Wearable heat flux devices and methods of use
First Claim
1. A heat flux device wearable at a location on a user, the heat flux device comprising:
- a heat flux sensor configured to be in contact with the user and detect heat flux at the location, the heat flux sensor comprising a plurality of thermocouple junctions; and
a wicking layer having a bottom surface configured to be in contact with the user and a top surface configured to be exposed to an environment of the user, the wicking layer including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion surrounding at least part of vertical sides of the heat flux sensor and the second portion covering a top surface of the heat flux sensor, the wicking layer configured to absorb moisture at the location through the first portion and to transport the moisture to the second portion for evaporation above the heat flux sensor, wherein the heat flux detected by the heat flux sensor includes evaporative cooling from the evaporation of the moisture.
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Abstract
Wearable heat flux devices are disclosed that can detect heat flux based on evaporative cooling for determining a core body temperature of a user, and that can heat or cool a surface of a user for reaching a steady-state heat flux to determine the core body temperature of the user. Exemplary heat flux devices can include a heat flux sensor and a wicking layer. The heat flux sensor can be configured to detect heat flux at a location on a user. The wicking layer can be configured to absorb moisture at the location and to transport the moisture above the heat flux sensor. The heat flux subsequently detected by the heat flux sensor includes the evaporative cooling from the evaporation of the moisture.
340 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A heat flux device wearable at a location on a user, the heat flux device comprising:
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a heat flux sensor configured to be in contact with the user and detect heat flux at the location, the heat flux sensor comprising a plurality of thermocouple junctions; and a wicking layer having a bottom surface configured to be in contact with the user and a top surface configured to be exposed to an environment of the user, the wicking layer including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion surrounding at least part of vertical sides of the heat flux sensor and the second portion covering a top surface of the heat flux sensor, the wicking layer configured to absorb moisture at the location through the first portion and to transport the moisture to the second portion for evaporation above the heat flux sensor, wherein the heat flux detected by the heat flux sensor includes evaporative cooling from the evaporation of the moisture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of determining heat flux using a heat flux sensor at a location on a user, the method comprising:
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absorbing moisture from the location on the user through a bottom region of a heat flux device placed at the location and in contact with the user; transporting the moisture to a top region of the heat flux device above the heat flux sensor within the heat flux device, the heat flux sensor comprising a plurality of thermocouple junctions; and determining the heat flux at the location on the user by the heat flux sensor, the heat flux including the evaporative heat flux resulting from evaporation of the moisture at the top region, wherein the moisture is absorbed through a first portion of a wicking layer in contact with the user at the bottom region of the heat flux device and is transported to a second portion of the wicking layer at the top region of the heat flux device and exposed to an environment of the user. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification