Method and system with sensors for sensing hand or finger positions for adjustable control
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorJonathan E. Drum
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A handle is adapted to receive one or more fingers or a portion of the hand. A set of sensors is mounted on or near the surface of the handle. Each sensor associated with a different region of the handle. A detector is arranged to detect contact of one or more of the sensors, by one or more fingers or a portion of a hand, to generate an observed touch-point map for the handle for a respective sampling interval. A controller can generate a gain or control response ratio in the electrical signals outputted in response to the observed touch-point map matching or being substantially similar to a reference touch-point map, where the electrical signals are derived from movement or displacement of the handle by a user.
Claims23
A device for converting hand or finger positions or movements into electrical signals, the device comprising:
- a handle for receiving one or more fingers or a portion of a hand;
- a handle displacement sensor for producing an electrical signal in response to movement or displacement of the handle;
- a set of tactile sensors on or near the surface of the handle, each tactile sensor associated with a different region of the handle;
- a detector for detecting contact of one or more of the tactile sensors to generate an observed touch-point map for the handle for a respective sampling interval;
- and
- an electronic data processor for generating a gain or control response ratio in the electrical signal outputted by the device in response to the observed touch-point map matching or being substantially similar to a reference touch-point map.
A method for converting hand or finger positions or movements into electrical signals, the method comprising:
- receiving one or more fingers or a portion of the hand on a handle;
- producing an electrical signal in response to movement or displacement of the handle;
- providing a set of tactile sensors on or near the surface of the handle, each sensor associated with a different region of the handle;
- detecting contact of one or more of the tactile sensors to generate an observed touch-point map for the handle for a respective sampling interval;
- and
- determining a gain or control response ratio in the electrical signal outputted by the method in response to the observed touch-point map matching or being substantially similar to a reference touch-point map.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.