Digital Skinfold Caliper With Pressure Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional skinfold calipers are complex to use and require expertise, leading to inaccurate measurements due to user-dependent force application and lack of user-friendly operation, limiting their accessibility and accuracy for general users.
Innovation Solution
A digital skinfold caliper with a first and second holder that pivot relative to each other, equipped with a scale unit, pressure sensor, and controller to measure and calculate skin thickness accurately, featuring a display and communication module for easy operation and data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional skinfold caliper uses manual operation with analog measurement, then measurement accuracy can be high, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to complicated calculation formulas and expert knowledge required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual analog measurement system with a digital electronic measurement system. The caliper uses electronic sensors to detect skinfold thickness and automatically calculates body fat percentage, eliminating the need for manual formula calculations and expert knowledge while maintaining high measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The caliper performs automatic calculation and analysis of measurement data without requiring user intervention for complex computations. The device self-calculates body fat percentage from the measured skinfold thickness using integrated algorithms, making the operation simple for general users while maintaining expert-level accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If conventional skinfold caliper applies force to measure skin thickness, then measurement function is achieved, but harmful factors increase due to skin marking and measurement variability from inconsistent force application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates force sensors that provide real-time feedback on the compression force applied during measurement. The system monitors and controls the force to ensure it remains within an optimal range, preventing excessive force that causes skin marking while ensuring sufficient force for accurate measurement, thereby improving measurement consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The device预先 sets safe force limits and includes protective mechanisms to prevent excessive compression before it can cause skin marking. The force control system is designed to automatically adjust and cap the maximum force applied, cushioning against potential harm while maintaining measurement accuracy.
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
Enables precise and user-friendly measurement of skin thickness, reducing user error and improving accessibility for non-experts while ensuring accurate data without marking the skin, as the pressure sensor prevents excessive force application.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member interconnecting the first holder and the second holder, wherein the elastic member provides an elastic force such that the first holder and the second holder are spaced apart from each other
Data Source
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AI summary
The inventive concept relates to a skinfold caliper, wherein the skinfold caliper includes a first holder and a second holder respectively having tips approaching or moving away to or from a to-be-measured portion of a to-be-measured object, wherein the first holder and the second holder pivot relative to each other about a pivot axis, a scale unit provided in the first holder, wherein the scale unit has a plurality of angular scales formed along a rotation path of the second holder, a probe unit disposed in the second holder so as to electrically connect to the scale unit, wherein the probe unit senses a relative rotation angle of the second holder relative to the first holder, a pressure measuring sensor provided at the tip of one of the first holder and the second holder, wherein the pressure measuring sensor measures a pressure applied to the to-be-measured portion of the to-be-measured object, and a controller configured for, when the pressure measured by the pressure measuring sensor reaches a predetermined pressure, receiving rotation angle measurement data corresponding to an angular scale of the scale unit from the probe unit; and calculating the rotation angle measurement data into a linear distance between the tips of the first holder and the second holder.