Abstract
Wearable devices have attracted great attentions as next-generation electronic devices. For the comfortable, portable, and easy-to-use system platform in wearable electronics, a key requirement is to replace conventional bulky and rigid energy devices into thin and deformable ones accompanying the capability of long-term energy supply. Here, we demonstrate a wearable fall detection system composed of a wristband-type deformable triboelectric generator and lithium ion battery in conjunction with integrated sensors, controllers, and wireless units. A stretchable conductive nylon is used as electrodes of the triboelectric generator and the interconnection between battery cells. Ethoxylated polyethylenimine, coated on the surface of the conductive nylon electrode, tunes the work function of a triboelectric generator and maximizes its performance. The electrical energy harvested from the triboelectric generator through human body motions continuously recharges the stretchable battery and prolongs hours of its use. The integrated energy supply system runs the 3-axis accelerometer and related electronics that record human body motions and send the data wirelessly. Upon the unexpected fall occurring, a custom-made software discriminates the fall signal and an emergency alert is immediately sent to an external mobile device. This wearable fall detection system would provide new opportunities in the mobile electronics and wearable healthcare.
Highlights
Falls often cause severe health consequences especially in the aged with the possible injuries including bone fractures or intraperitoneal and intracranial bleedings
The system is composed of stretchable power supply devices (TEG and LIB) that are interconnected with a MCU for data processing, a three-axis accelerometer for fall detection, and a Bluetooth module for data transmission
The stretchable power supply devices are connected to the electronics mounted on a jacket through conductive carbon threads (Fig. 1a) and are worn on the wrist (Fig. 1b)
Summary
Falls often cause severe health consequences especially in the aged with the possible injuries including bone fractures or intraperitoneal and intracranial bleedings. Power generation units, such as piezo- and tribo-electric generators (PEGs and TEGs) converting human body movements into the electrical energy, have been in high interests[34,35,36,37]. Various strategies to enhance the power generation efficiency of the TEGs have been recently reported[55,56] With all these accomplishments, high performance stretchable energy harvesting (TEGs) and storage (lithium ion batteries; LIBs) devices are not yet seamlessly integrated with sensors/controllers and wireless communication units for the wearable fall detection system. More optimizations and performance improvements in stretchable TEGs, LIBs, and their integrated systems are required Toward addressing these issues, we propose a wearable fall detector that uses a wristband-type TEG and LIB. The integrated system successfully detects a fall from normal daily motions and sends an immediate alarm wirelessly
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