Flexible Textile Liquid Sensors for Soft, Drapable Moisture Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing textile moisture sensors are often bulky and rigid, limiting their integration into flexible textile articles while effectively detecting liquid, which is crucial for applications like enuresis alarms and bedwetting monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising flexible sensors with conductive elements integrated into or disposed onto textile materials, capable of detecting liquid and communicating sensor data to a computing device via a communication link, allowing for drapable and soft textile articles that maintain functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional moisture sensors are integrated into textile articles, then liquid detection capability is improved, but the textile article becomes bulky and rigid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using flexible printed circuit boards (FPC) as the substrate for mounting sensor elements. The FPC allows the sensor assembly to conform to the flexible textile article while maintaining structural integrity for electrical connections, thus resolving the contradiction between detection reliability and textile flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by selectively placing sensor elements only in specific regions of the textile article where liquid detection is needed. This localized approach maintains overall textile flexibility while providing reliable detection at critical points
2Reliability
If sensor elements are integrated into textile articles, then liquid detection functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating multiple sensor elements (such as capacitive sensors, resistive sensors, or conductive yarns) onto a single flexible printed circuit board. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall integration process into the textile article
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible printed circuit board serves as an intermediary between the sensor elements and the textile article. It provides a standardized platform for mounting sensors and establishing electrical connections, thereby reducing the complexity of direct integration into the textile structure
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 the detection of liquid in textile articles like bedding and absorbent products, providing effective monitoring and alert systems for nocturnal enuresis and other moisture-related issues without compromising the article's drape or usability.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one flexible sensor includes a conductive element that is integrated into or disposed onto the textile material
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for detecting liquid in a textile article using one or more flexible sensors integrated in the textile article. The sensor data is forwarded to a computing device via a communication link by an interface element associated with the textile article. The computing device detects a location of liquid in the textile article proximate to the one or more flexible sensors based on a determination that a criterion is met.