Serpentine Capacitive Garment Sensor for Stretch Signal Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing athletic and fitness monitoring systems are limited in feedback capabilities, often bulky, and not integrated into athletic equipment, with garment sensors prone to cracks that reduce accuracy due to stretchability issues.
Innovation Solution
A capacitive sensor system with a stretchable substrate, serpentine conductor assemblies, and redundancy members to absorb stress and prevent crack formation, integrated into garments for accurate data collection during athletic activities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If garment sensors are made stretchable to fit and move with the body, then adaptability and comfort are improved, but cracks or fissures develop in the sensor layers reducing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is divided into multiple independent conductor assemblies (first conductor assembly and second conductor assembly) positioned at different locations within the garment. This segmentation allows each assembly to independently handle stress and cracking, so that damage to one assembly does not necessarily destroy the entire sensor system's functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical configuration of conductor assemblies from straight lines to serpentine patterns. This parameter change allows the conductors to flex and stretch without developing cracks, as the serpentine geometry accommodates deformation through controlled bending rather than breaking.
2Reliability
If multiple conductor assemblies are layered to provide redundancy, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple conductor assemblies are merged into a single integrated capacitive sensor system where the first and second conductor assemblies work together as overlapping plates of a capacitor. This merging allows redundancy to be achieved through the capacitive coupling mechanism rather than through complex parallel circuitry, simplifying the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system uses a composite structure with conductor assemblies made from conductive ink printed on flexible substrate layers. This composite approach allows the sensor to maintain simplicity while achieving reliability through the inherent properties of the conductive material and its layered configuration.
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 system provides improved feedback and accuracy by integrating sensors into garments, allowing for precise data collection without the need for additional devices, while the serpentine design and redundancy members enhance durability and prevent signal disruption from stretching.
Implementation Method 1
a stretchable sensor responsive to stretching along a stretching axis
Data Source
AI summary
A capacitive sensor may include a stretchable substrate, a first conductor assembly disposed on the substrate, a second conductor assembly disposed on the substrate and above the first conductor, and a redundancy member coupled to the one of the conductor assemblies. A capacitive sensor may include a first serpentine conductor assembly disposed on the substrate and having first and second terminal ends coupled to the substrate, a second serpentine conductor assembly disposed above and overlapping the first conductor assembly and having first and second terminal ends coupled to the substrate, wherein each of the terminal ends of the first conductor assembly is offset from the corresponding terminal ends of the second conductor assemblies. A sensor system may include a stretchable sensor, an electronics module coupled to the stretchable sensor, and a strain relief member extending from the stretchable sensor and coupling to the electronics module.