Flexible Temperature Sensing Devices for Continuous Body Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional temperature measurement devices are often infrequent and not integrated into daily life, lacking the flexibility and durability needed for continuous, unobtrusive health monitoring, particularly in wearable and environmental applications.
Innovation Solution
A flexible temperature sensing device featuring a substrate with an array of temperature sensors and conductive traces, configured to apply and detect electrical signals, allowing for continuous temperature tracking with minimal impact on the user, integrated into various objects like beds and wearable devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional temperature measurement devices are used, then temperature can be measured, but the devices are not flexible enough for continuous wear and have minimal impact on user comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible substrates including polyimide films and thin-film transistor (TFT) technology to create temperature sensing devices that can conform to body contours and be integrated into wearable clothing. The flexible substrate allows the device to bend and stretch without compromising functionality, enabling continuous wear while maintaining measurement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional rigid temperature sensors to flexible thin-film sensors that operate in a different dimensional form factor. By using deposited metal layers and thin-film structures, the device achieves flexibility across multiple dimensions while maintaining sensing capability, allowing integration into various wearable configurations.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional temperature sensors are used, then temperature measurement is possible, but the devices lack durability for long-term continuous monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes composite material structures combining flexible substrates, conductive metal layers, and encapsulation coatings to create durable temperature sensors. The multi-layer composite construction provides mechanical strength, flexibility, and environmental protection, enabling the device to withstand continuous wear and washing while maintaining long-term operational reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates protective encapsulation layers and reinforcement structures beforehand to protect the sensitive temperature sensing elements from mechanical damage, moisture, and wear. This pre-protective design ensures the device can endure long-term continuous monitoring conditions without degradation of performance.
3Productivity
If temperature sensors are integrated into wearable devices, then continuous monitoring is enabled, but the devices become more complex in structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the temperature sensing function into multiple discrete sensor elements arranged in arrays across the flexible substrate. Each sensor element can be independently addressed through conductive traces, allowing continuous temperature mapping across different body regions. This segmentation enables comprehensive monitoring while maintaining modular simplicity in the underlying technology.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the flexible temperature sensing device with universal conductive trace patterns and sensor arrays that can be configured for multiple monitoring applications. The same basic structure serves both as a temperature sensor array and as a signal transmission network, reducing overall system complexity while enabling continuous tracking across various wearable configurations.
4Loss of information
If multiple temperature sensors are arranged in an array, then comprehensive temperature data is collected, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin-film deposition techniques that allow precise control of layer thickness and material properties. By controlling the deposition parameters, the manufacturing process achieves high precision in sensor element placement and conductive trace formation, ensuring proper alignment and connectivity across the sensor array while maintaining manufacturability.
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 accurate, long-term temperature data collection, facilitating basal body temperature monitoring, ovulation tracking, and fever detection with enhanced comfort and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
Each temperature sensor in the array of temperature sensors can include a conductive material forming a continuous pattern on the flexible substrate that extends from a first node to a second node... detect an effect of the conductive material of each temperature sensor on the electrical signal
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include a temperature sensing device that includes a temperature sensor stack that includes a flexible substrate and an array of temperature sensors coupled to the flexible substrate. Each temperature sensor in the array of temperature sensors can include a conductive material defining a continuous pattern extending from a first node to a second node, a first set of conductive traces coupled to the flexible substrate, and a second set of conductive traces coupled to the flexible substrate. The temperature sensing device can include a processing circuit configured to apply an electrical signal across the conductive material of each temperature sensor using the first set of conductive traces, detect an effect of the conductive material of each temperature sensor on the electrical signal using the second set of conductive traces, and determine a temperature for the temperature sensors in the array using the detected effects of the conductive material on the electrical signal.