Structure design and application of all-fiber-based capacitive sensor

To improve the sensibility and wearing comfortability of capacitive sensors, pillow-like structure fibrous (PSF) dielectric layers were designed and fabricated. The influence of fabric electrodes' structure on conductive and sensing properties was also studied. Results showed that in the frequency of 400 Hz, PSF sensor with 5 mm dielectric layer and fractal weave 2 as electrodes possessed the best sensitivity of 3.44%/g, while the best sensitivity of PDMS sensors with 2 mm dielectric layer and fractal weave 2 as electrodes was 1.35%/g in the frequency of 10 KHz. The repeatability of both sensors was similar and good enough for the application. The detection test of the bending movement of the finger showed PSF capacitors presented good stability and greater change rate. So PSF sensor showed greater sensitivity, repeatability, similar stability, and predictable better wearing comfortability compared to PDMS sensors. So this paper not only provides a new all-fiber-based sensor for wearing application, but also enriches the fabric structure design of the flexible sensors.