Stretchable fingernail sensors for measurement of fingertip force

This paper describes a novel stretchable fingernail sensor for measuring fingertip forces for human-computer interaction. The fingernail sensor uses photoplethysmography to measure the change in blood perfusion in the fingernail bed when the fingerpad touches a surface with various forces. The original fingernail sensor was rigidly attached to the human fingernail, necessitating a customized fabrication for each individual user. Using novel fabrication techniques, a new stretchable sensor has been developed, where optoelectronic components are embedded within a soft rubber substrate, connected by stretchable conductors. This stretchable sensor can conform to the twodimensional curvature of any human finger, eliminating the need for individual customization. In this paper, we demonstrate the successful fabrication of a prototype sensor with two LEDs and two photodetectors.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2009
• Where: HAPTICS
• Authors: Jumana M. Abu-Khalaf, Jung Woo Park, Debra J. Mascaro, Stephen A. Mascaro
• Keywords: Fingernail Sensor, HAPTICS 2009, Human Computer Interaction, Stretchable Fingernail Sensor, Stretchable Sensor