Abstract-Posture and gesture analysis, together with the monitoring of body kinematics, is a field of increasing interest in bioengineering and several connected disciplines. In this paper, some typical features of distributed sensing systems are described, as well as a methodology to read signals from such systems. Theory, simulation, results, and some specific applications are shown. Strain gauges have been used as sensors and have been deposited directly onto textile fibers, demonstrating one way to realize a wearable sensor system. Index Terms-Electroactive polymers, posture reconstruction, redundancy in sensing systems, resistive network reading algorithms, smart textiles.
In this paper, we report on a new technology used to implement strain sensors to be integrated in usual garments. A particular conductive mixture based on commercial products is realized and directly spread over a piece of fabric, which shows, after the treatment, piezoresistive properties, i.e., a change in resistance when it is strained. This property is exploited to realize sensorized garments such as gloves, leotards, and seat covers capable of reconstructing and monitoring body shape, posture, and gesture. In general, this technology is a good candidate for adherent wearable systems with excellent mechanical coupling with body surface. Here, we mainly focused on a sensorized glove able to detect posture and movements of the fingers. It could be used in several fields of application. We report on experimental results of a sensorized glove used as movements recorder for rehabilitation therapies and medicine. Furthermore, we describe a dedicated methodology used to read the output sensors which allowed to avoid using metallic wires for the connections. The price to be paid for all these advantages is a nonlinear electric response of the fabric sensor and a too long settling time, that in principle, make these sensors not suitable for real-time applications. Here we propose a hardware and computational solution to overcome this limitation.
An ultra wideband (UWB) system-on-chip radar sensor for respiratory rate monitoring has been realized in 90 nm CMOS technology and characterized experimentally. The radar testchip has been applied to the contactless detection of the respiration activity of adult and baby. The field operational tests demonstrate that the UWB radar sensor detects the respiratory rate of person under test (adult and baby) associated with sub-centimeter chest movements, allowing the continuous-time non-invasive monitoring of hospital patients and other people at risk of obstructive apneas such as babies in cot beds, or other respiratory diseases.
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