SENSING DEVICE

• US 20110282164A1
• Filed: 01/24/2009
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2009
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Ming Young Biomedical Corp.
• Original Assignee: Ming Young Biomedical Corp.
• Inventors: Yang, Hao, Yang, Chang-Ming, Yang, Tzulin
• Granted Patent: US 9,462,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0261 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/58 Seat coverings
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/60 Removable protective coverings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves

Abstract

A sensing device comprises a substrate material layer and a plurality of sensors provided on the substrate material layer. The plurality of sensors is electrically connected to form a loop. The loop has two output ends. There is a loop output value between the two output ends. The loop output value varies when the sensors are subjected to an external force. Each sensor has one induction value. The induction value of each sensor is different from each other. A total induction value of any one or more sensors is different from a total induction value of the other one or more sensors.

Claims

1. A sensing apparatus comprising:

a base layer, and;

a plurality of sensors disposed on the base layer, wherein the plurality of sensors are connected to form a circuit with two output terminals configured to output a circuit output that varies with a force applied on one or more sensors in the plurality of sensors;

wherein each of the plurality of sensors is configured to output a unique sensor output, and a sum of any one or more sensor outputs is different from a sum of any other one or more sensor outputs.

2. The sensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a signal processor connected to the output terminals for detecting the circuit output.

3. The sensing apparatus of claim 2 wherein the signal processor can identify one or more locations on the base layer of one or more sensors among the plurality of sensors that produce the circuit output.

4. The sensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base layer is made of textile or leather.

5. The sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise one or more of the following:

a pressure sensor, a strain gauge, a switch, a humidity sensor, an ultrasound sensor, a microphone, a photo sensor, and a temperature sensor.

6. The sensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a multi-stage switch made on a textile material.

7. The sensing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the multi-stage switch comprises a pressure sensor or a strain gauge.

8. The sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes:

a first sensing area disposed on the base layer;

an accessory disposed above the first sensing area on the base layer;

a second sensing area disposed on the accessory at a position corresponding to a position of the first sensing area; and

an electronic component electrically connected to the first and second sensing areas.

9. The sensing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sensor includes one of the following:

a resistor, a capacitor, and an inductor.

10. The sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a light-emitting-diode.

15. A physiological function detecting system, comprising:

the sensing apparatus of claim 1 to sense a posture change of a user'"'"'s body;

a detector to detect a physiological function; and

a signal processor connected to the plurality of sensors and the detector to receive a signal from one or more of the plurality of sensors, and to trigger the detector to detect the physiological function according to a first criterion.

16. A physiological function signal detecting system, comprising:

a sensing apparatus of claim 1 to sense a posture change of a user'"'"'s body;

a treatment device; and

a signal processor connected to the sensing apparatus and the treatment device, for initiating the treatment device, according to a first criterion.

17. A physiological function detecting system of claim 16, wherein the treatment device is a heater, a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator, an ultrasonic device, or an electrical shock device.

23. The physiological function detecting system of claim 15, wherein the physiological function is selected from the group consisting of EKG function, heart rate, pulmonary function, respiration, blood oxygen concentration, body temperature, sweat function, blood pressure, muscle electrograph, body resistance, concentrations of biological elements, and limb movement.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

18. A sensing apparatus, comprising:

a base layer, comprising a first sensing area, and;

an accessory based on a Velcro, comprising a second sensing area at a position corresponding to a position of said first area, and a counterpart Velcro placed on the base material layer at a position corresponding to the position of the second sensing area, wherein the first and the second sensing areas are connected, and wherein a state of connection varies with an applied force.

19. The sensing apparatus of claim 18 wherein the conducting circuit is implemented by conductive Velcro.

20. The sensing apparatus of claim 18, wherein

a base layer, comprising a crevice that is surrounded by a coil, and;

a first sensing area and a second sensing area containing a magnetic material, placed on both sides of the crevice, wherein a shape of the crevice can be distorted by an applied force such that a current is induced in the coil.

21. A sensing apparatus, comprising:

a base layer, comprising a first sensing area; and

an extender comprising an accessory and a connector,

wherein the connector is to connect the accessory to the base layer;

a second sensing area is disposed on the extender at a position corresponding to a position of the first sensing area on the base layer, wherein the first and the second sensing areas are connected such that a state of the connection varies with an applied force wherein the accessory is surrounded by a coil and the first and second sensing areas contain a magnet material such that a current is induced in the coil when a force is applied.

22. A sensing apparatus comprising:

a base layer, comprising a first sensing area; and

an extender comprising an accessory and a connector,

wherein the connector is to connect the accessory to the base layer;

a second sensing area is disposed on the extender at a position corresponding to a position of the first sensing area on the base layer, wherein the first and the second sensing areas are connected such that a state of the connection is varied according to the varies with an applied fore;

wherein the accessory is surrounded by a coil and the first and second sensing areas contain a magnet material such that a current is induced in the coil when a force is applied.