Conductive Bump Electrode for Flexible Physiological Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional physiological signal sensing electrodes, such as metal yarn and conductive film electrodes, face issues like fatigue, oxidation, inflexibility, and discomfort due to their inability to conform to body curves and withstand user movement, leading to reduced service life and noisy signal interference.
Innovation Solution
A conductive bump electrode structure featuring an elastic circuit layer with conductive bumps and an insulating layer, allowing the electrodes to stretch and deform to fit body curves while minimizing contact area and preventing noise interference, using a substrate that can be integrated into clothing or devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If metal yarn electrodes are used, then the electrodes can be flexible and conform to body curves, but the metal yarns are prone to fatigue crack and oxidation, reducing service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an elastic circuit layer made of thin film material instead of traditional metal yarns. This thin film structure provides the necessary flexibility to conform to body curves while avoiding the fatigue and oxidation problems of metal yarns, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structure with conductive particles embedded in an elastic matrix material. This composite approach combines the electrical conductivity needed for sensing with the elasticity and fatigue resistance of the matrix, achieving both flexibility and long service life
2Reliability
If conductive film electrodes are used, then the electrodes can provide continuous contact area, but the conductive film electrodes are hard and not flexible, unable to fit body curves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the rigid conductive film into a flexible thin film structure with embedded conductive particles. This allows the electrode to maintain continuous contact stability while adapting to body curves through the elasticity of the matrix material, resolving the contradiction between contact stability and flexibility
3Ease of operation
If the contact area of electrodes is reduced to minimize discomfort, then the electrodes may slip relative to the skin and generate noise, but increasing contact area causes discomfort and foreign body sensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electrode into multiple discrete conductive particles or bumps distributed across the elastic circuit layer. This segmentation allows the electrode to contact the skin at multiple small points, reducing overall discomfort while maintaining sufficient contact for signal quality through the combined effect of multiple contact points
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates local contact points with conductive particles that have optimized contact properties. Each particle provides localized electrical contact while the elastic matrix distributes mechanical stress, achieving both comfort and signal quality by optimizing the local interaction between electrode and skin
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 conductive bump electrode structure effectively senses physiological signals with reduced discomfort and noise, maintaining stability and accuracy across various body movements and shapes, enhancing the longevity and practicality of physiological signal monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one elastic circuit is elastic to be stretched with the user's movements, so as to fit the curves of different parts of the human body
Data Source
AI summary
A conductive bump electrode structure includes a substrate, an elastic circuit layer, at least two conductive bumps, and an insulating layer. The elastic circuit layer is mounted on the substrate, and includes at least one elastic circuit. The at least two conductive bumps are mounted on the elastic circuit layer, and are electrically connected to each other through the at least one elastic circuit. The insulating layer is mounted on the elastic circuit layer, and includes at least two holes. Since there is a gap between the conductive bumps, the conductive bump electrode structure is easy to be bent and fit body curves of various parts of a user. The elastic circuit can stretch or compress along with the user's movement due to its elasticity, thereby increasing suitability of the conductive bump electrode structure to the human body.