Capacitive Sensor Garment Integration for Reliable Gesture Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wearable touch-sensitive garments face challenges in producing and integrating fabric-based sensing electrodes, which are difficult to manufacture and prone to failures due to the complexity of using different materials and processes like soldering and lamination, resulting in bulky devices with high failure rates.

Innovation Solution

A wearable touch-sensitive garment with an array of electronic capacitive sensors integrated into the garment, where each electrode is individually connected to an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) that evaluates parasitic capacitive coupling for gesture detection, providing tactile feedback and wireless connectivity via Bluetooth modules, and is designed to be flexible and invisible within a seam, eliminating the need for fabric-based sensing electrodes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If fabric-based sensing electrodes are used in wearable garments, then the garment can be made flexible and wearable, but the manufacturing complexity increases and reliability decreases due to multiple materials and processes required

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovewearabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the sensing electrode function from traditional fabric-based implementations and places solid state electrodes directly between fabric layers. This eliminates the need for complex sensor yarn development, weaving, stripping, and twisting operations, while maintaining the flexible wearable nature of the garment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical textile-based sensing structures with solid state electronic components. Instead of using conductive threads woven into fabric, the invention uses discrete solid state electrodes that can be directly connected to electronics, eliminating mechanical manufacturing complexities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If fabric-based sensing electrodes with multiple materials are used, then touch sensitivity can be achieved, but the number of failure paths increases compared to robust single piece electronics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch sensitivityVSAvoidfailure resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses discrete solid state electrodes that can be individually replaced if failed, rather than requiring replacement of entire complex fabric-based sensor assemblies. This approach improves reliability by isolating failure points to individual components rather than system-wide failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the sensing system into discrete electrode elements that can be individually connected to electronics. This segmentation reduces failure paths by isolating potential failure points to individual electrodes or connections rather than throughout the entire fabric structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If conductive textile components are integrated into garments, then interactive functionality is achieved, but the device becomes bulky

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteractive functionalityVSAvoiddevice bulk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses thin solid state electrodes and flexible printed circuit boards to create a compact sensing system. These thin-film technologies maintain the flexibility needed for garment integration while minimizing the volume and bulk of the electronic components compared to traditional rigid electronics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the sensing electrodes, connection traces, and electronic components into an integrated assembly that can be directly incorporated into the garment structure. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate bulky components and reduces overall device volume while maintaining interactive functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution achieves high accuracy and precision in gesture detection, reduces energy consumption, and simplifies mass production by integrating electronics directly into the garment, making it easier to manufacture and more reliable than traditional textile-based systems.

Implementation Method 1

the ECU being configured to evaluate a parasitic capacitive coupling between each of the electrodes and a wearer's touch

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive coupling: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS11177804B2Wearable touch sensitive garment

Publication Date: 2021.11.16 SANKO TEKSTIL ISLETMELERI SANAYI VE TICARET AS

AI summary

It is disclosed a wearable touch sensitive garment (100) comprising an array (12) of electronic capacitive sensors integrated into the garment (100), the array (12) of electronic capacitive sensors comprising a plurality of electrodes (E1-E5), each electrode (E1-E5) being individually electrically connected to an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) (30), the ECU (30) being configured to evaluate a parasitic capacitive coupling between each of the electrodes (E1-E5) and a wearer's touch, the ECU (30) being provided with a readable display (35) configured to display an indication representative of a gesture performed on the array (12).