Sensor Surface-Covering Material for Hazard Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensors are not suitable for mass manufacture or incorporation into standard surface coverings like flooring and wall materials, making them expensive and inefficient for applications such as monitoring public spaces and transportation systems.
Innovation Solution
A sensor surface-covering material with a layer of synthetic material and a sensor layer that detects changes in electrical or mechanical properties, comprising a top mechanical-property layer, a middle insulating layer, and a bottom electrical-property layer, allowing for the detection of hazards like water or human presence without cameras or additional sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If known sensors are used for monitoring public spaces, then detection capability is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases and mass manufacture becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sensor layer with the surface covering material into a single integrated structure. The sensor layer is embedded within the synthetic material layers, eliminating the need for separate sensor installation and enabling mass production of the combined structure as a unified component.
Solution Approach 2:
The synthetic material layers serve dual functions: providing structural surface covering properties and containing the sensor functionality. This multi-functionality allows the same manufactured structure to serve both protective/esthetic and detection purposes, simplifying manufacturing processes.
2Measurement precision
If cameras or additional sensors are installed to detect hazards, then detection precision improves, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the detection function from separate external devices (cameras, additional sensors) and integrates it directly into the surface covering material itself. The sensor layer is positioned at the interface where hazards would contact the surface, enabling direct detection without requiring external monitoring equipment.
3Reliability
If separate sensor installation is performed, then detection functionality is achieved, but installation time and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor layer is manufactured as an integral part of the surface covering material, so that installation of the surface covering simultaneously provides both protective coverage and sensor functionality. This eliminates separate sensor installation steps and reduces overall installation time.
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 cost-effective and efficient monitoring of public spaces and transportation systems by integrating sensors into flooring and wall materials, detecting hazards and human presence through changes in electrical or mechanical properties, enhancing safety and resource management.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor layer is configured to detect a change in an electrical property wherein the electrical property is resistance... By sensing a change in resistivity, the presence of moisture under the sensor surface-covering material may be detected
Implementation Method 2
the electrical property is resistance and/or capacitance wherein the sensor layer comprises a combined detectable electrical-property and mechanical-property sensor layer
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a sensor surface-covering material comprising a layer of synthetic material and a sensor layer which detects a change in an electrical property wherein the sensor layer comprises at least one electrically conductive layer and wherein the electrical property is resistance and/or capacitance; and a sensor surface-covering system comprising a sensor surface-covering material according to the invention and an electrical component housing for processing a signal generated by the sensor material.