Minimalist and multi-functional human machine interface (HMI) using a flexible wearable triboelectric patch

Abstract Human machine interfaces are of increasing importance in our daily life to connect human intentions with machine actions. Recently, triboelectric interfaces are being extensively investigated in order to achieve flexible wearable and self-powered capability simultaneously. However, drawbacks exist in current designs for the detection of common human interactions, such as large number of sensing elements and electrodes, poor output performance, and interacting experience, etc. This work presents a flexible triboelectric interacting patch with only four sensing electrodes to detect various human machine interactions. The four electrodes are configured in the layout of a splitting ring. Initially, by leveraging the individual areas and common jointing areas of the four electrodes, eight functional electrodes points are defined, which can achieve position sensing with clear differentiations even under different types of operations including both tapping and sliding interactions. Moreover, nine additional points out of the electrode areas can be defined as well for more advanced sensing of operation positions and manners, through distinguishing the unique patterns of the generated voltage. With these predefined points, the interacting patch can be applied as general interface for various human machine interactions. Based on the fabricated device, functional interfaces for writing trace recognition, identification code system and remote control are successfully realized, showing the high applicability of the device in diversified human machine interactions. Indicating by these affluent demonstrations, the developed interacting patch exhibits great potential in various interacting applications, e.g., writing pad, security, smart control, entertainment, virtual reality, augmented reality, and robotics, etc.