Sensor enabled absorbent article avoiding leakages

Abstract

The invention relates to an absorbent article system providing volume monitoring with a large dynamic measurement range, and body position determining with a high localization precision, herewith avoiding leakages. Moreover the system relates to identification of absorbent article types in an automated manner.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A system for monitoring the saturation level of an absorbent article, wherein the system comprises: a moisture monitoring subsystem and a position determining subsystem. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the saturation level is determined respectively for a plurality of local areas of the absorbent article. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the moisture monitoring subsystem comprises a sensor system comprising a conductive circuit with impedance values representing an adjusted impedance design, defined by a distribution in the variation of the impedance values. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the distribution is a mathematical distribution. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the mathematical distribution is a linear distribution, a quadratic distribution, or a logarithmic distribution. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the impedance values are the highest in or near a first zone of the absorbent article, wherein the moisture impact is expected to be the largest, and lower near or at a second zone of the absorbent article, wherein the moisture impact is expected to be the smallest. 
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the conductive circuit is applied over substantially the entire surface of the absorbent article. 
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the conductive circuit comprises electrodes and/or comprises a printed layer of conductive material provided with non-conductive spaces. 
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the electrodes comprise a pair of electrodes. 
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 the moisture monitoring subsystem comprises a sensor system comprising a conductive circuit with impedance values representing an adjusted impedance design, defined by a distribution in the variation of the impedance values, and   the conductive circuit comprises a pair of electrodes and/or comprises a printed layer of conductive material provided with non-conductive spaces, and   part of the non-conductive spaces are related to the distribution, and   other part of the non-conductive spaces are provided for optimizing usage of conductive ink.   
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 16 , comprising a plurality of sensor tracks comprising moisture sensing tracks in the form of a repeating grid and/or pattern along the length (L) of the system and a dimension substantially perpendicular thereto, the grid and/or pattern comprising a plurality of at least partially interconnected resistive members each having a shape selected from the group consisting of straight lines, curved lines, wave-like, geometric, decorative elements, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 26 , wherein:
 the geometric shape is selected from the group consisting of squares, parallelograms, triangles, circles, ellipses, dots, and combinations thereof, and   the decorative elements shape is selected from the group consisting of flowers, butterflies, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the moisture monitoring subsystem is based on a differential measurement approach. 
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein the differential measurement approach comprises a differential voltage measurement approach. 
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the moisture monitoring subsystem generates moisture-linked data of the absorbent article. 
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the position determining subsystem generates positional data and/or comprises an accelerometer or gyroscope. 
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein:
 the moisture-linked data and the positional data are combined for indicating the saturation level of the absorbent article.   
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein the saturation level is determined respectively for a plurality of local areas of the absorbent article. 
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 16 , further comprising a leakage detection subsystem determining when leakage occurs. 
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 34 , wherein the leakage detection subsystem comprises a sensor system comprising a conductive circuit with temperature dependent properties, wherein the conductive circuit is insulated from moist and/or comprises temperature sensing zones applied in inherent dry areas of the absorbent article and/or is a printed layer of conductive material.