Flexible Conductive Diaphragm for Wearable Vibration Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional vibration sensors are inflexible, large, and consume high power, making them unsuitable for wearable devices.

Innovation Solution

A flexible conductive diaphragm comprising a flexible support layer, a sensitive layer, and a conductive layer, combined through a cross-linking reaction, with a micro-structured surface and using materials like carbon nanotubes and high polymer materials, allowing for low power consumption and high sensitivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional vibration sensors are used, then measurement precision is maintained, but flexibility and adaptability are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidmeasurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible support layer made of polymer materials that can be bent and deformed without breaking, allowing the vibration sensor to adapt to curved surfaces and wearable applications while maintaining its sensing functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite material structures including flexible support layers, sensitive layers, and conductive layers made from different materials (polymers, carbon nanotubes, metal nanowires) to achieve both flexibility and measurement precision simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Volume of moving object

If traditional vibration sensors are used, then measurement function is achieved, but device size becomes large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidsensitivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical vibration sensing elements with a flexible membrane structure combined with conductive materials that can detect vibrations through changes in electrical properties, enabling miniaturization while maintaining sensitivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible support layer and sensitive layer are designed as thin film structures that reduce the overall device volume while maintaining the ability to detect vibrations through their mechanical and electrical properties

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Use of energy by moving object

If traditional vibration sensors are used, then vibration detection is achieved, but power consumption becomes high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddetection stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible conductive diaphragm structure itself serves as the sensing element, eliminating the need for additional power-intensive components. The conductive materials (carbon nanotubes, metal nanowires) detect vibrations through passive changes in electrical resistance or capacitance caused by mechanical deformation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces active mechanical vibration sensors that require power for operation with a passive flexible conductive structure that detects vibrations through inherent changes in its electrical properties when deformed

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

The flexible vibration sensor is ultrathin, lightweight, and highly sensitive, with low power consumption and rapid response, enabling integration into wearable devices for detecting mechanical parameters like sound and fluid flow.

Implementation Method 1

the flexible sensitive layer overlapped on the flexible support layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10295401B2Flexible conductive diaphragm, flexible vibration sensor and preparation method and application thereof

Publication Date: 2019.05.21 SUZHOU INST OF NANO TECH & NANO BIONICS CHINESE ACEDEMY OF SCI

AI summary

A flexible conductive diaphragm comprises at least one conductive film, and the conductive film comprises a flexible support layer (1), a flexible sensitive layer (2) overlapped on the flexible support layer (1), a flexible conductive layer (3) overlapped on the flexible sensitive layer (2), and an electrode (4) electrically connected with the flexible conductive layer (3). A method for preparing the flexible conductive diaphragm and a flexible vibration sensor based on the flexible conductive diaphragm are provided. With the combination of the techniques such as the flexible material, the nano-material and the arrayed micro-structure, the flexible vibration sensor has the characteristics of high sensitivity, low preparation cost, light weight, small thickness, small size, and being foldable and flexible, and can be applied in wearable or adherable electronic devices.