US 12,433,529 B1
Wearable device with a band portion for determining gestures using differential neuromuscular sensors and an inertial measurement unit, and methods of use thereof
Steven Joseph Kober, New Canaan, CT (US); and Jess Brandon Pool, Garnet Valley, PA (US)
Assigned to Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC, Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed by Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC, Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 30, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/651,616.
Application 18/651,616 is a continuation of application No. 17/887,342, filed on Aug. 12, 2022, granted, now 11,995,237.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/233,170, filed on Aug. 13, 2021.
Int. Cl. G06F 1/16 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/296 (2021.01); A61B 5/313 (2021.01); A61B 5/389 (2021.01); A61B 5/395 (2021.01); G06F 3/01 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 5/389 (2021.01) [A61B 5/296 (2021.01); A61B 5/313 (2021.01); A61B 5/395 (2021.01); A61B 5/681 (2013.01); A61B 5/7203 (2013.01); A61B 5/7225 (2013.01); G06F 1/163 (2013.01); G06F 3/014 (2013.01); G06F 3/015 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wearable device for sensing neuromuscular signals comprising:
a band portion configured to be worn by a user,
an inertial measurement unit coupled to the band portion;
a plurality of sensors on the band portion configured to contact the user while the wearable device is worn by the user, the plurality of sensors comprising:
a first pair of sensors in the plurality of sensors forming a first differential sensor configured to contact the user above first neuromuscular pathways of the user when the band portion is worn by the user; and
a second pair of sensors in the plurality of sensors forming a second differential sensor configured to contact the user above second neuromuscular pathways of the user, distinct from the first neuromuscular pathways, when the band portion is worn by the user; and
memory including executable instructions for:
obtaining neuromuscular signals from the first differential sensor and the second differential sensor, wherein:
a first neuromuscular signal of the neuromuscular signals provides information concerning neuromuscular activity in a widthwise direction, and
a second neuromuscular signal of the neuromuscular signals provides information concerning neuromuscular activity in a radial direction;
obtaining a motion signal from the inertial measurement unit;
determining, based on the neuromuscular signals and the motion signal, a gesture that the user intends to perform; and
causing an operation to be performed at a computing device based on the gesture.