• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    SUMMARY Device for transferring inputs from a user (100) to an electronic device (110) comprising a single screen (110a). The device comprises a arm (102) shaped like a headset provided with a muscle (10 6) rotatably mounted in a ball holder (10 4) which sits on the arm outside the user's mouth. The ball and a plurality of signal transducers (200a-h) arranged on the ball carrier are responsive to the application of the user's tongue or patches by delivering electrical signals to a signal unit (108) as supply corresponding mouse and keyboard commands to the electronic device. The ball and the signal transmitters can thus be maneuvered without the help of the hands. (Fig. I)
    公开号:SE0850114A1
    申请号:SE0850114
    申请日:2008-12-03
    公开日:2010-06-04
    发明作者:Tomas Brusell
    申请人:Brusell Dental As；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    15 20 25 30 35 2 other parts of the oral cavity or face. The previously known solutions for this often comprise an actuator corresponding to the mouse which is placed inside the oral cavity, for example a ball or the like applied to a row of teeth or in the palate, see for example DE 195 12 595 A1. However, it can be perceived as troublesome for the user to have a foreign object in their mouth, not least from a hygienic point of view. The environment inside the oral cavity with e.g. Saliva's enzymes also cause sensitive electronic components in the equipment to break down fairly quickly. The actuator also needs to be applied correctly in the oral cavity and cleaned and maintained, which entails extra work.
    WO 02/075515 describes a solution for controlling a cursor on a computer screen by recording ultrasound signals reflected against the user's tongue and / or oral cavity, which does not require any equipment in the mouth.
    There are also solutions for disabled people based on the registration of eye movements. However, this technology is relatively expensive and difficult to implement with sufficient precision, and requires a lot of training from the user. In addition, the user can then not concentrate his gaze on anything else.
    Thus, there is a need for a relatively simple solution for quickly and conveniently transferring a variety of keyboard commands and mouse functions to computers and other electronic devices that include a monitor, for example writing characters and controlling a cursor or mouse pointer on the screen.
    Summary It is an object of the present invention to avoid or at least reduce the above-mentioned problems, and to obtain a relatively simple and robust solution which allows input of mouse and keyboard commands into an electronic device with a monitor, without having to use the hands.
    These objects and others can be achieved by a device for transferring inputs from the user to an electronic device, according to claim 1. The device comprises an arm intended to be carried as a headset, a ball holder arranged on the arm in a position in connection to the user's mouth, as well as a muscle that is rotatably mounted in the ball holder. The ball holder contains rotation sensors designed to detect rotational movements of the muscle and emit corresponding electrical signals. The device further comprises a plurality of signal transducers arranged on the ball holder and designed to respond to application of the user's tongue or lips by emitting corresponding electrical signals, and a signal unit arranged on the arm and designed to register and convert electrical signals emitted from the rotation sensors and signal transmitters to corresponding mice. and keyboard commands fed to the electronic device.
    Various possible embodiments and additional advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description.
    Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention is described in more detail below by means of various embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a device for transferring mouse and keyboard commands from a user to an electronic device, according to a possible embodiment .
    Fig. 2 is a principle sketch showing how the device in Fig. 1 can be designed in more detail, according to different embodiments.
    Detailed Description of Embodiments Fig. 1 shows an example of a device for transmitting inputs such as mouse and keyboard commands from a user 100 to an electronic device, which device is intended to be worn on the user's head as a so-called "headset". The device comprises an arm 102 provided with a ball holder 104 arranged at the lower end of the arm 102 in which a muscle 106 is rotatably mounted in a position in use substantially adjacent to the user's mouth. By the term "muscle" is meant a ball that can be rotated in its frame to provide functions normally obtained when a traditional computer mouse is passed over a substrate, or similar functions of a rotatable frame ball which is often found on laptops.
    The muscle ball 106 can thus be freely rotated in the ball holder 104 by the user applying his tongue or lips to the surface of the ball, which rotational movements are registered by rotation sensors (not shown in this figure) located in the ball holder 104 to deliver corresponding electrical signals to a signal unit 108. This signal unit is in turn designed to send mouse commands "MK" corresponding to the rotational movements detected, 110 provided with a monitor 110a, to an electronic device in this case a computer, so that the rotational movements give rise to inputs in the computer 110 to control, for example, a mouse pointer or other mouse-controlled applications on the screen 110a.
    In the example shown, the signal unit 108 is placed in an upper position on the arm 102, but other locations are also possible within the scope of the invention, for example further down on the arm 102 or on an additional branch or holder connected to the arm. A similar arm, shown in broken lines, may also be provided on the other side of the ball holder 104 with the ball 106 to provide more stability to the structure in use. The ball holder 104 is suitably provided with a sub-spherical surface on its inside facing the ball 106 to allow free rotation of the ball without it falling out.
    Fig. 2 shows the ball holder 104 with the ball 106 in more detail.
    A suitable number of rotation sensors 202 which register the rotation of the ball are thus arranged in or on the ball holder 104, and on the outside of this a plurality of signal transducers 200a-h are also arranged which can be activated with the user's tongue or lips. The signal transducers 200a-h are thus designed to emit an electrical signal when in contact with the user's tongue or lips. Electrical signals from the rotation sensors 202 and the signal transducers 200a-h are transported through a schematically shown cable arrangement 204 in the arm 102 to the signal unit 108 where they are converted into the corresponding mouse or keyboard commands sent to the computer 110, in Fig. 1 indicated as "TK".
    Thus, during use, the signal transducers 200a-h are located in positions that can be easily reached by the user's tongue and / or lips, for example distributed along the outer periphery of the ball holder 104. The number and type of signal transducer can be freely selected depending on the desired function. For example, the signal transducers 200a-h may be of the capacitive transducer type designed to respond to the presence of biological mass in a limited measurement field adjacent to the respective transducer, so that when the user places his tongue or lip against one of these transducers, i.e. within its measuring field, an electrical signal or impulse will be emitted from the sensor. The capacitive sensors can be calibrated to the appropriate sensitivity so that they can be easily activated by the tongue or lips, after which voltage is connected to the sensor output.
    The signal transducers 200a-h may also be of the microswitch type, inductive sensors or solenoid switches designed to respond to contact with the tongue or lips by generating a signal or impulse. The signal or impulse can then be generated, for example, by changing an electric or magnetic field, or by contact between two metal plates or the like, depending on the sensor type.
    Furthermore, for example, a sensor of the inductive sensor or magnetic switch type can be designed to react to a pressure with the tongue or lip against a metal plate which is then moved in the direction of an inductive or magnetic sensor or a connector, which is thereby activated and emits a signal.
    The signal transducers 200a-h can also be calibrated to react only after the tongue or lip has been in contact with them for a certain time, for example one second. The signal unit 108 is designed to convert signals from the sensors 200a-h and the rotation sensors 202 in the ball holder 104 into a corresponding mouse or keyboard command which is then fed to the electronic device 110. For example, each sensor 200a-h may correspond to a number of specific characters.
    The signal unit 108 can also be programmed to create a variety of commands, e.g. different signs and functions, by registering different combinations of signals from the sensors.
    For example, the signal unit 108 may convert a combination of a signal from sensor 200a immediately followed by a signal from sensor 200b, to a keyboard command which activates a certain program or function in the computer 110. In addition, the signal unit 108 may be programmed to create various mouse and keyboard commands depending on how long the tongue or lip has been applied. Different activation times for a certain sensor can, for example, correspond to different characters or functions, e.g. 1 second - A, 2 seconds - B, etc.
    Mouse and keyboard commands thus created can be transmitted from the signal unit 108 to the computer cable 110 via a (not shown) or wirelessly. Thus, a transmitter may be connected to the signal unit 108 and transmit the signals wirelessly to a receiver at the computer 110, e.g. via IR light or Bluetooth radio. The invention is thus generally not limited to any particular transmission technique for transmitting the signals between the signal unit and the electronic apparatus.
    Through the arrangement described above, the user can input optional mouse and keyboard commands to the electronic device by applying his tongue or lip to the ball and various signal transducers, the device acting as a mouse and a keyboard where the signal transducers are "keys" and the ball is a mouse which can is only maneuvered with the tongue and / or lips, ie. without the help of the hands. It is also possible to design the device to create a variety of different inputs and functions by activating different combinations of signal transducers. This device can be realized with simple components and is relatively easy for the user to learn to operate.
    One skilled in the art will appreciate that the device arm, ball holder with ball and placement of signal transducers on the ball holder can be designed in several different ways within the scope of the invention, depending on the area of use and implementation. For example, the arm with the signal transducers can be branched into any number of sub-arms with any direction, length and mutual distance. An optional number of signal transducers can also be arranged in optional positions on the ball holder to create desired functions. As mentioned above, the device is designed as a headset intended to be worn on the user's or in a head, for example by application to one ear, a bow over the head, or with an elastic strap around the head.
    The invention is not limited to any particular design for carrying the device as a headset.
    Using signal transducers to detect the presence of the tongue as described above can have the following benefits.
    Signal transducers of the type capacitive sensors, microswitches, inductive sensor or magnetic switches are generally simple, They can withstand proven, stable and robust components of low weight. dirt and wet, can be washed, and can withstand relatively high temperatures. Their function is also temperature independent and the activation sensitivity can be calibrated in different ways.
    Because the ball and the signal transmitters are located outside the oral cavity during use, the equipment can be considered hygienic, e.g. and can be easily kept clean, by only applying a detergent with spray, compared to solutions where the user has parts inside the mouth.
    The invented device is not limited to any particular application, and can be used to control any function displayed on the screen of a telephone, sound system, such as a computer, television set, medical or industrial equipment and instruments.
    Of course, various combinations of the embodiments described above are conceivable within the scope of the invention, which is not limited by the embodiments shown. For example, different types of sensors can be used simultaneously in one application, so that capacitive sensors are intended to be activated with the lips and microswitches or magnetic switches are activated with the tongue.
    The invention is defined by the following claims.
    权利要求:
    Claims (9)
    [1]
    A device for transmitting mouse and keyboard commands from a user to an electronic device (110) with a monitor (110a), the device comprising: - an arm (102) intended to be worn by the user as a headset on the user's head, a ball holder (104) arranged on the arm in a position in use substantially adjacent to and outside the user's mouth, - a muscle (106) rotatably mounted in the ball holder, the ball holder containing rotation sensors (202) designed to detect rotational movements of the muscle and deliver corresponding electrical signals, - a plurality of signal transducers (200a-h) arranged on the ball holder and designed to respond to application of the user's tongue or lips by emitting corresponding electrical signals, and - a signal unit (108) arranged on the arm and designed to register and convert from the electrical sensors and signal transmitters output electrical signals to the corresponding mouse and keyboard commands which are supplied to said ele electronic device.
    [2]
    Device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the signal transducers (200a-h) is of the type capacitive transducer, microcircuit breaker, inductive sensor or magnetic switch, designed to react to application with the tongue or lips by changing an electric or magnetic field or by contact between two metal plates, so that said electrical signals are generated.
    [3]
    Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the signal transducers (200a-h) are distributed along the outer periphery of the ball holder (104). 10 15 20 25 10
    [4]
    Device according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein each signal transmitter (200a-h) corresponds to at least one specific command.
    [5]
    The device of any of claims 1-4, wherein the signal unit (108) is programmed to create different mouse and keyboard commands from different combinations of signals from the signal transducers (200a-h).
    [6]
    Device according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein different activation times for a certain signal transmitter (200a-h) correspond to different mouse and keyboard commands.
    [7]
    Device according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the signal transducers (200a-h) are calibrated to react only after the tongue or patch has been applied for a certain time.
    [8]
    Device according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the signal unit (108) is programmed to create different mouse and keyboard commands depending on how long the tongue or patch has been applied.
    [9]
    Device according to any one of claims 1-8, designed to control any of the following types of electronic devices: computer, telephone, television set, sound system, medical or industrial equipment and instruments.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    SE534126C2|2011-05-03|
    WO2010064987A1|2010-06-10|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    JP2000010707A|1998-06-18|2000-01-14|Yuji Tsujimura|Pointer indication type character input device|
    SE519254C2|2001-03-15|2003-02-04|Ulf Parke|Apparatus and method for controlling a cursor on a monitor by means of the oral cavity|
    US20050195155A1|2004-03-04|2005-09-08|Pierre Bonnat|Method and device for providing input to a computer system via one or both of breathing and biting|
    JP4501134B2|2004-11-10|2010-07-14|岡部大陸|Computer input device.|CN104793760B|2014-01-17|2018-10-12|罗振宇|A kind of mouse being remotely controlled by tongue|
    法律状态:
    2016-08-02| NUG| Patent has lapsed|
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    SE0850114A|SE534126C2|2008-12-03|2008-12-03|Device for transmitting mouse and keyboard commands|SE0850114A| SE534126C2|2008-12-03|2008-12-03|Device for transmitting mouse and keyboard commands|
    PCT/SE2009/051371| WO2010064987A1|2008-12-03|2009-12-03|Device for transferring mouse and keyboard commands|
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