A Triple-Mode Flexible E-Skin Sensor Interface for Multi-Purpose Wearable Applications

Sensors (Basel). 2017 Dec 29;18(1):78. doi: 10.3390/s18010078.

Abstract

This study presents a flexible wireless electronic skin (e-skin) sensor system that includes a multi-functional sensor device, a triple-mode reconfigurable readout integrated circuit (ROIC), and a mobile monitoring interface. The e-skin device's multi-functionality is achieved by an interlocked micro-dome array structure that uses a polyvinylidene fluoride and reduced graphene oxide (PVDF/RGO) composite material that is inspired by the structure and functions of the human fingertip. For multi-functional implementation, the proposed triple-mode ROIC is reconfigured to support piezoelectric, piezoresistance, and pyroelectric interfaces through single-type e-skin sensor devices. A flexible system prototype was developed and experimentally verified to provide various wireless wearable sensing functions-including pulse wave, voice, chewing/swallowing, breathing, knee movements, and temperature-while their real-time sensed data are displayed on a smartphone.

Keywords: electronic skin; multi-purpose; readout integrated circuit; sensor interface; triple-mode; wearable device.

MeSH terms

  • Graphite
  • Heart Rate
  • Humans
  • Movement
  • Skin*
  • Wearable Electronic Devices

Substances

  • Graphite