System and method for measuring finger movements

Abstract

A system for and a method of measuring motions of a thumb and fingers of a user who wears a glove are provided. The method includes attaching first ends of first and second flexible wires to positions of the glove respectively corresponding to middle and proximal phalanxes of each finger, and connecting second ends of the first and second flexible wires to a sensing module so that the first and second flexible wires can move forward and backward while maintaining tension thereof in accordance with a motion of the finger. The method further includes, by the sensing module, measuring moved distances of the first and second flexible wires, such that rotary angles at corresponding joints in the thumb and fingers are calculated based on the measured moved distances.

1 . A system ( 100 ) for measuring motions of a thumb and fingers, the system comprising:
 a glove ( 10 ) which is worn by a user;   first and second flexible wires ( 20 ) which are movable in accordance with motions of a thumb and fingers, comprise first ends attached to the glove and have predetermined lengths; and   a sensing module ( 30 ) which comprises first and second linear potentiometers respectively connecting with second ends of the first and second flexible wires and comprising elastic members for maintaining tension of the flexible wires,   wherein the first end of the first flexible wire is attached to a position on the glove corresponding to a position between a first joint and a second joint of a finger, and the first end of the second flexible wire is attached to a position on the glove corresponding to a position between the second joint and a third joint of the finger,   wherein angles at the first and second joints are calculated based on changed distances of the attached positions measured by the flexible wires and the linear potentiometers of the sensing module in accordance with a motion of the finger.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second flexible wires and the sensing module are provided in each of a thumb and fingers. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensing module is placed on a position of the glove corresponding to a back of a hand. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member of the sensing module comprises a linear spring. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third joints respectively correspond to a proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint, a metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint and a distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint. 
     
     
         6 . A method of measuring motions of a thumb and fingers of a user who wears a glove, the method comprising:
 attaching first ends of first and second flexible wires to positions of the glove respectively corresponding to middle and proximal phalanxes of each finger;   connecting second ends of the first and second flexible wires to a sensing module so that the first and second flexible wires can move forward and backward while maintaining tension thereof in accordance with a motion of the finger; and   by the sensing module, measuring moved distances of the first and second flexible wires,   wherein rotary angles at corresponding joints in the thumb and fingers are calculated based on the measured moved distances.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the sensing module is placed on a position of the glove corresponding to a back of a hand. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein each tension of the first and second flexible wires is constantly maintained by an elastic member provided in the sensing module. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the elastic member comprises a linear spring. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the moved distances of the first and second flexible wires are respectively measured by first and second linear potentiometers provided in the sensing module. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the sensing module comprises a frame made of nylon and by rapid prototyping technology. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the sensing module is placed on a position of the glove corresponding to a back of a hand. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the elastic member of the sensing module comprises a linear spring. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the first, second and third joints respectively correspond to a proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint, a metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint and a distal interphalangeal(DIP) joint. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the moved distances of the first and second flexible wires are respectively measured by first and second linear potentiometers provided in the sensing module. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the moved distances of the first and second flexible wires are respectively measured by first and second linear potentiometers provided in the sensing module. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the moved distances of the first and second flexible wires are respectively measured by first and second linear potentiometers provided in the sensing module.