Test Protocol for Assessment of Flexible Power Sources in Foldable Wearable Electronics under Stresses of Daily Motion during Operation

摘要

Emergence of flexible electronics technologies has made tractable the ability to develop solutions for integration of electronics for biometric sensing into wearable fabrics. In wearable applications, electronics may be subjected to stresses of daily motion in addition to exposure to human body temperature, and ambient environments. Existing test standards and protocols are geared towards the assessment of rigid electronics. In this paper, a test-protocol has been developed to impose deformations that mimic the stresses of daily motion on flexible batteries during charge-discharge operation. The test protocol is intended to be used for assessment of the ability of flexible battery to meet the power needs of wearable electronics and provide adequate survivability while being subjected to constant human body or ambient temperature and flexing typical of stresses of daily motion. The changes to the state-of-charge of the battery have been tracked for the development of method to prognosticate prior accrued damage and remaining useful life.