Abstract: A method for determining position and alignment is provided. The method includes monitoring a first and second sequence of ultrasonic signals transmitted from the first device to a second device, estimating a location of the first device from Time of Flight measurements of the ultrasonic signals at respective microphones on the second device, calculating a set of phase differences, weighting a difference of an expected location and estimated location of the first device with the set of phase differences to produce a relative displacement, and reporting a position of the first device based on the relative displacement.

Abstract: A method (400) and device (100) for touchless control of an headset or earpiece is provided. The device can include a sensing unit (202) for determining (402) a presence of a finger within a proximity of the earpiece, tracking (404) a touchless movement of the finger in air within the proximity, selecting (410) the control in accordance with a movement of the finger, and adjusting (414) the control in accordance with the tracking. A circular movement of the finger can be tracked for scrolling through a list. Menu options in the list can be audibly played during the scrolling.

Abstract: One or more disposable devices suitable for use in a surgical field of an operating room are disclosed. One device comprises a sensor (101) communicatively coupled to the wand (102) to register points of interest on a first or second bone of the muscular-skeletal system and transmits location data related to the points of interest to the sensor (101) to assess orthopedic alignment with the points of interest. A display (150) having a GUI (152) are coupled to the devices for providing device and surgical information in real-time. A communication device (104) includes display (150) and a digital signal processor (154). A transducer (142) receives vocal commands (140) for generating an action (146) that produces an operative change in the devices or display (150). The DSP (154) includes voice recognition software (144) for identifying words or phrases to produce an action (146) that are received by the transducer (142).

Abstract: A low-cost and compact electronic device toolset is provided for orthopedic assisted navigation. The toolset comprises wireless sensorized devices that communicate directly with one another. A computer workstation is an optional component for further visualization. The sensorized devices are constructed with low-cost transducers and are self-powered. The toolset is disposable and incurs less hospital maintenance and overhead. As one example, the toolset reports anatomical alignment during a surgical workflow procedure. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A disposable tool suitable for use in orthopedic alignment comprises a sensor (101) communicatively coupled to the wand (102) to register points of interest on a first and second bone and transmit location data related to the points of interest to the sensor (101) to assess orthopedic alignment with the points of interest. A display via a wireless connection to the tool reports and visually displays alignment information in real-time. The wand (102) and the sensor (101) each have at least two ultrasonic transducers. The wand (102) has a housing fits in a hand and includes a tip (134) for identifying and registering a location. The wand (101) can be attached to a mount in a predetermined position within the surgical field during a portion of the alignment procedure. Sensor (101) and wand (102) remain within the surgical field throughout the surgery and are disposed of after use in surgery.

Abstract: A touchless sensing unit (110) and method (210) for calibrating a mobile device for touchless sensing is provided. The method can include evaluating (214) a finger movement within a touchless sensory space (101), estimating (216) a virtual coordinate system (320) from a range of finger movement, and mapping (218) the virtual coordinate system to a device coordinate system (330).

Abstract: An acoustical sensor can include a fabricated surface that produces an acoustical sound signature responsive to a finger tapping on the fabricated surface, and a microphone within proximity of the fabricated surface to analyze and associate the acoustical sound signature with a user interface control for operating a mobile device or earpiece, for example, to adjust a volume, media selection, or user interface control. The microphone can include an ultra-low analog circuit to set a capacitance and establish a frequency response, the analog circuit programmable to identify a direction of a directional touch or localized touch on the fabricated surface. The analog circuit by way of a floating gate can control a real delay between a front and back diaphragm to control microphone directivity. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for resolving a pivot point via touchless interaction. It applies to situations where one end of a rigid object is inaccessible but remains stationary at a pivot point, while the other end is free to move and is accessible to an input pointing device. As an example, the rigid object can be a leg bone where the proximal end is at the hip joint and the distal end is at the knee. The system comprises a wand and a receiver that are spatially configurable to touchlessly locate the pivot point without contact. The receiver tracks a relative displacement of the wand and geometrically resolves the location of the pivot point by a spherical mapping. The system can use a combination of ultrasonic sensing and/or accelerometer measurements. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A touchless sensor device (110) for touchless signing and recognition is provided. The sensor device can include a recognition engine (114) for recognizing at least one finger sign (140), and a controller (120) for composing a text from the recognized at least one finger sign and providing predictive texting. A recognized pattern can be an alphanumeric character or a finger gesture. The controller can generate a trace (145) from the finger sign. The trace can include spatio-temporal information (153) that is characteristic to a touchless writing style. The controller can provide text messaging services, email composition services, biometric identification services, phone dialing, and navigation entry services through touchless finger signing.

Abstract: A system and method of touchless interaction is provided for resolving a pivot point of an object where direct placement of a sensor at the pivot point is not practical. It applies to situations where the pivot point of a rigid object is inaccessible but remains stationary, while the other end is free to move and is accessible. The system maps the object's pivot point by way of an external sensor that detects constrained motion of the rigid object within a hemispherical banded boundary. It can also detect a geometric pattern and acceleration during the constrained motion to compensate for higher order rotations about the pivot point. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A navigation system is provided to direct control of a user interface work-flow during a procedure. Such a need can arise in sterile environments were touchless interaction is preferable over physical contact. The system includes a wand and receiver for controlling a pagination and parameter entry of the work-flow, a processor to compare wand movement profiles, a clock for limiting a time window between the comparison, and a controller for activating a user interface control in the workflow when a wand movement profile or gesture is recognized. The comparison can be based on the wand's direction, orientation and movement to and from various locations. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system (100) and method (200) is provided for directing a control action. The method includes the steps of detecting a first movement (202), capturing a first profile corresponding to the first movement (204), comparing the first profile with a second profile, the second profile corresponding to a second movement (206), and activating a user interface behavior (208) if the first profile and the second profile are substantially similar.

Abstract: A system (100) and method (160) for activating a touchless control is provided. The method can include detecting (162) a movement of a finger in a touchless sensing field, identifying (164) an activation cue in response to the finger movement, and activating (166) a touchless control of an object in response the activation cue. The method can include focusing the touchless sensing field (210) to produce a touchless projection space (220). An activation cue can be a positioning of a finger (302) within a bounded region (304) of the touchless projection space for a pre-determined amount of time. In one arrangement, cursor (124) navigation and control can be provided in accordance with touchless finger movements.

Abstract: A system (111) and method (200) for providing sensory feedback (210) for touchless feedback control is provided. The system can include a touchless sensing unit (110) that detects at least one position (304) of an object in a touchless sensing space (300), and an indicator (166) communicatively coupled to the touchless sensing unit that provides sensory feedback associated with the at least one position. The indicator can change in accordance with a location, a recognized movement, or a strength of the touchless sensing space. The sensory feedback can be associated with acquiring a touchless control or releasing a touchless control. The sensory feedback can be visual, auditory, or haptic.

Abstract: One embodiment of a sterile networked interface system is provided comprising a hand-held surgical tool and a data processing system. The surgical tool includes a sensor for sensing a physical variable related to the surgery, a wireless communication unit to transmit the physical variable to the data processing system, and a battery for powering the hand-held surgical tool. The surgical tool sends the physical variable and orientation information responsive to a touchless gesture control and predetermined orientation of the surgical tool. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining position and alignment is provided. The method includes monitoring a first and second sequence of ultrasonic signals transmitted from the first device to a second device, estimating a location of the first device from Time of Flight measurements of the ultrasonic signals at respective microphones on the second device, calculating a set of phase differences, weighting a difference of an expected location and estimated location of the first device with the set of phase differences to produce a relative displacement, and reporting a position of the first device based on the relative displacement.

Abstract: A method for short range alignment using ultrasonic sensing is provided. The method includes shaping an ultrasonic pulse on a first device to produce a pulse shaped signal and transmitting the pulse shaped signal from the first device to a second device, receiving the pulse shaped signal and determining an arrival time of the pulse shaped, identifying a relative phase of the pulse shaped signal with respect to a previously received pulse shaped signal, identifying a pointing location of the first device from the arrival time and the relative phase, determining positional information of the pointing location of the first device, and reporting an alignment of three or more points in three-dimensional space. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for secure communication techniques in a communication system. The system can include a first device which communicates with a second device over a channel. A security association can be established during a first session between the devices via an asymmetric key exchange. The security association comprises a Traffic Encryption Key (TEK) and a first state vector. The TEK comprises a shared, secret symmetric key. The security association is stored in each of the devices for use during a second session between the devices to expedite security association establishment during call set-up of the second session. The security association can be associated with the second device in the first device, and with the first device in the second device. An updated state vector can be generated at the first device. A second session can be established between the first device and the second device by using the TEKs from the first session and the updated state vector.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a website configured to collect sound signatures from around the world and beyond. A communication device automatically stores acoustic information received by a microphone of the communication device. The acoustic information is analyzed for a trigger event. The trigger event stores the acoustic information, attaches metadata, creates a Gaussian Mixture Model, and measures sound pressure level. The communication device automatically sends the sound signature to a database when a communication path is opened to communication device. Each sound signature has associated metadata including a time stamp and geocode. Automatically collecting sounds using a communication device adapted for the process enables a database that captures sounds globally on a continuous basis.

Abstract: A mobile communication (100) can include a mobile device (160) to measure and send sound pressure level data. The Mobile device (160) can initiate the collection of audio information responsive to detecting a trigger event. Mobile device (160) can measure or calculate the sound pressure level from the audio information. Metadata including time information and geographic location information can be captured with the collected audio information. Mobile device (160) can send the sound pressure level data and metadata through wired or wireless communication path to a database (614).