Investigation of temperature, humidity and force-sensitive sensors for future smart bed pads

Abstract

In this study, the performance of temperature, humidity, and pressure sensors that can be used in smart mattress pads has been investigated. The measurement accuracy of pressure sensors has been compared for different sponge thicknesses and weights. Among 9 different test cases, the RP-S40-ST force sensor yielded the best results. As for temperature sensors, heat transfer measurements were compared for specific temperatures using different sponge thicknesses. The AHT15 and DS18B20 temperature sensors successfully measured 74% of the applied heat on a 2 cm thick viscoelastic sponge, and 52.4% on a thicker 4 cm sponge. Additionally, the humidity sensor's performance in measuring humidity on the mattress pad was evaluated. Based on these assessments, the sensors that will provide the best results for the design of the mattress pad have been proposed. The influence of the sponge, an essential component of the mattress pad, on the functioning of these sensors was also observed. Moreover, apart from their measurement capabilities, the impact of these sensors on the patient's comfort was also taken into consideration.