Self-powered smart shin guard utilizing thermoelectric element and electronic performance and tracking system using same

Abstract

The present invention provides a customized self-powered shin guard and an electronic performance and tracking system (EPTS) using same, the shin guard comprising: a body made of a plastic material; a bio-signal module for detecting bio-signals of a wearer; and a thermoelectric element unit enabling self-power generation.

Description

Self-generating smart shin guard utilizing thermoelectric elements and electronic performance tracking system using the same

[0001] The present invention relates to a self-generating smart shin guard utilizing a thermoelectric element and an electronic performance tracking system using the same.

[0002]

[0003] Recently, Electronic Performance and Tracking Systems (EPTS), which measure and provide data on players' activity levels and location, are being widely utilized in ball sports such as soccer and basketball. EPTS can collect and provide various data, including a player's location, speed, acceleration, and heart rate, through technologies such as GPS, wearable devices, and camera-based technologies. The use of this data is of great help to team game strategies and player management.

[0004] Furthermore, EPTS allows for the easy acquisition of match data, such as players' movement paths, distances covered, pass directions, and success rates, and the collected data can be utilized in various ways. For instance, by analyzing data collected during a match in real time, objective and interesting information regarding player and team performance can be provided to viewers through broadcast coverage.

[0005] Generally, EPTS are provided in the form of wearable devices, such as vests or sports bras, made of elastic material that can closely adhere to the athlete's body and be easily worn by the wearer. Typically, a device equipped with a GPS tracker and other sensors is inserted into a small pocket mounted on the back of the vest, and a battery is also integrated into this device and inserted into the pocket. However, these conventional EPTS wearable devices have the problem of causing significant discomfort to the wearer (usually an athlete) due to the burden of wearing additional devices, as well as the sensor module and battery occupying a certain volume and weight at the back of the wearer's neck.

[0006] To solve this, Patent Document 1 proposed a technology in which a sensor module and a battery are fused into a shin guard. However, since the shin guard of Patent Document 1 still has a separate small battery, there is a disadvantage that the battery needs to be charged and replaced.

[0007]

[0008] <Prior Art Literature>

[0009] (Patent Document 1) Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2010-0032273

[0010]

[0011] The present invention aims to provide a self-generating shin guard that can operate without the need for a separate external power supply, such as a separate battery, by utilizing the thermoelectric effect and the Soret effect to convert thermal energy generated by the wearer's body temperature into electrical energy.

[0012] The problem to be solved by the present invention is not limited to the purposes mentioned above, and other unmentioned purposes will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

[0013]

[0014] A shin guard according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a body made of a plastic material and including a front surface and a back surface; a shock-absorbing member fixed to the back surface of the body and having one or more concave portions formed therein; one or more biosignal modules for detecting a wearer's biosignal; and one or more thermoelectric element units located in each of the concave portions and configured to supply power to the biosignal modules.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the thermoelectric element unit may include: a thermoelectric element disposed within a concave portion and made of an organic thermoelectric material, an inorganic thermoelectric material, or an organic-inorganic hybrid thermoelectric material; a first electrode disposed on the front side of the thermoelectric element; a second electrode disposed on the rear side of the thermoelectric element; a first substrate interposed between the first electrode and the body and having at least one hole formed therein; and a second substrate disposed on the rear side of the second electrode, positioned to come into contact with the wearer's skin when the wearer wears the shin guard.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the concave portion is formed elongated in one direction, and the thermoelectric element unit comprises a plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements alternately arranged along the length direction of the concave portion; a plurality of first electrodes connecting the front end of a P-type thermoelectric element and the front end of an N-type thermoelectric element adjacent to the P-type thermoelectric element; a plurality of second electrodes connecting the rear end of an N-type thermoelectric element and the rear end of a P-type thermoelectric element adjacent to the N-type thermoelectric element; and a first substrate interposed between the plurality of first electrodes and the body, having at least one hole formed therein. It includes a second substrate disposed on the outer surface of the back side of a plurality of second electrodes, positioned to come into contact with the wearer's skin when the wearer wears the shin guard, and a plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements each include an organic thermoelectric material, an inorganic thermoelectric material, or an organic-inorganic hybrid thermoelectric material, and the plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements can be connected in series by a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the first substrate may have a thermal conductivity of 100 to 500 W / m·K.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the first electrode and the second electrode may be made of any one of the materials Al, Ni, Au, Ag, Cu, Ti, and carbon nanofiber (CNF).

[0019] According to one embodiment, the plastic material may include any one of polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyetherimide (PEI), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polystyrene (PS), polyoxymethylene (POM), polycarbonate (PC), and polyurethane (PU).

[0020] According to one embodiment, the plastic material may include a composite material reinforced with carbon fibers, having one of polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyetherimide (PEI), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polystyrene (PS), polyoxymethylene (POM), polycarbonate (PC), and polyurethane (PU) as a matrix.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the biosignal module may include a sensor contact portion positioned to contact the wearer's skin; and a sensor module for detecting the wearer's biosignal.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the body may include one or more through holes penetrating in the thickness direction from the front to the back.

[0023] According to one embodiment, one or more through holes may penetrate at least a portion of the shock-absorbing member and communicate with the concave portion.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the biosignal module may include at least one of a satellite navigation system, low-power wireless communication technology, a motion detection sensor, a device operating device, and an information storage device.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the biosignal module can be replacedably coupled to the body.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the shin guard may not be equipped with a separate external power supply.

[0027] An electronic performance tracking system using a shin guard according to another embodiment of the present invention may include: a shin guard according to the above-described embodiment; a receiver that collects exercise information of a wearer transmitted from the shin guard; and a processor that analyzes the exercise information of a wearer collected by the receiver.

[0028]

[0029] A shin guard according to one embodiment of the present invention has the effect of minimizing discomfort during wear by integrating a self-generating function using a thermoelectric element, thereby eliminating the need for a battery that must be mounted on a separate body part, which is a major factor causing discomfort to the wearer in conventional EPTS. In particular, in the case of a wearable device such as the shin guard of the present invention, when the wearer is active, the temperature of the high-temperature part in contact with the wearer's skin rises, and the temperature of the low-temperature part exposed to the outside is continuously lowered or maintained due to wind generated by the wearer's activity, evaporation of sweat, etc., so a stable temperature difference is generated, thus having the advantage of enabling continuous and stable power supply.

[0030] However, the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described above, but include all effects naturally realized through the various configurations proposed in the present invention.

[0031]

[0032] The features and benefits of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, which is discussed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a shin guard according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1(a) is a front view showing the outer side (front) of the shin guard, and FIG. 1(b) is a rear view showing the inner side (back) of the shin guard.

[0034] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken when cut along line AA in Figure 1.

[0035] FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram schematically illustrating the charge transfer and current generation principles of a thermoelectric element unit provided in a shin guard according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram schematically illustrating the connection between a thermoelectric element unit, a low-power step-up module, and a biosignal module included in a shin guard according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0037]

[0038] The embodiments of the present invention are illustrative for the purpose of explaining the technical concept of the present invention. The scope of rights according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented below or the specific description thereof.

[0039] All technical and scientific terms used in this invention, unless otherwise defined, have the meaning generally understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All terms used in this invention are selected for the purpose of further explaining this invention and are not selected to limit the scope of rights according to this invention.

[0040] Expressions such as "comprising," "having," "having," etc. used in the present invention should be understood as open-ended terms implying the possibility of including other embodiments, unless otherwise stated in the phrase or sentence containing such expressions.

[0041] In the present invention, when a part such as a layer, film, region, or plate is described as being "above" or "on" another part, this includes not only the case where it is "immediately above" another part, but also the case where there is another part in between. Conversely, when a part is described as being "immediately above" another part, it means that there is no other part in between. Furthermore, being described as being "above" or "on" a reference part means being located above or below the reference part, and does not necessarily mean being located "above" or "on" in the direction opposite to gravity. The same applies to "below" or "under."

[0042] In the present invention, "planar view" refers to the object of the present invention as viewed from above, and "cross-sectional view" refers to the cross-section of the object of the present invention cut perpendicularly to the ground or installation surface as viewed from the side. Additionally, in the present invention, "front side" refers to the part visible from the front or front when worn, and "back side" refers to the side opposite to the "front side." Furthermore, in the present invention, "front side" refers to the side facing the front in any configuration, and "back side" refers to the side facing the back in the same configuration.

[0043] In the present invention, expressions such as "identical" and "identical" indicate not only a strictly identical state, but also a state in which tolerances or differences exist to the extent that the same function is obtained.

[0044] In the present invention, expressions indicating relative or absolute arrangements, such as "in a certain direction," "along a certain direction," "parallel," "vertically," "to the center," "concentric," or "coaxial," not only strictly indicate such arrangements but also indicate a state of relative displacement with respect to tolerances or angles or distances to the extent that the same function is obtained.

[0045] Unless otherwise stated, singular expressions described in the present invention may include the meaning of the plural form, and this applies likewise to singular expressions described in the claims.

[0046]

[0047] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. In this process, the thickness of lines or the size of components depicted in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation. Furthermore, in the description of the embodiments below, the description of identical or corresponding components may be omitted. However, even if a description of a component is omitted, it is not intended that such component is not included in any embodiment.

[0048] In addition, the following embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention but are merely exemplary details of the components presented in the claims of the present invention, and embodiments including components that are included in the technical concept throughout the specification of the present invention and are substitutable as equivalents for the components of the claims may be included in the scope of the present invention.

[0049]

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a shin guard (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 1(a) is a front view showing the outer side of the shin guard (10) when worn, and FIG. 1(b) is a rear view showing the inner side of the shin guard (10). Referring to FIG. 1, the shin guard (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a body (20) made of a shock-absorbing material such as plastic and including an outer side front (201) and an inner side back (202); a shock-absorbing member (22) fixed to the back (202) of the body (20) and having one or more concave portions (23) formed therein; one or more biosignal modules (30) for detecting a wearer's biosignal; and one or more thermoelectric element units (40) located in each concave portion (23) and configured to supply power to the biosignal modules (30) in a self-generating manner.

[0051]

[0052] A shin guard (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a body (20) made of a plastic material. The body (20) includes a front surface (201) and a back surface (202). In addition, the overall size of the body (20) is not particularly limited and can be freely modified according to the physical condition of the wearer, such as gender and age. As a non-limiting embodiment, it may be manufactured with a width of 9 cm and a height of 18 cm based on an adult wearer.

[0053]

[0054] As a non-limiting embodiment, the plastic material for the shin guard forming the body (20) may be one of polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyetherimide (PEI), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polystyrene (PS), polyoxymethylene (POM), polycarbonate (PC), and polyurethane (PU).

[0055] In addition, as another non-limiting embodiment, the plastic material for the shin guard forming the body (20) may be a thermoplastic material made of a composite material reinforced with carbon fibers for the convenience of the wearer, and more specifically, it may be a composite material reinforced with carbon fibers having one of polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyetherimide (PEI), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polystyrene (PS), polyoxymethylene (POM), polycarbonate (PC), or polyurethane (PU) as a matrix. When combined with carbon fibers, it can have very light weight and high strength, excellent impact resistance, and low brittle fracture upon breakage. In this respect, it has high utility as a material for the shin guard (10).

[0056] In addition, the shin guard (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a shock-absorbing member (22) that is fixed to the back surface (202) of the body (20) to supplement the fixed fit. This shock-absorbing member (22) may be formed from any one of EVA foam (Ethylene vinyl acetate foam), polyurethane foam, silicone, and rubber, and among these, it is preferable to use EVA foam, which has excellent cost, weight, and shock absorption properties.

[0057] As illustrated in FIG. 1(b), one or more concave portions (23) may be formed in the shock-absorbing member (22) of the shin guard (10). At least one concave portion (23) is configured to accommodate a thermoelectric element unit (40) described later. Additionally, at least one concave portion (23) may accommodate a biosignal module (30) described later.

[0058] Since the size and depth of each recess (23) can be varied in design under the condition that they are determined to be dimensions sufficient to accommodate the thermoelectric element unit (40), the size and depth of each recess (23) are not specifically limited in the present invention. However, it is preferable that the depth of the recess (23) be determined to be dimensions such that when the thermoelectric element unit (40) is accommodated within the recess (23), the biosignal module (30) and / or the thermoelectric element unit (40) come into contact with the wearer's skin. For example, the depth of the recess (23) must be at least equal to or smaller than the total height of the thermoelectric element unit (40), that is, the sum of the heights of the thermoelectric element (41), the first and second electrodes (42, 43), and the first and second substrates (44, 45).

[0059] Since the concave portion (23) can be designed in various ways within the technical concept that it is open on one side of the shock-absorbing member (22), the shape of the concave portion (23) is not specifically limited in the present invention. Here, the shape of the concave portion (23) can be defined as a kind of trajectory formed by the concave portion (23) that is visible when looking at the back of the shin guard (10). For example, in FIG. 1(b), five rectangular concave portions (23) formed long in the vertical direction are shown. However, it should be noted that the five rectangular concave portions (23) formed long in one direction shown in FIG. 1(b) are merely examples to explain the shape of the concave portion (23) of the present invention, and the shape of the concave portion (23) is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 1(b). As a non-limiting embodiment, the concave portion (23) may be formed in any one of a circular, elliptical, and polygonal shape.

[0060] In a non-limiting embodiment, one or more concave portions (23) may be arranged along the back edge of the shin guard (10). The lower leg of a person consists of a thick inner tibia (shinbone) and a thin outer fibula (leg bone) that is composed of a thick inner tibia (shinbone) and a thin outer fibula. While the central portion of the shin guard (10) is positioned over the hard tibia and is difficult to adhere to completely, the edge portion of the shin guard (10) can adhere completely to the soft calf muscles. Thus, the adhesion of the thermoelectric element unit (40) is increased, and the efficiency of the thermoelectric element unit (40) can be further improved.

[0061] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the body (20) of the shin guard (10) may include one or more through holes (21) formed to penetrate in the thickness direction from the front (201) to the back (202) of the body (20). These one or more through holes (21) may penetrate at least a portion of the shock-absorbing member (22) and communicate with the concave portion (23) formed in the shock-absorbing member (22). To this end, it is preferable that the through holes (21) be formed at a position aligned with the concave portion (23). For example, FIG. 1(a) shows a plurality of through holes (21) that are aligned with the concave portion (23), arranged at predetermined intervals along the length direction of the concave portion (23), and have an elliptical cross-sectional shape.

[0062] Since one or more through holes (21) are in communication with the concave portion (23), the rear end of each through hole (21) is open toward the first substrate (44) of the thermoelectric element unit (40) described later. As a result, heat generated from the thermoelectric element unit (40) can be easily released to the outside through the through holes (21) after being transferred to the first substrate (44) or to the holes formed in the first substrate. In other words, one or more through holes (21) formed in the body (20) of the shin guard (10) have a heat sink function that rapidly absorbs heat from the thermoelectric element unit (40) and releases it to the outside.

[0063] In a non-limiting embodiment, some of the one or more through holes (21) may also be in communication with a recess (23) that accommodates a biosignal module (30), so that the rear end of the through hole (21) may open toward the sensor module (32) of the biosignal module (30). By doing so, heat generated from the sensor module (32) of the biosignal module (30) can also be easily released to the outside through the through hole (21). Likewise, the through hole (21) has a heat sink function that rapidly absorbs and releases heat generated from the biosignal module (30) to the outside.

[0064] Since it is preferable to determine the size and number of each through hole (21) according to the degree of heat generation of the thermoelectric element unit (40) or the biosignal module (30), the size and number of each through hole (21) are not separately limited in the present invention. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of each through hole (21) is not particularly limited, and as a non-limiting embodiment, it may have a cross-sectional shape of any one of a circular, elliptical, or polygonal shape.

[0065]

[0066] A shin guard (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes one or more biosignal modules (30) for detecting a wearer's biosignal. The biosignal modules (30) may be fixed to the shin guard (10) by being combined with a shock-absorbing member (22). Referring to FIG. 2, the biosignal modules (30) may include a sensor contact portion (31) positioned to contact the wearer's skin and a sensor module (32) for detecting the wearer's biosignal. Additionally, the sensor module (32) may include an electrical contact that is electrically connected to a control unit, a wireless communication module, and a first electrode (42) or a second electrode (43) of a thermoelectric element unit (40).

[0067] The sensor contact portion (31) includes a sensor for collecting biometric information of a wearer wearing a shin guard (10). In a non-limiting embodiment, the sensor may include a temperature sensor capable of measuring the wearer's body temperature or a light sensor capable of measuring changes in blood pressure.

[0068] The wireless communication module is for transmitting information collected from the sensor contact part (31) to an external server, and as a non-limiting embodiment, it may be composed of an RF communication module or a Bluetooth module that performs communication using a certain frequency range.

[0069] The control unit may include a microcontroller unit (MCU) that controls the biosignal module (30). The control unit may be configured to convert biosignal information collected from the sensor contact unit (31) into a communicable signal through the microcontroller unit and transmit it to an external server through a wireless communication module. As a non-limiting embodiment, the control unit may further include a Global Positioning System (GPS) module for a satellite navigation system, and by collecting the wearer's location information through the GPS module, the external server may collect and analyze information such as the wearer's travel distance, speed, and acceleration. Such a GPS module may be provided separately from the control unit.

[0070] The biosignal module (30) of the present invention is connected to the first and second electrodes (43) of the thermoelectric element unit (40) through an electric contact, so it can receive power necessary for the operation of the sensor and thus may not require a separate battery.

[0071] In a non-limiting embodiment, the biosignal module (30) may further include at least one of low-power wireless communication technology (BLE), motion detection sensor (IMU), device operating unit (MCU), and information storage device (Flach memory) in addition to the functions or devices described above. In a non-limiting embodiment, the biosignal module (30) may use a model having a weight of about 44g to 55g.

[0072]

[0073] A shin guard (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes one or more thermoelectric element units (40) configured to supply power to a biosignal module (30). The thermoelectric element units (40) can be inserted into a recess (23) of a shock-absorbing member (22) and fixed to the shin guard (10).

[0074] The thermoelectric effect refers to the phenomenon in which an electric current flows as a potential difference is generated within a material due to a temperature difference, causing the movement of electrons or holes. By utilizing the thermoelectric effect, it is possible to construct a thermoelectric power generation system that converts thermal energy into electrical energy.

[0075] A thermoelectric power generation system generates electromotive force by utilizing the Seebeck effect, in which charge carriers diffuse from a high-temperature region to a low-temperature region due to a temperature difference occurring within a material. Thermoelectric power generation systems primarily utilize body heat, solar heat, and waste heat from various industries and power plants as heat sources. By utilizing such a thermoelectric power generation system, external power supply devices such as conventional batteries can be replaced, and related research has been conducted for a long time. The present invention is the result of one of these various studies and is characterized by a thermoelectric element unit (40) including a thermoelectric element (41) provided in a shin guard (10) that replaces a battery that is separately provided for the operation of a conventional biosignal module (30).

[0076]

[0077] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the thermoelectric element unit (40) of the present invention may be located within a recess (23) formed in a shock-absorbing member (22). The thermoelectric element unit (40) may be composed of a thermoelectric element (41) disposed within the recess (23), a first electrode (42) disposed on the front side of the thermoelectric element (41), a second electrode (43) disposed on the back side of the thermoelectric element (41), a first substrate (44) interposed between the first electrode (42) and the body (20), and a second substrate (45) disposed on the back side of the second electrode (43) and positioned to come into contact with the wearer's skin when the wearer wears the shin guard (10).

[0078] First, the thermoelectric element unit (40) of the present invention includes a first substrate (44) and a second substrate (45) for supporting a thermoelectric element (41). The first substrate (44) and the second substrate (45) may each be placed at both ends in the thickness direction of the thermoelectric element (41). As shown in FIG. 2, one side of the first substrate (44) may be placed to be in contact with a body (20) made of a thermoplastic carbon material within a concave portion (23), and the other side of the first substrate (44) may be placed to be in contact with a first electrode (42). In addition, in the case of the second substrate (45), one side of the second substrate (45) may be placed to be in contact with the wearer's skin, and the other side of the second substrate (45) may be placed to be in contact with a second electrode (43). By this arrangement, the first substrate (44) is located in the cold side region of the thermoelectric element unit (40), and the second substrate (45) is located in the hot side region of the thermoelectric element unit (40).

[0079] In the present invention, the materials of the first substrate (44) and the second substrate (45) can be designed in various ways under the design condition that they must be able to provide sufficient support for the thermoelectric element (41) from external shocks while simultaneously effectively collecting and transferring heat generated from the thermoelectric element (41) to the outside. Therefore, the materials of the first substrate (44) and the second substrate (45) are not specifically limited in the present invention. As a non-limiting embodiment, the first substrate (44) may include a high thermal conductivity material with a high thermal conductivity of 100 to 500 W / m·K, as it performs a heat sink function in cooperation with a plurality of through holes (21). Also, as a non-limiting embodiment, the materials of the first substrate (44) and the second substrate (45) may be selected from aluminum (Al) or copper (Cu).

[0080] The first substrate (44) is in communication with a plurality of through holes (21) formed in the body (20), and the first substrate (44) further includes one or more holes to ensure airflow to the low-temperature side, through which the first substrate (44) transfers heat generated from the thermoelectric element (41) to these through holes (21) and finally releases it to the outside.

[0081]

[0082] The thermoelectric element unit (40) of the present invention includes one or more first electrodes (42) and one or more second electrodes (43) for connecting thermoelectric elements (41). As shown in FIG. 2, the first electrode (42) may be placed on the front side of the thermoelectric element (41), and the second electrode (43) may be placed on the back side of the thermoelectric element (41). The first electrode (42) may be located between the first substrate (44) and the thermoelectric element (41), and the second electrode (43) may be located between the second substrate (45) and the thermoelectric element (41). The first electrode (42) may also provide an electrical connection between the thermoelectric element (41) and the biosignal module (30).

[0083] As a non-limiting embodiment, the first electrode (42) and the second electrode (43) may comprise any one of the materials with high electrical conductivity, such as aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), titanium (Ti), and carbon nanofiber (CNF).

[0084]

[0085] The thermoelectric element unit (40) of the present invention includes one or more thermoelectric elements (41) arranged along the shape of the concave portion (23).

[0086] As a non-limiting first embodiment for the thermoelectric element (41), the thermoelectric element (41) of each thermoelectric element unit (40) may be made of a single thermoelectric material. In the first embodiment, the thermoelectric material of each thermoelectric element (41) is not particularly limited and may include known organic thermoelectric materials, inorganic thermoelectric materials, or organic-inorganic hybrid thermoelectric materials. For example, the thermoelectric material of the thermoelectric element (41) may include organic thermoelectric materials such as PEDOT:PSS or organic-inorganic hybrid thermoelectric materials such as rGO / PEDOT:PSS / TeNW to improve the wearer's comfort and the contact area between the element and the skin.

[0087] As a non-limiting embodiment, the thermoelectric material of each thermoelectric element (41) in the first embodiment may be selected from Te / PEDOT:PSS / Cu7Te4, PEDOT / Ag2Se / CuAgSe, PEDOT:PSS / Cu2Se, Ag2Se / Ag / CuAgSe, Ag2Se / nylon, Fullerene / TiS2, PANI / SWNT / TE, and PVP / Ag / Ag2Te.

[0088] As a non-limiting second embodiment for the thermoelectric element (41), each thermoelectric element unit (40) may include a plurality of alternately arranged P-type thermoelectric elements (411) and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements (412). FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a second embodiment of a thermoelectric element unit (40) including alternately arranged P-type thermoelectric elements (411) and N-type thermoelectric elements (412). As in the second embodiment, the thermoelectric effect can be further enhanced by alternately arranging the P-type thermoelectric elements (411) and N-type thermoelectric elements (412).

[0089] As with the first embodiment, the thermoelectric material of each of the P-type thermoelectric element (411) and the N-type thermoelectric element (412) in the second embodiment is not particularly limited and may include known organic thermoelectric materials, inorganic thermoelectric materials, or organic-inorganic hybrid thermoelectric materials. For example, the thermoelectric material of each of the P-type thermoelectric element (411) and the N-type thermoelectric element (412) may include organic thermoelectric materials such as PEDOT:PSS or organic-inorganic hybrid thermoelectric materials such as rGO / PEDOT:PSS / TeNW, to which appropriate doping elements are added depending on the type.

[0090] As a non-limiting embodiment, in the second embodiment, the thermoelectric material of each of the P-type thermoelectric element (411) and the N-type thermoelectric element (412) may be selected from Te / PEDOT:PSS / Cu7Te4, PEDOT / Ag2Se / CuAgSe, PEDOT:PSS / Cu2Se, Ag2Se / Ag / CuAgSe, Ag2Se / nylon, Fullerene / TiS2, PANI / SWNT / TE, and PVP / Ag / Ag2Te.

[0091] As another non-limiting embodiment, the P-type thermoelectric element (411) is Bi 2-x Sb x It may include a Te3-based thermoelectric material, and the N-type thermoelectric element (412) is Bi2Te 3-x Se x It may include series thermoelectric materials.

[0092] As another non-limiting embodiment, the thermoelectric material of the P-type thermoelectric element (411) is Bi2Te3, Sb2Te3, Bi 0.5 Sb 1.5 It can be any one of Te3, and the thermoelectric material of the N-type thermoelectric element (412) is Bi2Te3, Bi2Te 2.7 Sb 0.3 , It can be either Ag or Bi2Te3. Among these, the thermoelectric material of the P-type thermoelectric element (411) is Bi2Te3 and Bi 0.5 Sb 1.5 Te3 is preferred, and the thermoelectric material of the N-type thermoelectric element (412) is Bi2Te3 and Bi2Te 2.7 Sb 0.3 It is desirable.

[0093] As a non-limiting embodiment, in the second embodiment, the length of each P-type thermoelectric element (411) and each N-type thermoelectric element (412) may be 0.5 mm to 2 mm, and the spacing between each thermoelectric element may be 0.5 mm to 2 mm. Under these dimensions, one thermoelectric element unit (40) composed of 8 pairs of P-type thermoelectric elements (411) and N-type thermoelectric elements (412) has an area of ​​approximately 8 × 0.5 cm² and can produce a voltage of 40 to 80 mV when worn and 120 to 160 mV after wearing, and a power of 0.4 to 0.7 mW.

[0094] In the second embodiment, the number of thermoelectric elements (41) and the number of pairs of P-type thermoelectric elements (411) and N-type thermoelectric elements (412) are not specifically limited and can be determined by considering the number of sensors included in the biosignal module (30) and the power consumption of the biosignal module (30). Additionally, the cross-sectional shape of the P-type thermoelectric element (411) and the N-type thermoelectric element (412) may have one of the shapes of a rectangle, a trapezoid with a long bottom end, or a trapezoid with a long top end.

[0095] In addition, in the first and second embodiments, one or more thermoelectric element units (40) may be included in the shin guard (10), and the number of thermoelectric element units (40) can be varied in design under conditions that allow for stable and sufficient power supply to the biosignal module (30) of the shin guard by comprehensively considering the power production capacity of each thermoelectric element unit (40), the power consumption of the biosignal module (30), and the possibility of power loss due to external damage to the shin guard.

[0096] A shin guard (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a low-power step-up module (50) for voltage increase. In order to drive the satellite navigation system, low-power wireless communication technology, motion detection sensor, device operating device, information storage device, etc. included in the biosignal module (30) described above, a voltage of at least 3.3V is required, but the performance of the thermoelectric element itself developed at present cannot satisfy this. Therefore, a step-up module (50) is combined to facilitate the operation of the biosignal module (30). As a non-limiting embodiment, a model having dimensions of approximately 10 mm in width, 10 mm in length, and 5 mm in height may be used for the low-power step-up module (50). This low-power step-up module (50) may be combined with a shock-absorbing member (22) and fixed to the shin guard (10).

[0097]

[0098] The thermoelectric element unit (40) described above is embedded in a shin guard (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention, such that the first substrate (44) placed on the front side of the thermoelectric element (41) is at approximately ambient temperature, and the second substrate (45) placed on the back side of the thermoelectric element (41) absorbs heat from the wearer's body temperature and is at a predetermined temperature that is higher than the ambient temperature and close to the wearer's body temperature. Due to the temperature difference between the first substrate (44) and the second substrate (45), a movement of electric charge occurs in the thermoelectric element (41), and the current generated by this movement of electric charge is formed to be used as a power source for the biosignal module (30).

[0099] In other words, to explain the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 as an example, a P-type thermoelectric element (411) and an N-type thermoelectric element (412) are connected thermally in parallel and electrically in series by a first electrode (42) and a second electrode (43). In the P-type thermoelectric element (411), holes move from the high-temperature side to the low-temperature side at the atomic level due to the temperature difference between the two ends, and in the N-type thermoelectric element (412), electrons move from the high-temperature side to the low-temperature side at the atomic level due to the temperature difference between the two ends, thereby generating a current flow capable of driving the biosignal module (30).

[0100] In addition, considering that damage from external impact frequently occurs due to the nature of soccer, which involves relatively strenuous activity, it is desirable to design the thermoelectric element units (40) to be connected in parallel as shown in FIG. 4 so that even if a part of the thermoelectric element unit (40) is damaged while being worn, the device can still operate smoothly.

[0101]

[0102] The above shin guard generates energy independently due to a temperature difference through a thermoelectric element, so it may not be equipped with an external power supply device such as a separate battery.

[0103]

[0104] An electronic performance tracking system (EPTS) using a shin guard according to another embodiment of the present invention may include: a shin guard according to the above-described embodiment; a receiver that collects exercise information of a wearer transmitted from the shin guard; and a processor that analyzes the exercise information of a wearer collected by the receiver.

[0105] By equipping the shin guard described above with a biosignal module for EPTS, a system can be operated that allows athletes to focus solely on their exercise without having to wear a separate exercise data collection device, which previously had to be bulky and uncomfortable to attach to part of their upper or lower garments, thereby enabling the collection of exercise data.

[0106]

[0107] The foregoing description is merely an illustrative explanation of the technical concept of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make various modifications and variations within the scope of the essential characteristics of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are intended to explain, not limit, the technical concept of the present invention, and the scope of the technical concept of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention shall be interpreted by the claims below, and all technical concepts within an equivalent scope shall be interpreted as being included within the scope of rights of the present invention.

[0108]

[0109] <Explanation of Symbols>

[0110] 10 shin guards

[0111] 20 body

[0112] Front of the 201 body

[0113] 202 Rear of the body

[0114] 21 through holes

[0115] 22 Shock absorption member

[0116] 23 Concave part

[0117] 30 biosignal modules

[0118] 31 Sensor contact

[0119] 32 sensor modules

[0120] 40 thermoelectric unit

[0121] 41 Thermoelectric element

[0122] 411 Type P thermoelectric element

[0123] 412 N-type thermoelectric element

[0124] 42 First electrode

[0125] 43 Second electrode

[0126] 44 First substrate

[0127] 45 Second substrate

[0128] 50 low-power step-up modules

Claims

1. As a shin guard, A body made of plastic material and including a front and a back; A shock-absorbing member fixed to the back surface of the above body and having one or more concave portions formed therein; One or more biosignal modules for detecting a wearer's biosignal; and One or more thermoelectric element units located in each of the above-mentioned concave portions and configured to supply power to the biosignal module Shin guards including 2. In Paragraph 1, The above thermoelectric element unit is, A thermoelectric element disposed within the above-mentioned concave portion and composed of an organic thermoelectric material, an inorganic thermoelectric material, or an organic-inorganic hybrid thermoelectric material; A first electrode disposed on the front side of the thermoelectric element; A second electrode disposed on the rear side of the thermoelectric element; A first substrate interposed between the first electrode and the body, having at least one hole formed therein; and A second substrate disposed on the rear side of the second electrode, positioned to come into contact with the wearer's skin when the wearer wears the shin guard. A shin guard that includes 3. In Paragraph 1, The above-mentioned concave portion is formed elongated in one direction, and The above thermoelectric element unit is A plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction of the above-mentioned concave portion; A plurality of first electrodes connecting the front end of the P-type thermoelectric element and the front end of the N-type thermoelectric element adjacent to the P-type thermoelectric element; A plurality of second electrodes connecting the rear end of the N-type thermoelectric element and the rear end of the P-type thermoelectric element adjacent to the N-type thermoelectric element; A first substrate interposed between the plurality of first electrodes and the body, having at least one hole formed therein; and A second substrate disposed on the outer surface of the rear side of the plurality of second electrodes, positioned to come into contact with the wearer's skin when the wearer wears the shin guard. Includes, The plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements and the plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements each include an organic thermoelectric material, an inorganic thermoelectric material, or an organic-inorganic hybrid thermoelectric material, and A shin guard in which the plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements and the plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements are connected in series by the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes.

4. In Paragraph 2 or 3, A shin guard, wherein the first substrate has a thermal conductivity of 100 to 500 W / m·K.

5. In Paragraph 2 or 3, A shin guard in which the first electrode and the second electrode are made of any one of the materials Al, Ni, Au, Ag, Cu, Ti and carbon nanofiber (CNF).

6. In Paragraph 1, A shin guard comprising any one of the following plastic materials: polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyetherimide (PEI), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polystyrene (PS), polyoxymethylene (POM), polycarbonate (PC), and polyurethane (PU).

7. In Paragraph 1, The above plastic material comprises a composite material reinforced with carbon fibers, having one of polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyetherimide (PEI), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polystyrene (PS), polyoxymethylene (POM), polycarbonate (PC), and polyurethane (PU) as a matrix.

8. In Paragraph 1, The above biosignal module is, Sensor contact portions positioned to contact the wearer's skin; and Sensor module for detecting the wearer's biosignals A shin guard that includes 9. In Paragraph 1, A shin guard, wherein the body comprises one or more through holes penetrating in the thickness direction from the front surface to the back surface.

10. In Paragraph 9, A shin guard in which one or more of the above-mentioned through holes penetrate at least a portion of the shock-absorbing member and communicate with the concave portion.

11. In Paragraph 1, A shin guard wherein the above biosignal module comprises at least one of a satellite navigation system, low-power wireless communication technology, a motion detection sensor, a device operating device, and an information storage device.

12. In Paragraph 1, A shin guard in which the above biosignal module is replaceably coupled to the above body.

13. In Paragraph 1, The above shin guard is a shin guard that is not equipped with a separate external power supply.

14. Shin guard pursuant to paragraph 1; A receiver that collects exercise information of the wearer transmitted from the above shin guard; and A processor unit that analyzes the wearer's exercise information collected by the receiver unit; comprising Electronic performance tracking system using shin guards.

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