US 10,362,958 B2 · Systems, articles, and methods for electromyography sensors

Abstract

Systems, articles, and methods for surface electromyography (“EMG”) sensors that combine elements from traditional capacitive and resistive EMG sensors are described. For example, capacitive EMG sensors that are adapted to resistively couple to a user's skin are described. Resistive coupling between a sensor electrode and the user's skin is galvanically isolated from the sensor circuitry by a discrete component capacitor included downstream from the sensor electrode. The combination of a resistively coupled electrode and a discrete component capacitor provides the respective benefits of traditional resistive and capacitive (respectively) EMG sensor designs while mitigating respective drawbacks of each approach. A wearable EMG device that provides a component of a human-electronics interface and incorporates such capacitive EMG sensors is also described.

Claims24

Dependent claims

An electromyography (“EMG”) sensor comprising:

a first sensor electrode formed of an electrically conductive material, wherein the first sensor electrode comprises a first layer formed of a first electrically conductive material that includes copper and a second layer formed of a second electrically conductive material;
an amplifier;
and
a first electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples the first sensor electrode and the amplifier.

1 more element

A wearable electromyography (“EMG”) device comprising:

at least one EMG sensor responsive to muscle activity corresponding to a gesture performed by a user of the wearable EMG device, wherein in response to muscle activity corresponding to a gesture performed by the user the at least one EMG sensor provides signals, and wherein the at least one EMG sensor includes:
a first sensor electrode formed of an electrically conductive material, wherein the first sensor electrode of the at least one EMG sensor comprises a first layer formed of a first electrically conductive material that includes copper and a second layer formed of a second electrically conductive material;
an amplifier;
and
a first electrically conductive pathway that communicatively couples the first sensor electrode and the amplifier;
a processor communicatively coupled to the at least one EMG sensor to process signals provided by the at least one EMG sensor;
and
an output terminal communicatively coupled to the processor to transmit signals output by the processor.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

16/057,573Filed 7 Aug 2018 · continuation

Priority

27 Nov 2013

Published

US 2018/0344195 A16 Dec 2018

Granted

30 Jul 2019

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

A61B 5/296
Specially adapted for particular uses: for electromyography [EMG]
H05K 1/162
Incorporating printed electric components, e.g. printed resistors, capacitors or inductors: incorporating printed capacitors
H05K 1/167
Incorporating printed electric components, e.g. printed resistors, capacitors or inductors: incorporating printed resistors
H05K 2201/10151
Types of components: sensor

Family

Application61/909,786Us provisional application · filed 27 Nov 2013

Application14/553,657Parent of this continuation · filed 25 Nov 2014

US 2018/0344195 A1Pre-grant publication · published 6 Dec 2018

US 10,188,309 B2Parent of this continuation

US 2015/0148641 A1Published application

US 10,362,958 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Systems, articles, and methods for electromyography sensors

Life of this patent

Systems, articles, and methods for electromyography sensors

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24