Smart Bedsheet for Baby Monitoring Application: Measurement and Characterization Results

This paper describes a research collaboration with Studio 1 Labs to provide the characterization for a novel smart baby monitoring device which includes conductive fabrics. The electrical characterization of the conductive fabrics is important for designing a bedsheet that can adequately be sensitive to physiological movement. Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has been performed using the Metrohm Autolab potentiostat on a two-fabric interface. For an increase in applied weight, there was an overall decrease in impedance shown both in its real and imaginary components. A simple RC circuit model could be used to describe the system. A test bedsheet was made from a 3x3 conductive fabric matrix stitched into a cotton sheet. Conversely, an increase in resistance was observed from an increase in applied weights at the intersection points of the bedsheet. The following characterization provided useful insight into the future design of the smart bedsheet.