Elastic Composite Wiring for Waterproof Wearable Biosignals

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wiring solutions for wearable biosignal acquisition devices are rigid, non-elastic, and lack waterproofness, leading to discomfort, impaired fabric elasticity, and inadequate performance in wet conditions.

Innovation Solution

A composite wiring solution featuring elastic wiring with a conductor wire and tube fixed at both ends, housed within an elastic sheath, providing excellent curl resistance, waterproofness, and elasticity, while maintaining fabric flexibility and reducing discomfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rigid wiring is used to ensure withstanding voltage and tensile strength, then reliability is improved, but comfort deteriorates due to vibration and discomfort when touching skin

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewithstanding voltage and tensile strengthVSAvoidcomfort when worn

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by enclosing rigid wiring in a flexible elastic sheath. The sheath provides flexibility and comfort against the skin while the rigid wiring inside maintains electrical reliability and mechanical strength. This resolves the contradiction by separating the structural support function (rigid wiring) from the comfort function (elastic sheath).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite construction by combining rigid wiring material with elastic sheath material. The composite structure integrates the advantages of both materials: the rigid wiring provides electrical reliability and tensile strength, while the elastic sheath provides flexibility and comfort. This directly resolves the technical contradiction between reliability and comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If rigid wiring is bundled and fixed to the body using adhesive tape, then stability is improved, but comfort deteriorates due to sense of discomfort when wearing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewiring stabilityVSAvoidcomfort when worn

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic sheath acts as a flexible shell that encapsulates the wiring bundle. Instead of using adhesive tape externally, the sheath provides a unified flexible enclosure that maintains wiring stability while conforming to body contours, eliminating the discomfort associated with external tape fixation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of manufacture

If wiring is directly sewn or pasted on fabric, then ease of manufacture is improved, but fabric elasticity deteriorates at the portion where wiring is attached

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewiring attachment simplicityVSAvoidfabric elasticity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic sheath serves as a flexible shell that is integrated with the fabric. The wiring is enclosed within the sheath rather than being directly attached to the fabric, allowing the fabric to maintain its elasticity while the sheath provides the wiring attachment function. This resolves the contradiction by inserting an intermediate elastic layer between the wiring and fabric.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Ease of manufacture

If conventional wiring is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but waterproofness deteriorates making it difficult to measure biosignals when wet

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewiring manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidwaterproofness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic sheath acts as a waterproof flexible shell that encloses the wiring. This simple encapsulation approach provides waterproof protection while maintaining manufacturing simplicity, as the sheath can be applied as a continuous covering that prevents water penetration to the wiring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP4235703B1Composite wiring, capacitance sensor, multiplexing cable, and wiring for incorporation into element

Publication Date: 2025.02.12 NT T INC

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~5C

AI summary

A composite wiring includes a plurality of pieces of wiring accommodated and gathered together within an elastic sheath, wherein at least one of the pieces of wiring is elastic wiring including an elastic tube, a conductor wire arranged within the tube, and fixing portions for fixing the conductor wire and the tube at both ends of the tube in the lengthwise direction thereof, the length of the conductor wire between the fixing portions when the tube is in an unextended state being longer than the length of the tube between the fixing portions.