Elastic wristband for collecting electromyographic signals and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

The present application provides an elastic wristband for collecting electromyography signals and a preparation method thereof. The elastic wristband comprises a first insulating elastic layer, a second insulating elastic layer, and a conductive silicone layer arranged between the first insulating elastic layer and the second insulating elastic layer; wherein the first insulating elastic layer is provided with a window area; the conductive silicone layer comprises a plurality of conductive silicone strips, the first end of each conductive silicone strip is electrically connected to the first end of a metal electrode, and the second end of each conductive silicone strip is arranged at a position corresponding to the window area; the second insulating elastic layer is provided with a plurality of hole positions corresponding to the second end of each metal electrode; and the outer surface of the second insulating elastic layer is further provided with a conductive reference electrode. The elastic wristband of the present application can fully adhere to the human skin, thereby ensuring the collection quality of electromyography signals, and is convenient and comfortable to wear.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of electromyography signal collection, in particular to an elastic wristband for collecting electromyography signals and a preparation method thereof. BACKGROUND

[0002] Surface electromyography (sEMG): the bioelectric signal generated by the contraction of muscle fibers recorded by electrodes placed on the surface of the skin, which can reflect the activity of motor nerves and muscles. Compared with needle electrode EMG, sEMG has the advantages of non-invasiveness, non-invasiveness, and simple operation in measurement.

[0003] Arm electromyography signals can be used in gesture recognition, human-computer interaction, rehabilitation training and other technical fields, therefore, how to accurately collect electromyography signals is an important research topic. At present, the collection devices of arm electromyography signals have the disadvantages of large independent electrode individual, inconvenient wearing, etc., and cannot well collect electromyography signals, and the user experience is poor. SUMMARY

[0004] In view of the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art, the purpose of the present application is to provide an elastic wristband for collecting electromyography signals and a preparation method thereof, to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned purposes and other related purposes, the present application provides an elastic wristband for collecting electromyography signals, comprising: a first insulating elastic layer, a second insulating elastic layer, and a conductive silicone layer arranged between the first insulating elastic layer and the second insulating elastic layer; wherein the first insulating elastic layer is provided with a window area; the conductive silicone layer comprises a plurality of conductive silicone strips, the first end of each conductive silicone strip is electrically connected to the first end of a metal electrode, and the second end of each conductive silicone strip is arranged at a position corresponding to the window area; the second insulating elastic layer is provided with a plurality of hole positions corresponding to the second end of each metal electrode; and the outer surface of the second insulating elastic layer is further provided with a conductive reference electrode.

[0006] In an embodiment of the present application, the elastic wristband further comprises: a middle conductive silicone strip or a middle conductive ink strip; the first end and the second end of the middle conductive silicone strip or the middle conductive ink strip are arranged at positions corresponding to the window area, and the first end of the middle conductive silicone strip or the middle conductive ink strip is electrically connected to the first end of the metal electrode.

[0007] In an embodiment of the present application, each metal electrode is uniformly distributed along the length direction of the elastic wristband.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present application, one end of the elastic wristband is provided with a buckle hole penetrating through the first insulating elastic layer and the second insulating elastic layer; the metal electrode at the other end of the elastic wristband is in the form of a buckle, which is used to be connected with the buckle hole.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present application, the first insulating elastic layer is made of insulating silica gel material; the second insulating elastic layer is made of insulating silica gel material or elastic textile fabric; the conductive reference electrode is made of conductive silica gel material; wherein the conductive reference electrode comprises at least one conductive silica gel strip used to contact the skin.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present application, when the number of the conductive reference electrodes is two, the first conductive reference electrode and the second conductive reference electrode are respectively located on both sides of each metal electrode and are arranged in parallel along the length direction of the elastic wristband.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present application, the metal electrode is a metal rivet electrode, the first end of the metal electrode is the tip of the metal rivet electrode, and the second end of the metal electrode is the umbrella end of the metal rivet electrode.

[0012] To achieve the above object and other related objects, the present application provides an intelligent wearable device, comprising: a circuit board and an elastic wristband for collecting electromyographic signals; wherein the outer contour of the circuit board is consistent with the window area, and after being arranged in the window area, the circuit board can be electrically connected with the conductive silica gel layer and the conductive reference electrode respectively.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present application, the intelligent wearable device comprises a smart watch or a smart bracelet.

[0014] To achieve the above object and other related objects, the present application provides a method for preparing the elastic wristband for collecting myoelectric signals, comprising the following steps: using a mold to make the first insulating elastic layer; wherein the first insulating elastic layer is provided with the window area; and the inner surface of the first insulating elastic layer is provided with a first groove for arranging the conductive silicone layer; selecting a preformed conductive silicone, cutting it into the circuit shape of the conductive silicone layer by a cutter, and then placing it into the first groove; again using the mold to cover the first insulating elastic layer with the conductive silicone layer with elastic material to form the second insulating elastic layer, so as to encapsulate the conductive silicone layer inside the elastic wristband, and to open a second groove for arranging a conductive reference electrode and a hole site for mounting a metal electrode on the outer surface of the second insulating elastic layer; inserting each metal electrode into each hole site of the second insulating elastic layer, so that the first end of each metal electrode is in contact with each conductive silicone strip inside the elastic wristband, and the second end of each metal electrode is fixed to the second insulating elastic layer; and fixing the conductive reference electrode to the second groove.

[0015] As described above, the elastic wristband for collecting myoelectric signals of the present application comprises a first insulating elastic layer, a second insulating elastic layer, and a conductive silicone layer arranged between the first insulating elastic layer and the second insulating elastic layer; wherein the first insulating elastic layer is provided with a window area; the conductive silicone layer comprises a plurality of conductive silicones, the first end of each conductive silicone is electrically connected to the first end of a metal electrode, and the second end of each conductive silicone is arranged at a position corresponding to the window area; the second insulating elastic layer is provided with a plurality of hole sites for exposing the second end of each metal electrode; and the outer surface of the second insulating elastic layer is further provided with a conductive reference electrode. The elastic wristband of the present application can be fully attached to the human skin, so as to ensure the collection quality of myoelectric signals, and is convenient and comfortable to wear. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 FIG. 1 shows a top view of the elastic wristband for collecting myoelectric signals according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0017] Figure 2 FIG. 4 shows a structure diagram of the conductive silicone layer of the elastic wristband according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0018] Figure 3 FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the elastic wristband for collecting myoelectric signals according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0019] Figure 4 FIG. 6 shows a structure diagram of the metal rivet electrode of the elastic wristband according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0020] ELEMENT REFERENCE DESCRIPTION

[0021] 1. First insulating elastic layer

[0022] 11 Window Area

[0023] 2 Second insulating elastic layer

[0024] 21 holes

[0025] 22,23 Conductive reference electrode

[0026] 3 Conductive silicone layer

[0027] 31,33 Conductive silicone strips

[0028] 32 Position corresponding to the window area

[0029] 4,6 Metal electrodes

[0030] 5 buttonholes DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The following describes the embodiments of the present invention through specific examples. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments. The details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It should be noted that the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other unless they conflict.

[0032] It should be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are merely schematic illustrations of the basic concept of the present invention. Therefore, the illustrations only show components related to the present invention and are not drawn according to the number, shape, and size of components in actual implementation. In actual implementation, the type, quantity, and proportion of each component may be changed arbitrarily, and the component layout may also be more complex.

[0033] See also Figures 1 to 3 This embodiment provides an elastic wristband for collecting electromyographic signals, including: a first insulating elastic layer 1, a second insulating elastic layer 2, and a conductive silicone layer 3 arranged between the first insulating elastic layer 1 and the second insulating elastic layer 2.

[0034] The first and second elastic insulation layers 1 and 2 are made of insulating and elastic material, preferably, the first and second elastic insulation layers 1 and 2 are made of insulating silica gel material. In another embodiment, for the purpose of improving the wearing feeling and appearance, the second elastic insulation layer 2 can also be replaced by other elastic sheet material, such as elastic textile bandage. When the user wears the elastic wristband of the present application, the first elastic insulation layer 1 faces outward, and the second elastic insulation layer 2 faces the user's skin. Based on the elastic effect of the first and second elastic insulation layers 1 and 2, the elastic wristband of the present application has a better fitting effect on the user's wrist, thereby fully contacting the user's skin, which is beneficial to the effective collection of electromyographic signals.

[0035] As shown in Figure 2 The conductive silica gel layer 3 includes a plurality of conductive silica gel strips 31. The conductive silica gel strips 31 are made of conductive silica gel material, which not only has good conductivity but also has elasticity, and can deform accordingly with the stretching and contraction of the first and second elastic insulation layers 1 and 2.

[0036] In this embodiment, the conductive silica gel strips 31 are long strips, and there are six pairs of them distributed symmetrically on the left and right of the elastic wristband. Preferably, the six conductive silica gel strips 31 on the left and the six conductive silica gel strips 31 on the right are arranged in differential form respectively, which helps to arrange as many non-interfering conductive silica gel strips 31 as possible on the limited wristband, and is beneficial to the effective collection of electromyographic signals.

[0037] It should be noted that this embodiment only uses six pairs of long conductive silica gel strips 31 as an example to illustrate the present application, which cannot be regarded as a limitation of the present application. Those skilled in the art can change the shape and number of the conductive silica gel strips 31 according to actual needs, for example: when the elastic wristband of the present embodiment is used to wear on the leg or upper arm, etc., a structure of 64 electrodes, 8x8 arrangement of electrode array can be used, and these changes should also be regarded as the protection scope of the present application.

[0038] In the embodiment, the first insulating elastic layer 1 is provided with a window area 11, i.e. the first insulating elastic layer 1 is hollowed in the window area 11. The first end 31a of each conductive silicone rubber strip 31 is electrically connected to the first end of a metal electrode, and the second end 31b of each conductive silicone rubber strip 31 is arranged at a position 32 corresponding to the window area 11. In this way, the window area 11 of the first insulating elastic layer 1 can expose the second end 31b of each conductive silicone rubber strip 31, thereby facilitating electrical connection with the circuit outside the elastic wristband of the present application to transmit the collected electromyographic signals to the external circuit. The second insulating elastic layer 2 is provided with a plurality of hole positions 21 corresponding to the second ends of the metal electrodes.

[0039] As shown in Figure 4 , the metal electrode 4 of the present embodiment is a metal rivet electrode, the first end 4a of the metal electrode 4 is the tip of the metal rivet electrode, and the second end 4b of the metal electrode is the umbrella end of the metal rivet electrode. In Figure 3 , the second end 4b of the metal electrode is exposed from the hole position 21, and when the user wears the elastic wristband of the present application, the second end 4b of the metal electrode is in contact with the user's skin to collect electromyographic signals.

[0040] Preferably, in an embodiment of the present application, the elastic wristband further comprises: a middle conductive silicone rubber strip 33 made of conductive silicone rubber material. Unlike each conductive silicone rubber strip 31, the first end 33a and the second end 33b of the middle conductive silicone rubber strip 33 are arranged at a position 32 corresponding to the window area 11, and the first end 33a of the middle conductive silicone rubber strip 33 is electrically connected to the first end of the metal electrode.

[0041] In another embodiment, the elastic wristband further comprises: a middle conductive ink strip made of elastic conductive ink (such as conductive paste of metal powder or graphite powder), which has the same shape and structure as the middle conductive silicone rubber strip 33 and will not be repeated here.

[0042] In addition, the elastic wristband of the present application is provided on the outer surface of the second insulating elastic layer 2 with a conductive reference electrode made of conductive silicone rubber material, specifically including a first conductive reference electrode 22 and a second conductive reference electrode 23 in the form of a strip. The first conductive reference electrode 22 and the second conductive reference electrode 23 are located on the upper and lower sides of the elastic wristband and are arranged in parallel along the length direction of the elastic wristband. The electrode potential measured by the conductive reference electrode serves as a reference for the electromyographic signals.

[0043] It should be noted that the present embodiment only takes two conductive reference electrodes as an example to illustrate the present application, which cannot be regarded as a limitation of the present application. Those skilled in the art can change the shape and number of the conductive reference electrodes according to actual needs, and these changes should also be regarded as the protection scope of the present application.

[0044] As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 The right end of the elastic wristband of the present embodiment is provided with a buckle hole 5 penetrating the first insulating elastic layer 1 and the second insulating elastic layer 2; the metal electrode 6 at the leftmost end of the elastic wristband is in the form of a buckle, that is, the second end 6b of the metal electrode 6 has a convex part that can be matched and connected with the buckle hole 5. When a user wears the elastic wristband of the present application, the second insulating elastic layer 2 adheres to the skin, the second end 6b of the metal electrode 6 is inserted into the buckle hole 5 from the outside of the elastic wristband and contacts the skin through the buckle hole 5. In other words, the metal electrode 6 can be used for collecting myoelectric signals and also as a buckle for wearing the elastic wristband.

[0045] It should be noted that the elastic wristband of the present application, the structures of the first insulating elastic layer 1, the second insulating elastic layer 2 and the conductive silicone layer 3 are all flat layers, and each conductive silicone strip 31 in the conductive silicone layer 3 is cut from preformed conductive silicone, which solves the problems of denaturation, difficult demolding and many burrs in the process of molding fine structures.

[0046] In detail, the preparation method of the elastic wristband for collecting myoelectric signals of the present application comprises the following steps:

[0047] 1. The second insulating elastic layer is made by using a mold, wherein the inner surface of the second insulating elastic layer has a first groove for arranging the conductive silicone layer; and the first insulating elastic layer is prearranged with the window area;

[0048] 2. The preformed (such as a sheet with a thickness of about 1mm) conductive silicone material is selected, cut into the circuit shape of the conductive silicone layer by a knife mold, and then placed in the first groove (before being placed in the first groove, an adhesive such as glue can be applied to ensure the adhesion between the two layers);

[0049] 3. The first insulating elastic layer with the conductive silicone layer is covered with an elastic material by using a mold again to form the second insulating elastic layer, so as to encapsulate the conductive silicone layer in the inside of the elastic wristband, prearrange the window area on the first insulating elastic layer, and open the second groove for arranging the conductive reference electrode and the hole site for mounting the metal electrode on the outer surface of the second insulating elastic layer;

[0050] 4. Inserting each metal electrode into each hole of the second insulating elastic layer, so that the first end of each metal electrode is in contact with each conductive silicone rubber strip in the elastic wristband, and the second end of each metal electrode is fixed to the second insulating elastic layer, such as: the lower surface of the metal rivet electrode umbrella end is glued and pasted to the second insulating elastic layer;

[0051] 5. Fixing the conductive reference electrode in the second groove, such as: using glue to paste the conductive reference electrode in the second groove.

[0052] The present application also provides a kind of intelligent wearable device, such as smart watch, smart bracelet and the like. In particular, the wristband of this kind of intelligent wearable device adopts the elastic wristband for collecting electromyographic signals described above, and the outer contour of the PCB circuit board of this kind of intelligent wearable device is consistent with the window area of the first insulating elastic layer. After the PCB circuit board is pressed in the window area, it forms a flat plane with the first insulating elastic layer as a whole, and the PCB circuit board can be electrically connected with each conductive silicone rubber strip of the conductive silicone layer, the conductive reference electrode, so as to receive the electromyographic signals collected by each conductive silicone rubber strip and the conductive reference electrode.

[0053] In summary, the elastic wristband for collecting electromyographic signals of the present application can be fully attached to human skin, thereby ensuring the quality of electromyographic signal collection, and is convenient and comfortable to wear. Therefore, the present application effectively overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art and has high industrial utilization value.

[0054] The above embodiments only exemplarily illustrate the principles and effects of the present application, and are not used to limit the present application. Any person skilled in the art can modify or change the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or changes made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and technical idea disclosed by the present application should be covered by the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. An elastic wristband for collecting electromyographic signals, characterized in that: include: A first insulating elastic layer, a second insulating elastic layer, and a conductive silicone layer provided between the first insulating elastic layer and the second insulating elastic layer; wherein, The first insulating elastic layer is provided with a window area; The conductive silicone layer includes a plurality of conductive silicone strips, the first end of each conductive silicone strip being electrically connected to the first end of a metal electrode, and the second end of each conductive silicone strip being located at a position corresponding to the window area; the metal electrodes being evenly distributed in a straight line along the length of the elastic wristband; the conductive silicone strips being long and symmetrically distributed on the elastic wristband; The second insulating elastic layer is provided with a plurality of holes for correspondingly exposing the second ends of the metal electrodes; a conductive reference electrode is also provided on the outer surface of the second insulating elastic layer; an intermediate conductive silicone strip or an intermediate conductive ink strip; the first end and the second end of the intermediate conductive silicone strip or the intermediate conductive ink strip are both disposed at positions corresponding to the window area, and the first end of the intermediate conductive silicone strip or the intermediate conductive ink strip is electrically connected to the first end of the metal electrode; The first insulating elastic layer is made of insulating silicone material; the second insulating elastic layer is made of insulating silicone material or elastic textile; the conductive reference electrode is made of conductive silicone material; wherein the conductive reference electrode includes at least one conductive silicone strip for contacting the skin.

2. The elastic wristband according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of the elastic wristband is provided with a button hole penetrating the first insulating elastic layer and the second insulating elastic layer; the metal electrode at the other end of the elastic wristband is in a button shape for matching and connecting with the button hole.

3. The elastic wristband according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the number of the conductive reference electrodes is two, the first conductive reference electrode and the second conductive reference electrode are respectively located on both sides of each of the metal electrodes and are arranged in parallel along the length direction of the elastic wristband.

4. The elastic wristband according to claim 1, characterized in that: The metal electrode is a metal rivet electrode, the first end of the metal electrode is the tip of the metal rivet electrode, and the second end of the metal electrode is the umbrella end of the metal rivet electrode.

5. A smart wearable device, characterized in that: include: A circuit board, and an elastic wristband for collecting electromyographic signals according to any one of claims 1 to 4; wherein, The outer contour of the circuit board matches the window area, and after being arranged in the window area, it can be electrically connected to the conductive silicone layer and the conductive reference electrode respectively.

6. The smart wearable device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The smart wearable device includes: a smart watch or a smart bracelet.

7. A method for preparing an elastic wristband for collecting electromyographic signals according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: The first insulating elastic layer is formed by using a mold; wherein the window area is reserved on the first insulating elastic layer; and a first groove for arranging the conductive silicone layer is provided on the inner surface of the first insulating elastic layer; Selecting a preformed conductive silicone rubber, cutting it into the shape of the circuit of the conductive silicone rubber layer with a die cutter, and placing it into the first groove; Using the mold again, the elastic material is covered on the first insulating elastic layer containing the conductive silicone layer to form a second insulating elastic layer, thereby encapsulating the conductive silicone layer inside the elastic wristband. A second groove for arranging a conductive reference electrode and a hole for installing a metal electrode are formed on the outer surface of the second insulating elastic layer. Inserting each metal electrode into each hole of the second insulating elastic layer, so that the first end of each metal electrode contacts and is electrically connected to the corresponding conductive silicone strip inside the elastic wristband, and fixing the second end of each metal electrode to the second insulating elastic layer; The conductive reference electrode is fixed to the second groove.

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