• 센서학회지
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.24-32
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• 2007

Conductive rubber material was molded in a belt shape to measure respiration. Its resistivity was approximately $0.03{\;}{\Omega}m$ and the resistance-displacement relationship showed a negative exponent. The temperature coefficient was approximately $0.006{\;}k{\Omega}/^{\circ}C$ negligible when practically applied on the abdomen. The conductive rubber belt was applied on a normal male's abdomen with the dimensional change measured during resting breathing. The abdominal signal was differentiated ($F_{m}$) and compared with the accurate standard air flow rate signal ($F_{s}$) obtained by pneumotachometry. $F_{m}$ and $F_{s}$ differed in waveform, but the start and end timings of each breaths were clearly synchronized, demonstrating that the respiratory frequency could be accurately estimated before further processing of $F_{m}$. $F_{m}-F_{s}$ loop showed a nonlinear hysteresis within each breath period, thus 6 piecewise linear approximation was performed, leading to a mean relative error of 14 %. This error level was relatively large for clinical application, though customized calibration seemed feasible for monitoring general variation of ventilation. The present technique would be of convenient and practical application as a new wearable respiratory transducer.

• 전기전자학회논문지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.66-69
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• 2017

In recent year, energy harvesting technologies from the ambient environments such as light, motion, wireless waves, and temperature again a lot of attraction form research community [1-5] due to its efficient solution in order to substitute for conventional power delivery methods, especially in wearable together with on-body applications. The drawbacks of battery-powered characteristic used in commodity applications lead to self-powered, long-lifetime circuit design. Thermoelectric generator, a solid-state sensor, is useful compared to the harvesting devices in order to enable self-sustained low-power applications. TEG based on the Seebeck effect is utilized to transfer thermal energy which is available with a temperature gradient into useful electrical energy. Depending on the temperature difference between two sides, amount of output power will be proportionally delivered. In this work, we illustrated a low-input voltage energy harvesting circuit applied discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) method for getting an adequate amount of energy from thermoelectric generator (TEG) for a specific wearable application. With a small temperature gradient harvested from human skin, the input voltage from the transducer is as low as 60mV, the proposed circuit, fabricated in a $0.6{\mu}m$ CMOS process, is capable of generating a regulated output voltage of 4.2V with an output power reaching to $40{\mu}W$. The proposed circuit is useful for powering energy to battery-less systems, such as wearable application devices.

• 센서학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.133-142
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• 2008

Respiration is induced by muscular contraction of the chest and abdomen, resulting in the abdominal volume change. Thus, continuous measurement of the abdominal dimension enables to monitor breathing activity. Conductive rubber cord has been previously introduced and tested to develop wearable application for respiratory measurements. The present study implemented wireless wearable respiratory monitoring system with the conductive rubber cord in the patient's pants. Signal extraction circuitry was developed to obtain the abdominal circumference changes reflecting the lung volume variation caused by respiratory activity. Wireless transmission was followed based on the zigbee communication protocol in a size of 65mm${\times}$105mm easily put in pocket. Successful wireless monitoring of respiration was performed in that breathing frequency was accurately estimated as well as different breathing patterns were easily recognized from the abdominal signal. $CO_2$ inhalation experiment was additionally performed in purpose of quantitative estimation of tidal volume. Air mixed with $0{\sim}5%\;CO_2$was inhaled by 4 normal males and the respiratory air flow rate, abdominal dimension change, and end tidal $CO_2$ concentration were simultaneously measured in steady state. $CO_2$ inhalation increased the tidal volume in normal physiological state with a correlation coefficient of 0.90 between the tidal volume and the end tidal $CO_2$ concentration. The tidal volume estimated from the abdominal signal linearly correlated with the accurate tidal volume measured by pneumotachometer with a correlation coefficient of 0.88 with mean relative error of approximately 8%. Therefore, the tidal volume was accurately estimated by measuring the abdominal dimension change.

• 한국의류산업학회지
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.697-707
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• 2019

This review paper deals with materials, classification, and a current article investigation on smart textile sensors for wearable vital signs monitoring (WVSM). Smart textile sensors can lose electrical conductivity during vital signs monitoring when applying them to clothing. Because they should have to endure severe conditions (bending, folding, and distortion) when wearing. Imparting electrical conductivity for application is a critical consideration when manufacturing smart textile sensors. Smart textile sensors fabricate by utilizing electro-conductive materials such as metals, allotrope of carbon, and intrinsically conductive polymers (ICPs). It classifies as performance level, fabric structure, intrinsic/extrinsic modification, and sensing mechanism. The classification of smart textile sensors by sensing mechanism includes pressure/force sensors, strain sensors, electrodes, optical sensors, biosensors, and temperature/humidity sensors. In the previous study, pressure/force sensors perform well despite the small capacitance changes of 1-2 pF. Strain sensors work reliably at 1 ㏀/cm or lower. Electrodes require an electrical resistance of less than 10 Ω/cm. Optical sensors using plastic optical fibers (POF) coupled with light sources need light in-coupling efficiency values that are over 40%. Biosensors can quantify by wicking rate and/or colorimetry as the reactivity between the bioreceptor and transducer. Temperature/humidity sensors require actuating triggers that show the flap opening of shape memory polymer or with a color-changing time of thermochromic pigment lower than 17 seconds.

• 한국전기전자재료학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국전기전자재료학회 2006년도 하계학술대회 논문집 Vol.7
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• pp.304-304
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• 2006

기계적 에너지를 전지적 에너지로 변환하는 에너지 변환소자인 압전 세라믹스는 액츄에이터, 변압기, 초음파모터, 초음파 소자 및 각종 센서로 응용되고 있으며, 그 응용분야는 크게 종가하고 있다. 최근 이러한 에너지변환 소자를 앞으로 도래하는 유비쿼터스 무선 모바일 시대의 휴대용 전자제품, 즉 Wearable 컴퓨터, MP3, GSM, Bluetooth 등의 정보통신기기, Robotics, 항공우주, 자동차, 의료, 건축, MEMS 분야 등의 대체 에너지원으로 응용하기 위한 연구가 진행되고 있다. 특히 인간의 동작등과 같은 일상적인 동작(Typing, U. limbbing, Breathing, Walking 등)으로 필요한 전력을 얻을 수 있고, 세라믹 소자를 이용하기 때문에 전자노이즈가 발생되지 않을 뿐 아니라 반영구적으로 사용할 수가 있어서, 기존 이차전지, 연료전지를 대체 또는 보완 할 수 있는 방안도 검토되고 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 향후 응용 가능성이 큰 압전 발전 시스템을 제작하기 위해서 압전특성이 우수한 조성시스템 설계, 바이몰프 형태의 압전액츄에이터 제작, 그리고 발전시스템의 회로설계를 수행하였다.