Multifunctional and Wearable Patches Based on Flexible Piezoelectric Acoustics for Integrated Sensing, Localization, and Underwater Communication

Abstract

Flexible and wearable sensors are highly desired for health monitoring, agriculture, sport, and indoor positioning systems applications. However, the currently developed wireless wearable sensors, which are communicated through radio signals, can only provide limited positioning accuracy and are often ineffective in underwater conditions. In this paper, a wireless platform based on flexible piezoelectric acoustics is developed with multiple functions of sensing, communication, and positioning. Under a high frequency (≈13 MHz) stimulation, Lamb waves are generated for respiratory monitoring. Whereas under low-frequency stimulation (≈20 kHz), this device is agitated as a vibrating membrane, which can be implemented for communication and positioning applications. Indoor communication is demonstrated within 2.8 m at 200 bps or 4.2 m at 25 bps. In combination with the sensing function, real-time respiratory monitoring and wireless communication are achieved simultaneously. The distance measurement is achieved based on the phase differences of transmitted and received acoustic signals within a range of 100 cm, with a maximum error of 3 cm. This study offers new insights into the communication and positioning applications using flexible acoustic wave devices, which are promising for wireless and wearable sensor networks.

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“…Because vibration is a relatively slight motion state, the sensitivity of sensors sensing vibration is generally high, and it is necessary to receive information on tiny motions. As shown in Figure b, Zhang et al developed a wireless platform based on flexible piezoelectric acoustics, which has many functions, such as sensing, communication, and positioning, and can also be used for respiratory monitoring . Because this flexible device is made on a thin low-stiffness substrate, when low-frequency electrical signals are excited, they will be forced to vibrate and transmit sound waves due to the piezoelectric effect.…”

“…As shown in Figure 5b, Zhang et al developed a wireless platform based on flexible piezoelectric acoustics, which has many functions, such as sensing, communication, and positioning, and can also be used for respiratory monitoring. 64 Because this flexible device is made on a thin low-stiffness substrate, when low-frequency electrical signals are excited, they will be forced to vibrate and transmit sound waves due to the piezoelectric effect. In addition, these flexible devices can also receive sound waves and generate net charges on the electrodes.…”

“…(b) Sensing process for sensing sound wave vibration. Reproduced from ref : Zhang, Q.; Wang, Y.; Li, D.; Xie, J.; Tao, K.; Hu, P.; Zhou, J.; Chang, H.; Fu, Y. Adv . Funct .…”

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