GB2438471A

GB2438471A - Control gloves

Info

Publication number: GB2438471A
Application number: GB0610544A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tilak Dias; William Hurley; Adrian Keith Griffiths
Original assignee: ENGINEERED FIBRE STRUCTURES LT
Current assignee: ENGINEERED FIBRE STRUCTURES LT
Priority date: 2006-05-26
Filing date: 2006-05-26
Publication date: 2007-11-28
Also published as: WO2007138292A3; WO2007138292A2; GB0610544D0

Abstract

A glove is disclosed with electrodes (2,4) located at the extremity of at least one digit, with at least one other electrode (14,16) at another location. The electrodes are so located as to enable one to move into contact with another by a movement of a hand within the glove, to complete an electrical circuit and to generate an output signal. The other electrodes (14,16) can be replaced by resistors (26, 28) which will exhibit an electrical resistance dependent upon the location on the resistor as which contact is made by the electrode (2, 4). The electrodes and resistors are preferably formed as integral parts of the glove structure.

Description

CONTROL GLOVES AND CONTROL SYSTEMS

This invention relates to control systems involving electrical circuitry, and particularly to the use of gloves as the control vehicle.

The present invention promotes the use of movement of an electrode, for example on a gloved hand, to activate some form of electrical or electronic apparatus or device.

According to one aspect of the invention, a glove has an electrode with an exposed contact surface at the extremity of at least one digit, and at least one other electrode with an exposed contact surface at another location. The location and the extremity are so situated so as to enable contact therebetween by the ready movement of a hand within the glove. Typically the location is in or around the palm of the glove, so that contact can be achieved simply by closing the gloved hand. It could also, though be disposed on another digit. Of course, more than two electrodes can be included.

The limit is effectively defined by the dexterity and flexibility of the user's hand.

Pairs of gloves can also be provided, each with one or more electrodes on the external surface. In this variation electrical or electronic apparatus or devices could be actuated by contact between the gloved hands such as by clapping or clasping.

Gloves could be provided in sets to be worn by different people so that actuation of an apparatus or device is accomplished by contact not between gloves hands of the same person, but by gloved hands of different people. Numerous different effects can be accomplished by this means.

Electrodes can be mounted on gloves as separate items so long as there is a conductive element at the exposed surface. Embroidery techniques can be used, but the electrodes can also be included as an integral component of the glove structure.

In a knitted fabric, for example, the respective area of the glove may be knitted with conductive yarns to form the electrode, and conductive yarns can also be included to carry electrical signals to contacts or terminals suitably located, normally at the open end of the glove, for connection to the respective apparatus or device. This could be a wireless device which if activated, transmits a signal to remote equipment. Knitted electrodes may be made using techniques such as intarsia, jacquard and C-knitting to incorporate them into the fabric of a glove.

In another variant of the invention, the at least one other electrode is replaced by an exposed resistor in electrical circuit whose resistance can be altered by contact between the one electrode and the resistor. Means are provided to monitor changes in the circuit resistance provoked by such contact, and these changes can be used to transmit a signal to remote equipment. The amount of the alteration is dependent upon where on the region the contact is made. The region thus forms a variable resistor, and a variable resistance can be detected using a standard Wheatstone bridge configuration. This would normally be located separately from the person wearing the glove, and connected via terminals suitably located on the glove, typically at the periphery of the glove opening.

Regions of the kind described above are preferably an integral part of the glove construction, and where that construction is a textile, can comprise conductive yarns forming part of the structure. Regions knitted with conductive yarns are particularly useful, and can readily be incorporated in fabric structures of different kinds.

The invention will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows a glove according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a glove according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows and electrical circuit illustrating the use of a glove according to the embodiment of Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a block diagram showing how a glove embodying the invention can be used in a communication system.

The glove shown in Figure 1 is of conventional overall design, but has primary electrodes 2 and 4 on the thumb 6 and the second and third fingers 8. These electrodes 2, 4 are connected along conductive paths 10 to terminals 12 located at the periphery of the open or wrist end of the glove. These paths will normally be located on the reverse side of the glove, so as not to interfere with the electrodes.

Secondary electrodes 14 and 16 are disposed at other locations on the glove. These are connected along conductive paths 18 and 20 to terminals 22. The location of the secondary electrodes 14 and 16 are selected to facilitate engagement by the corresponding primary electrodes. Thus, electrode 14 is located to facilitate engagement by the primary electrodes 4 on the fingers 8 of the glove; and the secondary electrode 16 is located for engagement by the electrode 2 on the thumb 6.

Each of the primary (2, 4) and secondary (14, 16) electrodes on the glove shown in Figure 1 has an exposed contact surface, such that when two electrodes engage an electrical circuit can be completed between the respective terminals 12 and 22. The terminals 12 and 22 can be connected to equipment (not shown) carried by the wearer of the glove. This equipment may be a wireless transmitter/receiver such that completion of a respective circuit activates some remote apparatus.

The glove of Figure 1 can be made of any suitable material capable of carrying electrodes and conductive paths for connecting the electrodes to peripherally located terminals. Preferred materials are textile fabrics, of which the electrodes can be made an integral part of the textile structure. Conductive yarns within the structure can be used to form them, and this can be readily accomplished with knitted structures. Conductive yarns within the structure can also form the conductive paths 10, 18 and 20 connecting the electrodes to the terminals. Electrodes of this kind can be knitted into the structure by intarsia, jacquard and C-knitting techniques.

The glove of Figure 1 shows a plurality of electrodes which can be connected to each other by movement of the wearer's hand, particularly the wearer's fingers and thumbs in normal manipulation. It will though, be appreciated that gloves with different numbers of electrodes, sometimes only one, can be worn by different people. In this variant, contact between different people's gloves can be used to create different effects with equipment worn by either wearer or with remote apparatus via a wireless transmitter.

The glove of Figure 2 differs from that of Figure 1 in that in place of the electrodes 14, 16, variable resistors 26 and 28 are disposed on the glove at locations contactable by one or more of the electrodes 2 and 4. Resistors 26 are located close to the first knuckle on each finger, on the inside of the glove. Resistors 26 can also be located on the side of the fingers. Resistor 28 is located in the palm of the hand.

Resistors 26 are connected to terminals 30 at the opening of the glove. Resistor 28 is connected to terminals 32.

A circuit completed by an electrode 2 or 4 contacting one of the resistors 26, 28 exhibits an electrical resistance dependent upon the location on the resistor at which contact is made, as in a rheostat. This is illustrated in Figure 3. As shown, the measured resistance across the resistor 26 (28) is reduced from R to R1 when contacted by an electrode 2 (4). This variable resistance can be measured using a standard Wheatstone bridge configuration.

Figure 3 also shows a second resistor 34. This represents a unique resistance associated with each electrode 2 or 4, as does each region 26 or 28 represent a unique resistor. In this way, contact between the electrodes 2 and 4 with the regions 26 and 28 can generate a wide range of different signals to initiate or activate different functions of external equipment.

In all embodiments of the invention the electrodes or resistors can be formed as integral parts of the glove structure, which is typically fabric such as knitted, woven, or non-woven. The preferred structure is knitted, with the electrodes and resistors comprising regions knitted using conductive yarns defining specified resistances, and incorporated into the structure by the known intarsia, jacquard and/or C-knitting techniques. In the case of woven and non-woven fabrics embroidery techniques can be used to create the electrodes, resistors and conductive pathways with electro conductive yarns. It is also possible to create the above conductive areas by printing electro conductive ink on to the woven or non-woven fabrics.

Gloves or sets of gloves according to the invention have utility in a variety of fields.

They can be of particular value for use by individuals having limited mobility or more particularly, hand movement but severely restricted movement elsewhere. The embodiment of Figure 2 may be preferred in such situations as relatively little movement can be required to generate different electrical signals. The gloves can also be useful in operating machinery, and particularly when some action has to be initiated with minimum distraction from ongoing activity. It will be appreciated in this respect that at least the embodiment of Figure 1 can be used even if the hand is simultaneously performing another function. Gloves according to the invention can of course also be used for amusement or entertainment purposes.

Figure 4 shows the use of a glove of the kind illustrated in Figure 2 can be used in a data transmission system. Signals generated by the glove 36 are received by a microcontroller 38 in a transmission unit 40 where they are converted into RF signals for wireless transmission. At the receiver station they are converted back into digital or analogue signals which, when delivered to a computer or PC 42, can create a graphical representation derived therefrom, such as the glove shown, with articulation and accompanying sound.

The underlying structure for the electrodes and resistors in gloves or other substrates embodying the invention can take many forms. Impermeable materials such as plastic sheet can be used, as can leather or synthetic leather such as those used in clothing products, as well as woven, non-woven and knitted fabrics. As noted above, the electrodes and resistors can be created within a fabric structure, or on it using embroidery techniques or inkjet printing techniques with conductive ink.

Although the invention has been described as embodied in a glove, or set of gloves, it will be appreciated that it could be exploited by an electrode on a glove making contact with another electrode or a variable resistor on another surface. Wireless technology could enable this concept to be exploited over a wide area, and the electrode might even be borne otherwise than on a glove; i.e. as a quite separate unit. This applies particularly to the combination of the electrode with the variable resistor, where the circuit containing the resistor is of course independent of the electrode itself.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A glove having an electrode with an exposed contact surface at the extremity of at least one digit and at least one other electrode with an exposed contact surface at another location, the location and the said extremity being so situated as to enable contact therebetweeri by movement of a hand within the glove.

2. A glove according to Claim I where said at least one other electrode has its exposed surface in the palm of the glove.

3. A glove according to Claim I or Claim 2 where a said electrode is disposed with its exposed contact surface at the extremity of each of at least two digits.

4. A glove according to any preceding claim wherein said at least one digit is a thumb.

5. A glove according to any preceding claim wherein at least one of the electrodes is an integral part of the glove construction.

6. A glove according to Claim 5 wherein at least one of the electrodes comprises conductive yarns forming part of a textile structure.

7. A glove according to Claim 6 wherein the textile structure is knitted.

8. A glove according to Claim 7 wherein said at least one electrode is knitted into the textile structure by one of the lntarsia, the jacquard and the C-knitting techniques.

9. A glove according to any preceding claim including conductive paths connecting the electrodes to terminals for connection to remote apparatus.

10. A glove having an electrode with an exposed contact surface at the extremity of at least one digit; a region thereof formed with an exposed resistor in an electrical circuit whose resistance can be altered by contact between a said electrode and the exposed resistor, the region and the said extremity being so situated as to enable contact therebetween by movement of a hand within the glove; and means for monitoring changes in the circuit resistance provoked by said contact.

II. A glove according to Claim 10 formed with a plurality of said regions in respective electrical circuits.

12. A glove according to Claim 10 or Claim 11 wherein a said region is disposed on at least one digit of the glove.

13. A glove according to any of Claims 10 to 12 wherein a said region is disposed in the palm of the glove.

14. A glove according to any of Claims 10 to 13 wherein said at least one region is an integral part of the glove construction.

15. A glove according to Claim 14 wherein said at least one region comprises conductive yarns forming parts of a textile structure.

16. A glove according to Claim 15 wherein the textile structure is knitted.

17. A glove according to Claim 16 wherein the electrode and said at least one region arm knitted into the textile structure by one of intarsia and jacquard techniques.

18. A glove according to Claim 15, wherein the textile structure is a woven or a non-woven textile.

19. A glove according to Claim 18 wherein the structure is woven or non-woven as the electrodes and said at least one region is created using embroidery technique with conductive yarns, or using fabric inkjet printing technique with conductive ink.

20. A glove according to claim 14 wherein the glove structure is leather or flexible flexible plastic sheet.

21. A glove according to Claim 20 wherein the electrodes and said at least one region are created using an embroidery technique with conductive yarns, or an inkjet printing technique with conductive ink.

22. A glove according to any of Claims 10 to 21 including conductive paths incorporated in the structure of the glove connecting the electrodes and the circuit to terminals for connection to remote apparatus.

23. A pair of gloves according to any of claims 10 to 22.

24. A set comprising at least three of gloves according to any of claims 10 to 22.

25. A set of gloves in which each glove has an electrode with an exposed contact surface for engaging a complementary contact surface on another glove.

26. A set of gloves according to claim 25 wherein each glove is formed in a textile fabric and each electrode comprises conductive yarns forming an integral part of the fabric.

27. A set of gloves according to claim 26 wherein the textile fabric is knitted.

28. A set of gloves according to claim 27 wherein each electrode is knitted into the fabric by the lntarsia technique.

29. A control system comprising an electrode and an exposed resistor in an electrical circuit whose resistance can be altered by contact between the electrode and the exposed resistor, and means for monitoring changes in the circuit resistance provoked by said contact.

30. A system according to Claim 25 wherein the connection between the electrode and the circuit is wireless.

31. A system according to Claim 25 or Claim 26 wherein the electrode is part of a glove.