Comfortable Wristband Interface Measuring Myoelectric Pattern

In this paper, we propose a new haptic interface based on measurement of two-dimensional patterns of myoelectric potentials on a surface of a forearm. A myoelectric signal is an electrical impulse that produces contraction of muscle fibres in the body. Measuring high density 2D patterns of the myoelectric signals enables us to predict the movements of one´s fingers and to estimate the related force. The key issue for realizing such a device that covers whole area of the forearm with high density electrode array is the wiring to each sensor element. The wires also constrain the motion of the forearm. To solve this problem, we adopt a two-dimensional communication (TDC) sheet as a substitution for the individual wires. Electrical power is also supplied through the TDC sheet to each sensor by microwave as well as the signal. Based on this technology, we show that a small sensing unit without electrical contacts to the TDC sheet can measure the EMG signal without the significant influence of the common mode noise