Wearable Wrist Joint-Action Detectors

Abstract

A wrist joint-action detector adapted to be worn on or in the vicinity of the wrist region of a forearm detects wrist-joint actions of a user by using a proximity sensor in the detector to sense the separation between the proximity sensor and a body target in the wrist region. For example, a sensing plate of a capacitive proximity sensor is placed in the proximity of the wrist region of the forearm and the wrist region of the hand linked by the wrist joint to detect flexion, extension, abduction, or adduction of the wrist joint by sensing separation changes between the sensing plate and the wrist regions. Alternative proximity sensors, such as active infrared proximity sensors and imaging sensors, can also be used. The changes in separation between the proximity sensor and the body target can also be used for detecting handwashing or for controlling a computing device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A wrist joint-action detector adapted to be worn on or in the vicinity of the wrist region of a forearm in the proximity of the wrist joint that links the wrist region of the forearm to the wrist region of the hand of a user, comprising:
 (a) a proximity sensor adapted to be in the proximity of a body target that is at least one of the wrist region of the forearm or the wrist region of the hand linked by the wrist joint of the user, for obtaining separation data between said proximity sensor and said body target; and   (b) a joint-action detector for using said separation data obtained by said proximity sensor to detect at least one joint action of the wrist joint of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The wrist joint-action detector according to  claim 1  wherein said proximity sensor is a capacitive proximity sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The wrist joint-action detector according to  claim 2  wherein a sensing plate of said capacitive proximity sensor is adapted to be in the proximity of said body target, and said joint-action detector uses said separation data between said sensing plate and said body target obtained by said capacitive proximity sensor to detect at least one of flexion, extension, abduction, or adduction of the wrist joint of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The wrist joint-action detector according to  claim 2  wherein a plurality of sensing plates of said capacitive proximity sensor are adapted to be in the proximity of said body target, and said joint-action detector uses said separation data between said plurality of sensing plates and said body target obtained by said capacitive proximity sensor to detect at least one of flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, flexion combined with abduction, flexion combined with adduction, extension combined with abduction, or extension combined with adduction of the wrist joint of the user. 
     
     
         5 . The wrist joint-action detector according to  claim 1  wherein said proximity sensor is an active infrared proximity sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The wrist joint-action detector according to  claim 5  wherein said active infrared proximity sensor is adapted to be in the proximity of said body target, and said joint-action detector uses said separation data between said active infrared proximity sensor and said body target to detect at least one of flexion, extension, abduction, or adduction of the wrist joint of the user. 
     
     
         7 . The wrist joint-action detector according to  claim 5  wherein a plurality of active infrared proximity sensors are adapted to be in the proximity of said body target, and said joint-action detector uses said separation data between said plurality of active infrared proximity sensors and said body target to detect at least one of flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, flexion combined with abduction, flexion combined with adduction, extension combined with abduction, or extension combined with adduction of the wrist joint of the user. 
     
     
         8 . The wrist joint-action detector according to  claim 1  wherein said proximity sensor is an imaging sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The wrist joint-action detector according to  claim 8  wherein said imaging sensor is adapted to be in the proximity of said body target, and said joint-action detector uses said separation data between said imaging sensor and said body target to detect at least one of flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, flexion combined with abduction, flexion combined with adduction, extension combined with abduction, or extension combined with adduction of the wrist joint of the user. 
     
     
         10 . The wrist joint-action detector according to  claim 1  wherein said joint-action detector uses said separation data to detect that the user is doing handwashing. 
     
     
         11 . The wrist joint-action detector according to  claim 10  further comprises:
 (a) a sound transducer for obtaining audible and/or inaudible sound data produced when the user is doing handwashing; and 
 (b) means for using said audible and/or inaudible sound data obtained by said sound transducer and said separation data obtained by said proximity sensor to detect that the user is doing handwashing. 
 
     
     
         12 . A wrist joint-action detector comprising:
 (a) a housing adapted to be worn on or in the vicinity of the wrist region of a forearm in the proximity of the wrist joint that links the wrist region of the forearm to the wrist region of the hand of a user;   (b) a proximity sensor placed at said housing and adapted to be in the proximity of a body target that is at least one of the wrist region of the forearm or the wrist region of the hand linked by the wrist joint of the user, for obtaining separation data between said housing and said body target; and   (c) a joint-action detector for using said separation data obtained by said proximity sensor to detect at least one joint action of the wrist joint of the user.   
     
     
         13 . The wrist joint-action detector according to  claim 12  wherein said proximity sensor is a capacitive proximity sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The wrist joint-action detector according to  claim 13  wherein a sensing plate of said capacitive proximity sensor is placed at said housing and adapted to be in the proximity of said body target, and said joint-action detector uses said separation data between said sensing plate and said body target obtained by said capacitive proximity sensor to detect at least one of flexion, extension, abduction, or adduction of the wrist joint of the user. 
     
     
         15 . The wrist joint-action detector according to  claim 13  wherein a plurality of sensing plates of said capacitive proximity sensor are placed at said housing and adapted to be in the proximity of said body target, and said joint-action detector uses said separation data between said plurality of sensing plates and said body target obtained by said capacitive proximity sensor to detect at least one of flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, flexion combined with abduction, flexion combined with adduction, extension combined with abduction, or extension combined with adduction of the wrist joint of the user. 
     
     
         16 . A wrist joint-action detector adapted to be worn on or in the vicinity of the wrist region of a forearm in the proximity of the wrist joint that links the wrist region of the forearm to the wrist region of the hand of a user, comprising:
 (a) a proximity sensor adapted to be in the proximity of a body target that is at least one of the wrist region of the forearm or the wrist region of the hand linked by the wrist joint of the user, for obtaining separation data between said proximity sensor and said body target; and   (b) a joint-action detector for using said separation data obtained by said proximity sensor to control a computing device.   
     
     
         17 . The wrist joint-action detector according to  claim 16  wherein said proximity sensor is a capacitive proximity sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The wrist joint-action detector according to  claim 16  wherein said proximity sensor is an active infrared proximity sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The wrist joint-action detector according to  claim 16  wherein said proximity sensor is an imaging sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The wrist joint-action detector according to  claim 16  further comprises:
 (a) a housing; and 
 (b) said computing device incorporated in said housing.