Sensors

• US 10,542,935 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2019
• Issued: 01/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Solutions Technologies, S.L.
• Original Assignee: Smart Solutions Technologies, S.L.
• Inventors: Macia Barber, Agustin, Llorca Juan, Daniel, Vicente Rengel, Christian, Gonzalvez Munoz, Borja
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoklosa, Joseph A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Antiskay, Brian M
• Application Number:
  US16/281,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20190183421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 600372, 600382, 600384, 600386, 600388-393, 600508-509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4266 sweat secretion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests

Abstract

A sensor is disclosed comprising, in at least one embodiment an electrode, a track and an electrical connector, wherein, the track is comprising an electrically conductive flexible and elastic material that comprises an electrically conductive material that is non-contiguous that when stretched is able to transmit an electrical signal from an electrode to an electrical connector and from an electrical connector to an electrode.

Claims

1. A fabric which comprises a sensor, wherein the sensor includes an elastic conductive track, a rigid electrical component, and a flexible conductive support base arranged on a textile fabric substrate, the flexible conductive support base being a conductive fabric comprising interlaced conductive fibers and non-conductive fibers and a plurality of orifices throughout a conductive area of the flexible conductive support base, and having at least one of its ends round shaped, wherein at least one end of the track is in contact with the at least one round shaped end of the flexible conductive support base, and a non-contacted area of the flexible conductive support base is in electrical contact with the rigid electrical component, wherein the plurality of orifices are filled with a silicone rubber, and wherein the silicone rubber is attached to the conductive fabric without use of an adhesive.

2. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the elastic conductive track is constructed of silicone rubber and/or fluorosilicone rubber and an electrically conductive material.

3. The fabric of claim 2, wherein the silicone rubber and/or fluorosilicone rubber is loaded with an amount comprising no more than 1% w/w, 2% w/w, 3% w/w, 4% w/w, 5% w/w, 6% w/w, 7% w/w, 8% w/w, 9% w/w, 10% w/w, 11% w/w, 12% w/w, 13% w/w, 14% w/w, 15% w/w, 16% w/w, 17% w/w, 18% w/w, 19% w/w, 20% w/w, 21% w/w, 22% w/w, 23% w/w, 24% w/w, 26% w/w, 27% w/w, 28% w/w, 29% w/w, 30% w/w, 31% w/w, 32% w/w, 33% w/w, 34% w/w, 35% w/w, 36% w/w, 37% w/w, 38% w/w, 39% w/w, 40% w/w, 41% w/w, 42% w/w, 43% w/w, 44% w/w, 45% w/w, 46% w/w, 47% w/w, 48% w/w, 49% w/w, 50% w/w, 51% w/w, 52% w/w, 53% w/w, 54% w/w, 55% w/w, 56% w/w, 57% w/w, 58% w/w, 59% w/w, 60% w/w, 65% w/w, 70% w/w, 75% w/w, 80% w/w, 85% w/w, 90% w/w, 95% w/w or more of an electrically conductive material.

4. The fabric of claim 3, wherein the electrically conductive material is selected from the group of carbon fibers, carbon black, nickel coated graphite, copper fibres or a metal powder.

5. The fabric of claim 4, wherein the carbon black is selected from furnace black, lamp black, thermal black, acetylene black, and channel black.

6. The fabric of claim 4, wherein the metal powder is selected from silver, nickel, and copper.

7. The fabric of claim 2, wherein a resistance value, from one end of the sensor to an opposing end of the sensor is less than 50 KΩ

, 100 KΩ

, 150 KΩ

, 200 KΩ

, 250 KΩ

, 300 KΩ

, 350 KΩ

, 400 KΩ

, 450 KΩ

, 500 KΩ

, 550 KΩ

, 600 KΩ

, 650 KΩ

, 700 KΩ

, 750 KΩ

, 800 KΩ

, 850 KΩ

, 900 KΩ

, 950 KΩ

or 100 KΩ

when the electrically conductive material is stretched.

8. The fabric of claim 2, wherein the sensor is able to stretch at least 1%, at least 2%, at least 3%, at least 4%, at least 5%, 6%, at least 7%, at least 8%, at least 9%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% at least 100%, at least 105%, at least 110%, at least 115%, at least 120%, at least 125%, at least 130%, at least 135%, at least 140%, at least 145%, at least 150%, at least 155%, at least 160%, at least 165%, at least 170%, at least 175%, at least 180%, at least 185%, at least 190%, at least 195%, at least 200%, at least 210%, at least 220%, at least 230%, at least 240%, at least 250%, at least 260%, at least 270%, at least 280%, at least 290%, at least 300% or more as compared to the same sensor when it is not stretched.

9. The fabric of claim 3, wherein the silicone rubber is cured at a temperature of no more than 5°

C., no more than 10°

C., no more than 15°

C., no more than 20°

C., no more than 25°

C., no more than 30°

C., no more than 35°

C., no more than 40°

C., no more than 45°

C., no more than 50°

C., no more than 55°

C., no more than 60°

C., no more than 65°

C., no more than 70°

C., no more than 75°

C., no more than 80°

C., no more than 85°

C., no more than 90°

C., no more than 95°

C., no more than 100°

C., no more than 110°

C., no more than 120°

C., no more than 130°

C., no more than 140°

C., no more than 150°

C., no more than 160°

C., no more than 165, no more than 170°

C., no more than 180°

C., no more than 190°

C., no more than 200°

C., no more than 210°

C., no more than 220°

C., no more than 230°

C., no more than 240°

C., no more than 250°

C., no more than 260°

C., no more than 270°

C., no more than 280°

C., no more than 290°

C. or no more than 300°

C.

10. The fabric of claim 3, wherein the silicone rubber and/or fluorosilicone rubber is liquid printed.

11. The fabric of claim 3, wherein the silicone rubber and/or fluorosilicone rubber is screen printed.

12. The fabric of claim 3, wherein the silicone rubber and/or fluorosilicone rubber has a molecular weight of at least 100 g/mol, 200 g/mol, 300 g/mol, 325 g/mol, 350 g/mol, 375 g/mol, 400 g/mol, 425 g/mol, 450 g/mol, 475 g/mol, 500 g/mol, 525 g/mol, 550 g/mol, 575 g/mol, 600 g/mol, 625 g/mol, 650 g/mol, 674 g/mol, 700 g/mol, 800 g/mol, 900 g/mol, 1000 g/mol, or more.

13. The fabric of claim 3, wherein the silicone rubber and/or fluorosilicone rubber has a molecular weight of no more than 100 g/mol, 200 g/mol, 300 g/mol, 325 g/mol, 350 g/mol, 375 g/mol, 400 g/mol, 425 g/mol, 450 g/mol, 475 g/mol, 500 g/mol, 525 g/mol, 550 g/mol, 575 g/mol, 600 g/mol, 625 g/mol, 650 g/mol, 674 g/mol, 700 g/mol, 800 g/mol, 900 g/mol or 1000 g/mol.

14. The fabric of claim 2, wherein the resistance of the flexible conductive support base is at least 0.50, at least 1Ω

, at least 2Ω

, at least, 3Ω

, at least 4Ω

, at least 5Ω

, at least 6Ω

, at least 7Ω

, at least 8Ω

, at least 9Ω

, at least 10Ω

, at least 11Ω

, at least 12Ω

, at least 13Ω

, at least 14Ω

, at least 15Ω

or more.

15. The fabric of claim 2, wherein the elastic conductive track is integrated into the textile fabric substrate and partially into the at least one round shaped end of the conductive support base by anchoring the silicone with the structure of the fibers of the textile fabric substrate and the conductive support base.

16. The fabric of claim 2, wherein a thickness of the elastic conductive track is at least 25 μ

m, 50 μ

m, 75 μ

m, 100 μ

m, 120 μ

m, 130 μ

m, 140 μ

m, 150 μ

m, 160 μ

m, 170 μ

m, 180 μ

m, 190 μ

m, 200 μ

m, 210 μ

m, 220 μ

m, 230 μ

m, 240 μ

m, 250 μ

m, 260 μ

m, 270 μ

m, 280 μ

m, 290 μ

m, 300 μ

m, 325 μ

m, 350 μ

m, 375 μ

m, 400 μ

m, 425 μ

m, 450 μ

m, 475 μ

m, 500 μ

m, 525 μ

m, 550 μ

m, 575 μ

m, 600 μ

m, 625 μ

m, 650 μ

m, 675 μ

m, 700 μ

m, 725 μ

m, 750 μ

m, 775 μ

m, 800 μ

m, 825 μ

m, 850 μ

m, 875 μ

m, 900 μ

m, 925 μ

m, 950 μ

m, 975 μ

m, 1000 μ

m.

17. The fabric of claim 2, wherein the resistance of the elastic conductive track is at least 1Ω

, at least 2Ω

, at least, 3Ω

, at least 4Ω

, at least 5Ω

, at least 6Ω

, at least 7Ω

, at least 8Ω

, at least 9Ω

, at least 10Ω

, at least 11Ω

, at least 12Ω

, at least 13Ω

, at least 14Ω

, at least 15Ω

, at least 16Ω

, at least 17Ω

, at least 18Ω

, at least 19Ω

, at least 20Ω

, at least 21Ω

, at least 22Ω

, at least 23Ω

, at least 24Ω

, at least 25Ω

, at least 26Ω

, at least 27Ω

, at least 28Ω

, at least 29Ω

, at least 30Ω

, at least 31Ω

, at least 32Ω

, at least 33Ω

, at least 34Ω

, at least 35Ω

, at least 36Ω

, at least 37Ω

, at least 38Ω

, at least 39Ω

, at least 40Ω

, at least 41Ω

, at least 42Ω

, at least 43Ω

, at least 44Ω

, at least 45Ω

, at least 46Ω

, at least 47Ω

, at least 48Ω

, at least 49Ω

, at least 50Ω

, or more.

18. The fabric of claim 2, wherein the elastic conductive track is electrically isolated from its contact with the skin of the wearer of the garment, and the rigid electrical component is an electrical connector adapted to transmit a physiological signal obtained through the flexible conductive support base to an electronic instrument.

19. A process for preparinq the fabric as defined in claim 1, which comprises the steps of:

liquid-printing a first layer of silicone rubber and/or fluorosilicone rubber loaded with an amount between 5% w/w to 40% w/w of an electrically conductive material into the fabric;

pre-curing the first layer for up one minute at a temperature between 80°

C. to 200°

C.; and

curing the first layer at room temperature.

20. The process of claim 19, wherein the liquid-printing step comprises applying a pressure comprising at least 0.1 Kg/m², at least 0.2 Kg/m², at least 0.3 Kg/m², at least 0.4 Kg/m², at least 0.5 Kg/m², at least 0.6 Kg/m², at least 0.7 Kg/m², at least 0.8 Kg/m², at least 0.9 Kg/m², at least 1 Kg/m² when printing the silicone rubber and/or fluorosilicone rubber loaded with the electrically conductive material directly to the fabric.