Smart Clothing Sensor Node Wireless Charging and Edge Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart clothing sensors face challenges with mechanical damage, water resistance, and inconvenient charging due to the need for rugged and waterproof designs, especially when multiple sensors are integrated, making separate charging and wiring impractical.
Innovation Solution
A battery-powered sensor apparatus with integrated position and/or orientation sensors, a data store, and a processor that records changes only when significant, reducing data storage and upload requirements, and includes wireless charging and communication interfaces for efficient data transfer and power management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensors are permanently fixed to smart clothing and made rugged and waterproof, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is divided into independent sensor nodes that can be separately manufactured and then wirelessly connected. Each node contains its own processor, memory, and wireless interface, allowing modular assembly without complex wiring while maintaining waterproof integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Physical wiring connections between sensors are replaced with wireless communication interfaces. This eliminates the need for complex internal wiring harnesses and connectors that would compromise waterproofing, while maintaining data transmission capability.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are incorporated into smart clothing with separate charging, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensor nodes are merged into a single wireless network where they communicate with each other and with external devices. They share a common power management system and data transmission protocol, allowing simultaneous operation without separate charging procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor nodes use universal wireless communication interfaces and standardized power management protocols, allowing them to be charged and controlled through a single external device without requiring sensor-specific charging mechanisms.
3Loss of information
If all sensor data is recorded and uploaded to remote devices, then loss of information is reduced, but loss of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
Data processing and filtering are performed preliminarily at the sensor node before transmission. The processor identifies and records only significant events or changes, preprocessing data to eliminate redundant information before wireless transmission, thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining data completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
Only essential and significant data elements are extracted and transmitted to remote devices. The sensor processor filters out redundant or insignificant measurements, transmitting only the most relevant information to minimize energy consumption during wireless communication.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor apparatus for an item of smart clothing is disclosed herein. The sensor apparatus houses sensor electronics comprising at least one position and/or orientation sensor, and a data store, coupled to a processor and powered by a battery. The processor is configured to receive signals indicative of a change in position and/or orientation from the at least one position and/or orientation sensor. The processor is also configured to determine from the received signals whether there has been a change in position and/or orientation of the sensor apparatus over a first selected time interval; and in the event that there has been a change in position and/or orientation of the sensor apparatus over the first selected time interval, the processor is configured to record the change in position and/or orientation to the data store.