Conductive Fabric Tracks for Stable Physiological Signal Acquisition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wearable garments for monitoring physiological signals face challenges with electrode stability, noise, and sensitivity due to motion and long-term signal acquisition, as traditional electrodes require adhesives and non-elastic wiring systems, which are not suitable for flexible and durable use.
Innovation Solution
A fabric with an elastic and electrically conductive track integrated into the fabric, using silicone rubber loaded with conductive materials like carbon black, nickel-coated graphite, or copper fibers, which is applied via a screen-printing process to ensure conductivity and mechanical properties, allowing for flexible and durable signal acquisition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional electrodes use adhesive to attach to the skin, then electrode stability is improved, but the system complexity and discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adhesive component from the electrode attachment system. Instead of using adhesive to attach electrodes to the skin, the invention integrates conductive tracks directly into the fabric structure, allowing the fabric itself to provide both mechanical support and electrical conductivity, thereby eliminating the need for separate adhesive layers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the structural support function and the electrical conductivity function into a single integrated fabric system. The conductive tracks are embedded within the fabric layers, merging the mechanical substrate and the electrical pathway into one unified structure that serves both purposes simultaneously
2Manufacturing precision
If non-elastic wiring system is used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but flexibility and adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible conductive tracks embedded within a fabric structure that can bend, stretch, and conform to body movements. The fabric matrix provides the necessary flexibility while the integrated conductive tracks maintain their electrical functionality throughout deformation, enabling the wiring system to adapt to dynamic physiological conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure combining conductive materials with flexible fabric substrates. This composite construction allows the wiring system to exhibit both the electrical properties needed for signal transmission and the mechanical properties required for flexibility and body conformity
3Reliability
If carbon fibers are used to achieve conductivity, then electrical conductivity is improved, but mechanical properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes composite materials combining conductive fillers (such as carbon black, graphite, or metal particles) with a flexible polymer or fabric matrix. This composite approach allows achieving the necessary electrical conductivity through the conductive filler network while the polymer or fabric matrix maintains the mechanical strength, flexibility, and durability of the overall structure
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 provides improved flexibility, elasticity, and conductivity, maintaining signal quality even with stretching, and does not require adhesives, ensuring stable electrode adherence and reduced noise during movement, thus enhancing the performance of wearable physiological signal monitoring devices.
Implementation Method 1
silicone rubber loaded with an electrically conductive material which has penetrated into interstices between strands of the fabric
Implementation Method 2
applied via a screen-printing process to ensure conductivity and mechanical properties
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a fabric which comprises at least an elastic and electrically conductive area integrated into the fabric, a process to obtain the fabric, as well as to the use of a silicone rubber loaded with an electrically conductive material for the preparation of the fabric of the invention, it also relates to a device comprising the fabric, as well as a garment comprising the device.