Tendon driven exoskeleton tightening mechanism
AssigneeContact Control Interfaces, LLC
InventorsThomas Buchanan, IV, Zachary Schroeder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A haptic feedback device to be worn on top of a user's hand comprises a plurality of loops configured to be circumscribed around the user's fingers and thumb, a plurality of anchoring finger caps configured to be circumscribed around extremities of the user's fingers and thumb, at least one haptic actuator housed within each of the anchoring finger caps, and a plurality of tendons coupled to the loops and the anchoring finger caps, the tendons configured to extend along the user's fingers and thumb. The tendons are configured to cause the loops to decrease in diameter to conform to the user's fingers and thumb.
Claims20
A haptic feedback device to be worn on top of a user's hand, the device comprising:
- a plurality of loops configured to be circumscribed around the user's fingers and thumb;
- a plurality of anchoring finger caps configured to be circumscribed around extremities of the user's fingers and thumb;
- at least one haptic actuator housed within each of the anchoring finger caps;
- and
- a plurality of tendons coupled to the loops and the anchoring finger caps, the tendons configured to extend along the user's fingers and thumb;
- wherein the tendons are configured to cause the loops to decrease in diameter to conform to the user's fingers and thumb;
- wherein the tendons are configured to apply a force to the anchoring finger caps when actuated;
- wherein at least one of the plurality of loops comprises a first routing channel and a second routing channel adjacent to the first routing channel;
- wherein a first tendon of the plurality of tendons is routed through the first routing channel and the second routing channel;
- and
- wherein the first tendon is secured to an anchor point at a proximal end of the second routing channel, such that when a pulling force is applied to the first tendon in a proximal direction, the diameter of the at least one of the plurality of loops contracts.
A haptic feedback device to be worn on top of a user's hand, comprising:
- a palm portion to be worn around the user's palm;
- a plurality of loops configured to be worn around each of the user's fingers;
- at least one haptic actuator to provide haptic feedback to the user;
- and
- a plurality of tendons coupled to the plurality of loops and extending along each of the user's fingers;
- wherein, in a first state, the plurality of loops have a first set of diameters, wherein each diameter of the first set of diameters is greater than a diameter of the user's fingers;
- in a second state, the plurality of loops have a second set of diameters, wherein each diameter of the second set of diameters is less than an associated diameter of the first set of diameters;
- wherein the plurality of tendons are operable to cause the plurality of loops to transition from the first state to the second state;
- wherein at least one of the plurality of loops comprises a first routing channel and a second routing channel adjacent to the first routing channel;
- wherein a first tendon of the plurality of tendons is routed through the first routing channel and the second routing channel;
- and
- wherein the first tendon is secured to an anchor point at a proximal end of the second routing channel, such that when a pulling force is applied to the first tendon in a proximal direction, the diameter of the at least one of the plurality of loops contracts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.