Dipole Resonator Sensor for Garment Shape Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional length and shape displacement sensors are not suitable for integration into clothing due to their size, weight, lack of wireless or contactless functionality, and discomfort they cause, making them unsuitable for monitoring human or animal physiological performance in sports and healthcare applications.

Innovation Solution

A tight-fitting garment incorporating a dipole resonator with an elastic core and conductive wire that varies its length and shape in conformity with the wearer's movements, generating detectable resonance frequency changes, allowing for remote measurement of body movements without hindering comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional sensors (wire strain gauges, laser) are integrated into clothing, then measurement capability is achieved, but comfort and machine-washability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelength and shape measurement capabilityVSAvoidcomfort and machine-washability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical sensors (wire strain gauges) and optical sensors (laser) with a dipole resonator that operates on electromagnetic resonance principles. The resonator's resonance frequency changes in response to length and shape variations of the garment, enabling measurement without mechanical or complex optical components. This substitution eliminates the need for bulky, non-washable components while maintaining measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes changes in the resonance frequency parameter of the dipole resonator to detect length and shape variations. Instead of using physical displacement measurements from mechanical sensors, the system measures the shift in resonance frequency caused by elastic deformation of the resonator with the garment. This parameter transformation enables contactless, wireless measurement that is compatible with textile applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If conventional sensors are used for monitoring, then measurement accuracy is achieved, but device weight and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephysiological performance monitoring accuracyVSAvoidsensor component complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical sensor assemblies with a simple dipole resonator structure consisting of a conductive element and dielectric material. The resonator's natural electromagnetic oscillation properties provide the sensing mechanism, eliminating the need for complex signal processing hardware, power sources, or data transmission components typically required in conventional sensor systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If conventional sensors are integrated into garments, then monitoring function is achieved, but comfort and wearability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebody movement detection accuracyVSAvoidgarment weight and comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces heavy mechanical sensors with a lightweight dipole resonator that can be seamlessly integrated into the textile structure. The resonator utilizes the garment's own elastic deformation to generate measurable frequency changes, eliminating the need for separate sensing mechanisms, batteries, or electronic processing units that would add weight and reduce comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 remote monitoring of body movements and physiological performance without discomfort, using a flexible and elastic dipole resonator that can be integrated into textiles, providing accurate and comfortable measurement of length and shape variations.

Implementation Method 1

a dipole resonator (2) which is adapted to vary its length and/or shape in conformity with the length and/or shape variations of a person and/or animal wearing the garment (1), the length and/or shape of the resonator determining a resonance frequency of the resonator, wherein the resonator is arranged to resonate a detectable signal at the dipole resonator's resonance frequency

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Implementation Method 2

the resonator comprises at least one elastic core and a conductive wire supported by the at least one elastic core suitable to elastically deform along with tight-fitting garments

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS7817095B2Tight-fitting garment including a sensor for measuring length and/or shape

Publication Date: 2010.10.19 NEDERLANDSE ORG VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO

AI summary

A tight-fitting garment comprising a dipole resonator which is adapted to vary its length and/or shape in conformity with the length and/or shape variations of a person wearing the garment. The length and/or shape of the resonator determines the resonance frequency which can be detected by a reflection analyzer. The dipole resonator comprises at least one elastic core around which a conductive wire is wound. The dipole resonator is further suitable to elastically deform along with the tight-fitting garment.