KR102044605B1 - Band type febric sensor and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a band-type fabric sensor and a method of manufacturing the same. The band-type fabric sensor includes a gauze composed of a band-shaped base fabric manufactured using a dielectric constant yarn, a gauze disposed on the base fabric and dispersed with conductive yarns or conductive particles, and a polymer disposed on the base fabric and covered by gauze. The sensing material and the sensing circuit detect a resistance change according to the change in volume when the polymer material is wetted by a liquid including body fluid and changes in volume as pH or temperature is changed.

Description

BAND TYPE FABRIC SENSOR AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF {BAND TYPE FEBRIC SENSOR AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF}

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a wearable sensor, and more particularly, to a band-type fabric sensor and a manufacturing method thereof.

Bio-signal measurement technology through body-attached sensors is leading researches focused on the development of sensors made of stretchable materials and circuits to meet the characteristics of human skin. Until now, development has been focused on circuit board and electronic device packaging technology, antenna and communication technology, materials and detachable technology, but there are difficulties in solving problems of elasticity, flexibility, and mass production technology.

US Patent No. 7,813,806 (2010.10.12.)

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, a band-type fabric sensor and a method of manufacturing the electrode material can be uniformly arranged in the body fluid sensitive polymer material using a conductive material or conductive particles dispersed The purpose is to provide.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a band-type fabric sensor and a method of manufacturing the same using a flexible bandage structure widely used for wound protection, easy to attach and detach, and easily applied to mass production processes.

Band-shaped fabric sensor according to an aspect of the present invention for solving the above technical problem, the base fabric of the band form manufactured using a dielectric constant yarn; Gauze disposed on the base fabric and made of a yarn in which conductive yarns or conductive particles are dispersed; A polymer material disposed on the base fabric and covered by the gauze; And a sensing circuit that senses a resistance change according to the change of the volume when the polymer material is wetted by a liquid including body fluid and the volume changes as the pH (ph) or temperature changes.

In one embodiment, the electrode material consisting of a material in which conductive yarns or conductive particles are dispersed is uniformly arranged in the body fluid sensitive polymer material. Certain arrangements include, but are not limited to, equal intervals, regular lattice arrangements, and the like, and may have various bends depending on the weaving method or the material of the gauze. In any case, however, the average density or injection amount per unit area of the electrode material of the gauze may have a deviation of less than a predetermined value. That is, the average density or injection amount per unit area of the electrode material of the gauze may be significantly the same within an error range.

In one embodiment, the polymer material may include a hydrogel. The average diameter of the hydrogel may be 0.1mm or more, 1mm or less.

In one embodiment, the gauze may have a density in which the contact amount of the adjacent conductive yarns or the adjacent seals increases according to the change in pressure of the polymer material according to the change in volume. The density of the gauze may be less than one third of the base fabric on the basis of a densimeter and may have less than 10 threads in 1 cm in diameter.

In one embodiment, the gauze may have a multi-layer structure in which at least a double-woven structure or a plurality of layers overlap. The material of the gauze may be cotton, silk, rayon or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the length of the base fabric may be less than 20 cm, the width may be less than 5 cm.

In one embodiment, the conductive particles may include carbon black, carbon nanobubbles, metal particles, metal fibers, graphene or a combination thereof.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a band-type fabric sensor, the method comprising: preparing a band-shaped base fabric having wiring and manufactured using a dielectric constant yarn; Attaching an electronic device to the base fabric and connecting one end of the wire; Preparing a gauze in which an electrode material made of a conductive material or a material in which conductive particles are dispersed is uniformly arranged on average; Surrounding the central portion of one side of the base fabric and joining the edge to the base fabric leaving a part of the edge of the gauze to be connected to the other end of the wiring; And inserting a polymer material whose volume changes as the acidity (ph) or temperature is changed by wetted by a liquid including body fluid through a portion of the gauze and blocking the portion, wherein the sensing circuit of the electronic device is included. Detects a change in resistance according to the change in volume.

In one embodiment, the step of bonding may include a step of sewing with a conductive fiber and covered with hot melt so that the other end of the wiring and the yarn in which the conductive yarn or conductive particles are dispersed are electrically connected to each other.

In one embodiment, the sensing circuit can be implemented to calculate the resistance change by Young's modulus, bulk modulus, or a combination thereof.

Using the aforementioned band-type fabric sensor and its manufacturing method, it is possible to manufacture a sensor sensitive to the body fluid emitted from the skin with a simple configuration and material, there is an advantage that it is easy to introduce into the mass production process. For reference, conventional technologies for measuring biosignals in the skin have been difficult to develop device packaging, detachment, and mass production process technologies, but the present invention may solve the problems of such prior arts.

In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a band-like fabric sensor that can be widely applied in the health care and medical field, in particular, it can be effectively used for measurement of bio-signal and measurement of wounds, continuous monitoring of wound healing process, etc. There is an advantage.

1 is a plan view of a band-type fabric sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view of the band-shaped fabric sensor of FIG. 1.
3 is a cross-sectional view of a material in which conductive yarns or conductive particles are dispersed, which may be used in the band-shaped fabric sensor of FIG. 1.
4 is a partial side view of a conductive yarn that may be used in the banded fabric sensor of FIG. 1.
5 is a block diagram of an electronic device that may be used in the band-type fabric sensor of FIG.

As the invention allows for various changes and numerous embodiments, particular embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the written description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, it should be understood to include all transformations, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention. In the following description of the present invention, if it is determined that the detailed description of the related known technology may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In addition, terms such as “characterize”, “comprise” or “have” are intended to indicate that there is a feature, number, step, action, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, one or It is to be understood that no other features or numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof are excluded in advance.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a plan view of a band-type fabric sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the band-shaped fabric sensor of FIG. 1. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a material in which conductive yarns or conductive particles are dispersed, which may be used in the band-shaped fabric sensor of FIG. 1. 4 is a partial side view of a conductive yarn that may be used in the banded fabric sensor of FIG. 1. 5 is a block diagram of an electronic device that may be used in the band-type fabric sensor of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the band-type fabric sensor according to the present embodiment includes a base fabric 10, a gauze 20, a polymer material 30, and an electronic device 40. In the band-type fabric sensor, the gauze 20 and the electronic device 40 may be connected through the wiring 50, and one end of the base fabric 10 may be coated with an adhesive component.

The length L1 of the base fabric 10 may be smaller than 20 cm, and the width W1 may be smaller than 5 cm. This defines the largest dimension in the form of a conventional band, but a larger size base fabric 10 may be used depending on the application.

Base fabric 10 is made using a dielectric constant yarn. The base fabric 10 may include a wiring 50 formed by using a conductive material or yarn in which conductive particles are dispersed.

The gauze 20 may be formed of a material (thread) disposed on one surface of the base fabric 10 and having conductive yarns or conductive particles dispersed therein. The conductive particles may include carbon black, carbon nanobubbles, metal particles, metal fibers, graphene, or a combination thereof. In this embodiment, the term 'gauze' is a kind of fabric may be referred to as a conductive fabric.

Electrode materials consisting of a material in which conductive yarns or conductive particles are dispersed are uniformly arranged in a body fluid sensitive polymer material. Certain arrangements include, but are not limited to, equal intervals, regular lattice arrangements, and the like, and may have various bends depending on the weaving method or the material of the gauze. In any case, however, the average density or injection amount per unit area of the electrode material of the gauze may have a deviation of less than a predetermined value. That is, the average density or injection amount per unit area of the electrode material of the gauze may be significantly the same within an error range.

In addition, the gauze 20 may be manufactured to have a density in which the contact amount of the adjacent conductive yarns or the adjacent seals increases according to the pressure change of the polymer material 30 according to the change in the volume of the polymer material 30. The density of the gauze 20 may be less than 1/3 of the base fabric 10 on the basis of a densimeter, and may have 10 or fewer threads in 1 cm in diameter.

In addition, the gauze 20 may have a multi-layer structure in which at least a double-woven structure or a plurality of layers 21, 22, and 23 overlap each other (see FIG. 2). The material of the gauze 20 may be cotton, silk, rayon or a combination thereof.

In addition, the yarn 210 in which the conductive yarn or the conductive particles contained in the gauze 20 is dispersed may be formed of carbon nanotubes or graphene by the binder 212 on the surface of the dielectric constant yarn 211 or carbon fiber, as shown in FIG. Dispersion of the pins 213. In addition, the seal 210 (hereinafter also referred to as conductive fiber) may further include an additive 214 dispersed together with the carbon nanotubes or the graphene 213 by the binder 212. The additive 214 may include graphite powder.

In addition, the conductive yarn 220 included in the gauze 20 may have a multifilament shape by twisting the dielectric constant yarn 211 and the conductive fiber 210 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the polymer material 30 may be disposed at the central portion of one surface of the base fabric 10 and covered by the gauze 20. The polymer material 30 is changed in volume as the polymer material is wetted by a liquid including body fluids and changes in acidity (ph) or temperature.

The polymer material 30 may include a hydrogel. The polymer material 30 may have a spherical shape, and the average diameter may be 0.1 mm or more and 1 mm or less.

The electronic device 40 detects a change in resistance caused by a change in volume of the polymer material 30. The electronic device 40 may include or correspond to a sensing circuit. The electronic device 40 may include a power supply unit for applying a predetermined voltage to both ends of the gauze 20 through the wiring 50. The electronic device 40 may have a semiconductor chip or module structure or form. The electronic device 40 may include hardware components such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the like.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the electronic device 40 may include a power supply unit (not shown), a signal detection unit 42, a comparison unit 44, a biosignal processing unit 46, and an output unit 48. The power supply unit may apply a predetermined voltage to both the conductive yarns of the gauze 20 and the terminal portions of both sides of the conductive fiber through the wiring 50. The power supply unit may include a battery, a piezoelectric generator, a thermoelectric battery, and the like. The piezoelectric generator and the thermoelectric battery may be manufactured using carbon fiber.

The signal detecting unit 42 is connected between the power supply unit and the gauze 20 and detects a physical quantity (resistance, etc.) according to the volume change of the polymer material 30 covered with the gauze 20. The signal detector 42 may include a signal amplifier for amplifying a physical quantity according to a volume change. The input terminal of the signal detecting unit 42 may correspond to at least one of the input terminals of the signal amplifying unit as the input unit of the electronic device 40.

The comparator 44 compares the output signal of the signal detector 42 with a reference signal or a reference level.

The biosignal processing unit 46 may detect a biosignal preset based on the signal determined by the comparator 44 among the detection signals. Using such a biosignal, wound healing, continuous monitoring of a wound healing process, and the like can be performed.

In addition, the electronic device 40 may include an output unit 48 for outputting a detection signal detected by the signal detection unit 42 or a biosignal corresponding thereto. The output unit 48 may include a connector, an antenna of a communication subsystem, a display device, and the like. The communication subsystem may include a communication module for wireless communication, and the wireless communication may include short range wireless communication, mobile communication, or the like.

The connector may be employed by selecting at least one of various existing forms. The connector may include a universal serial bus (USB). By using a connector, a communication subsystem, or the like, it is possible to connect a portable terminal such as a smartphone to display a biosignal, a wound healing process, and the like on a screen through an application mounted on the portable terminal. Of course, the biosignal may be transmitted to a health care server or the like and used to monitor personal health care.

The output unit may be implemented as a display element additionally included or replaced in addition to the connector or communication subsystem, in which case it is implemented to display the biological signal detected by the liquid crystal display (LED) in the form of a predetermined number or letter. Can be.

In the method of manufacturing the band-type fabric sensor according to the above-described embodiment, first, a band-type base fabric manufactured by using a dielectric constant yarn and provided with a wire may be prepared. Then, the electronic device may be attached to the base fabric and one end of the wiring may be connected.

Next, a gauze may be prepared in which an electrode material made of conductive material or a material in which conductive particles are dispersed is uniformly arranged on average.

Next, the other edge of the gauze may be joined to the base fabric, leaving a part of the edge of the gauze surrounding the central portion of one side of the base fabric and connected to the other end of the wiring.

In addition, a polymer material whose volume is changed as the acidity (ph) or temperature is changed by being wetted by a liquid including body fluid in the central portion may be inserted through a portion of the gauze to block the portion.

Next, the sensing circuit of the electronic device may detect a change in resistance caused by a change in volume of the polymer material. The sensing circuit can be implemented to calculate the resistance change by Young's modulus, bulk modulus, or a combination thereof.

The bonding may include stitching the other end of the wiring and a material (thread) in which conductive yarns or conductive particles are dispersed, electrically conductively connected to each other, and coating the same with hot melt. Of course, depending on the implementation, it is possible to use a connection structure by lockstitch.

On the other hand, in the above-described embodiment has been described by way of example the length in the longitudinal direction is about four times larger than the length in the width direction, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, the square, square, triangle, circle of different sizes It may be implemented to have various shapes such as a half moon shape and a star shape.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, it is merely exemplary, and various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible to those skilled in the art. Will understand. Therefore, the technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the claims.

Claims (11)

Base fabric in the form of a band produced using a dielectric constant yarn;
Gauze disposed on the base fabric and made of a yarn in which conductive yarns or conductive particles are dispersed;
A polymer material disposed on the base fabric and covered by the gauze; And
When the polymer material is wetted by a liquid containing a body fluid and the volume changes as the pH (ph) or temperature changes, includes a sensing circuit for detecting a change in resistance according to the change of the volume,
The gauze has a density in which the contact amount of the adjacent conductive yarns or adjacent seals increases with the change in pressure of the polymer material according to the change in volume,
The density of the gauze is less than one third of the base fabric on a densimeter (densimeter), having a band of less than 10 yarns in 1 cm in diameter, band-like fabric sensor. The method according to claim 1,
The polymer material comprises a hydrogel, band-shaped fabric sensor. The method according to claim 2,
Band-shaped fabric sensor, the average diameter of the hydrogel is 0.1mm or more, 1mm or less. delete delete The method according to claim 1,
The gauze has at least a double weave structure, a two or more layers structure, a twill structure or a double weave structure in which a plurality of layers overlap, band-like fabric sensor. The method according to claim 1,
The material of the gauze is cotton, silk, rayon or a combination thereof, band-like fabric sensor. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein said base fabric is less than 20 cm in length and less than 5 cm in width. The method according to claim 1,
The conductive particles may include carbon black, carbon nanobubbles, metal particles, metal fibers, graphene, or a combination thereof. Preparing a band-shaped base fabric manufactured by using a dielectric constant yarn and having wiring;
Attaching an electronic device to the base fabric and connecting one end of the wire;
Preparing a gauze in which an electrode material made of conductive material or a material in which conductive particles are dispersed is arranged;
Surrounding the central portion of one side of the base fabric and joining the edge to the base fabric leaving a part of the edge of the gauze to be connected to the other end of the wire; And
Inserting a polymer material whose volume changes as the acidity (ph) or temperature changes by wetted by a liquid including body fluid through a portion of the gauze and blocking the portion;
The sensing circuit of the electronic device detects a change in resistance according to the change in volume, the manufacturing method of the band-type fabric sensor. The method according to claim 10,
Wherein the bonding step is the other end of the wire and the conductive yarn or conductive material is sewn in a conductive material and covered with hot melt so as to be electrically connected to each other, the manufacturing method of the band-type fabric sensor.

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