Diaper Excretion Prediction via Motion Pattern Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing diaper accessories can only predict solid excretions and struggle to reliably detect liquid excretions, which hinders potty-training in children and results in increased diaper consumption and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A diaper accessory equipped with an excretion detector and motion sensor that continuously records and analyzes movement patterns to identify critical patterns preceding excretions, allowing for the differentiation between solid and liquid excretions, and sends predictive signals to users, with a learning mechanism that adapts to individual child patterns over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a motion sensor is placed in the immediate vicinity of the anal sphincter to detect muscle contractions, then the detection of solid excretions is reliable, but the device becomes difficult to arrange and the sensor easily slips due to child movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using multiple motion sensors positioned away from the anal sphincter area, detecting movements of the diaper or clothing instead of directly detecting sphincter contractions. This mediator (diaper/clothing movement) indirectly indicates excretion events without requiring precise placement near the sphincter, thus resolving the contradiction between detection reliability and ease of operation.
2Device complexity
If only one motion sensor is used to detect anal sphincter contractions, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to detect liquid excretions is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple types of sensors (motion sensors, moisture sensors, temperature sensors) into an integrated diaper accessory system. This merging of different sensing modalities enables the detection of both solid and liquid excretions while maintaining manageable device complexity through unified processing and analysis of sensor data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional diaper accessory that can detect various types of excretions (solid and liquid), monitor child movements, track temperature changes, and provide predictive warnings. This universal device replaces the need for multiple separate monitoring tools, enhancing adaptability while keeping the overall system complexity manageable through integrated design.
3Reliability
If the motion sensor continuously monitors for muscle contractions, then the prediction of excretions is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic sampling of sensor data rather than continuous monitoring. The system analyzes movement patterns at intervals and uses pattern recognition algorithms to identify critical sequences indicating imminent excretion. This periodic approach maintains prediction accuracy by capturing key movement phases while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of movement patterns to identify critical sequences that precede excretion events. By detecting and analyzing these preliminary movement signatures, the system can trigger predictions only when relevant patterns are recognized, rather than continuously activating warning mechanisms, thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliable prediction capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Excretion by a diaper wearer in a diaper is predicted by providing in or on the diaper on the wearer an excretion detector capable of detecting excretion by the diaper wearer and a motion sensor capable of detecting movements of the diaper wearer. The sensor continuously detects and at least temporarily records movements of the diaper wearer, and these detected movements are analyzed to determine movement patterns. Then, on detection of excretion by the detector, a movement pattern immediately preceding the detection of excretion is stored or flagged as a critical movement pattern. Thereafter each time movements matching the critical movement pattern are detected, a signal is sent to a user.