title: A flexible proximity sensor formed by duplex screen/screen-offset printing and its application to non-contact detection of human breathing.
abstract: We describe a flexible capacitance-type sensor that can detect an approaching human without contact, fabricated by developing and applying duplex conductive-ink printing to a film substrate. The results of our calculations show that the difference in size between the top and bottom electrodes of the sensor allows for the spatial extension of the electric field distribution over the electrodes. Hence, such a component functions as a proximity sensor. This thin and light device with a large form factor can be arranged at various places, including curved surfaces and the back of objects such that it is unnoticeable. In our experiment, we attached it to the back of a bed, and found that our device successfully detected the breathing of a subject on the bed without contacting his body. This should contribute to reducing the physical and psychological discomfort among patients during medical checks, or when their condition is being monitored.
authors.affiliation: Flexible Electronics Research Centre, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken-ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.affiliation: Intelligent Systems Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryosaku
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaji
authors.affiliation: Shimane Institute for Industrial Technology (SIIT), 1 Hokuryo-cho, Matsue, Shimane 690-0816, Japan.
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.affiliation: Shimane Institute for Industrial Technology (SIIT), 1 Hokuryo-cho, Matsue, Shimane 690-0816, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinobu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Otao
authors.affiliation: Shimane Institute for Industrial Technology (SIIT), 1 Hokuryo-cho, Matsue, Shimane 690-0816, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Imawaka
authors.affiliation: Shimane Institute for Industrial Technology (SIIT), 1 Hokuryo-cho, Matsue, Shimane 690-0816, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshino
authors.affiliation: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Ltd. (JAE), 3-1-1 Musashino, Akishima, Tokyo 196-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryosuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mitsui
authors.affiliation: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Ltd. (JAE), 3-1-1 Musashino, Akishima, Tokyo 196-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Junya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Ltd. (JAE), 3-1-1 Musashino, Akishima, Tokyo 196-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Ltd. (JAE), 3-1-1 Musashino, Akishima, Tokyo 196-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Shin-ichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.affiliation: Flexible Electronics Research Centre, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirobumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ushijima
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D025802:Electric Capacitance; D004566:Electrodes; D006801:Humans; D011327:Printing / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012119:Respiration