A smart clothing design method based on flexible strain sensing yarn multi-signal collaborative monitoring

Abstract

This invention discloses a smart clothing design method based on multi-signal collaborative monitoring using flexible strain sensing yarn. The method includes a self-locking sewing technique integrating flexible sensing yarn into clothing, smart clothing design, and a sensor signal acquisition, transmission, and display system. This invention develops a self-locking sewing technique that efficiently transmits human movement through clothing fabric to flexible sensing yarn. A lining is sewn into the inner side of the garment to form a wiring channel, and an elastic band is embedded on the outer side, with an internal pocket. The flexible sensing yarn is sewn into the lining fabric at locations such as the elbows, abdomen, wrists, and chest using the aforementioned sewing technique. Flexible conductive yarn is threaded through the wiring channel to connect the flexible sensing yarn to the interface of a multi-channel signal collector in the pocket. The multi-channel signal collector simultaneously acquires and processes signals from multiple flexible sensing yarns and wirelessly transmits them to a smart terminal. This method realizes a smart clothing design that collaboratively monitors human movement and physiological data.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of flexible conductive sensor material technology, specifically relating to an intelligent clothing design method based on multi-signal collaborative monitoring of flexible strain sensing yarn. Background Technology

[0002] Smart wearable devices can help users obtain their exercise and health data in real time, improving the quality of their workouts and overall quality of life. Currently, smartwatches, bracelets, and wristbands are only wearable devices, while research on more convenient wearable products is relatively limited. Clothing, with its high surface coverage, is more suitable as a carrier for sensor elements in the development of smart wearable products.

[0003] Currently, the sensing elements used in smart clothing mainly consist of rigid sensors, inertial measurement units, and ECG electrode patches. For example, CN115192005A arranges multiple printed circuit boards integrating capacitively coupled electrodes and accelerometers on the outside of the garment to collect ECG and cardiac vibration signals; CN112353372A encapsulates various hardware sensors within the garment to measure temperature, humidity, and heart rate; CN111067163A embeds various rigid electronic components, including metal foil, into the garment to monitor blood pressure, respiration, and ECG. While these rigid hardware components attached to clothing demonstrate mature performance in signal measurement, they significantly impact user comfort and aesthetics, and their limited ability to monitor only movement or physiological activity presents considerable limitations.

[0004] To improve wearing comfort, researchers are integrating sensing elements into clothing using textile processing techniques. For example, CN113752637A uses a three-dimensional weaving method to embed a fiber Bragg grating sensor into clothing to monitor temperature; CN110522101A uses a knitting process to embed a plastic optical fiber-based sensor into fabric to monitor deformation; and CN110522101A embeds a fabric woven from conductive and ordinary yarns into clothing as a touch sensor. Compared to textile processing techniques, the simple sewing technology can flexibly integrate functional yarns into any part of the finished garment, reducing the production steps and costs of smart clothing. Since low-modulus, high-elasticity strain-sensing yarns cannot be sewn into fabrics, a method suitable for integrating strain-sensing yarns into clothing fabrics needs to be developed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an intelligent clothing design method based on multi-signal collaborative monitoring of flexible strain sensing yarn.

[0006] The technical solution of this invention is:

[0007] A smart clothing design method based on multi-signal collaborative monitoring of flexible strain sensing yarn includes the following steps:

[0008] (1) Sew a pocket for holding a multi-channel signal acquisition device onto the inside of the garment;

[0009] (2) Sew the inner lining on the inside of the garment to form a wiring channel for installing flexible sensing yarns and arranging flexible conductive yarns, the wiring channel connecting the flexible sensing yarns at various locations and the pockets where the multi-channel signal acquisition device is placed.

[0010] (3) Multiple adjustable elastic bands are embedded on the outside of the garment;

[0011] (4) The flexible sensing yarn is sewn into the lining fabric at the elbow, abdomen, wrist and chest using a self-locking sewing needle method;

[0012] (5) Insert the flexible conductive yarn into the wiring channel, use the flexible conductive yarn to connect the flexible sensing yarn to the interface corresponding to the multi-channel signal acquisition device, and encapsulate the interface.

[0013] (6) The multi-channel signal collector is connected to the smart terminal via wireless signal, so that the multi-channel signal collector can collect and process signals from multiple flexible sensing yarns and wirelessly transmit them to the smart terminal.

[0014] Furthermore, in step (1), the garment is an elastic, form-fitting garment, which can be any of long-sleeved, short-sleeved, or vest styles.

[0015] Furthermore, in step (2), the width of the wiring channel is 1 to 3 cm.

[0016] Furthermore, in step (3), the embedding position of the elastic band and the sewing position of the corresponding flexible sensing yarn are on the same plane.

[0017] Furthermore, in step (4), the self-locking sewing needle method involves adding a backstitch at each eye of the plain needle to lock the flexible sensing yarn.

[0018] Furthermore, in step (4), the hand sewing needle used in the self-locking sewing method is a pointed wool needle with a needle hole less than 2mm at its thickest point. The straight stitch distance in the self-locking stitch is 0.25 to 1cm, the backstitch length is 1 to 3 horizontal loops, and the stitch length can be adjusted from 1 to 40cm.

[0019] Furthermore, in step (4), the flexible sensing yarn is a composite yarn of conductive material and elastic polymer, and the composite method includes either blending or coating.

[0020] Furthermore, in step (4), the lining fabric is a single-layer elastic knitted fabric.

[0021] Furthermore, after step (4), the method further includes: applying a hydrophobic treatment to the sewing area of ​​the flexible sensing yarn.

[0022] Furthermore, in step (6), the wireless transmission technology involved in the wireless signal includes any one or more of WiFi, Bluetooth, or cellular, and the smart terminal includes any one or more of a computer, mobile phone, or watch.

[0023] This invention provides a smart clothing design method based on multi-signal collaborative monitoring using flexible strain-sensing yarn. The strain-sensing yarn is used as a flexible and stretchable sensing element and integrated into the clothing using a self-locking sewing technique. Through clothing design, a comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and washable smart garment is developed, achieving collaborative monitoring of human movement and physiological signals. This method has great value in improving the wearing experience of smart clothing and expanding the market for smart clothing. Attached Figure Description

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the following description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an intelligent clothing design method based on multi-signal collaborative monitoring of flexible strain sensing yarn;

[0026] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of sewing techniques in an intelligent garment design method based on multi-signal collaborative monitoring of flexible strain sensing yarn;

[0027] Figure 3 Strain sensing performance diagrams for sensing yarns sewn with plain stitch and self-locking stitch;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a pattern drawing of intelligent clothing produced by an intelligent clothing design method based on multi-signal collaborative monitoring of flexible strain sensing yarn.

[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the sensing yarn, the conductive yarn, and the signal acquisition device.

[0030] Figure 6 The graph shows the change in relative resistance of sensing yarns with different sewing lengths under 10% strain.

[0031] Figure 7 This is a screenshot of the mobile app interface. Detailed Implementation

[0032] This invention provides a method for designing smart clothing based on stretchable flexible strain-sensing yarn and multi-signal collaborative monitoring. The method includes integrating flexible sensing yarn into the sewing process of textiles, designing the smart clothing, and a system for acquiring, transmitting, and displaying sensor signals. Specifically, it involves a self-locking sewing technique that efficiently transmits human movement to the flexible sensing yarn through the clothing fabric; sewing an inner lining on the inside of the garment to form a wiring channel for installing the flexible sensing yarn and arranging flexible conductive yarn; embedding an elastic band on the outside to ensure a good fit between the flexible sensing yarn and the body; and placing a multi-channel signal acquisition device in an internal pocket. The flexible sensing yarn is sewn into the inner lining fabric at locations such as the elbows, abdomen, wrists, and chest using the aforementioned sewing technique. The flexible conductive yarn is used to connect the flexible sensing yarn to the interface corresponding to the multi-channel signal acquisition device. The multi-channel signal acquisition device can simultaneously acquire and process signals from multiple flexible sensing yarns and wirelessly transmit them to a smart terminal. This method realizes the design of a smart garment that is comfortable, beautiful, and washable, with multi-signal collaborative monitoring. The designed smart garment can collect human motion and physiological data in real time, such as joint movement frequency, heart rate, and respiratory rate, to meet users' needs for exercise assistance and health monitoring.

[0033] The flexible strain sensing yarn is a composite yarn of conductive materials and elastic polymers. The composite method includes, but is not limited to, blending and coating types, such as silver-plated nylon yarn and metal wire core-spun yarn. The stretchable conductive network constructed by the conductive material in the yarn generates a change in resistance when subjected to deformation. The sewing technique is a self-locking needle, where a backstitch is added at each eye of the plain stitch to lock the flexible sensing yarn. The plain stitch is the most basic and simplest hand-sewing technique, but the sensing yarn can experience unstable slippage when sewing into the fabric. The backstitch is the most secure hand-sewing technique, but unstable contact resistance can occur between the stitches on both sides of the fabric. Using a self-locking needle to sew the sensing yarn into the fabric solves the problems of the plain stitch and backstitch, maximizing the transfer of deformation from the fabric to the sensing yarn, resulting in a stable and sensitive signal output from the sensing yarn. The hand-sewing needle used is a pointed needle with a maximum eye diameter of less than 2mm. The stitch length (float length) of the flat stitch in the self-locking stitch is 0.25–1 cm, and the eye size (backstitch length) is 1–3 horizontal loops. The smart garment is an elastic, form-fitting style, applicable to long-sleeved, short-sleeved, and vest styles. A wiring channel is formed by sewing an inner lining into the inside of the smart garment. This channel connects the flexible sensing yarns at various locations to pockets containing multi-channel signal collectors. Flexible conductive yarns are arranged inside the channel. The lining fabric uses a single layer of elastic knitted fabric, and the wiring channel width is 1–3 cm. The flexible sensing yarns are sewn to the lining fabric using the above sewing technique. The sewing stitches are located within the wiring channel to prevent the flexible sensing yarns from contacting the skin or being exposed to the environment, thus avoiding uncontrollable interference and damage. The stitch length is adjusted from 1–40 cm depending on the sewing location and the user's body shape to accurately cover deformation areas. Sewing locations include joints, the heart, pulse points, and the abdomen. The sensing yarns at each joint are used to detect human motion signals; the sensing yarns at the heart and pulse points are used to collaboratively detect human heartbeat signals, addressing the issue of heartbeat signals being easily interfered with by breathing and motion deformation; the sensing yarns in the abdomen are used to detect human respiration signals, avoiding interference from chest heartbeat signals. The sewing areas of the sensing yarns are treated with hydrophobic material to prevent interference from human sweat on the output signals. Multiple adjustable elastic bands are embedded in the surface of the smart garment to ensure that the fabric at the sewing points of the flexible sensing yarns fits the body perfectly, preventing wrinkles and slippage during human activity. The embedded positions of the elastic bands are on the same plane as the sewing positions of the corresponding sensing yarns. Flexible conductive yarns are threaded into the wiring channels to connect the flexible sensing yarns to the interfaces corresponding to the multi-channel signal acquisition units. The flexible conductive yarns are connected to the flexible sensing yarns via conductive adhesive, connected to the signal acquisition units via miniature plugs, and the interfaces are encapsulated. The flexible conductive yarns should have extremely low resistance and surface insulation, maintaining stable electrical performance during deformation. The multi-channel signal acquisition unit is a detachable, rechargeable integrated module capable of simultaneously acquiring, noise-reducing, and wirelessly transmitting signals from multiple flexible sensing yarns to a smart terminal. Wireless transmission technologies can include WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular networks.Smart terminals can be computers, mobile phones, and watches, among others. Their functions include real-time display of data such as heart rate, respiratory rate, and joint movement frequency; outputting signal waveforms of heartbeat, respiration, and joint movement; recording historical test times and results; indicating wireless connection and battery status of the signal acquisition device; and controlling the start and end of the smart clothing monitoring process.

[0034] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, the technical solutions of the present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the listed embodiments, but should also include any other known modifications within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

[0035] First, the term "one embodiment" or "embodiment" as used herein refers to a specific feature, structure, or characteristic that may be included in at least one implementation of the present invention. The phrase "in one embodiment" appearing in different places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a single or selective embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments.

[0036] Secondly, this invention is described in detail using structural diagrams, etc. When detailing the embodiments of this invention, for ease of explanation, the diagrams may be partially enlarged, deviating from the general scale. Furthermore, the diagrams are merely examples and should not limit the scope of protection of this invention. In addition, actual manufacturing should include three-dimensional space with length, width, and depth.

[0037] Example 1

[0038] A smart clothing design method based on multi-signal collaborative monitoring of flexible strain sensing yarn; please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an intelligent clothing design method based on multi-signal collaborative monitoring of flexible strain sensing yarn. (Example) Figure 1 As shown, the signal collector placed inside the smart long-sleeved pocket first collects the output signal from the sensing yarn sewn onto the lining using enameled silver-plated acrylic yarn. Then, it wirelessly transmits the noise-reduced signal to a mobile app via Bluetooth. The flexible sensing yarn is sewn onto the long-sleeved lining fabric using self-locking needles. Please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of sewing stitches used in an intelligent garment design method based on multi-signal collaborative monitoring of flexible strain sensing yarn. Figure 2 As shown, the self-locking stitch is based on a plain knit, with a backstitch applied at each eye for securing. The lining fabric is a plain knit fabric containing 95% cotton and 5% spandex, with a self-locking stitch length of 0.5 cm and an eye size of two loop rows. Please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 3 , Figure 3 Strain sensing performance diagrams for sensing yarns sewn with plain stitch and self-locking stitch. (Example) Figure 3As shown, compared to using a plain needle, the sensitivity of the flexible sensing yarn sewn onto the fabric using a self-locking needle increased from 1.91 to 4.08, and the linearity increased from 0.655 to 0.900.

[0039] Please see Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a pattern drawing of intelligent clothing produced using an intelligent clothing design method based on multi-signal collaborative monitoring of flexible strain-sensing yarn. (Example:) Figure 4 As shown, the smart long-sleeved shirt is a specially designed, form-fitting knitted long-sleeved shirt. The inner lining of the smart long-sleeved shirt is sewn together to form a 2cm wide wiring channel, through which enameled silver-plated acrylic yarn connects to the flexible sensing yarn and the signal acquisition unit. Please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 5 , Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the sensing yarn, conductive yarn, and signal acquisition device. Figure 5 As shown, conductive silver paste is used to bond the enameled silver-plated nylon yarn and the sensing yarn. Pin headers are used to fix the enameled silver-plated nylon yarn into the signal acquisition interface, and UV-curing adhesive is used to encapsulate the interface. The zippered pocket for placing the signal acquisition device is located on the right side of the smart long sleeve, and the wiring channel is connected to the pocket.

[0040] The flexible sensing yarns are sewn horizontally at the heart and along the arm at both wrist pulse points for coordinated heart rate detection; horizontally at the abdomen for respiratory rate detection; and along the arm at the elbow for joint movement frequency detection. Please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 6 , Figure 6 This is a graph showing the relative resistance change of sensing yarns with different sewing lengths under 10% strain. (See graph for example.) Figure 6 As shown, for users with an elbow circumference of 26cm, a waist circumference of 88cm, and a lower chest circumference of 90cm, the optimal sewing length for the flexible sensing yarn is: 5cm at the elbow joint, 30cm at the abdomen, 3cm at the heart, and 1cm at the wrist. The sewing area of ​​the sensing yarn is treated with a fabric waterproofing agent to create a hydrophobic effect.

[0041] The smart long sleeve has four adjustable elastic bands on the outside. The two elastic bands on the back are positioned parallel to the flexible sensing yarn at the center of the front piece and along the waist, respectively. The elastic bands on the sleeves are along the cuffs.

[0042] The signal acquisition unit is a housing capable of simultaneously acquiring and noise-reducing signals from three flexible sensing yarns, and wirelessly transmitting the signals to a mobile app via Bluetooth. The specific technical parameters of the signal acquisition unit are shown in Table 1 below:

[0043]

[0044] Table 1

[0045] Please see Figure 7 , Figure 7This is a screenshot of the interface displayed for a mobile app. For example... Figure 7 As shown, the interface includes a homepage, real-time, recording, and device interface. The homepage displays heart rate, respiratory rate, and joint movement frequency at real-time (approximately 5 seconds) and per minute (approximately 1 minute); the real-time interface displays standard waveforms and signal waveforms of heartbeat, respiration, and joint movement; the recording interface displays historical test times and data results; the device interface displays the Bluetooth connection and battery level of the signal acquisition unit, as well as controls the start and end of the smart long-sleeved monitoring. The standard waveforms in the real-time interface are plotted based on the data results, and the signal waveforms represent the resistance changes of the flexible sensing yarn. The vertical axis of the resistance can be automatically adjusted to a suitable range according to the degree of change, making the resistance changes clearly displayed. The recording interface can record and store nearly one month of exercise and physiological signal data and has the function of deleting a specific record segment.

[0046] Users can refer to the following steps when using the smart long-sleeved shirt: 1. Take the signal collector out of the pocket and turn it on. At this time, indicator light 1 will be red and indicator light 2 will be flashing blue; 2. Open the mobile APP device interface to connect via Bluetooth. After successful connection, indicator light 2 will be solid blue; 3. Put the signal collector back into the pocket; 4. Put on the smart long-sleeved shirt and adjust the elastic band to ensure that the flexible sensing yarn fits snugly against the body; 5. After clicking "Start" on the mobile APP device interface, you can begin your daily activities. You can obtain real-time exercise and physiological data on the homepage and real-time interface, and you can check the device battery level on the device interface; 6. After the activity ends, click "End" on the mobile APP device interface to obtain the monitoring results on the recording interface; 7. Take off the smart long-sleeved shirt and turn off the signal collector. The human activity monitoring results of the smart long-sleeved shirt are shown in Table 2 below:

[0047]

[0048] Table 2

[0049] Example 2

[0050] The smart short-sleeved shirt is a specially designed tight-fitting knitted short-sleeved shirt. For a user with a waist circumference of 75cm and an underbust circumference of 82cm, the sewing positions, lengths, and functions of the flexible sensing yarns are as follows: 4cm at the heart for detecting heart rate; 25cm at the navel for detecting respiratory rate; and 6cm at the shoulder joint for detecting joint movement frequency. Other details are the same as in Example 1. The human activity monitoring results of the smart short-sleeved shirt are shown in Table 3 below.

[0051]

[0052] Table 3

[0053] Example 3

[0054] The smart vest is a specially designed tight-fitting knitted vest. For a user with a waist circumference of 67cm and an underbust circumference of 74cm, the sewing positions, lengths, and functions of the flexible sensing yarns are as follows: 2cm at the heart for heart rate detection; 20cm at the navel for respiratory rate detection; and 30cm at the center of the back for back flexion frequency detection. Two adjustable elastic bands are embedded on the outer back panel, positioned parallel to the flexible sensing yarn at the heart on the front panel and along the waistline. Other details are the same as in Example 1. The human activity monitoring results of the smart vest are shown in Table 4 below.

[0055]

[0056] Table 4

[0057] In summary, the intelligent clothing design method based on multi-signal collaborative monitoring using flexible strain sensing yarn described in this invention achieves seamless integration of flexible sensing yarn, flexible conductive yarn, and multi-channel signal acquisition device into intelligent clothing. This solves the problems of poor comfort and aesthetics, complex operation, and limited signal detection types in existing intelligent clothing. The invention designs a multi-signal collaborative monitoring intelligent garment that is comfortable to wear, aesthetically pleasing, and highly functional. This intelligent garment can collect human motion and physiological signals in real time, presents data clearly, has long battery life, and is washable, meeting users' needs for exercise assistance and health monitoring.

[0058] It should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention, and all such modifications or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A smart clothing design method based on multi-signal collaborative monitoring of flexible strain sensing yarn, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: (1) Sew a pocket for holding a multi-channel signal acquisition device onto the inside of the garment; (2) Sew the inner lining on the inside of the garment to form a wiring channel for installing flexible sensing yarns and arranging flexible conductive yarns, the wiring channel connecting the flexible sensing yarns at various locations and the pockets where the multi-channel signal acquisition device is placed. (3) Multiple adjustable elastic bands are embedded on the outside of the garment, and the embedded position of the elastic bands is on the same plane as the sewing position of the corresponding flexible sensing yarn. (4) The flexible sensing yarn is sewn into the lining fabric at the elbow, abdomen, wrist and chest using a self-locking stitch. The self-locking stitch is a backstitch added to each eye of the plain stitch to lock the flexible sensing yarn. The hand sewing needle used in the self-locking stitch is a pointed needle with a needle hole less than 2 mm at its thickest point. The plain stitch spacing in the self-locking stitch is 0.25~1 cm, the backstitch length is 1~3 horizontal loops, and the stitch length can be adjusted from 1 to 40 cm. The lining fabric is a single-layer elastic knitted fabric. (5) Insert the flexible conductive yarn into the wiring channel, use the flexible conductive yarn to connect the flexible sensing yarn to the interface corresponding to the multi-channel signal acquisition device, use conductive silver glue to bond the enameled silver-plated nylon yarn and the sensing yarn, use pin headers to fix the enameled silver-plated nylon yarn into the signal acquisition interface, and use shadowless glue to encapsulate the interface. (6) The multi-channel signal collector is connected to the smart terminal via wireless signal, so that the multi-channel signal collector can collect and process signals from multiple flexible sensing yarns and wirelessly transmit them to the smart terminal.

2. The intelligent clothing design method based on multi-signal collaborative monitoring of flexible strain sensing yarn according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step (1), the garment is an elastic, form-fitting garment, which can be any of long-sleeved, short-sleeved, or vest styles.

3. The intelligent clothing design method based on multi-signal collaborative monitoring of flexible strain sensing yarn according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step (2), the width of the wiring channel is 1~3 cm.

4. The intelligent clothing design method based on multi-signal collaborative monitoring of flexible strain sensing yarn according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step (4), the flexible sensing yarn is a composite yarn of conductive material and elastic polymer, and the composite method includes either blending or coating.

5. The intelligent clothing design method based on multi-signal collaborative monitoring of flexible strain sensing yarn according to claim 1, characterized in that, After step (4), the method further includes: performing a hydrophobic treatment on the sewing area of ​​the flexible sensing yarn.

6. The intelligent clothing design method based on multi-signal collaborative monitoring of flexible strain sensing yarn according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step (6), the wireless transmission technology involved in the wireless signal includes any one or more of WiFi, Bluetooth, or cellular, and the smart terminal includes any one or more of a computer, mobile phone, or watch.

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