WO2023223021A1

WO2023223021A1 - An item of protective equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2023223021A1
Application number: PCT/GB2023/051288
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonathan HARLOCK; Maureen Lynne HARLOCK; Mansoor Ali Khan; Juliana OLIVERIA
Original assignee: Ramsay Technologies Ltd
Priority date: 2022-05-16
Filing date: 2023-05-16
Publication date: 2023-11-23

Abstract

An item of protective equipment (10) comprising a layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink (20). The layer (20) forms a sensor (20) configured to detect a force received by the item of protective equipment (10). The sensor (20) may detect strain forces received by the item of protective equipment (10). The protective equipment (10) may be configured to transmit data received from the sensor (20). An identifier (30) may be used to obtain data that has been output by sensor (20). The ink may be biodegradable. A plurality of sensors (20) are envisaged, each sensor (20) being configured to detect a force received by the item of protective equipment (10).

Description

AN ITEM OF PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to an item of protective equipment. In particular, this disclosure describes a force sensor (e.g., a pressure sensor, a tension sensor, a torsion sensor) that is formed from ink (e.g., piezoresistive ink, conductive ink). Disclosure is provided of a manufacture method of the item of protective equipment, with the ink being applied internally and/or externally to the protective equipment (e.g., headgear, helmets, pads, head guards), making the internal or external surface of the protective equipment a sensor. This disclosure can be applied in transport, security, engineering sports, leisure, equine and healthcare applications.

Background

Protective equipment serves to protect its user from injury. An important role of protective equipment is to mitigate the effects of impact forces that might be received by the user during use. Protective equipment (e.g., helmets, gloves, and other protective gear such as pads) is often used for hazardous activities, such as sports.

There is a demand to monitor these forces received by protective equipment, using sensors. Purposes include the monitoring of the long-term and short-term health of the players of sports. In martial arts for example, sensors can be used to determine whether a point has been validly scored. In many sports, contact between opponents is restricted, and so monitoring impact forces allows a determination to be made of whether a penalty should be awarded. Monitoring the effect of forces on protective equipment enhances the effectiveness of the keeping the user safe, as well as determining when the protective equipment should be replaced. The accurate determination of when protective equipment should be replaced means that equipment that continues to be effective is not thrown away early, and so monitoring wear-and-tear of protective equipment confers benefits to the environment.

Pressure, tension and torsion sensors exist in many formats, some utilising conductive or resistive inks. A challenge with their applications is that they cannot be bulky or be uncomfortable for the wearer. Disclosure is provided of a piezoresistive polymer-based ink, as described by patent EP3397702 Al, which is hereby incorporated by way of reference. The present disclosure relates to this ink being printed on the complete surface the headgear either internally or externally. The layer of ink being coupled with a small transmitter enables impact data to be assessed immediately, protecting the user from further severe head injury, and enables the medical teams to assess potential injury from specific impacts.

Piezoresistive behaviour can be described as a mechanical stimulus that induces in the sensor a change in electrical resistivity, as mentioned in document US2951817, which describes a polyvinyl chloride polymer matrix with manganese dioxide as filler, where the electrical resistance changes throughout a very wide range of values in response to very small deformations. Resistive deformable sensors touch screens for application in electronic devices are presented in the document US20100123686A. Piezoresistive pressure sensors chips that are exposed to the external pressure medium directly have been described in US8567256B2, as well as pressure sensors for the measurement of compression and tension of materials in different applications, which are described in WO 2007044307 Al.

Many applications utilise a composite multilayer conductive material often a fabric such as WO202188305 Al , GB201910547 DO and GB201912281 DO. Other applications such as helmet sensors have a small number of sensors positioned within the helmet US20160050999.

These facts are disclosed in order to illustrate the technical problem addressed by the present disclosure.

Summary

The present disclosure creates a single sensor covering the whole surface, either internal or external by printing the surface with piezoresistive ink. Aspects of the present invention are set out by the claims. Further aspects are also described.

According to a first aspect, there is provided an item of protective equipment comprising a layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink. The layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink forms a sensor configured to detect a force received by the item of protective equipment. An advantage of applying the ink to protective equipment is that it can serve as a sensor that detects impact forces. The piezoresistive property provides a level of resistance that is dependent on the amount of force that is applied to the protective equipment. The elastomeric property causes the ink returning to its original configuration once the force is no longer applied, resulting in the level of resistance recovering to its original amount.

Optionally, the sensor is configured to detect a strain force received by the item of protective equipment. Advantageously, the detection of strain allows the sensor to determine a change in the shape of the protective equipment. This allows an assessment to be made of the amount of force that is transmitted through the protective equipment, and into the body of the user. Thus, the protective equipment enhances the safety of the user.

Optionally, the item of protective equipment further comprises a data collection unit configured to collect data that is output by the sensor. Thus, the impact data is stored in a black box chip on a circuit board of the protective equipment. This allows data from the sensor to be retrieved directly from the protective equipment.

Optionally, the item of protective equipment further comprises a transmitter configured to transmit a signal if the sensor detects a force received by the item of protective equipment. Thus, this data is transmitted to a cloud service or an on-premise server. This makes it possible to access this data from the server using a mobile device.

Optionally, the item of protective equipment further comprises an identifier configured to identify an address from which data can be obtained that has been output by the sensor. The identifier may be a two-dimensional image such as a QR code. The identifier provides an address (e.g., a URL) that can be used to obtain the data.

Optionally, the item of protective equipment further comprises a battery configured to provide electrical energy to electrical components of the item of protective equipment. This rechargeable battery can be used to provide electrical energy to the electronic components of the item of protective equipment. An electrical current from the battery is used to measure the resistivity of the ink, which is used to determine the amount of force that the sensor receives.

Optionally, the piezoresistive elastomeric ink is biodegradable. Advantageously, the ink will break down over time, to avoid being harmful to the environment when the protective equipment needs to be replaced. Thus, disclosure is provided of further benefits to the environment that are conferred by this innovation. Optionally, the piezoresistive elastomeric ink comprises: a thermoplastic elastomer polymer selected from styrene-ethylene/butylene- styrene or mixtures thereof; conductive nanostructures of carbon or metal, or combination thereof as a filler; a solvent selected from a group consisting of toluene, chloroform, methoxycyclopentane, 1,3-dioxolane, dimethylformamide, or a combination thereof; and a dispersive agent comprising as surfactants a compound selected from the list: sodium dodecyl sulfate, cetyl trimethylammonium bromide, citric acid, Triton, or mixtures thereof. The ink may be of the type described by EP3397702, although it is not essential for the ink to have the same chemical composition.

Optionally, the item of protective equipment further comprises electrical circuitry configured to form an electrical connection with the layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink. The electrical circuitry is itself formed from ink. For example, the electrical circuitry may be formed from silver or carbon-based functional ink.

Optionally, the item of protective equipment further comprises a protective pad configured to absorb impact forces. The layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink and the protective pad may have a corresponding shape. Thus, a change in the shape of the protective pad results in a change in the shape of the layer of ink, allowing a measurement to be made of the internal forces that cause deformation of the protective pad. The protective pad is configured to provide the user with physical protection from impact forces, with the protective pad comprising, for example, foam or honeycomb.

Optionally, the piezoresistive elastomeric ink is applied to a portion of a surface of the protective equipment. It isn’t essential for the layer of ink to be applied to the full surface of the protective equipment. Applying the layer of ink to a portion of the surface allows the measurement of impact forces to be directed to areas of the protective equipment that are particularly important parts of the body that are to be protected.

Optionally, the item of protective equipment comprises a plurality of layers of piezoresistive elastomeric ink, wherein each layer forms a sensor configured to detect the force received by the item of protective equipment. Arranging more than one layer of ink allows measurement of the forces to be performed in synergy. Making use of measurements from different sensors enhances the precision of the detection of the direction and magnitude of the force that is received by the protective equipment.

Optionally, the item of protective equipment comprises: a first layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink on a first side of the item of protective equipment; and a second layer of piezoresi stive elastomeric ink on a second side of the item of protective equipment. Positioning the sensors on opposite sides of the protective equipment allow the detection of forces passing through the protective equipment, into the body of the user. This allows a determination to be made of the effectiveness of the protective material that provides physical protection to the user.

Optionally, the layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink is applied to the protective equipment by gravure, drop casting, spray, or printing. Examples of printing techniques for applying the ink include screen printing and inkjet printing. During manufacture, the ink is applied to a surface of the protective equipment, and once cured, can be used as a sensor.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a method of manufacturing an item of protective equipment comprising a layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink. The method includes curing the layer of ink to form a sensor configured to detect a force received by the item of protective equipment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 illustrates an item of protective equipment, with the image on the left providing a rear view, and the image on the right providing a side view;

• FIGs. 2A & 2B provide exploded views for examples of the protective equipment, with FIG. 2A showing a single layer of ink applied to a protective material, and FIG. 2B showing two layers of ink applied to two surfaces of the protective material;

• FIG. 3 illustrates a system for retrieving data captured by the item of protective equipment;

• FIG. 4 illustrates details of the electronic architecture of the item of protective equipment; and

• FIG.5 provides a view of a circuit board that forms part of the item of protective equipment. Detailed Description

Disclosure is provided of sensors that are printed on interior and/or exterior of protective sports and motorcycling equipment for prevention of injury and the reduction of damage in trauma injuries. Details are summarised as follows:

• A sensor that is printed on any surface, including the inner foam, outer foam, helmet, body protection, pad inner or outer covering, external polycarbonate or other substrate.

• The sensor is printed over the available surface.

• Piezoresistive ink is applied using gravure, drop casting, spray, screen or inkj et printing.

• Piezoresistive ink sensors are designed with carbon/silver connectors, typically with 3 screens/layers number depends on the sports equipment application.

• Connecting circuitry is silver or carbon-based functional ink.

• Inks are encapsulated in a protective ink for wear and water resistance, depending on the nature of the protective equipment.

• Carbon/silver based functional ink is applied to the substrate using gravure, drop casting, spray, screen or inkjet printing.

• On flexing the cured piezoresistive ink generates a signal when pressure/impact is applied, that is collected to the data collection unit.

• Data collection unit interprets the signal, converting it to a usable format for processing.

• Data collection unit consists of a microprocessor with options of communications protocols, including but not exclusively Bluetooth (registered trade mark), Wi-Fi (registered trade mark), GSM (registered trade mark), radiofrequency (RF), according to application for example sports such as rugby, Wi-Fi or RF, transmits to a receiver.

• Non motorsports motorcycle helmets save impact data on a chip (data collection unit DCU 11), which is accessed via QR code (identifier 30) by emergency teams, data can be transmitted to the manufacturer for warranty purposes.

• Single layer circuitry printed on the underside of the protective equipment provides impact location, with amount of force applied.

• Dual layer circuitry printed on the upper and underside of the protective equipment provides impact location, force applied, before and after protective equipment and the degradation of and the performance of the protective substrate.

• Data collection unit has option for display for healthcare applications such as epilepsy.

• The functional ink, connects to the data collection unit with touch connections. • The circuit board is flexible so as not to deform the foam on impact.

• The data collection unit (DCU) is powered by a rechargeable battery.

• Battery charging to be done with a variety of options: o Wireless charging o Energy harvesting using body heat and motion o Wired charging utilising flat magnet connectors

• Data is sent to cloud or on-premise receiver.

• Cloud and on-premise based platform interprets data, triggers alarms and alerts.

• Platform brokers data to client existing analytics engine.

Applications of the protective equipment include:

• Reduction of damage in trauma injuries.

• Printed sensors in protective sport and motorcycle equipment.

• Hard helmets/hats including motorcycle, equestrian and sports.

• Soft head guards/headbands including but not exclusively cycles, epilepsy, football, boxing mixed martial arts, and rugby.

• Rechargeable battery powered, charging via USB cable, magnetic connector cable or energy harvested.

• Alarms & alerts via email, SMS or text to voice call including to emergency.

Specifications for examples of the protective equipment include:

• Printed inner on the inner lining or the exterior surface/covering or both of the helmet/head guar d/headb and.

• Areas of head monitored in total and individually. Back, top, temples forehead, cheeks.

• Piezo ink sensors are printed in a layout suitable for the protective foam characteristics of the helmet/headguard/equipment, for example blocks and lines or honeycomb covering the whole interior or exterior of the helmet/head guard.

• External sensors can be overlaid with another finishing so as not to detract from look.

• Data transmitted via Bluetooth, mesh network, Wi-Fi, GSM or other communications protocol. • Data collected in small data processing unit brokered and transmitted existing systems

• Amateur sports data transmitted to cloud and app.

• Motoring, that is cycle helmets and motorcycle/motor racing helmets, hard hats, horse riding and body armour, data is stored in a “black box chip” on the circuit board. o impact data stored on chip. o On impact data stored and transmitted to cloud via GSM. o Data shows location of impact and severity of impact. o Platform provides assistance with immediate diagnosis. o Impact data available to first responder via QR code on helmet and via app.

Disclosure is provided of the above features being provided in any combination. Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects are described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an item of protective equipment 10 that can be worn by a user. A layer of sensors 20 is printed on a surface of the item of protective equipment. This layer of sensors is formed from ink. In this example, the ink covers an external surface of the protective equipment. It’s possible for the ink to be applied to an internal surface of the protective equipment, instead of or a as well as the external surface of the protective equipment.

The protective equipment includes an indicator 30, which identifies an address that can be used to access data that has been output by the sensor 20. In this example, the identifier is a two- dimensional image, specifically a QR code. The indicator 30 can be decoded to provide a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), which serves as an address of a website, which provides access to a server which stores data that has been output from the sensor 20.

FIGs. 2A & 2B provide exploded views for examples of the protective equipment 10. FIG. 2A shows a single layer of ink 20 applied to a protective material 25. The protective material may comprise foam.

FIG. 2B shows two layers of ink (20a, 20b) applied to two surfaces of the protective material 25. For the arrangement shown in FIG. 2B, a first layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink 20a is applied to a first side of the item of protective equipment 10, and a second layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink 20b is applied to a second side of the item of protective equipment 10. In this example, the layers of ink are applied to opposite sides of the protective material 25. Comparing the force detected by the two sensors, this allows a determination to be made of the amount of energy that is transmitted through the protective equipment, so that the effect on the user can best be assessed.

In general terms, this effect is achieved by providing a plurality of layers of piezoresistive elastomeric ink (20a, 20b). Each layer of the ink forms a sensor (20a, 20b) configured to detect the force received by the item of protective equipment 10.

FIG. 3 illustrates a system 100 that includes the item of protective equipment 10, a server 40, and a mobile device 50. The item of protective equipment 10 comprises one or more sensor 20, a data collection unit (DCU) 11, a transmitter 12 and a battery 13, each of which is electronically connected via a bus 14. Each sensor 20 is formed from a layer of ink. The item of protective equipment further comprises an identifier 30, such as a QR code.

The server 40 comprises a memory 41, a processor 42, and an input/output unit 43, each of which is electronically connected via a bus 45. The mobile device 50 comprises a memory 51, a processor 52, and an input/output unit 53, each of which is electronically connected via a bus 55.

During use of the protective equipment 10, data captured by the sensor 20 is stored by the data collection unit 11. This data is transmitted S101 by the transmitter 12 to the server 40. The electronic components of the protective equipment 10 receive electrical power from the rechargeable battery 13. The server 40 is configured to receive S101 the data from the protective equipment 10, via the input/output unit 43, with this data being stored in its memory 41. The mobile device 50 is configured to retrieve data from the server 40 that has been captured by the protective equipment 10. The camera 54 captures SI 02 an image of the QR code 30, which serves as the identifier of the protective equipment. The processor 52 decodes the QR code to obtain a URL corresponding the server 40. The input/output unit 53 communicates with the input output unit 43 of the server 40. The mobile device 50 sends a request SI 03 for the data. Upon receiving the request SI 03, the server 40 retrieves the data from the memory 41, and transmits SI 04 this data to the mobile device 50. FIG. 4 illustrates a typical electrical circuitry 14. The electrical circuitry 14 is configured to form an electrical connection with the layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink 20. The electrical circuitry 14 is itself formed from ink.

The electrical circuitry 14 provides an array 15(x,y) of electrical contacts 15, each of which is physically and electrically attached to the layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink 20. Each of the electrical contacts 15 can be addressed by (x,y) coordinates. A determination of the location is achieved by separately detecting the x-location and the y-location. Electrical contacts 16x address the location along the x-axis of array 15(x,y), each of these electrical contacts 16x being connected to wires 17x. Electrical contacts 18y address the location along the x-axis of array 15(x,y), each of these electrical contacts 18y being connected to wires 19y.

If the layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink 20 receives a force, then this changes the resistivity of the layer of ink 20. When this force is removed, the elastomeric property results in the layer of ink 20 resuming its original shape, thus returning its resistivity to its previous value. The sensor 20 is calibrated so that the amount of force can be calculated by measuring the resistance to current received via the electrical circuitry 14. The location of the force is determined based upon which part of the array 15(x,y) detects the change in resistivity of the layer of ink 20.

FIG.5 provides a view of a circuit board 100 that forms part of the item of protective equipment 10. The circuit board 100 may accommodate electronic components such as the data collection unit 11, the transmitter 12, and the battery 13. These electronic components may be connected to the sensor 20 via the electrical circuitry 14.

The item of protective equipment is configured to be worn by a user. Here is a non-exhaustive list of applications to sports of the disclosed protective equipment:

• American Football - Helmets & protective gear such as pads

• Australian Rules Football - Head guards & protective gear such as pads

• Baseball - Helmets & protective gear such as pads

• Bobsleigh - Helmets & protective gear

• Boxing - Head guards and gloves • Canadian Football- Helmets & protective gear

• Canoe Slalom - Helmets

• Cricket - Helmets & protective gear such as pads

• Cross country skiing - Helmets & protective gear

• Cycling - Helmets

• Equestrian - Helmets & protective gear such as pads

• Fencing - Head guards and gio Helmets & protective gear such as pads

• Football - Head guards & protective gear such as pads

• Hockey - Helmets & protective gear

• Hurling - Helmets & protective gear

• Ice hockey - Helmets & protective gear

• Lacrosse - Helmets & protective gear

• Luge - Helmets & protective gear

• Martial Arts - Head guards and gloves

• Mixed Martial Arts - Head guards and gloves

• Motorsports - Helmets & protective gear such as body armour

• Roller Derby - Helmets & protective gear

• Rugby League and Union - Helmets & protective gear

• Polo - Helmets & protective gear

• Shinty - Head guards & protective gear such as pads

• Skateboarding - Helmets & protective gear

• Skiing & Ski Jumping - Helmets & protective gear

• Skeleton - Helmets & protective gear

• Softball - Helmets & protective gear

• Snowboarding - Helmets & protective gear

• Speed skating - Helmets & protective gear

• White water Kayaking - Helmets

During use, the item of protective equipment detects any forces that are received by the item of protective equipment. Thus, the one or more sensors can be used to protect the user from forces that are received during use, for example, strain forces. Although the disclosed subject matter has been described using specific terminology relating to apparatus features and/or method features, it is to be understood that the claimed subject matter is not necessarily limited to the examples disclosed. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. The advantages disclosed may relate to several of the examples that are disclosed.

Claims

1. An item of protective equipment (10) comprising a layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink (20), wherein the layer (20) forms a sensor (20) configured to detect a force received by the item of protective equipment (10).

2. The item of protective equipment (10) according to claim 2, wherein: the sensor (20) is configured to detect a strain force received by the item of protective equipment (10).

3. The item of protective equipment (10) according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising: a data collection unit (11) configured to collect data that is output by the sensor (20).

4. The item of protective equipment (10) according to any preceding claim, further comprising: a transmitter (12) configured to transmit a signal if the sensor (20) detects a force received by the item of protective equipment (10).

5. The item of protective equipment (10) according to any preceding claim, further comprising: an identifier (30) configured to identify an address from which data can be obtained that has been output by the sensor (20).

6. The item of protective equipment (10) according to any preceding claim, further comprising: a battery (13) configured to provide electrical energy to electrical components of the item of protective equipment (10).

7. The item of protective equipment (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the piezoresistive elastomeric ink (20) is biodegradable.

8. The item of protective equipment (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the piezoresistive elastomeric ink (20) comprises: a thermoplastic elastomer polymer selected from styrene-ethylene/butylene- styrene or mixtures thereof; conductive nanostructures of carbon or metal, or combination thereof as a filler; a solvent selected from a group consisting of toluene, chloroform, methoxycyclopentane, 1,3 -di oxolane, dimethylformamide, or a combination thereof; and a dispersive agent comprising as surfactants a compound selected from the list: sodium dodecyl sulfate, cetyl trimethylammonium bromide, citric acid, Triton, or mixtures thereof.

9. The item of protective equipment (10) according to any preceding claim, further comprising: electrical circuitry (14) configured to form an electrical connection with the layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink (20), wherein the electrical circuitry (14) is formed from ink.

10. The item of protective equipment (10) according to any preceding claim, further comprising: a protective pad (25) (e.g., foam, honeycomb) configured to absorb impact forces, wherein the layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink (20) and the protective pad (25) have a corresponding shape.

11. The item of protective equipment (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the piezoresistive elastomeric ink (20) is applied to a portion of a surface of the protective equipment (10).

12. The item of protective equipment (10) according to any preceding claim, the protective equipment (10) comprising: a plurality of layers of piezoresistive elastomeric ink (20a, 20b), wherein each layer (20a, 20b) forms a sensor (20a, 20b) configured to detect the force received by the item of protective equipment (10).

13. The item of protective equipment (10) according to any preceding claim, the protective equipment (10) comprising: a first layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink (20a) on a first side of the item of protective equipment (10); and a second layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink (20b) on a second side of the item of protective equipment (10).

14. The item of protective equipment (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink (20) is applied to the protective equipment (10) by gravure, drop casting, spray, or printing.

15. A method of manufacturing an item of protective equipment (10) comprising a layer of piezoresistive elastomeric ink (20), wherein the method includes: curing the layer of ink (20) to form a sensor (20) configured to detect a force received by the item of protective equipment (10).