A novel intelligent textile technology and its application to respiratory sound monitoring

该集成系统方案的重点是开发一种新型智能纺织技术及其在连续呼吸声监测中的应用。 为了克服纺织品的灵活性和刚性的传感和计算组件之间的冲突，提出了一种新的方法，通过集成纺织品与柔性传感器/电路，制造与独特的“柔性皮肤”技术。其独特之处在于，柔性皮肤是基于硅晶片制造的。 各种MEMS器件和电路可以首先使用现有技术在硅晶片上制造，然后制成柔性，最后编织成纺织品。 因此，可以直接借鉴现有的成熟技术，避免重复发明，从而节省大量的研发工作。& 这项研究将导致智能纺织品，它与普通织物一样灵活舒适，并首次能够执行各种功能。 所提出的智能纺织品将作为各种集成系统的通用平台，并为许多新的应用打开大门。 同时，通过智能纺织品的新教育计划，该研究将有效地与教育相结合。 将为高中生和本科生开发特殊项目。 为了证明拟议活动的广泛影响，将努力让代表性不足的群体参与。 拟议中的研究也有可能建立一个新的技术密集型产业，有助于在美国创造新的就业机会。

This integrative systems proposal focuses on the development of a novel intelligent textile technology and its application for continuous respiratory sound monitoring. To overcome the conflict between the flexibility of the textiles and the rigidity of the sensing and computation components, a novel approach is proposed by integrating textiles with flexible transducers/circuits that are fabricated with a unique 'flexible-skin' technology. The uniqueness is that the flexible skins are fabricated based on silicon wafers. Various MEMS devices and circuits can be fabricated on silicon wafers first using existing technologies, then be made flexible, and finally be woven into textiles. Therefore, the existing mature technologies can be directly borrowed and significant R&D efforts can be saved by avoiding re-invention. The proposed research will lead to intelligent textiles, which are as flexible and comfortable as the regular fabrics and able to perform a vast variety of functions, for the first time. The proposed intelligent textiles will serve as a generic platform for various integrative systems and open the door to numerous new applications. Simultaneously, the research will be effectively integrated with education through a new education program in intelligent textiles. Special programs will be developed for high school students and undergraduate students. As evidence of the broader impact of the proposed activities, efforts will be made to include the participation of underrepresented groups. The proposed research also has the potential to establish a new technology-intensive industry that helps to create new job opportunities inside the United States.