Breast Motion Sensor Layout for Personalized Sports Bra Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing athletic or sports bras fail to effectively manage breast tissue movement during activity, leading to discomfort by uniformly compressing the tissue without accounting for individual directional movement, thus failing to balance comfort and movement management.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system comprising a first sensor on the sternum and a second sensor on the breast tissue, both equipped with triaxial accelerometers, measures breast tissue acceleration in three dimensions and processes this data to determine an optimal undergarment fit that controls acceleration within a comfortable threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If uniform compression is applied to breast tissue, then movement management is provided, but comfort deteriorates due to poor pressure distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different compression levels to different regions of the breast tissue based on measured acceleration patterns. Sensors detect movement in various directions (medial/lateral, anterior/posterior, superior/inferior) and the system provides targeted compression only where needed, rather than uniform compression across the entire breast area. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining movement management reliability while reducing discomfort through localized pressure application.
2Reliability
If complete capture and compression of breast tissue is implemented, then movement restriction is achieved, but individual directional movement patterns are not accounted for
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts compression based on real-time acceleration measurements taken during activity. Multiple sensors measure movement in three dimensions and the system adapts the compression force and direction according to the specific movement pattern detected. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable movement restriction while achieving adaptability to individual directional movement patterns through dynamic adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback loop where sensors continuously monitor breast tissue acceleration and provide data to the compression system. The system uses this feedback information to adjust compression forces in real-time, ensuring that individual directional movement patterns are accounted for while maintaining effective movement restriction. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction between reliable movement restriction and adaptability to individual patterns.
3Ease of manufacture
If standardized bra design is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but precise management of breast tissue movement is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the breast support function into multiple independent sensor zones that measure movement in different directions and locations. Each sensor provides specific data about local acceleration patterns, enabling precise management of breast tissue movement. This segmentation approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining ease of manufacture through modular sensor placement while achieving high measurement precision through distributed measurement points.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides personalized undergarment recommendations that reduce breast tissue acceleration, enhancing comfort by aligning with individual movement profiles, thereby improving the balance between comfort and movement management.
Implementation Method 1
a second accelerometer operable to generate acceleration data indicative of acceleration of breast tissue of the user
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure provides sensors and methods for measuring movement of breast tissue during activity. The sensor system includes a first sensor for placement on a sternum of a user, the first sensor comprising a first accelerometer operable to generate acceleration data indicative of acceleration of a torso of the user along a reference x-axis, y-axis and/or z-axis; a second sensor operatively connected to the first sensor for placement on breast tissue of the user, the second sensor comprising a second accelerometer operable to generate acceleration data indicative of acceleration of breast tissue; and a microprocessor operatively connected to the first and second sensors and configured to use the acceleration data from the first sensor and the second sensor to determine a magnitude of breast tissue acceleration relative to the torso of the user along the reference x-axis, y-axis and/or z-axis.