LG Innotec has developed a pressure sensor that is flexible as fiber. This sensor senses force that is exerted from outside.
LG Innotec (CEO Park Jong-seok) made an announcement on the 29th that it has developed a fiber-type pressure sensor that is flexible and wide as clothing. This sensor, which has thickness and width of 1mm and 1m2, has flexibility by having a special material.
Pressure sensors that were commercialized in the past were small with a shape of a coin and hard and they were able to sense pressure from only certain points. It was hard to measure even pressure on large surface area and they gave feeling of irritation when they were touched on skin.
This sensor that is developed by LG Innotec is flexible like a fabric by having electronic fibers. It can be used in a small size or by attaching many sheets on top of each other. This indicates that this sensor can be used for fitness clothing or car seats.
If this pressure sensor is used for fitness clothing, personal training service can be innovated. For example, it can sense pressure from a grip that is exerted by a golfer and it can help one’s posture by understanding a body’s center movement if it is placed inside of a shoe.
If this sensor is used for vehicles, levels of safety and convenience for passengers can be increased. It can automatically adjust pressure and height of seats or airbags by understanding posture, weight, and type of a body that is on top of a seat.
This sensor can be used for remote treatment in healthcare field. If a person wears a supplementary aid that is attached with this pressure sensor and steps on top of a carpet, this sensor will understand balance of this body and pattern of behaviors and help with management of health.
This sensor is developed so that it can function normally for more than 240 hours even in an extreme cold weather (-40°C) or hot weather (80°C). It also has durability to function normally even when an average person with a weight of 70kg seats on top of this sensor for 100,000 times.
LG Innotec registered 13 patents that are related to this technology and is planning to commercialize this sensor by end of this year.
“Innovation of sensors can affect variety of industries such as household appliances, vehicles and others and can lead to changes in lives.” said Director Kim Chang-hwan of LG Innotec’s R&D Center. “We are going to accelerate in developing related materials and parts.”
According to a market research company called BBC Research, it is estimated that global markets for pressure sensors will grow at an average rate of 7.2% from about $11.5 billion in 2014 to $16.3 billion in 2019.
Staff Reporter Yun, Keonil | benyun@etnews.com