboard, so that the wrists and fingers may become uncomfortable, and symptoms such as wrist syndrome may occur.

In particular, in order to perform a specific content-related operation, only a specific key is used for a long time. In such a case, the current keyboard is installed and used as a set, and in many cases, the keyboard is used in an uncomfortable state .

A number of wearable input devices have been developed to improve this. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 10-2005-0015235 discloses a glove-type game controller in which a contact point of each finger is used as a glove shape and is associated with a command key of a game. In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-2015-0054560 discloses a wearable device for attaching a micro contact sensor at each of hand contacts and inputting data according to the contact.

Since these devices attach contact sensors and contact switches to every contact point every finger, the number of sensors and switches increases and manufacturing difficulties arise. Especially, when a plurality of sensors are used, there is a problem that a characteristic input key can not be inputted even when one sensor fails.

In addition, the user's hands using the data input device are different in size and thickness, and therefore, there is a problem in that the device must be manufactured in various shapes such as the total size and thickness.

In addition, since all the fingers are in the form that the glove is inserted, there is a problem that the user may feel uncomfortable feeling in the situation where a lot of sweat may occur.

It should be understood that the foregoing description of the background art is merely for the purpose of promoting an understanding of the background of the present invention and is not to be construed as adhering to the prior art already known to those skilled in the art.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2005-0015235 (Feb. 21, 2005) Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2015-0054560 (May 20, 2015)

An object of the present invention is to provide a wearable data input device capable of inputting data to an external device through natural movement of the finger in a simpler configuration than the prior art and a data input method using the wearable data input device .

In order to achieve the above object, a wearable data input device according to the present invention comprises: a glove-shaped body portion surrounding a thumb and having the remaining fingers opened; a thumb portion disposed on the thumb portion of the body portion, A position detector for detecting the position of the thumb, a position indicator for detecting the position of the thumb, and a position detector for detecting the position of the thumb, which is electrically connected to the position indicator, And a signal transmission unit for transmitting the key value calculated by the control unit to an external device.

Wherein the position display unit includes a position recognition sensor for detecting whether or not the thumb touches the nodal portion of the remaining finger and a light emitting unit for emitting light when a signal is detected by the position recognition sensor, And a light receiving sensor for detecting light emitted from the light source.

Wherein the position display unit includes a position recognition sensor for detecting whether or not the thumb touches the nodal portion of the remaining finger, and when the signal is detected by the position recognition sensor, the position detection unit photographs the tip of the thumb, And a camera module for detecting the camera module.

The light receiving sensor may be at least two or more.

The light emitting unit may emit light by its own light source or may reflect light emitted from the light emitting unit to emit light.

The position display portion may include an acupressure relief for shaking the knuckle of the finger.

And a display unit connected to the control unit and displaying a key input value corresponding to the position information of the thumb.

A method of inputting data using a wearable data input device according to the present invention comprises the steps of displaying a position of a remaining finger of a thumb through a position display part provided on a thumb part, A step of mapping the position value of the detected thumb with the set target value, and a step of generating the target value by touching the thumb and remaining finger nodes of the user and transmitting the target value to an external device.

The step of displaying the position may include determining whether the thumb touches the nodal point of the remaining finger through the position recognition sensor and emitting light through the light emitting unit, and the step of detecting the position of the thumb may include: A light may be detected through a light receiving sensor to detect the position of the thumb.

The process of displaying the position may include determining whether the thumb touches the nodal portion of the remaining finger through the position recognition sensor, and the step of detecting the position of the thumb may include detecting, when a signal is detected by the position recognition sensor, The position of the end of the finger may be photographed by the camera module and detected.

The wearable data input device and the data input method using the wearable data input device according to the present invention have the following effects.

First, data can be input through the natural movement of the finger, thus allowing more freedom of use.

Second, it is possible to construct the device more simply by using the relative position of the thumb through the position indicator on the thumb and the position detector for detecting the finger without wearing the sensor on the entire finger.

Third, the user can enter data in a more comfortable state as an open type half-sleeve glove.

1 is a view showing a wearable data input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an external device is connected to a wearable data input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a view schematically showing an operation of a wearable data input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a diagram showing boundary marks of different key coordinates with respect to arbitrary key coordinates for key position setting.
5 is a diagram illustrating an example of mapping a finger position change and a target value designated by a user according to representative coordinate values.
6 is a flowchart illustrating a standard operation of a wearable data input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a diagram illustrating a wearable data input apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a flowchart illustrating a standard operation of a wearable data input device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a flowchart of a data input method using a wearable data input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular forms as used herein include plural forms as long as the phrases do not expressly express the opposite meaning thereto. Means that a particular feature, region, integer, step, operation, element and / or component is specified, and that other specific features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / And the like.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Commonly used predefined terms are further interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the relevant technical literature and the present disclosure, and are not to be construed as ideal or very formal meanings unless defined otherwise.

Hereinafter, a wearable data input device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a wearable data input device according to an embodiment of the present invention detects a relative position of a thumb at the time of touching a thumb with a node of another finger, and uses the detected position as a data input. Since there are 12 nodes except the thumb, you can enter data by bending the thumb and touching each node.

The wearable data input apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a body 110, a position recognition sensor 120, a light emitting unit 130, a light receiving sensor 140, a controller 150, 160).

The body 110 may have a shape in which only the thumb is wrapped in a glove shape and the other fingers are opened. Conventional glove type wearable data input devices have many sensors to which all fingers are attached so that they can feel uncomfortable due to sweat when worn. On the other hand, in the embodiment of the present invention, all the fingers other than the thumb are open The data can be input by using the nodal portion of the finger naturally.

The position recognition sensor 120 and the light emitting unit 130 are installed on the thumb of the body 110. This is an example of a position detector in the present invention as means for indicating the position of the thumb.

The position recognition sensor 120 is installed at an end portion of the thumb of the body 110 to detect whether the thumb touches the nodal portion of the remaining finger. Although various sensors can be used for the position recognition sensor 120, it is preferable to use a piezoelectric sensor that recognizes the sensor at a certain pressure. The position recognition sensor 120 is electrically connected to the controller 150 and transmits a detection signal to the controller 150 when the thumb touches the nail of the other finger.

The position detecting unit may include an acupressure-relieving unit capable of applying pressure to the knuckle of the finger. Each time a key is pressed, the user presses his / her finger by the acupressure reliever, so that the acupressure effect can be exerted. Particularly, when the position recognition sensor 120 itself is formed in the shape of concavo-convex shape for acupressure, an acupressure effect can be obtained even without providing a separate acupressure device for acupressure.

The light emitting unit 130 is installed at the end portion of the thumb 110 of the body 110 in the same manner as the position recognition sensor 120, and displays the position of the thumb end when the thumb touches the nail portion of the remaining finger do. The light emitting unit 130 may use various light sources, for example, infrared light may be used.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the position of the light source 130 may be variously arranged. The light source may be disposed in the light emitting unit 130 and may emit light immediately. A light source may be disposed at any position of the body 110, and the light emitted from the light source may be reflected by the light emitting unit 130 Do.

A light receiving sensor 140 is provided on the palm of the body 110. The light receiving sensor 140 detects the light generated by the light emitting unit 130 and detects the end position of the thumb. The light receiving sensor 140 is an example of a position detecting unit for detecting the position of the thumb. It is preferable that at least two light receiving sensors 140 are installed to precisely measure the position of the thumb.

In the embodiment of the present invention, three light receiving sensors 140 are provided to measure the distance to the light emitting unit 130 and detect the position thereof. Each of the light receiving sensors 140 detects light from the light emitting portion and measures the respective distances in the first light receiving sensor 141, the second light receiving sensor 142 and the third light receiving sensor 143, It is possible to measure the position by setting the position coordinates.

The position recognition sensor 120, the light emitting unit 130, and the light receiving sensor 140 are connected to the controller 150, respectively. The control unit 150 correlates a signal between the position recognition sensor 120, the light emitting unit 130 and the light receiving sensor 140, and matches the position of the detected thumb with a key value to be input, To the outside. The key value corresponding to the position of the thumb may be variously applied, and it may be stored in the control unit 150, or a new key may be set and used.

The control unit 150 is connected to the signal transmission unit 160. The signal transmitting unit 160 transmits the corresponding key value to the external device 170 according to the position of the thumb. The signal transmitting unit 160 and the external device 170 may be connected in various ways. The connected external device 170 can be a variety of devices such as a smart phone, a PC, a console game device, and an Internet control device. The connection method can be used both in a wired and wireless manner. Various schemes can be used.

As shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 180 may be additionally installed in the body 110 to allow the control unit 150 to check the control status such as input of a target value. When the display unit 180 is not provided, it is possible to monitor the state of the controller 150 by sharing the display of the external device 170 connected to the signal transmitting unit 160, for example, the display unit of the smartphone.

3 shows that the thumb touches the third node 6 of the third finger. The actual state corresponds to a state in which the third finger is pinched in the direction of the thumb (arrow direction). In this case, the position coordinate axis in the space is indicated to indicate the position of the thumb, the horizontal direction of the palm surface represents the X axis, the vertical direction of the palm surface represents the Y axis, and the vertical direction to the palm surface is the Z axis .

For example, the position of the thumb corresponding to the node of each finger can be designated as a relative key coordinate value as shown in Table 1 below.

Finger position number / representative coordinate value (x, y, z) 1 / (0, 2, 2) 4 / (1,2,2) 7 / (2,2,2) 10 / (3,2,2) 2 / (0, 1, 1) 5 / (1,1,1) 8 / (2,1,1) 11 / (3,1,1) 3 (0, 0, 0) 6 / (1,0,0) 9 / (2,0,0) 12 / (3,0,0)

The physically measured position values may have many coordinate points, dividing the boundaries of each finger node. However, all the measurement data within the range of each boundary value with the reference value as the boundary division value can be converted into the representative coordinate value of the corresponding target and utilized as the interface control data.

Fig. 4 shows another key coordinate boundary representation for arbitrary point key coordinates for key position setting, with respect to an arbitrary reference point, with all measured values having relative coordinate values. The measured value of the representative coordinate value is corrected to the boundary measurement value of the finger node and the boundary measurement value between the fingers to be a value corresponding to the position corresponding to the central portion in the boundary dividing line. This reflects the data correction value considering that there is a measurement error due to the error of the measurement value and the limit of the fine adjustment of the control position of the thumb which contacts through the finger.

Since the thumb and other fingers of the finger are limited to a portion near the center of the fingertip in order to recognize the actual key, a large part of the peripheral error is canceled to a control position within a narrow range used at the time of touch. The measured values are converted into representative coordinate values in consideration of the correction values of the set data. If the measured value is within the range of two or more representative coordinate values, convert it to the nearest representative coordinate value.

5 shows an example in which a target value designated by the user is mapped according to the finger position number and the representative coordinate value. Depending on the position of the thumb, the numeric key value can be used as a key button of the telephone dial as the target value. The control value for the remote control function can be set as the target value, and the English value of the keyboard can be used as the target value. have. Especially, when the user frequently uses a lot of keys, the embodiment of the present invention can be advantageously used when a specific task is repeatedly performed in the PC.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a standard operation of the wearable data input device according to the present invention. Referring to the operation of the key recognition module, a key recognition module application for measuring the position of the thumb and matching the coordinate value of the key position with the target value is executed. The key recognition module may be previously set in the control unit and set through the display unit, or may be set using an application installed in a connected external device. If the initial configuration mode is not executed after executing the application, the mapped key value is recognized through the touch of the key recognition finger with the existing setting value, and the key value is transmitted through the connected external device such as the smart phone. When the initial environment mode is executed, a basic key position coordinate value, i.e., a thumb position value is set, and the target value is mapped to the initial key position coordinate value. This initial setting should be performed when the user of the present embodiment changes or when a new target value recognition is required.

7 is a schematic view of a wearable data input device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 7, a wearable data input device 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a body part, a position recognition sensor 220, a camera module 240, a controller 250, and a signal transmitter 260 . And may further include a display unit 280. [ Other than the camera module of the basic structure of the wearable data input device according to another embodiment of the present invention, the other structure is the same as the above-described embodiment, and therefore a detailed description will be given.

The wearable data input device according to another embodiment of the present invention photographs the end of the thumb on the other finger node with the camera module 240 to detect the position of the thumb and uses the relative position as a reference . To this end, it is detected whether the thumb is touched to the node of another finger through the position recognition sensor 220, and the tip of the thumb is photographed by the camera module 240 through the controller 250. Then, It is possible to grasp the relative position.

That is, when the thumb is touched by the finger, the camera module 240 compares the image of the moment with the reference image that is set in advance and recognizes the coordinate value. A reference key value is set in advance, and a portion corresponding to the key is touched to set the corresponding key. When the key value is recognized, the key recognition data is connected to the smartphone or peripheral device through the signal transmission unit.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a standard operation of a wearable data input device according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 8, first, the position of the thumb is measured, and a key recognition module application for matching the coordinate value of the key position with the target value is executed. The key recognition module may be previously set in the control unit and set through the display unit, or may be set using an application installed in the connected external device. If the initial configuration mode is not executed after the application is executed, the key value is recognized through the touch of the finger through the existing reference image, and the key value is transmitted through the connected external device such as the smart phone. When the initial environment mode is executed, the key position reference image is set and the target value corresponding thereto is mapped. This initial setting should be performed when the user of the present embodiment changes or when a new target value recognition is required.

Hereinafter, a data input method using the wearable data input device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Referring to FIG. 9, a method of inputting data using a wearable data input device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a step (S10) of displaying a position of another thumb of a thumb, a step of detecting a position of a thumb S20), a step of mapping the position value of the thumb with the target value (S30), and a step of generating a target value by touching the thumb and the remaining finger nodes and transmitting the target value to an external device (S40).

In the embodiment of the present invention, the position of the thumb when the other finger is touched is relatively grasped, the position values of the twelve regions are selected, and the corresponding target values are mapped. Then, using the touch of the thumb, Key.

First, the position of the other finger of the thumb is displayed (S10). The position recognition sensor can be used to display the position of the finger when the thumb is touched. Such a position recognition sensor determines whether or not the thumb touches the nodal portion of the other finger, and at this time, the light is emitted through the light emitting portion provided on the thumb.

When the position of the thumb is displayed, the position of the thumb is detected through the position detecting unit. (S20) In the case of emitting light through the light emitting unit provided at the tip of the thumb, the distance between the light receiving sensor and the light emitting unit And the position can be detected by converting the coordinates into three-dimensional coordinates. In the case of using the camera module as the position detection unit without using the light emitting unit, it is possible to photograph the position of the end of the thumb and to detect the position of the reference image through the relative position of the actual captured image with respect to the reference image.

The detected position of the thumb is mapped to the set target value (S30). The specific input value for the position of the thumb, for example, the number, the alphabet, and the key control value are mapped to 1: 1. At this time, the mapped target value may be set to a predetermined value or may be set by the user as needed.

Thereafter, the user touches the thumb with the remaining finger to generate a target value, and sends the target value to the connected external device. (S40) The generated target value can be transmitted using various methods such as wired and wireless, When using the wireless method, it is possible to utilize various methods such as infrared communication, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

As described above, according to the wearable data input device and the data input method using the wearable data input device according to the present invention, data can be input through natural movement of the finger, so that the wearable data input device can be used more freely. The apparatus can be configured more simply by utilizing the relative position of the thumb through the position indicator and the position detector for detecting the position indicator on the thumb. Further, as an open type half-sleeve glove, there is an effect that a user can input data in a more comfortable state.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, You will understand.

It is therefore to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the detailed description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention .

110: body part 120: position recognition sensor
130: light emitting unit 140: light receiving sensor
150: control unit 160: signal transmission unit

Claims

A glove-shaped body portion surrounding the thumb and having the remaining fingers opened;
A position indicator provided on a thumb portion of the body portion and indicating a position of the thumb when the thumb is positioned at the nodes of the other finger;
A position detector installed on the body and detecting the position of the thumb;
A control unit electrically connected to the position display unit and the position detection unit and calculating a mapped key value through position information of the detected thumb;
And a signal transmission unit for transmitting the key value calculated by the control unit to an external device.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the position display unit includes a position recognition sensor for detecting whether or not the thumb touches the nodal portion of the remaining finger and a light emitting unit for emitting light when a signal is detected by the position recognition sensor,
Wherein the position detection unit includes a wearable data input device including a light receiving sensor for detecting light emitted from the light emitting unit,

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the position display unit includes a position recognition sensor for detecting whether or not the thumb touches the nodal portion of the remaining finger,
Wherein the position detecting unit includes a camera module for photographing a tip of a thumb when the signal is detected by the position recognizing sensor and detecting the position of the thumb.

The method of claim 2,
Wherein the light receiving sensor has at least two or more light receiving sensors.

The method of claim 2,
Wherein the light emitting unit emits light by its own light source or reflects a light source installed on the body unit to emit light.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the position display unit includes an acupressure relief for shaking the knuckle of the finger.

The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
And a display unit coupled to the control unit for displaying a key input value corresponding to the position information of the thumb.

Displaying the position of the remaining finger of the thumb through the position indicator provided on the thumb;
Detecting a position of the thumb through the position indicated by the position;
Mapping the position value of the detected thumb with the set target value, and
And generating the target value by touching the thumb and remaining finger nodes of the user and transmitting the target value to an external device.

The method of claim 8,
In the process of displaying the position, whether or not the thumb touches the nodal area of the remaining finger is determined through the position recognition sensor, and the light is emitted through the light emitting unit,
Wherein the step of detecting the position of the thumb detects the light emitted from the light emitting unit through the light receiving sensor to detect the position of the thumb.

The method of claim 8,
In the process of displaying the position, whether or not the thumb touches the nodal portion of the remaining finger is determined through the position recognition sensor
Wherein the step of detecting the position of the thumb is performed by photographing and detecting the position of the end of the thumb when the signal is detected by the position recognition sensor.