Elastic Textile Inductive Sensor Threads for Contact-Free Elongation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical and sports devices with elastic textile parts face challenges in accurately evaluating their elastic behavior and deformation without altering their essential properties, and they often risk causing skin contact or short circuits due to the implementation of electrically conductive threads.
Innovation Solution
A device with an elastic textile piece incorporating an inductive elongation sensor thread, comprising an elastic core thread wrapped by an electrically conductive cover thread with an insulating sheath, measures inductance variation to evaluate elongation without conductive turns contacting each other, thus preserving elasticity and avoiding skin contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If electrically conductive threads are implemented in an elastic textile piece to capture and transmit information, then information transmission capability is improved, but the textile piece stiffness increases and elastic properties are modified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical conductivity-based sensing with inductance-based sensing. Instead of using conductive threads that rely on electrical conduction through the textile structure, the invention uses non-conductive elastic threads with embedded inductive sensors that measure deformation through inductance changes, eliminating the need for electrical conduction paths through the textile.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an inductive sensor as an intermediary between the elastic thread and the measurement system. The inductive sensor coil is embedded within or around the elastic thread, converting mechanical deformation into inductance changes that can be measured without requiring direct electrical contact or conduction through the textile material.
2Measurement precision
If conductive threads are implemented in elastic textile pieces, then deformation sensing capability is improved, but the risk of skin contact and allergic reactions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical conduction-based measurement with inductance-based measurement. The inductive sensor detects deformation through changes in magnetic field properties rather than electrical current flow, eliminating the need for conductive materials that could contact skin and cause allergic reactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses non-conductive elastic threads with embedded inductive sensors instead of conductive threads. The sensor threads can be integrated into disposable medical devices, eliminating the need for repeated cleaning and sterilization of conductive components that contact skin.
3Reliability
If conductive threads are implemented in elastic textile pieces to maintain conductivity during elongation, then electrical conductivity is preserved, but the device complexity and manufacturing constraints increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex requirement of maintaining electrical conductivity during elongation with a simpler inductive sensing approach. The inductive sensor measures deformation through magnetic field changes without requiring continuous electrical contact or complex conductive path maintenance during stretching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the conductive element from the sensing mechanism. Instead of relying on conductive threads that must maintain electrical continuity, the invention uses non-conductive elastic threads with embedded inductive sensors that measure deformation through inductance changes, eliminating the conductivity maintenance requirement.
4Measurement precision
If conductive threads are implemented in textile pieces to evaluate elastic behavior, then measurement capability is improved, but the appearance and feel of the textile piece are modified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conductive thread-based measurement with inductive sensor-based measurement. The inductive sensors can be embedded within the textile structure or integrated into the elastic threads without requiring visible conductive elements on the surface, preserving the textile's appearance and tactile properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent concentrates the sensing function in localized inductive sensor elements embedded within specific regions of the textile, rather than requiring throughout-conductive threads. This allows the majority of the textile to maintain its original appearance and feel, with sensing capability localized to specific measurement points.
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 allows for precise evaluation of elastic behavior and deformation while maintaining the device's elasticity and comfort, reducing the risk of short circuits and skin contact, and improving wearability.
Implementation Method 1
measuring method implementing said device... Method for measuring the variation in inductance of a magnetic coil created by an inductive elongation sensor wire
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a device comprising at least one textile part that is elastic in at least one first direction, the textile part comprising an inductive elongation sensor wire (120) comprising an elastic core wire (125) and an electrically conductive covering wire (130) forming turns (135) around said elastic core wire (125), and the electrically conductive covering wire (130) comprises a filament or a plurality of filaments, each of the or said filaments comprises an electrically conductive core covered with an electrically nonconductive sheath. The present invention also relates to the use of such a device for measuring the variation in the inductance of the magnetic coil created by said inductive elongation sensor wire (120) when the elastic textile part is extended in the first direction, and to an associated measurement method.