Wireless myoelectric control apparatus and methods

Abstract

Myoelectric and wireless technologies are used for the control of a portable electronic device, such as a cellular telephone or a personal digital assistant (PDA). That is, a portable electronic device has a wireless myoelectric user interface. An apparatus includes a material which forms a forearm or wrist band, myoelectric sensors attached to the band, a digital processor coupled to the myoelectric sensors, and a wireless transmitter coupled to the digital processor. The apparatus is operative to sense and detect particular hand and/or finger gestures, and to broadcast control signals corresponding to the gestures for operative control of the portable electronic device.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A wireless myoelectric control apparatus suitable for use in operating a portable electronic device, comprising: 
 a material which forms a forearm or wrist band;    one or more myoelectric sensors carried on said band;    a digital processor;    said digital processor coupled to said myoelectric sensors;    a wireless transmitter; and    said wireless transmitter coupled to said digital processor.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein said digital processor further comprises a gesture detector.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 said digital processor comprising a gesture detector; and    memory coupled to said digital processor.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 said digital processor comprising a gesture detector;    memory coupled to said digital processor; and    said memory for storing a plurality of gesture patterns.    
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein said digital processor further comprises a training module.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein said material is elastic.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 an antenna; and    said antenna coupled to said wireless transmitter.    
     
     
         8 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 one or more myoelectric sensors;    a gesture detector;    said gesture detector coupled to said myoelectric sensors;    an output of said gesture detector providing a portable electronic device command corresponding to a detected gesture;    a wireless transmitter coupled to the output of said gesture detector; and    an antenna coupled to said wireless transmitter.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to    claim 8   , further comprising: 
 a training module; and    said training module coupled to said myoelectric sensors.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to    claim 8   , further comprising: 
 memory;    said memory coupled to said gesture detector; and    said memory for stored a plurality of gesture patterns.    
     
     
         11 . A battery-operable portable electronic device, comprising: 
 a wireless myoelectric user interface.    
     
     
         12 . The device according to    claim 11   , wherein said wireless myoelectric user interface comprises: 
 a wireless receiver.    
     
     
         13 . The device according to    claim 11   , wherein said wireless myoelectric user interface comprises: 
 electronic circuitry, including: 
 a wireless receiver;  
 said wireless receiver operative to receive user interface commands;  
 a processor; and  
 said processor operative to receive and process the received user interface commands.  
   
     
     
         14 . The device according to    claim 12   , further comprising: 
 a housing; and    said electronic circuitry carried in said housing.    
     
     
         15 . The device according to    claim 11   , wherein the device comprises one of a portable computer, a portable wireless or cellular telephone, a portable audio player, a portable calculator, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).  
     
     
         16 . A method of processing myoelectric sensor signals, comprising: 
 receiving myoelectric sensor signals indicative of one of a plurality of hand or finger gestures;    detecting one of the plurality of gestures based on the myoelectric sensor signals; and    selectively issuing one of a plurality of commands associated with the detected gesture.    
     
     
         17 . The method according to    claim 16   , further comprising: 
 broadcasting the command with a wireless transmitter.    
     
     
         18 . The method according to    claim 17   , further comprising: 
 amplifying the myoelectric sensor signals; and    digitizing the amplified myoelectric sensor signals.    
     
     
         19 . The method according to    claim 16   , further comprising: 
 in response to detecting, activating a wireless transmitter to broadcast the command.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to    claim 16   , wherein the plurality of hand or finger gestures includes a first gesture which reflects contact between a thumb and an index finger of a human hand, a second gesture which reflects contact between the thumb and a middle finger of the human hand, and a third gesture which reflects contact between the thumb and a ring finger of the human hand.