Abstract: Improved stretchable printed circuit boards, and fabrication methods thereof, are described. The improved stretchable printed circuit boards include a serpentine conductive trace enclosed by stretchable dielectric material. The stretchable dielectric material has a serpentine shape itself, realized by crenulated edges. The crenulated edges reduce torsional strain on the conductive trace and are formed, for example, by cutting away sections of the stretchable dielectric material proximate segments of the serpentine conductive trace where the serpentine conductive trace changes direction.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for transparent displays that are well-suited for use in wearable heads-up displays are described. Such transparent displays include a light source that sequentially generates pixels or other discrete portions of an image. Respective modulated light signals corresponding to the respective pixels/portions are sequentially directed towards at least one dynamic reflector positioned on a lens of the transparent display within the user's field of view. The dynamic reflector (such as a MEMS-based digital micromirror) scans the modulated light signals directly over the user's eye and into the user's field of view. Successive portions of the image are generated in rapid succession until the entire image is displayed to the user.

Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods for elastic electrical cables are described. An elastic electrical cable includes a molded band of elastomer with a length that follows a tortuous path including a number of semi-rigidly set changes in direction. The elastomer band is formed by an overmolding process to enclose or at least partially contain a flexible printed circuit board, with various access points provided to electrically couple to/from the flexible printed circuit board. An annular wearable electric device employing at least one such elastic electrical cable as an adaptive coupler that simultaneously provides both electrically conductive coupling and adaptive physical coupling is described. Methods of preparing/manufacturing such elastic electrical cables are also described.

Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods for performing gesture identification with improved robustness against variations in use parameters and without requiring a user to undergo an extensive training procedure are described. A wearable electromyography (“EMG”) device includes multiple EMG sensors, an on-board processor, and a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium that stores data and/or processor-executable instructions for performing gesture identification. The wearable EMG device detects, determines, and ranks features in the signal data provided by the EMG sensors and generates a digit string based on the ranked features. The permutation of the digit string is indicative of the gesture performed by the user, which is identified by testing the permutation of the digit string against multiple sets of defined permutation conditions. A single reference gesture may be performed by the user to (re-)calibrate the wearable EMG device before and/or during use.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for transparent displays that are well-suited for use in wearable heads-up displays are described. Such transparent displays include a register of light-emitting diodes that sequentially generates pixels or other discrete portions of an image. Respective sets of light signals corresponding to the respective portions (e.g., rows) of the image are sequentially directed into the user's field of view by a combination of a dynamic reflector and a set of static light-redirection elements. The dynamic reflector is an elongated reflective strip (including, for example, one or more MEMS-based digital micromirror(s)) mounted outside of the field of view of the user and the set of static light-redirection elements are substantially transparent and mounted directly in a field of view of the user. Successive portions of the image are generated in rapid succession until the entire image is displayed to the user.

Abstract: Wearable electronic devices that provide adaptive physical coupling between electrically coupled components are described. Adaptive physical coupling advantageously accommodates different user sizes, forms, and movements and enhances the overall ergonomics of a wearable electronic device. Adaptive physical coupling also introduces stresses and strains on electrical pathways between the electrically coupled components. Accordingly, the wearable electronic devices include strain mitigation systems that mitigate physical strains on the electrical pathways between electrically coupled components. An exemplary strain mitigation system includes a guide structure that is pivotally coupled to a first substantially rigid structure of the wearable electronic device and slideably coupled to a second substantially rigid structure of the wearable electronic device. The guide structure provides a surface/channel over/through which electrical pathways extend between electrically coupled components.

Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods perform gesture identification with limited computational resources. A wearable electromyography (“EMG”) device includes multiple EMG sensors, an on-board processor, and a non-transitory processor-readable memory that stores data and/or processor-executable instructions for performing gesture identification. The wearable EMG device detects and determines features of signals when a user performs a physical gesture, and processes the features by performing a decision tree analysis. The decision tree analysis invokes a decision tree stored in the memory, where storing and executing the decision tree may be managed by limited computational resources. The outcome of the decision tree analysis is a probability vector that assigns a respective probability score to each gesture in a gesture library.

Abstract: Human-electronics interfaces in which at least two wearable electromyography (“EMG”) devices are operated to control virtually any electronic device are described. A first wearable EMG device is worn on a first part/location of a user's body and a second wearable EMG device is worn on a second part/location of the user's body. Muscle activity is detected by the two wearable EMG devices and corresponding communication signals are transmitted to an electronic device to control functions thereof. The two wearable EMG devices may communicate with one another. This configuration enables a user to perform elaborate gestures having multiple components (e.g., “two-arm” gestures) with each wearable EMG device detecting a different component, as well as separate gestures (e.g., separate “one-arm” gestures) individually detected and processed by each wearable EMG device.

Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods perform gesture identification with limited computational resources. A wearable electromyography (“EMG”) device includes multiple EMG sensors, an on-board processor, and a non-transitory processor-readable memory storing data and/or instructions for performing gesture identification. The wearable EMG device detects signals when a user performs a physical gesture and characterizes a signal vector {right arrow over (s)} based on features of the detected signals. A library of gesture template vectors G is stored in the memory of the wearable EMG device and a respective property of each respective angle ?i formed between the signal vector {right arrow over (s)} and respective ones of the gesture template vectors {right arrow over (g)}i is analyzed to match the direction of the signal vector {right arrow over (s)} to the direction of a particular gesture template vector {right arrow over (g)}*.

Abstract: There is disclosed a muscle interface device for use with controllable connected devices. In an embodiment, the muscle interface device comprises a sensor worn on the forearm of a user, and the sensor is adapted to recognize a plurality of gestures made by a user to interact with a controllable connected device. The muscle interface device utilizes a plurality of sensors, including one or more of capacitive EMG sensors and an IMU sensor, to detect gestures made by a user. Other types of sensors including MMG sensors may also be used. The detected user gestures from the sensors are processed into a control signal for allowing the user to interact with content displayed on the controllable connected device.

Abstract: Wearable electronic devices that provide robustness against variations in user form are described. The wearable electronic devices include a set of pod structures arranged in an annular configuration having a variable circumference, with adaptive physical coupling between adjacent pairs of pod structures. Adaptive physical coupling advantageously accommodates different user sizes, forms, and movements and enhances the overall ergonomics of the wearable electronic devices. Adaptive physical coupling also maintains substantially constant and/or equal angular spacing between components of the wearable electronic devices regardless of the form of the user.

Abstract: A differential non-contact sensor system for measuring biopotential signals is described. The sensor is a low-noise, non-contact capacitive sensor system to measure electrical voltage signals generated by the body comprising two capacitive electrodes and outputting a differential signal.

Abstract: There is disclosed a muscle interface device for use with controllable connected devices. In an embodiment, the muscle interface device comprises a sensor worn on the forearm of a user, and the sensor is adapted to recognize a plurality of gestures made by a user to interact with a controllable connected device. The muscle interface device utilizes a plurality of sensors, including one or more of capacitive EMG sensors and an IMU sensor, to detect gestures made by a user. Other types of sensors including MMG sensors may also be used. The detected user gestures from the sensors are processed into a control signal for allowing the user to interact with content displayed on the controllable connected device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a wearable electronic device for use with controllable connected devices. The wearable electronic device includes a band worn on, for example, the forearm of a user, and the band carries at least one muscle activity sensor, at least one inertial sensor, and a processor communicatively coupled to the sensors. The on-board processor is operable to identify, a plurality of gestures made by a user, based on muscle activity detected by the muscle activity sensor(s) and motion detected by the inertial sensor(s). In response to identifying a gesture, the wearable electronic device wirelessly transmits one or more signal(s) in order to interact with a controllable connected device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a muscle interface device and method for interacting with content displayed on wearable head mounted displays. In an embodiment, the muscle interface device comprises a sensor worn on the forearm of a user, and the sensor is adapted to recognize a plurality of gestures made by a user's hand and or wrist to interact with content displayed on the wearable head mounted display. The muscle interface device utilizes a plurality of sensors, including one or more of capacitive EMG, MMG, and accelerometer sensors, to detect gestures made by a user. The detected user gestures from the sensors are processed into a control signal for allowing the user to interact with content displayed on the wearable head mounted display in a discreet manner.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods that enable a user to access and interact with content displayed on a portable electronic display in an inconspicuous, hands-free manner are described. There is disclosed a completely wearable system comprising a wearable muscle interface device and a wearable head-mounted display, as well as methods for using the wearable system to effect interactions between the user and content displayed on the wearable head-mounted display. The wearable muscle interface device includes muscle activity sensors worn on an arm of the user to detect muscle activity generated when the user performs a physical gesture. The wearable system is adapted to recognize a plurality of gestures made by the user and, in response to each recognized gesture, to effect one or more interaction(s) with content displayed on the wearable head-mounted display.