EMFI - VERSATILE MATERIAL FOR MONITORING OF HUMAN FUNCTIONS

Jukka Lekkala, Timo Salpavaara, Satu Kärki

Abstract

ElectroMechanical Film (EMFi1) is a thin, plastic material that can be utilized as a sensor and actuator. We have tested the material in three different applications. A prototype of a chair equipped with EMFi sensors was constructed in order to monitor pulse, breathing and other activities of a person sitting on the chair. Measured information can be used to study human behavior during computer use. Pulse and breathing were noticed to be easily found from measurement signals of a person sitting restfully on chair. Ultrasonic radar that is based on EMFi has been built and studied. EMFi is quite new material in the field of ultrasonics and has favorable properties like good matching to air in comparison to present transducer materials. The device detects, if there is an object in front of the transducer. Measurements of directivity pattern of the built transducer, transmitter output and receiver sensitivity are presented. Some experiments were carried out to determine device’s ability to detect different objects. A flexible and thin headset prototype including microphone and earphone was realized by using EMFi material. According to the preliminary tests the sensitivity of the microphone is adequate.

Keywords

sensor, actuator, ultrasonic, headset, EMFi

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PWC-2006-TC18-006u.pdf

DOI

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IMEKO TC

TC18 - Measurement of Human Functions

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