Impact Detection System

• US 20120144934A1
• Filed: 11/08/2011
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zephyr Technology Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Zephyr Technology Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Russell, Brian Keith, Mallinson, Paul Benjamin, Kent, Stephen Christopher, Solomon, Christopher MIchael
• Granted Patent: US 8,915,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/862.626
• CPC Class Codes: A41H 1/02 Devices for taking measurements on the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 1/02 Armoured or projectile- or missile-resistant garments; Composite protection fabrics F41H5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/056 Switch actuation by hit-generated mechanical vibration of the target body, e.g. using shock or vibration transducers
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0052 measuring forces due to impact G01L5/0061, G01L5/14 take precedence; impact testing of structures G01M7/08; impact testing of material G01N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/127 for acceleration values
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/125 by capacitive pick-up

Abstract

A device, method of manufacture, and garment for detecting an impact is provided. In one embodiment, the garment comprises a capacitive compression sensor attached to the garment having an inner and outer layer of conductive material as well as a compressible non-conductive material between the inner and outer layers. The outer layer of conductive material may include an electrical isolation region. The garment may further include an impact detection device electrically connected to the capacitive compression sensor via a conductor that traverses the electrical isolation region; and wherein the impact detection device comprises a processing circuit configured to process a change in a capacitance of the capacitive compression sensor into a digital format representative of the impact. The outer layer of conductive material may enclose the inner layer of conductive material.

Claims

1. A garment to detect an impact, comprising:

at least one capacitive compression sensor attached to the garment;

said at least one capacitive compression sensor comprising an inner layer of conductive material and an outer layer of conductive material;

said at least one capacitive compression sensor comprising a compressible non-conductive material between said inner layer and said outer layer of conductive material;

said outer layer of conductive material including an electrical isolation region; and

an impact detection device electrically connected to said at least one capacitive compression sensor via a conductor that traverses said electrical isolation region; and

said impact detection device comprising a processing circuit configured to process a change in a capacitance of said at least one capacitive compression sensor into a digital format representative of the impact.

2. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said outer layer of conductive material encloses said inner layer of conductive material.

3. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the garment is segmented into a plurality of zones and wherein each of the plurality of zones has one or more capacitive compression sensors attached to the garment and electrically connected to said impact detection device.

4. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said outer layer is coupled to an electrical ground of said impact detection device and said inner layer is electrically connected to a signal input of said impact detection device.

5. The garment according to claim 4, wherein said processing circuit is configured to sample an amplitude of the signal input to generate a waveform representative of the impact.

6. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said inner layer is formed from a stretchable and flexible conductive fabric.

7. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said inner layer is formed from a metallized cloth.

8. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said outer layer is formed from a stretchable conductive fabric.

9. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said outer layer is formed from a metallised cloth.

10. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said compressible non-conductive material is formed from a closed cell foam material.

12. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said inner layer and said outer layer of each of the plurality of capacitive compression sensors is formed from a stretchable conductive material.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

attaching a plurality capacitive compression sensors to the garment; and

electrically connecting the plurality of capacitive compression sensors to the impact detection device.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein said attaching comprises integrating the capacitive compression sensors into the garment.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein said impact detection device is configured to generate a waveform representative of the impact.

17. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said inner conductive layer is formed from a stretchable conductive fabric.

18. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said inner conductive layer is formed from a metallized cloth.

19. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said outer conductive layer is formed from a stretchable conductive fabric.

20. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said compressible non-conductive material is formed from a closed cell foam material.

11. A wearable garment to detect an impact, comprising:

a plurality of capacitive compression sensors;

each of said plurality of capacitive compression sensors comprising;

an inner layer of conductive material and an outer layer of conductive material; and

a compressible non-conductive material between said inner layer and said outer layer of conductive material;

an impact detection device electrically connected to each of said plurality of capacitive compression sensors;

said impact detection device comprising a processing circuit configured to process a change in a capacitance of each of the plurality of capacitive compression sensors into a digital format representative of an impact; and

wherein the garment is segmented into a plurality of zones and wherein each of the plurality of zones includes one or more of the plurality of capacitive compression sensors attached to the garment.

13. A method of forming a garment to detect an impact, comprising:

providing an inner conductive layer;

providing a compressible non-conductive material around said inner conductive layer;

providing an outer conductive layer enclosing said compressible non-conductive material and said inner conductive layer;

wherein said inner conductive layer, said compressible non-conductive material, and said outer conductive layer form a capacitive compression sensor;

attaching the compression sensor to the garment;

electrically connecting an impact detection device to said inner conductive layer of said capacitive compression sensor through an electrical isolation region of said outer conductive layer; and

wherein said impact detection device is configured to receive a signal input from said capacitive compression sensor to generate data representative of the impact.