A three-electrode multi-module sensor for accurate bodily-kinesthetic monitoring

Yap

Gong

et al. 2021

Adv Funct Materials

104

A virtual world has now become a reality as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology become commercially available. Similar to how humans interact with the physical world, AR and VR systems rely on human–machine interface (HMI) sensors to interact with the virtual world. Currently, this is achieved via state of‐the‐art wearable visual and auditory tools that are rigid, bulky, and burdensome, thereby causing discomfort during practical application. To this end, a skin sensory interface has the potential to serve as the next‐generation AR/VR technology because skin‐like wearable sensors have advantages in that they can be ultrathin, ultra‐soft, conformal, and imperceptible, which provides the ultimate comfort and immersive experience for users. In this progress report, nanowire‐based soft wearable HMI sensors including acoustic, strain, pressure sensors, and physiological sensors are reviewed that may be adopted as skin sensory inputs in future AR/VR systems. Further, nanowire‐based soft contact lenses, haptic force, and thermal and vibration actuators are covered as potential means of feedback for future AR/VR systems. Considering the possible effects of the virtual world on human health, skin‐like wearable artery pulses, glucose, and lactate sensors are also described, which may enable imperceptible health monitoring during future AR/VR practices.

Section: Nanowire‐based Wearable Skin Sensory Input Interfacesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Nanowire‐based Wearable Skin Sensory Input Interfacesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nanowire‐Based Soft Wearable Human–Machine Interfaces for Future Virtual and Augmented Reality Applications

Yap

Gong

et al. 2021

Adv Funct Materials

104

“…In recent years, due to the potential in wearable electronic devices and the ability to integrate various sensing functions, electronic skins are getting more and more attention. [ 1–8 ] The electronic skin system is proposed to convert physical signals such as pressure, [ 9,10 ] strain, [ 11,12 ] sliding, [ 13–15 ] bending, [ 16,17 ] shear, [ 18 ] temperature, [ 19 ] position, [ 20,21 ] and other physiological variables (sweat, [ 22 ] bioelectricity, [ 23,24 ] etc.) into electronic signals to establish a multifunctional sensing system.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soft Human–Machine Interface with Triboelectric Patterns and Archimedes Spiral Electrodes for Enhanced Motion Detection

Guo

Xiang

et al. 2021

Adv Funct Materials

Self Cite

The rapid development of electronic skins has allowed novel multifunctional human–machine interaction interfaces, especially in motion interaction sensors. Although motion sensing is widely used in advanced flexible electronic devices through the integration of single sensing units, the number of electrodes has increased with the increase in integration by the square multiple. This paper presents a self‐powered electronic skin based on the Archimedes spiral structure design, which can detect the multi‐directional movement of the slider without external energy supply. As the rotation angle of the Archimedes spiral increases from 2π to 4π, the maximum resolvable movement direction of the device increases from 24 to 280, and the number of electrodes is kept at 4. Through the exploration of the principle of triboelectricity, the inherent electronegativity of the triboelectric materials is used as the basis for signal discrimination, which not only increases the reliability of the device, but also solves the problem of energy supply during device operation. A reduced number of electrodes and its battery‐free nature enables this electronic skin to be easily integrated into portable electronic devices, such as laptops, smart phones, healthcare devices, etc.

“…To promote close communication between people and equipment, wearable sensor technology can be integrated into the human body and perform a variety of functions, including human–computer interface, intelligent robots, − health monitoring, − and artificial limbs . In the hardware design and fast-growing market of wearable electronics, high-performance state-of-the-art pressure sensors are actively studied. , Based on the sensing mechanisms, pressure sensors can be divided into piezoresistive sensor, − piezoelectric sensor, , capacitance sensor, and transistor sensor. , Although pressure sensors have developed very fast in the past years, many challenges still exist in the case of flexible electronics applications.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

3D Dielectric Layer Enabled Highly Sensitive Capacitive Pressure Sensors for Wearable Electronics

Zhao

Ran

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces

et al. 2020

109

Flexible capacitance sensors play a key role in wearable devices, soft robots, and the Internet of things (IoT). To realize these feasible applications, subtle pressure detection under various conditions is required, and it is often limited by low sensitivity. Herein, we demonstrate a capacitive touch sensor with excellent sensing capabilities enabled by a three-dimensional (3D) network dielectric layer, combining a natural viscoelastic property material of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanofibers wrapped with electrically conductive materials of Ag nanowires (AgNWs). Taking advantage of the large deformation and the increase of effective permittivity under the action of compression force, the device has the characteristics of high sensitivity, fast response time, and low detection limit. The enhanced sensing mechanism of the 3D structures and the conductive filler have been discussed in detail. These superior functions enable us to monitor a variety of subtle pressure changes (pulse, airflow, and Morse code). By detecting the pressure of fingers, a smart piano glove integrated with 10 circuits of finger joints is made, which realizes the real-time performance of the piano and provides the possibility for the application of intelligent wearable electronic products such as virtual reality and human–machine interface in the future.