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EP-4739824-A1 - A WOVEN FABRIC SENSOR FOR MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SENSING AND AN OPERATING METHOD FOR ANALYSING A SINGLE INPUT SENSOR SIGNAL GENERATED BY A WOVEN FABRIC SENSOR

EP4739824A1EP 4739824 A1EP4739824 A1EP 4739824A1EP-4739824-A1

Abstract

The invention is directed to a woven fabric sensor (100) for multi-dimensional sensing enabling a dynamic functional design comprising: a plurality of electrically conductive warps (10a to 10f) arranged parallel to each other; at least one electrically non-conductive weft (20a to 20i) floating over or under the warp (10), wherein the weft (20a to 20i) comprises a bridge section (22a to 22i) floating over or under at least two adjacent electrically conductive warps (10a to 10f ) for generating an electrically connected bridge path (30a to 30e); and a plurality of overlapping bridge paths (31) forming a continuous path of conductivity (32); characterised by a sensor section (50) defined by a plurality of continuous paths of conductivity (32, 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d) having a common electrically conductive warp (10a to 10f).

Inventors

  • WEGNER, KARSTEN
  • SHIM, Edward Sup
  • PALACZ, Tomasz Andrzej

Assignees

  • DimensionX Spólka z o.o.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240711

Claims (15)

  1. 1 . A woven fabric sensor (100) for multi-dimensional sensing enabling a dynamic functional design comprising: a plurality of electrically conductive warps (10a to 10f) arranged parallel to each other; at least one electrically non-conductive weft (20a to 20i) floating over or under the warp (10), wherein the weft (20a to 20i) comprises a bridge section (22a to 22 i) floating over or under at least two adjacent electrically conductive warps (10a to 10f ) for generating an electrically connected bridge path (30a to 30e); and a plurality of overlapping bridge paths (31 ) forming a continuous path of conductivity (32); characterised by a sensor section (50) defined by a plurality of continuous paths of conductivity (32, 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d) having a common electrically conductive warp (10a to 10f).
  2. 2. The woven fabric sensor (100) of claim 1 , comprising a first weft (20c) having a first bridge section (22c) for generating a first bridge path (30c) and a second weft (20d) having a second bridge section (22d) for generating a second bridge path (30d), wherein the first bridge path (30c) and the second bridge path (30d) are electrically connected to at least one common electrically conductive warp (10c, 10d).
  3. 3. The woven fabric sensor (100) of claim 2, wherein the second bridge path (30d) is electrically connected to at least one electrically conductive warp (10b), which is not electrically connected to the first bridge path (30c).
  4. 4. The woven fabric sensor (100) of any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a plurality of sensor sections (50, 55), wherein preferably the plurality of sensor sections (50, 55) is insulated from each other by an insulating section (53).
  5. 5. The woven fabric sensor (100) of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the multiple of continuous paths of conductivity (32; 32a, 32b; 32c, 32d) are electrically linked with each other forming an electrically conductive line (33.1 ; 33.2), wherein preferably the electrically conductive line (33.1 ; 33.2) follows a wave like pattern or a zigzag pattern or a stepped pattern or a saw tooth pattern.
  6. 6. The woven fabric sensor (100) of claim 5, wherein the sensor section (50, 55) comprises at least two electrically conductive lines (33.1 , 33.2) having at least one common electrically conductive warp (10a to 10f).
  7. 7. The woven fabric sensor (100) of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the electrically conductive line (33.1 ; 33.2) extends along the direction of warp and the continuous path of conductivity (32) crosses at least one electrically conductive warp (10a to 10f) multiple times.
  8. 8. The woven fabric sensor (100) of any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a single contact point (40) for transmitting a single input sensor signal (Sin1 ), wherein preferably, wherein the single contact point (40) is arranged within the sensor section (50, 55).
  9. 9. A multi-dimensional sensing system (200) for measuring sensing parameters comprising: a woven fabric sensor (100) according to claim 8, a connector (210) connected to the single contact point (40) for transmitting the single input signal to a control unit (230), wherein the control unit (230) is configured to process the single input signal.
  10. 10. A seat (500) characterized by a woven fabric sensor (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 or a bed (600) characterized by a woven fabric sensor (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
  11. 11. An operating method for analysing a single input sensor signal (Sin1 ) generated by a woven fabric sensor (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 or a multi-dimensional sensing system (200) according to claim 9 carried out by a control unit (230), the method comprising the followings steps: a. receiving a single input sensor signal (Sin1 ) having a signal value (SV1 ), b. analysing the signal value (SV1 ), wherein the step of analysing comprises a step of comparing the signal value measured over a period of time with a reference information, and c. generating an output signal (Sout) comprising an information regarding the signal value (SV1 ), wherein the information comprises a user specific information.
  12. 12. The operating method of claim 11 , wherein the reference information is generated by use of a training data set comprising a reference data set having a specific user information.
  13. 13. The operating method of claim 11 or 12, wherein the method comprises a step of classifying the signal value by use of the reference information.
  14. 14. The operating method of any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein a first output signal (1 Sout) is generated when the signal value (SV1 ) is equal or greater than a first cutoff threshold value (1CTV), and/or wherein a second output signal (2S 0U t) is generated when the signal value (SV1 ) is equal or greater than a second cutoff threshold value (2CTV), and/or wherein a third output signal (2S 0U t) is generated when the signal value (SV1 ) is equal or greater than a third cutoff threshold value (3CTV).
  15. 15. The operating method of any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the sensing parameter is any one of: proximity, capacitance, temperature, humidity, vibration, applied force, or pressure differential.

Description

A woven fabric sensor for multi-dimensional sensing and an operating method for analysing a single input sensor signal generated by a woven fabric sensor The invention relates to a woven fabric sensor for multi-dimensional sensing, a multi-dimensional sensing system, and a seat or a bed comprising the woven fabric sensor for multi-dimensional sensing. The invention further relates to an operating method for analysing a single input sensor signal generated by a woven fabric sensor. The development of smart materials and smart sensors using electronic textiles with woven fabric sensors is emerging worldwide. The sensors commonly used use either capacitive or resistive sensing methods and are applied to a variety of cases such as seats in the automotive industry or beds in the healthcare industry. Capacitive sensing generally uses two layers of conductive materials separated by a non-conductive layer, to transfer charge that bounces from one conductive layer to the other conductive layer to create a sensor signal change corresponding to electrical resistance. An equivalent exemplary fabric sensor hereto is disclosed in EP 3374551 A1 or WO 2018 076 106 A1 . However, this structure does not allow capacitive sensing to be used for voltage differential sensing, whereas voltage differential requires two conductive layers to come into contact for a transfer of charge, resulting in a sensor signal change corresponding to electrical resistance. Conventional electronics and sensors, such as exemplarily disclosed in DE 11 2017 000 505 T5 or US 2005 072 250 A1 , operate in a closed loop that includes power and ground. Through capacitive or voltage differential sensing methods, the resistance provides a changing signal which is then translated into a meaningful output information. To derive more meaningful information from an electrical signal having a single electrical source, a load is applied which requires additional parts and components. An example of an added load is a variable resistor to create a dynamic electrical signal to increase or decrease the energy flow in a closed loop, such as a dimmer switch that allows a light to be brightened or dimmed, by the use of added resistors. Electronic systems have a limited power supply. Adding extra parts and sensors to derive more information results in increased power consumption, with the amount of power required based on each load to function. The addition of extra parts and sensors increase the costs, complexity and functionality of electronic systems, the development process, and the dependence on diverse supply chains. Another fabric sensor is known from WO 2009/093040 A1 , but this fabric is knitted rather than woven. A knitted fabric generally has more stretch than a woven fabric. However, the excessive movement of most electrically conductive materials reduce their lifetime, as the conductive material tends to break when it is exposed to excessive movement. Woven fabrics comprising an electrically conductive material are also known from EP 2 524 983 A2. However, this fabric consists of non-conductive warp and non- conductive weft yams. The electrically conductive wire is an additional wire woven into the fabric additionally to the electrically non-conductive warp yams and electrically non-conductive weft yams. A further fabric-based item is disclosed by US 10 400 364 B1 or WO 2007 050 650 A2. The disclosed fabric comprises conductive warp strands and insulating weft strands. The insulating weft strands presses in defined regions four conductive warp strands together. Furthermore, US 2019 301 058 A1 discloses another fabric consisting of multiple weft yams and multiple warp yams having at least one conductive part. The conductive yam is exposed on the upper side in the conductive part. A common drawback of fabric sensors is a high level of signal noise, which leads to higher power consumption and inaccuracy in signal analysis. The object of the invention is to provide a woven fabric sensor, a multi-dimensional sensing system, a seat, or a bed as well as an operating method with an improved energy efficiency and a reduced signal noise. The object of the invention is solved by a woven fabric sensor according to independent claim 1 , a multi-dimensional sensing system according to independent claim 9, a seat or a bed according to independent claim 10, and an operating method according to claim 11 . A first aspect of the invention is directed to the woven fabric sensor for multi-dimensional sensing enabling a dynamic functional design, which comprises a plurality of electrically conductive warps, at least on electrically non-conductive weft, a plurality of overlapping bridge paths and a sensor section. The warps are arranged parallel to each other. The at least one weft is floating over or under the warp. The weft comprises a bridge section floating over or under at least two adjacent electrically conductive warps for generating an electrically connected bridge pat