Multifunctional conducting polymer structures

Abstract

The present invention includes the use of conducting polymers as sensors in distributed sensing systems, as sensors and operating elements in multifunctional devices, and for conducting-polymer based multifunctional sensing fabrics suitable for monitoring humidity, breath, heart rate, blood (location of wounds), blood pressure, skin temperature, weight and movement, in a wearable, electronic embedded sensor system, as examples. A fabric comprising conducting polyaniline fibers that can be used to distribute energy for resistive heating as well as for sensing the fabric temperature is described as an example of a multifunctional sensing fabric.

1 . Multifunctional device comprising in combination:
 (a) a conducting polymer element having the value of a physical property responsive to a condition to which said element is exposed, said element being capable of changing the condition in response to a stimulus external to said element;   (b) means for measuring the value of the physical property and generating a signal in response thereto; and   (c) means for receiving the signal from said value measuring means, for generating a stimulus effective for maintaining the condition at a chosen value or changing the condition to a new value and for applying the stimulus to said element.   
     
     
         2 . The multifunctional device as described in  claim 1 , wherein said conducting polymer element comprises polyanline. 
     
     
         3 . The multifunctional device as described in  claim 1 , wherein the condition is temperature, the physical property of said element is resistivity, and the stimulus is electric current. 
     
     
         4 . The multifunctional device as described in  claim 1 , wherein said element comprises at least one polyaniline fiber. 
     
     
         5 . The multifunctional device as described in  claim 4 , wherein said at least one polyaniline fiber is woven, knitted, stitched, or braided into a fabric comprising non-conducting fibers. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus for measuring subject status, comprising in combination:
 (a) a first plurality of substantially parallel, spaced-apart, electrically conducting polymer fibers defining a first surface;   (b) a second plurality of substantially parallel, spaced-apart, electrically conducting polymer fibers defining a second surface, such that the first surface and the second surface are coextensive;   (c) means for electrically isolating said first plurality of polymer fibers from said second plurality of polymer fibers;   (d) means for applying an electrical signal to at least one polymer fiber of said first plurality of polymer fibers;   (e) means for detecting an electrical signal on at least one polymer fiber of said second plurality of polymer fibers; and   (f) means for measuring the time dependence of the resistance of at least one polymer fiber from said first plurality of polymer fibers, or from said second plurality of polymer fibers.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as described in  claim 6 , wherein said means for applying an electrical signal to said at least one polymer fiber is adapted to repeatedly apply the electrical signal to said at least one polymer fiber in said first plurality of polymer fibers in a first chosen order during a first chosen period, whereby substantially all of said at least one polymer fibers in turn receive a signal during the chosen period. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as described in  claim 7 , wherein said means for detecting an electrical signal on said at least one polymer fiber is adapted to repeatedly sample the electrical signal on said at least one polymer fiber in said second plurality of polymer fibers in a second chosen order during a second chosen period, whereby substantially all of said at least one polymer fibers in said second plurality of polymer fibers are sampled in turn. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as described in  claim 6 , wherein said means for measuring the time dependence of the resistance of at least one polymer fiber from said first plurality of polymer fibers, or from said second plurality of polymer fibers is adapted to repeatedly sample the resistance on said at least one polymer fiber from said first plurality of polymer fibers, or from said second plurality of fibers in a third chosen order during a third chosen period, whereby substantially all of said at least one polymer fibers in said first plurality of polymer fibers, or in said second plurality of fibers are sampled in turn. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as described in  claim 6 , wherein said first plurality of electrically conducting polymer fibers and said second plurality of electrically conducting polymer fibers comprise polyaniline fibers. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as described in  claim 10 , wherein said polyaniline fibers are woven, knitted, stitched, or braided into a fabric comprising non-conducting fibers. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as described in  claim 6 , wherein said subject status comprises subject breathing and subject bleeding. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus for heating, comprising in combination:
 (a) at least one conducting polymer fiber;   (b) means for applying electric current to said at least one conducting polymer fiber; and   (c) means for measuring the resistance of said at least one polymer fiber, such that the temperature of said fiber can be determined.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as described in  claim 13 , further comprising feedback means for controlling said electric current applying means in response to the resistance measured by said resistance measuring means, whereby the temperature of said conducting polymer fiber is maintained at a chosen temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as described in  claim 13 , wherein said conducting polymer fiber comprises polyaniline. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as described in  claim 15 , wherein said polyaniline fiber is woven, knitted, stitched, or braided into a fabric comprising non-conducting fibers. 
     
     
         17 . A method for heating, comprising the steps of:
 (a) applying electric current to at least one conducting polymer fiber; and   (b) measuring the resistance of the at least one polymer fiber, such that the temperature of the fiber can be determined.   
     
     
         18 . The method as described in  claim 17 , further comprising the step of controlling said electric current in response to the resistance measured in said step of measuring the resistance with a feedback system, whereby the temperature of said conducting polymer fiber is maintained at a chosen temperature. 
     
     
         19 . The method as described in  claim 17 , wherein said conducting polymer fiber comprises polyaniline. 
     
     
         20 . The method as described in  claim 19 , wherein said polyaniline fiber is woven, knitted, stitched, or braided into a fabric comprising non-conducting fibers.