LG Innotek Rolls Out Flexible Textile Pressure Sensors

LG Innotek has recently taken the covers off of its new concept textile flexible pressure sensors, which detect pressure from the entire surface of the sensor. These bendable sensors can measure the level of the external force. Installed in both medical appliances and automobiles to measure and analyze the pressure, it is utilized for inpidual customized service.

Early commercialized sensors are coin shape and made of PET films or PCB substrates, making them hard to bend or deform. Also, it was hard to gauge the pressure uniformly from the huge area due to its point sensing way and it gives a feeling of irritation when the sensor touches the body.

LG Innotek prides its sensors for having a highly elastic polyurethane material that fits the body comfortably. When an external force is applied to them, electric poles inside the fiber sense the deformation to determine the pressure. Additionally, the new sensors are also extremely durable in different environments, working typically more than 240 hour from 40 degrees below zero to 80 above zero. They also remain functional even after an average 70kg man sits on them 100,000 times.

The textile pressure sensors are designed to step up safety and convenience in the automotive world. They sense the user’s body type, posture, and weight to automatically correct the airbag’s pressure and car seat’s height. When applied to a chair, they measure the pressure on the seat and send the data to the user.

Changhwan Kim, Head of the LG Innotek’s R&D Center, revealed in a statement that they tried to break away from the previous method and try new ones to develop cutting-edge products. He noted that they would continue the development of materials and components in different fields to offer new experiences to their customers.

The company has filed thirteen patents in South Korea to secure the sensors’ quality and eyes mass production to start this year.