Systems, methods, and devices for static and dynamic body measurements

Abstract

In various aspects, embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to measuring static and dynamic forces of a body using sensors. In particular, a sensor may include a first layer serving as a flexible support material; a second layer on the first layer, the second layer serving as a sensing material; and a third layer on the second layer, the third layer comprising an insulating material. Further, the second layer and the third layer may be coupled using a first electrode comprising a first conductive thread and a first non-conductive thread. Additionally, the first conductive thread may be embedded in the second layer. Also, the first layer and the second layer may be further coupled using a second electrode comprising a second conductive thread and a second non-conductive thread, the second conductive thread may be embedded in the second layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device comprising at least one sensor, the sensor comprising:
 a first sensor, comprising:
 a first layer serving as a flexible support material; 
 a second layer on the first layer, the second layer serving as a sensing material; and 
 a third layer on the second layer, the third layer comprising an insulating material, 
 wherein the second layer and the third layer are coupled using a first electrode comprising a first conductive thread and a first non-conductive thread, the first conductive thread embedded in the second layer, and 
 wherein the first layer and the second layer are further coupled using a second electrode comprising a second conductive thread and a second non-conductive thread, the second conductive thread embedded in the second layer, and 
 
 a second sensor spaced laterally from the first sensor along a common horizontal axis or a common vertical axis, the second sensor comprising:
 the first layer serving as the flexible support material for the second sensor; 
 a fourth layer on the first layer, the fourth layer serving as a second sensing material; and 
 the third layer on the fourth layer, the third layer comprising the insulating material, 
 wherein the fourth layer and the third layer are coupled using a third electrode comprising a third conductive thread and a third non-conductive thread, the third conductive thread embedded in the fourth layer, and 
 wherein the fourth layer and the first layer are coupled using a fourth electrode comprising a fourth conductive thread, the fourth conductive thread embedded in the first layer and the fourth layer. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of claim  1  30, wherein a material composition for at least one of the flexible support material, the sensing material, and the insulating material is selected from the group consisting of comprises a fabric and or a polymer. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim  1  30, wherein the sensing material comprises a dopant, wherein the dopant is selected from the group consisting one or more of a group I element, a group II element, a transition metal, a group III element, a group IV element, a group V element, a group VI element, and a group VII element, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim  1  30, wherein a composition of at least one of the first conductive thread, or the second conductive thread, the third conductive thread, and the fourth conductive thread is selected from the group consisting one or more of a metal and a conductive polymer. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim  1  30, wherein a density per unit area of a stitching of at least one of the first conductive thread, or the second conductive thread, the third conductive thread, and the fourth conductive thread is configured to alter one or more of a response time, an input dynamic range, an output dynamic range, and/or and a sensitivity of the sensor. 
     
     
       6. The device of claim  1  30, wherein a radius of at least one of the first conductive thread, or the second conductive thread, the third conductive thread, and the fourth conductive thread is configured to alter one or more of a response time, an input dynamic range, an output dynamic range, and/or and a sensitivity of the sensor. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim  1  30, wherein a thickness of the sensing material is between about 100 nanometers and about 1 centimeter, and wherein the thickness of the sensing material is configured to alter one or more of a response time, an input dynamic range, an output dynamic range, and/or and a sensitivity of the sensor. 
     
     
       8. The device of claim  1  30, wherein (i) a cross-sectional shape of the first electrode, or the second electrode, the third electrode, and the fourth electrode, or (ii) a spacing between two or more of the first electrode, and the second electrode, the third electrode, and the fourth electrode,; or (iii) a thickness of the sensing material is configured to alter one or more of a response time, an input dynamic range, an output dynamic range, and/or and a sensitivity of the sensor. 
     
     
       9. An article comprising having at least one device, the device comprising:
 a first sensor comprising:
 a first sensing material and a first electrode along a top edge of the first sensing material, the first sensing material being wired to a first signal output, and 
 a second electrode along a bottom edge of the first sensing material, the second electrode coupled to a first insulating material;, wherein at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode comprises a conductive thread sewn into at least one of the first sensing material or the first insulating material. 
 
 a second sensor spaced vertically from the first sensor across the first insulating material, the second sensor comprising:
 a second sensing material and a third electrode electrically connected to the second electrode, the second sensing material wired to a common electrical connection, the third electrode passing from a top edge of the second sensing material to a bottom edge of the second sensing material, the third electrode coupled to a second insulating material, and   a fourth electrode along a top edge of the second sensing material, the fourth electrode wired to a second signal output; and   
 a third sensor spaced vertically from the second sensor across the second insulating material, the third sensor comprising:
 a third sensing material, 
 a fifth electrode along a top edge of the third sensing material wired to the common electrical connection, and 
 a sixth electrode along a bottom edge of the third sensing material, 
 
 the sixth electrode wired to a third signal output. 
 
     
     
       10. The article of claim  9  28, wherein the first insulating material is disposed on a top side of the article, and wherein the second insulating material is disposed on a bottom side of the article. 
     
     
       11. The article of  claim 9 , wherein a material composition of at least one of the first sensing material, the second sensing material, the third sensing material, or the first insulating material, and the second insulating material is selected from the group consisting of comprises a fabric and or a polymer material. 
     
     
       12. The article of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first sensing material, the second sensing material, and the third sensing material comprises a dopant, wherein the dopant is selected from the group consisting one or more of a group I element, a group II element, a transition metal, a group III element, a group IV element, a group V element, a group VI element, a group VII element, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       13. The article of  claim 9 , wherein a thickness of at least one of the first sensing material, the second sensing material, and the third sensing material is between about 100 nanometers to about 1 centimeter, and wherein the thickness of the first sensing material, the second sensing material, or the third sensing material is configured to alter one or more of a response time, an input dynamic range, an output dynamic range, and/or and a sensitivity of the first sensor, the second sensor, or the third sensor. 
     
     
       14. The article of  claim 9 , wherein (i) a cross-sectional shape of the first electrode, and the second electrode, the third electrode, the fourth electrode, the fifth electrode, and the sixth electrode or (ii) a spacing between two or more of the first electrode, and the second electrode, the third electrode, the fourth electrode, the fifth electrode, and the sixth electrode is configured to alter one or more of a response time, an input dynamic range, an output dynamic range, and/or and a sensitivity of the first sensor, the second sensor, or the third sensor. 
     
     
       15. The article of claim  9  29, wherein a normal force acting on a portion of the first sensing material generates a compression of the first sensor and a tension on the third sensor. 
     
     
       16. The article of  claim 15 , wherein the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor generate a bend signal, a pressure signal, and a stretch signal based on the compression and the tension. 
     
     
       17. The device of claim 30, wherein the first sensor is configured to generate one or more of a bend signal, a pressure signal, a stretch signal, or a signal resulting from a physical deformation of the sensing material. 
     
     
       18. The device of claim 30, wherein one or more of the first conductive thread, the first non-conductive thread, and the second conductive thread is independently exposed on a surface of the first layer or the second layer. 
     
     
       19. The device claim 30, wherein one or more of the first conductive thread or the second conductive thread is patterned to comprise one or more exposed regions on the second layer, wherein lengths of the one or more exposed regions are configured to alter one or more of a response time, an input dynamic range, an output dynamic range, and a sensitivity of the sensor. 
     
     
       20. The device of claim 30, wherein at least one of resistivity, capacitance, or inductance of the sensing material is configured to correspond to an expected pressure load on the sensing material. 
     
     
       21. The device of claim 30 further comprising one or more additional sensors, wherein the first sensor and the one or more additional sensors have sensing orthogonality properties, and wherein signals received from the first sensor and the one or more additional sensors in response to a physical deformation of the sensing material have opposite signs. 
     
     
       22. The device of claim 30, wherein a degree of capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode is configured to correspond to a measure of deformation of the flexible support material. 
     
     
       23. The device of claim 30, further comprising an array of sensors including the first sensor, the array of sensors being arranged on the flexible support material in a pattern configured to measure electric field tomography. 
     
     
       24. The device of claim 23, wherein the array of sensors comprises a first electrode pair and two or more neighboring electrodes,
 wherein the first electrode pair is configured to emit one or more signals,   wherein the two or more neighboring electrodes are configured to measure voltage values at the two or more neighboring electrodes, and   wherein differences in the voltage values correspond to a location on the flexible support material where a force is applied.   
     
     
       25. The device of claim 30, further comprising an array of sensors including the first sensor, the array of sensors being arranged on the flexible support material in a pattern configured to measure electric impedance tomography,
 wherein one or more pairs of electrodes, including the first electrode and the second electrode, in the array of sensors are configured to measure values of resistance corresponding to locations of the one or more pairs of electrodes, and   wherein a change in the values of resistance corresponds to a location on the flexible support material where a deformation occurred.   
     
     
       26. The device of claim 30, further comprising:
 an array of sensors including the first sensor, the array of sensors being arranged on different locations of the flexible material; and   a radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to capture one or more RF signals from the array of sensors, wherein the one or more captured RF signals corresponds to positions of the array of sensors relative to the RF transceiver.   
     
     
       27. An article comprising the device of claim 1, wherein the article is at least one of a garment, a shoe, a sock, an insole, pants, a shirt, an undergarment, or a hat. 
     
     
       28. The article of claim 9, wherein the device further comprises:
 a second sensor spaced vertically from the first sensor across the first insulating material, the second sensor comprising:
 a second sensing material and a third electrode electrically connected to the second electrode, the second sensing material wired to a common electrical connection, the third electrode passing from a top edge of the second sensing material to a bottom edge of the second sensing material, the third electrode coupled to a second insulating material, and 
 a fourth electrode along a top edge of the second sensing material, the fourth electrode wired to a second signal output. 
   
     
     
       29. The article of claim 28, wherein the device further comprises:
 a third sensor spaced vertically from the second sensor across the second insulating material, the third sensor comprising:
 a third sensing material, 
 a fifth electrode along a top edge of the third sensing material wired to the common electrical connection, and 
 a sixth electrode along a bottom edge of the third sensing material, the sixth electrode wired to a third signal output. 
   
     
     
       30. A device comprising:
 a second sensor spaced laterally from a first sensor along a common horizontal axis or a common vertical axis, the second sensor comprising:
 a first layer serving as a flexible support material for the second sensor; 
 a second layer on the first layer, the second layer serving as a sensing material; and 
 a third layer on the second layer, the third layer comprising an insulating material, 
 wherein the second layer and the third layer are coupled using a first electrode comprising a first conductive thread and a first non-conductive thread, the first conductive thread being sewn into the second layer, and 
 wherein the second layer and the first layer are coupled using a second electrode comprising a second conductive thread, the second conductive thread being sewn into the first layer and the second layer.