Capacitive Sensor Device for Body Surface Deformation Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional capacitive pressure sensors are difficult to use for measuring body movements during rehabilitation training, as they are not easily portable and cannot accurately measure deformations in the plane direction, limiting their ability to track motion states, especially for regions behind the camera or those requiring large systems.
Innovation Solution
A capacitive sensor device with a dielectric layer made of elastomer and electro-conductive layers containing carbon nanotubes, which is reversibly deformable, allowing it to be bonded to the body surface to trace deformations, enabling easy measurement of surface changes and motion tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a motion capture system is used to measure body motion, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and portability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measurement system into distributed sensor elements that can be independently placed on different body parts. Each sensor element contains simplified capacitive sensing components, and multiple elements work together to provide comprehensive motion capture functionality, reducing the complexity of any single component while maintaining overall system accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical motion capture systems with capacitive sensing technology. Instead of using mechanical markers, cameras, and complex processing systems, the invention uses capacitive sensor elements that directly detect body surface deformations and motions through electrical field changes, significantly simplifying the system while improving portability
2Measurement precision
If a capacitive pressure sensor is used to measure body deformation, then measurement capability is improved, but ease of operation is worsened due to inability to measure plane direction deformations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from measuring only thickness direction deformations to measuring plane direction deformations by configuring capacitive sensor elements to detect changes in the plane of the dielectric layer. This dimensional shift enables the sensor to capture surface deformations, muscle contractions, and body motions that occur parallel to the skin surface, greatly expanding measurement applicability
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional capacitive pressure sensors are used, then manufacturing capability is improved, but adaptability is worsened due to difficulty in portable use during rehabilitation training
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin film structures for the dielectric layer and sensor elements that can be flexed, stretched, and conformally attached to moving body parts. This flexibility enables the sensor to adapt to various body positions and motions during rehabilitation training, maintaining manufacturability while achieving portability and versatility
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 sensor device allows for precise and portable measurement of body surface deformations, providing accurate information on biological activities and motion, including heart rate, respiratory rate, and joint movements, with reduced system size and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor element includes a sheet-like first dielectric layer comprising an elastomer composition, and a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer which are formed on both surfaces of the first dielectric layer... the at least partially opposed portions of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer constitute a detection portion... capable of tracing a deformation of a surface of the living body
Implementation Method 2
a sensor element... which is reversibly deformable to change in the area of the top surface and the bottom surface of the dielectric layer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a sensor device which is used in the state of being bonded to a living body, thereby making it possible to trace a deformation of a surface of the living body easily and further attain the tracing surely. The sensor device includes a sensor element. The sensor element includes a sheet-like first dielectric layer including an elastomer composition; and a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer each including an electro-conductive composition containing carbon nanotubes. The first and the second electrode layers are formed on a top surface and a bottom surface of the first dielectric layer respectively, and are at least partially opposed to each other across the first dielectric layer. The at least partially opposed portions of the first and the second electrode layers constitute a detection portion, and the sensor element is reversibly deformable to change in an area of the top surface and the bottom surface of the first dielectric layer. The sensor device includes the measurement instrument for measuring a change in a capacitance of the detection portion. The sensor device is used in the state of being bonded to a living body and is utilized to trace a deformation of a surface of the living body.