Abstract: A fabric with an integrated sensor array and optionally with an integrated display; the fabric may be mounted to the surface of an object to be measured or monitored. The fabric may comprise multiple laminar layers, such as sensor layers, processing layers, display layers, and cladding layers for protection and sealing. Data analysis performed by processing layers may include beamforming operations, frequency filters, or any desired transformations. An illustrative display uses a layer of liquid crystal cells sandwiched between polarizing filter layers. An illustrative sensor array is an array of piezoelectric acoustic sensors formed by adjacent layers of calcium carbonate cells and potassium bitartrate cells. An application of acoustic sensor arrays may include for example a patch attached to a person's skin that senses and displays the location and size of blood vessels under the skin using the sound generated by blood flow.

Abstract: A fabric with an integrated piezoelectric sensor array and optionally with an integrated display; the fabric may be mounted to the surface of an object to be measured or monitored. The fabric may comprise multiple laminar layers, such as sensor layers, processing layers, display layers, and cladding layers for protection and sealing. The array of piezoelectric sensors may be produced in any desired shape or pattern using various fabrication techniques, including for example: rigid piezoelectric ceramic materials mounted on a flexible substrate; composite material applied as thick films that contain piezoelectric ceramic materials embedded in a polymer matrix, for example with 0-3 connectivity; piezoelectric polymer films; and piezoelectric fibers, such as polymer fibers or polymer-carbon nanotube composites woven into a fabric.

Abstract: A fabric with an integrated sensor array and optionally with an integrated display; the fabric may be mounted to the surface of an object to be measured or monitored. The fabric may comprise multiple laminar layers, such as sensor layers, processing layers, display layers, and cladding layers for protection and sealing. Data analysis performed by processing layers may include beamforming operations, frequency filters, or any desired transformations. An illustrative display uses a layer of liquid crystal cells sandwiched between polarizing filter layers. An illustrative sensor array is an array of piezoelectric acoustic sensors formed by adjacent layers of calcium carbonate cells and potassium bitartrate cells. An application of acoustic sensor arrays may include for example a patch attached to a person's skin that senses and displays the location and size of blood vessels under the skin using the sound generated by blood flow.