Applications of textile-based sensors for sleep-monitoring

4 Applications of textile-based sensors for sleep-monitoring 

Textile-based sensors have been integrated into mattresses, pyjamas/underwear, and caps/patches to monitor various parameters. This section gives an overview of the state-of-the-art textile-based sensor systems for sleep monitoring. 

A114Rest is a European-funded project focussing on improving tactile and thermal comfort in rest systems to promote a deeper, more restorative sleep. In the project s framework textile sensors embedded in a mattress were developed to monitor sleeping quality by measuring body movement and room temperature. This section summarises the results on the sensor systems (A114Rest, 2011). 

Before discussing the sensors we need to have a look at a typical mattress construction. In general, a mattress is built up by four different layers  

Temperature sensing is based on a thermocouple. Hence, various pairs of metal-based filaments and yarns, listed in Table 9.2, were analysed with respect to their applicability as thermocouple materials. 

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