U.S. patent application number 13/153609 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-17 for electronic textile, article and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to PHILADELPHIA UNIVERSITY. Invention is credited to David Stuart Brookstein, Muthu Govindaraj.
Application Number | 20120118427 13/153609 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29407814 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120118427 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brookstein; David Stuart ;
et al. |
May 17, 2012 |
ELECTRONIC TEXTILE, ARTICLE AND METHOD
Abstract
A woven article having plural weave layers comprises a plurality
of electrically insulating and/or electrically conductive yarn in
the warp and a plurality of electrically insulating and/or
electrically conductive yarn in the weft interwoven with the yarn
in the warp. An electrical function is provided by one or more
circuit carriers disposed in cavities in the plural layer woven
article and/or one or more functional yarn in the warp and/or the
weft, wherein the circuit carrier and/or functional yarn include an
electrical contact for connecting to the electrically conductive
yarn in the warp and/or weft.
Inventors: |
Brookstein; David Stuart;
(Princeton, NJ) ; Govindaraj; Muthu;
(Harleysville, PA) |
Assignee: |
PHILADELPHIA UNIVERSITY
Philadelphia
PA
|
Family ID: |
29407814 |
Appl. No.: |
13/153609 |
Filed: |
June 6, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12429496 |
Apr 24, 2009 |
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13153609 |
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11552232 |
Oct 24, 2006 |
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12429496 |
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10431763 |
May 8, 2003 |
7144830 |
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11552232 |
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60379723 |
May 10, 2002 |
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60419159 |
Oct 17, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
139/35 ;
139/420A |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 442/3211 20150401;
H05K 2201/10106 20130101; D03D 13/006 20130101; D10B 2401/16
20130101; H05K 2201/0281 20130101; H05K 2201/029 20130101; Y10T
442/3195 20150401; H05K 1/141 20130101; D03D 1/0088 20130101; Y10T
442/3203 20150401; H05K 2201/0278 20130101; Y10T 442/30 20150401;
H05K 1/038 20130101; Y10T 442/3976 20150401; H05K 1/189 20130101;
Y10T 442/2475 20150401; D03D 11/00 20130101; Y10T 442/3472
20150401; H01H 2203/0085 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
139/35 ;
139/420.A |
International
Class: |
D03C 13/00 20060101
D03C013/00; D03D 15/00 20060101 D03D015/00 |
Claims
1. A woven article for supporting a load, comprising: a. a
plurality of vertically stacked layers, each having a warp and a
weft; b. at least one of said warps having at least one
electrically conductive yarn running though at least a part of the
warp; c. at least one of said wefts having at least one
electrically conductive yarn running though at least a part of the
weft; d. the electrically conductive yarns in the warp and the weft
being sufficiently close at one position as to form an electric
circuit by connection of the yarns to an electrical device at the
position.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. (canceled)
6. (canceled)
7. (canceled)
8. (canceled)
9. (canceled)
10. (canceled)
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. A woven support article, comprising: a. a plurality of
vertically stacked layers, each having a warp and a weft; b.
electrically conductive yarns in the warp and the well of at least
one of the layers being sufficiently close to form an electric
circuit by connection of the yarns to an electrical device.
14. (canceled)
15. A woven fabric support article, comprising: a. a plurality of
vertically stacked layers, each having a warp and a weft; b. at
least one of said warps and wefts having electrically conductive
yarns running along at least a part thereof with the electrically
conductive yarns being sufficiently close as to form an electric
circuit by connection of the yarns to an electrical device.
16. (canceled)
17. (canceled)
18. A method for weaving a fabric or textile article having a
plurality of vertically stacked layers capable of supporting a
load, each layer having a warp and a weft, comprising: a. providing
a first group of yarns including at least one electrically
conductive yarn in a plurality of warps; b. providing a second
group of yarns including at least one electrically conductive yarn,
in a plurality of wefts; c. weaving the first group of yarns in the
warps with the second group of yarns in the wefts to create the
plurality of vertically stacked layers of the article, with the
electrically conductive yarns in the warp and the well being
sufficiently close as to form an electric circuit by connection of
a warp and a well electrically conductive yarn to an electrical
device.
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
21. (canceled)
22. (canceled)
23. (canceled)
24. (canceled)
25. (canceled)
26. (canceled)
27. (canceled)
28. (canceled)
29. (canceled)
30. (canceled)
31. (canceled)
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.
12/429,496, filed 24 Apr. 2009, which was a division of U.S. Ser.
No. 11/552,232, filed 24 Oct. 2006, which was a division of U.S.
Pat. No. 7,144,830, issued 5 Dec. 2006, the entire disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference, and which claimed the
benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 60/379,723, filed 10 May 2002, and of U.S.
Ser. No. 60/419,159, filed 17 Oct. 2002.
[0002] The present invention relates to a woven article and method,
and, in particular, to a plural layer woven textile and/or article
having an electronic circuit woven therein, and a method
therefor.
[0003] In many fields of endeavor, from military to sport to
apparel, a desire exists for electronic circuits to be incorporated
into fabric and into articles that may be made of fabric. In some
instances, such as electric blankets and electrically conductive
fabric, electrically resistive and/or electrically conductive are
been woven into fabric with insulating yarn to provide the desired
resistance heating and/or conductivity characteristics. In these
relatively simple arrangements, the characteristics of the
resistive heating yarn determines the heating characteristics of
the woven electric blanket and the conductivity of the electrically
conductive yarn substantially determines the conductivity
characteristic of the fabric. In other words, the number and size
of electrically conductive yarn determine the conductivity of the
fabric.
[0004] Apart from the aforementioned relatively simple
arrangements, where electrical functionality of greater complexity
has been desired, electrical circuits have been added to fabric
after the fabric is woven. Among the approaches are the lamination
of electrical circuit substrates to a fabric, e.g., as described in
U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2002/0076948 of B. Farrell et al
entitled "Method of Manufacturing a Fabric Article to Include
Electronic Circuitry and an Electrically Active Textile Article,"
and the embroidering and/or applique of electrical conductors and
circuits onto a fabric, e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,210,771 to E. R. Post et al entitled "Electrically Active
Textiles and Articles Made Therefrom" and in an article by E. R.
Post et al entitled "E-Broidery: Design and Fabrication of
Textile-Based Computing" published in the IBM Systems Journal,
Volume 39, Numbers 3 & 4, pages 840-860, 2000. In addition, an
arrangement attaching electrical components to woven fabric
including conductive yarn, such as by connecting the components to
the conductive yarn by soldering and/or by electrically conductive
adhesive, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,482 to Jayaraman et
al entitled "Fabric or Garment With Integrated Flexible Information
Infrastructure."
[0005] In the aforementioned arrangements, the electrical
electronic function is added after the fabric has been woven, e.g.,
by embroidery or by applique or by mechanical attachment, thereby
adding additional steps and additional complexity to the
manufacturing process. In addition, the particular arrangement
thereof appears to be suited to one specific application or usage
with corresponding specific manufacturing, and does not appear to
lend itself to an efficient, relatively general manufacturing
wherein the function and operation of the resulting fabric need not
be specified or determined until after the fabric is woven, i.e.
manufactured.
[0006] Accordingly, there is a need for a woven textile and article
having an electronic circuit function woven therein.
[0007] To this end, the multilayer woven article of the present
invention comprises warp yarn and weft yarn interwoven in a
multilayer weave having plural layers defining at least one cavity
therebetween, at least one electrically conductive yarn disposed in
the warp and/or in the weft and having a portion thereof in one of
the plural layers defining the at least one cavity, and a circuit
carrier disposed in the cavity and having at least one exposed
electrical contact in electrical connection with the at least one
electrically conductive yarn, the circuit carrier including at
least one electronic device for performing a function.
[0008] According to another aspect of the invention, a multilayer
woven article comprises a plurality of electrically insulating yarn
and electrically conductive yarn defining plural layers in the
warp, a plurality of electrically insulating yarn and electrically
conductive yarn in the weft interwoven in a multilayer weave with
the plurality of electrically insulating yarn and electrically
conductive yarn in plural layers in the warp, wherein an
electrically conductive yarn in the warp crossing an electrically
conductive yarn in the weft makes electrical connection therewith
at the crossing thereof, and at least one electrically conductive
yarn in the warp and/or in the weft woven into at least first and
second ones of the plural layers for crossing at least one
electrically conductive yarn in the other of the warp and/or weft
without making electrical contact therewith.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0009] The detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the
present invention will be more easily and better understood when
read in conjunction with the FIGURES of the Drawing which
include:
[0010] FIG. 1A is a plan view schematic diagram of an example woven
fabric including an example embodiment of an electronic circuit
therein;
[0011] FIG. 1B is an isometric schematic view of a portion of an
example multilayer woven fabric including an example embodiment of
an electronic circuit therein;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a plan view schematic diagram of a yarn including
an example electronic circuit function, as for the woven fabric of
FIGS. 1A and 1B;
[0013] FIGS. 3A through 3D are plan view schematic diagrams of
example embodiments of yarns including an example electronic
circuit function suitable for a woven fabric as illustrated in
FIGS. 1A and 1B;
[0014] FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are plan view schematic diagrams of an
example embodiment of a circuit carrier including an example
electronic circuit function suitable for a woven fabric as
illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, and FIG. 4D is an isometric view
thereof when folded;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram
illustrating an example circuit carrier disposed in a cavity of a
multilayer woven fabric;
[0016] FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic diagrams illustrating example
loom arrangements suitable for making example embodiments of fabric
described herein;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an example carrier
insertion arrangement and an example roller arrangement suitable
for weaving and finishing fabric woven in accordance with FIGS.
6A-6B;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an example yarn including
an example electronic circuit function suitable for use with the
example loom arrangements of FIGS. 6A-6B; and
[0019] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an example woven textile
illustrating an ordinary weave and a complex weave useful in
connection with the arrangements of FIGS. 1A to 3B.
[0020] In the Drawing, where an element or feature is shown in more
than one drawing figure, the same alphanumeric designation may be
used to designate such element or feature in each figure, and where
a closely related or modified element is shown in a figure, the
same alphanumerical designation primed may be used to designate the
modified element or feature. It is noted that, according to common
practice, the various features of the drawing are not to scale, and
the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or
reduced for clarity.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0021] Woven textiles generally comprise two sets of relatively
straight yarn, the warp and the weft, which cross and interweave to
form a fabric. Typically, the warp and weft yarn cross at
approximately a right angle as woven, but may cross at any angle.
Also typically, fabric is woven to have a given width, but may have
any desired length. The warp yarn runs in the length direction of
the fabric, which is generally the longer dimension thereof, and
the weft yarn runs in the crosswise or width direction thereof,
which is generally the shorter dimension. With a modern computer
controlled loom, the weaving process is performed automatically and
may be responsive to weaving instructions described in computer
instructions and/or derived from a computer aided design program.
More complex weaves, such as a Leno weave in which a pair of warp
yarn are intertwined in a series of figure eights with filling
yarn, may employ more than two sets of yarn and/or other than a
plain weave in the warp and/or weft, are readily made by such
modern looms.
[0022] A textile and/or fabric may be woven in a single-layer weave
and/or in a plural-layer weave. It is noted that textiles and/or
fabrics having two or more layers, i.e. plural layers, are commonly
and generally referred to as multilayer weaves. Certain weaves may
be referred to specifically, e.g., a two-layer woven fabric may be
referred to as a double weave. Double and other multilayer weaving
is conventional and is described in many publications, e.g., D.
Chandler, Learning to Weave, Interweave Press, 1995, Lesson 10,
"Double Weave."
[0023] In a plural layer (multilayer) weave, warp yarn are
designated as being in one of two or more layers and the weft yarn
is interwoven with warp yarn in any one or more layers, so as to
weave fabrics having other than a single-layer sheet-like
construction. One or more layers, tubes, pockets, cavities, or
other complex woven structures may be provided utilizing multilayer
weaving, e.g., by providing one or more regions wherein two
overlying layers of weave are not interwoven in the region(s) and
the one or more regions are interspersed among and surrounded by
regions wherein the multiple layers are interwoven. Any and all of
such regions wherein plural layers are not interwoven may be
referred to as "pockets" for simplicity, or generically and
formally as "cavities."
[0024] The yarn, which is typically long, flexible and relatively
thin, is selected to provide the desired strength, wear,
laundering, durability and other requirements of the end use to
which the fabric is intended to be put. Where ones of the warp
and/or weft yarn are electrically conductive, the woven fabric may
function in a manner akin to an electrical circuit board, i.e. the
electrically conductive yarn provide electrical connections between
various locations of the woven fabric, and/or to locations external
to the fabric, and/or with electrical and/or electronic components
embodied in the fabric, as may be desired.
[0025] The embodiments of woven textile and/or fabric herein
generally include a carrier including an electronic circuit for
performing all or part of an electronic function. Examples of such
carriers include circuit carriers, also referred to as carriers,
modules or "circuit tablets" in some cases, and "functional
yarn."
[0026] A circuit carrier is a relatively compact part including one
or more electronic parts and/or devices and interconnections
therebetween, and that also has one or more exposed contacts at
which electrical connection to conductive yarn in a textile or
fabric may be made. One or more circuit carriers may be placed into
cavities formed in a woven textile or fabric, e.g., as by weaving a
pocket, tube, or other cavity by plural layer or multilayer
weaving. The arrangements herein include circuit carriers in a
woven textile or fabric that has one or more electrically
conductive yarn in the warp and/or the weft.
[0027] Another example of a circuit carrier is referred to herein
as a "functional yarn" which may be in the warp and/or the weft,
but is typically in the weft. Functional yarn includes an elongated
electrical and/or electronic substrate on which are disposed one or
more electrical conductors and a plurality of electrical and/or
electronic devices that connect to one or more of the electrical
conductors. In other words, a functional yarn is any electrical
and/or electronic substrate that includes electrical conductors and
electrical and/or electronic devices that perform an electrical
and/or electronic function, wherein the substrate may be utilized
as a yarn and woven.
[0028] FIG. 1A is a plan view schematic diagram of an example woven
fabric 100 including an example embodiment of an electronic
circuit, and FIG. 2 is a plan view schematic diagram of a yarn 150
including an example electronic circuit function, as for the woven
fabric of FIGS. 1A and 1B. Fabric 100 is a plain weave fabric
including insulating yarn 110 and electrically conductive yarn 120
in the warp and insulating yarn 130 and functional yarn 150 in the
weft. Fabric 100 may also include electrically conductive yarn in
the weft. Insulating yarn 110 are disposed between adjacent
electrically conductive yarn 120 in the warp to provide an
insulating separator therebetween and insulating yarn 130 are
disposed between adjacent functional yarn 150 (and/or electrically
conductive yarn, if any) in the warp to provide an insulating
separator therebetween.
[0029] FIG. 1B is an isometric schematic view of a portion of an
example multilayer woven fabric 100' including an example
embodiment of an electronic circuit. Example fabric 100' is a
multilayer weave fabric, specifically a three-layer weave,
including, e.g., insulating yarn 110 and electrically conductive
yarn 120 in the warp of each of layers 101 and 103, and including,
e.g., insulating yarn 130, electrically conductive yarn 140 and
functional yarn 150 in the weft. Example layer 102 includes
insulating yarn 110, 130 in the warp and weft so as to provide an
insulating separation between the conductive yarn 120, 140 disposed
in layers 101 and 103. Layer 102 may include electrically
conductive yarn 120 and/or functional yarn 150 in the warp, but
electrically conductive warp yarn 120 and/or functional yarn 150
may be included only where not proximate conductive warp yarn 120
in either or both of layers 101 and/or 103 so as to avoid short
circuits. Example fabric 100' may include functional yarn 150 in
the warp and/or in the weft. Insulating yarn 110 are disposed
between adjacent electrically conductive yarn 120 in the warp to
provide an insulating separator therebetween and insulating yarn
130 are disposed between adjacent functional yarn 150 and/or
electrically conductive yarn 140 in the warp to provide an
insulating separator therebetween.
[0030] Ones of the weft yarn, e.g., ones of weft yarn 130, 140,
150, are interwoven with ones of warp yarn 110, 120 (and with ones
of warp functional yarn 150, if any) in warp layers 101, 102, 103,
to weave a multilayer fabric. In the fabric portion illustrated,
one warp yarn 140a is interwoven with layers 101, 102 and 103 and
another warp yarn 140b is interwoven with layers 102 and 103. The
combination of multilayer interwoven electrically conductive yarn
120 and/or functional yarn 150 in the warp and electrically
conductive yarn 140 and/or functional yarn 150 in the weft provide
a multilayer structure having electrical conductors and/or
functions on one or more layers, thereby to provide an electrical
structure somewhat analogous to the structure of a multilayer
laminated electronic printed circuit board.
[0031] It is noted that while known electrically conductive yarn is
completely uninsulated, partially insulated electrically conductive
yarn could be employed in the textiles, fabrics and/or articles
described herein, wherein the uninsulated portions thereof are
woven to be in locations whereat electrically connection is to be
made thereto, e.g., at crossings of other electrically conductive
yarn and/or of functional yarn to which electrical connection is to
be made. As used herein, the terms electrically conductive yarn and
uninsulated electrically conductive yarn are used interchangeably
to refer to electrically conductive yarn that is completely or
partially uninsulated.
[0032] Interweaving of plural adjacent weft yarn, typically
insulating yarn 130 and electrically conductive yarn 140 between
two or more warp layers 101, 102, 103, can be woven to form
pockets, tubes or recesses, e.g., as suggested by cavities 106a,
106b, into which circuit carriers may be placed. Preferably,
cavities 106 are woven to be closed pockets and the circuit
carriers are inserted into the pockets during the weaving process
and are enclosed therein as the pockets are woven, as described
below. Typically, adjacent layers are interlocked by weft yarn 130,
140, however, they can be woven as separate layers, as they are to
form a cavity or pocket as described. An external or surface layer
wholly of insulating yarn may be woven as an outer layer so as to
provide insulation of the conductive yarn 120, 140 and functional
yarn 150 included in the inner (enclosed or internal) layers.
[0033] Functional yarn 150 of FIG. 2 includes plural electrical
conductors 154, 156, 158 and an electronic device 160 on an
insulating electrical or electronic substrate 152. In the specific
example of FIGS. 1 and 2, electronic device 160 is a light emitting
diode (LED) 160 that emits light in response to electrical signals
applied thereto. Substrate 152 is an elongate strip of flexible
insulating material, e.g., a polyimide or polyester or other
material suitable for use as an electrical substrate. Conductors
154-158 are formed on substrate by any suitable means, such as by
etching a conductive metal layer, e.g., copper layer, attached to
substrate 152 using known methods for making flexible electrical
printed circuits and the like. As illustrated, conductor 154
extends substantially the length of substrate 152 to provide a
common connection to all of the LEDs 160 thereon, and an electrical
signal for activating LEDs 160 is applied thereto. Conductor 158
provides an electrical contact 158 to which an electrical signal
for activating LED 160 is applied, and each contact 158 is
connected to a corresponding LED 160 by a conductor 156.
[0034] Electrical connection between electrically conductive yarn
120 in the warp and functional yarn 150 and/or electrically
conductive yarn in the weft is satisfactorily made by the physical
contact therebetween in a plain weave having a typical tightness
and/or density of yarn, without any mechanical attaching thereof.
Optionally, the electrical connection provided by physical contact,
e.g., frictional contact, may be supplemented, e.g., by a
mechanical attaching such as a spot of electrically conductive
adhesive or solder, at each connection 158. For proper electrical
contact, functional yarn 150 is registered so that contacts 158
thereon each underlie a conductive yarn 120 where they cross. To
this end, functional yarn 150 may include one or more registration
marks or indicia 180 at one end thereof so that the loom may sense
the position thereof in the weaving process to provide proper
registration.
[0035] Optionally, conductor 154 and/or contacts 158 may be coated
with an insulating coating, except at locations where an electrical
connection is to be made thereto. Also optionally, conductor 154
and/or contacts 158 may have a spot of electrically conductive
adhesive applied at locations where an electrical connection is to
be made thereto, e.g., at the terminal locations for LEDs 160
and/or at intersections with conductive yarn 120. LEDs 160 may be
connected to substrate 152 by any suitable means, e.g., by
soldering or electrically conductive adhesive.
[0036] Each LED 160 is illuminated by applying a suitable
electrical signal between common conductor 154 and the contact 158
associated with the LED. In fabric 100, each conducting yarn 120
intersects functional yarn 150 to overlie one of the contacts 158
thereof. Thus, each LED 160 has one terminal that is connected via
contact 158 to a conductive yarn 120 that is accessible at an edge
of fabric 100 and has a terminal connected to conductor 154 that is
accessible at another edge of fabric 100, and so each LED 160 may
be activated by applying an electrical signal to the appropriate
ones of conductive yarn 120 and conductors 154. LEDs 160 of fabric
100 are in aggregate an addressable passive-matrix display having
row conductors 120 and column conductors 154 by which any one or
more of LEDs 160 may be addressed. Alternatively and optionally, a
current-limiting resistor R could be provided for each LED 160 or
for groups of LEDs 160, of functional yarn 150.
[0037] Fabric 100 as described is a woven passive-matrix display
wherein any pattern of the LEDs 160 may be illuminated by applying
appropriate electrical signals between selected ones of conductors
120 and 154. However, with additional conductors and/or electronic
devices on functional yarn 150, an active-matrix display and/or a
non-matrix display and/or a display having individually addressable
pixels (LEDs) may be provided, as described below. Thus, LEDs 160
or any other electronic devices 160 may be energized and/or
operated in a programmed pattern and/or sequence, e.g., to provide
an alphanumeric or other character display, or a pixilated display,
or to provide a sensor array fabric that sequentially senses
different agents and/or processes the sensed data.
[0038] It is noted that in an actual application, e.g., a textile
or textile article, fabric 100 would likely be much larger and
would contain many more yarn of one or more types in both warp and
weft, and functional yarn 150 would likely be much longer and
contain many more LEDs 160. Thus, FIGS. 1 and 2, as well as other
FIGURES herein, may be considered as illustrating a portion of a
fabric or a portion of a functional yarn.
[0039] Suitable insulating yarn includes, for example, but are not
limited to, yarn and/or thread and/or fiber of cotton, wool, silk,
linen, flax, silk organza, synthetics, plastic, polyester, and the
like, whether fiber, thread, monofilament, multi-stranded, spun,
twisted or otherwise constructed, as may or may not be
conventional.
[0040] Suitable electrically conductive yarn includes, for example,
but is not limited to, copper, steel, stainless steel, nickel,
silver, gold and/or other metal threads, whether single filament or
plural stranded, twisted or braided or a wire or a flat strip,
combinations of conductive metal and insulating threads and/or
strands, electrically conductive plastics, and the like. One
suitable electrically conductive yarn is Aracon.RTM. yarn which
comprises one or more strands or threads of a metal-coated
Kevlar.RTM. polymer and is commercially available from E. I. duPont
de Nemours and Company of Wilmington, Del. Aracon.RTM. yarn can
have an electrical conductivity approaching that of copper, e.g.,
about 10.sup.-3 Ohm/cm. Other suitable conductive yarn include
metal-wrapped yarns and metal-plated yarn, and the like.
[0041] FIGS. 3A through 3D are plan view schematic diagrams of
example embodiments of yarns 150a, 150b, 150c, including an example
electronic circuit function suitable for a woven fabric as
illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
[0042] FIG. 3A is a plan view schematic diagram of a yarn 150a
including another example electronic circuit function, as for the
woven fabric of FIGS. 1A and 1B. Functional yarn 150a includes
plural electrical conductors 154, 155, 156 and an electronic device
160 on an insulating electrical or electronic substrate 152. In
this specific example, electronic device 160 is a sensor, such as a
temperature sensor. Substrate 152 is an elongate strip of
insulating material, e.g., a polyimide or polyester or other
material suitable for use as an electrical substrate.
[0043] Functional yarn 150a is viewed from the "back" as if
substrate 152 is transparent so that conductors 154, 155, 156 on
the front surface thereof, and sensors 160 attached thereto, are
visible. Conductors 154-156 are formed on substrate 152 by any
suitable means, such as by etching a conductive metal layer, e.g.,
copper layer, attached to substrate 152 using known methods for
making electrical printed circuits and the like. As illustrated,
each of conductors 154, 155 and 156 extend substantially the length
of substrate 152 to provide three common connections to all of the
sensors 160 thereon. Conductor 154 provides a common or ground
connection, conductor 156 provides via contacts 166 a connection
for electrical power for each sensor 160. Conductor 155 provides a
conductor and contact 165 for applying an electrical signal for
activating and/or reading sensor 160 and for receiving an
electrical signal comprising data or information read from sensor
160.
[0044] Electrical connection between electrically conductive yarn
120 in the warp and conductors 154, 155, 156 of functional yarn
150a and/or electrically conductive yarn in the weft is
satisfactorily made by the physical contact therebetween in a plain
weave having a typical tightness and/or density of yarn, and may be
supplemented, e.g., by a spot of electrically conductive adhesive
at each connection 158. For proper electrical contact, functional
yarn 150a is registered so that contacts 158g, 158d, 158p thereon
each underlie a respective conductive yarn 120 where they cross. To
this end, functional yarn 150a may include one or more registration
marks or indicia 180 at one end thereof so that the loom may sense
the position thereof in the weaving process to provide proper
registration.
[0045] Optionally, conductors 154, 155 and/or 156 may be coated
with an insulating coating, except at locations 158g, 158d, 158p to
define contacts 158g, 158d, 158p where an electrical connection is
to be made thereto. Also optionally, contacts 158g, 158d, 158p may
have a spot of electrically conductive adhesive applied for making
an electrical connection is to be made thereto., e.g., at
intersections with conductive yarn 120. Sensors 160 may be
connected to substrate 152 by any suitable means, e.g., by
soldering or electrically conductive adhesive.
[0046] Electronic device 160 is preferably an addressable sensor
which has a unique identification or address and which, when
signaled by a data signal including such identification and/or
address via its data terminal 165, performs a particular function.
The function performed may be as simple as sensing a presently
existing condition, such as temperature, or recording a given
condition over a time period, whether for a given period or until
again signaled, or may be more complex, such as providing processed
data relating to a sensed condition. Each sensor 160 is powered by
electrical power applied between ones of conducting yarn 120
connected to conductors 154 and 156 of functional yarn 150a and is
activated by applying a suitable electrical addressing signal
between common conductor 154 and data conductor 155, i.e. between
two conducting yarn 120. One example of a suitable addressable
sensor is type DS18B20X temperature sensor and/or thermostat
flip-chip integrated circuit and the like available from Dallas
Semiconductor--Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. located in
Sunnyvale, Calif.
[0047] In a fabric 100, each conducting yarn 120 intersects
functional yarn 150a to overlie one of the contacts 158 thereof.
Thus, each sensor 160 has terminals that are connected via contacts
158g, 158d, 158p to a conductive yarn 120 that is accessible at an
edge of fabric 100, so that all of sensors 160 on all of functional
yarn 150a of fabric 100 are accessible from a single edge of fabric
100. In addition, where conductive yarn 120 are in the warp and
functional yarn 150a are in the weft, fabric 100 may be woven to
any desired length and be connected at one edge in the same format,
e.g., at a single interface that may be standardized.
Alternatively, fabric 100 may be cut into any desired length and
each length may be connected via the standardized interface. Also
alternatively, conductors 154, 155, 156 may be continuous over
substantially the length of functional yarn 150a in which case only
three conductive yarn 120 may be necessary to address addressable
sensors 160, or conductors 154, 155, 156 may be discontinuous over
the length of functional yarn 150a in which case more than three
conductive yarn 120 may be necessary to address sensors 160.
[0048] Thus, sensors 160 of fabric 100 are in aggregate an
addressable sensor matrix display having conductors 120 available
at a single edge by which any one or more of sensors 160 may be
addressed. It is noted that in an actual application, e.g., a
textile or textile article, fabric 100 would likely be much larger
and contain many more yarn of all types in both warp and weft, and
functional yarn 150 would likely be much longer and contain many
more sensors 160. Thus, FIGS. 1A and 1B, as well as other FIGURES
herein, may be considered as illustrating a portion of a fabric or
a portion of a functional yarn.
[0049] Circuit carriers, connectors and/or batteries and/or other
components needed to connect with and/or operate fabric 100 may be
attached to or incorporated into fabric 100, e.g., in cavities 106
woven therein and/or at an edge or edges thereof and/or at another
convenient location. Examples of such components include, for
example, decoders and/or drivers for LEDs, and/or for one or more
rows and/or columns of LEDs, however, such components are
preferably disposed on functional yarn 150.
[0050] Alternatively and optionally, electronic devices 160 may be
of the sort that derive their operating power from the data and/or
signals on the data conductor 155. Alternatively, electronic
devices 160 may be powered via power conductor 156 by superimposing
the data and/or signals on the power signal. One example of a
sensor device 160 suitable for such arrangement is the type
DS18B20X temperature sensor available from Dallas
Semiconductor--Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. Thus, a functional
yarn 150a may be, for example, a two-conductor equivalent of the
three-conductor functional yarn 150a of FIG. 3A. Other addressing
arrangements, e.g., those requiring more than three conductors,
such as the I.sup.2C scheme which requires a clock signal
conductor, may also be employed.
[0051] FIG. 3B is an example embodiment of a functional yarn 150b
which includes additional electronic devices 170 on functional yarn
150, as may be employed to provide a woven non-matrix display
having individually addressable pixels (LEDs) 160. Extending
substantially the length of substrate 152 is conductor 154
connecting to all of the devices 160 at terminal 164 thereof and to
electronic devices 170 at terminal 174 thereof, e.g., for providing
a ground connection. Extending substantially the length of
substrate 152 is conductor 158 connecting to all of electronic
devices 170 at terminal 178 thereof, e.g., for providing a power
connection. Also extending substantially the length of substrate
152 is conductor 155 connecting to all of electronic devices 170 at
terminal 175 thereof, e.g., for providing a data signal thereto for
addressing electronic devices 170 for selectively applying
electrical power from conductor 158 to terminal 168 of LED 160 via
output terminal 176 and conductor 156. As above, functional yarn
150b may include one or more registration indicia 180.
[0052] Electrical power is thus applied to all of electronic
devices 170 via power conductor 158 and is selectively applied to
ones of electronic devices 160 via the ones of electronic devices
170 that are addressed by the addressing signals, e.g., serial
addressing signals, provided via data conductor 155. Electronic
device 170 is preferably an addressable switch which has a unique
identification or address and which, when signaled by a data signal
including such identification and/or address via its data terminal
175, performs a particular function. The function performed may be
as simple as making or breaking a connection between two of its
terminals 176 and 178, whether for a given period or until again
signaled, or may be more complex, such as providing a
width-modulated or time modulated or a frequency signal at or
between one or more of its terminals.
[0053] In a functional yarn 150b for a simple non-scanned,
non-matrix array of light-emitting pixels, the state of each pixel
may be set by addressing the appropriate switch and setting its
state, e.g., either "on" or "off," to set the state of the pixel to
either "on" or "off." One example of a suitable addressable switch
is type DS2406 available from Dallas Semiconductor--Maxim
Integrated Products, Inc. located in Sunnyvale, Calif.
Alternatively, addressable switch 170 has plural controllable
outputs for controlling plural electronic devices 160. In one
embodiment, addressable switch 170 has seven outputs, as would be
convenient for addressing a seven-segment LED display for
displaying the numbers 0-9.
[0054] Such functional yarn 150b and a woven fabric display
including same, employs serial addressing and is suitable for
displaying still images and/or text or character messages. A fabric
display may also be utilized for displaying moving images, e.g.,
video-rate displays, if sufficient addressing bandwidth or parallel
addressing is available. Because an LED is emissive, it can produce
a display that is not only easily seen in the dark, but may also be
seen in daylight.
[0055] FIGS. 3C and 3D are an example embodiment of a functional
yarn 150c which includes power and ground conductors 154, 156,
various resistors R, and electronic devices 160 on functional yarn
substrate 152, as may be employed to provide a woven non-matrix
display having a pattern of electronic devices 160, e.g., LEDs 160,
thereon. In particular, functional yarn 150c has a yarn substrate
152 that may be utilized with various different ones of devices 160
and resistors R attached thereto, e.g., in various serial and/or
parallel circuits, as may be advantageous for making a unique
and/or a specialized functional yarn. A portion of yarn substrate
152 is shown in FIG. 3D without electronic devices 160 and
resistors R mounted thereon.
[0056] Spaced apart at a pitch 2P along the opposing edges of
substrate 152 are conductor patterns 158 and 159 having respective
contacts 158a, 158d and 159a and 159d to which electronic devices
160 and resistors R may be connected. Spaced apart at a pitch P
along the opposing edges of substrate 152 are pairs of contacts
158a, 159a of patterns 158, 159 to which electronic devices 160 may
be attached. Alternating adjacent pairs of contacts 158a are
connected to each other by a conductor 158b which includes a
contact 158d extending away from the edge of substrate 152, and
alternating adjacent pairs of contacts 159a are connected to each
other by a conductor 159b which includes contact 159d extending
away from the edge of substrate 152. Conductors 158b, 159b are
typically disposed alternatingly with respect to the pairs of
contacts 158a and 159a so that plural devices 160 may be connected
in series, if desired, and so that contacts 158d and 159d alternate
at a pitch 2P.
[0057] Extending substantially the length of substrate 152 of
functional yarn 150c in a central region thereof is conductor 154
providing a plurality of contacts 154d at which a connection, e.g.,
to ground, may be made via conductor 154. Also extending
substantially the length of substrate 152 in the central region
thereof is conductor 156 providing a plurality of contacts 156d at
which a connection, e.g., to a source of power, may be made via
conductor 156. Contacts 154d and contacts 156d are typically spaced
apart at a pitch 2P and are disposed so as to be proximate
respective ones of contacts 158d and 159d so that electronic
devices 170, such as resistors R, may be mounted therebetween. Near
one or both ends of functional yarn 150c are contacts 154c and 156c
for respectively connecting conductors 154 and 156 to external
circuits, such as to sources of power and ground potential.
Conductors 154, 156, 158, 159 and the contacts thereof are
typically an etched copper pattern on an insulating substrate 152,
and may be covered by an insulating coating other than at the
various contacts thereof.
[0058] In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3C, the five
electronic devices 160 (e.g., LEDs) at the left of the figure are
connected in series via ones of conductor patterns 158, 159 and the
series connected devices 160 are connected to conductors 154 and
156 via two resistors R which are of ohmic value selected for a
desired value of current flow through devices 160 with a specified
value of potential applied between conductors 154, 156. Because
there are two resistors R in series with the series connected
devices 160, the necessary resistance value may be divided between
the two resistors R in any desired proportion. Typically, one
resistor R is of low ohmic value (e.g., 1 ohm) to serve as a jumper
between one pair of connections 154d, 158d or 156d, 159d, and the
other resistor R is a higher ohmic value (e.g., 100 ohms) connected
between another pair of connections 154d, 158d or 156d, 159d, to
determine the level of current flow through devices 160.
[0059] In an example embodiment of a functional yarn 150c,
substrate 152 has a length of about 40 cm and a width of about 4 mm
and is of a polyimide material. Series connections of between one
and five LEDs 160 are provided, with contacts 158a, 159a each being
about 1 mm by 2 mm in area and repeating at a pitch of about 9.5
mm. Contacts 154d, 156d, 158d and 159d are each about 0.5 mm by 0.5
mm, and are separated by a gap of about 0.6 mm. LEDs 160 operate at
a current of about 20 milliamperes with about 12 volts is applied
between conductors 154 and 156. For five LEDs 160 connected in
series, a 1-ohm resistor R and a 100-ohm resistor R are utilized,
whereas for a lesser number of LEDs 160 in series a higher value
resistor R is utilized. Where two series circuits of LEDs 160 draw
current through the same resistor R, the value of that resistor R
is reduced proportionately so that about 20 milliamperes flows in
each of the two series circuits of LEDs 160. A number of functional
yarn 150c each having a different predetermined pattern of LEDs 160
mounted thereto were woven into the weft of an about 1.35 m by 0.37
m (about 53 inch by 14.5 inch) banner sign wherein the LEDs 160
when illuminated formed characters and/or symbols spelling out a
message, e.g., "Wonders Never Cease." Conductive yarn of braided
copper was woven into the warp thereof to make frictional
electrical connection to contacts 154a, 156a of each functional
yarn 150c for applying the 12 volt operating potential and ground
potential thereto. Insulating yarn provides a desired spacing of
the conductive yarn and the functional yarn 150c in the warp and
weft of the woven sign.
[0060] LEDs 160 are caused to illuminate by applying suitable
potential between the terminals thereof, thereby to illuminate one
or more LEDs 160 of a functional yarn 150 individually, as a group
and/or as a strip, and brightness may be selected by suitably
selecting the potential applied and/or the current that flows.
Suitable LEDs for functional yarn include those available from
Nichia Corporation of Japan, and from other sources, which may
include LEDs producing "white" as well as other colors of light,
such as red, green, blue, amber and/or a combination thereof, as
well as LEDs that are switchable between two or more colors.
[0061] Examples of electrical and/or electronic devices and/or
components that may be included on a functional yarn include, for
example, but are not limited to, sensors of temperature, chemicals,
force, pressure, sound, an electric field, a magnetic field, light,
acceleration and/or any other condition, sources of light, force,
heat, electromagnetic radiation and/or sound, infra red and/or
wireless transmitters and/or receivers, imagers, CCD imagers,
thermoelectric sensors, coolers, heaters and/or generators, liquid
crystal elements, electro-luminescent elements, organic
light-emitting elements, OLEDs, electrophoretic materials, LEDs,
piezo-electric elements and/or transducers, microphones,
loudspeakers, acoustic transducers, resistors, processors, digital
signal processors, microprocessors, micro-controllers, CPUs,
analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, a
data-producing device, a data-utilizing device, a processing
device, a switch, a human-interface device, a human-input device, a
blinker and/or flasher, a battery, a fuel cell, a solar cell, a
photovoltaic device, a power source, and so forth. Any one or more
or all of such devices may be activated by simply applying
electrical power thereto, whether via one or more conductors,
and/or may be actively addressable in response to an addressing
signal applied thereto.
[0062] Typically, one or more conductors on a functional yarn serve
to conduct electrical power and/or ground potential to electronic
devices thereon, and one or more other conductors may serve to
conduct data to or from such devices. Sources of electrical power
connected to various conducting yarn and/or functional yarn include
one or more batteries, solar cells, photovoltaic devices and/or
other power sources, either external to the fabric and/or attached
to the fabric and/or to a functional yarn.
[0063] One or more data and/or signal conductors may communicate
data and/or signals to and/or from one or more external sources
and/or electronic devices on functional yarn, and/or may
communicate data and/or signals between electronic devices on
functional yarn. All electronic devices on a functional yarn need
not be of the same or like kind. For example, a combination of
sensors and processors may be included on one or more functional
yarn, whereby data is may be collected, sensed, distributed and/or
processed within a functional yarn and/or plural functional yarn of
a woven fabric. Thus, electronic devices on a functional yarn may
be networked together and/or may be networked with other electronic
devices on another functional yarn or external to the fabric.
[0064] Typically, functional yarn is slit or cut from a sheet of a
polyimide or polyester or other polymer material and is about 0.2
to 0.5 mm in width and about 0.01 to 0.25 mm thick, but the
material may be wider or narrower and/or thicker or thinner. Other
suitable sizes for the functional yarn may be in the range 0.3 to 3
mm in width and about 75 to 125 .mu.m thick. For example, an about
1 mm wide and about 0.1 mm thick functional yarn has been found
satisfactory for weaving 0.1-0.4 meter wide fabric. On an automatic
loom, e.g., such functional yarn can be inserted into the weft by a
standard rapier loom. If the functional yarn is to be woven in the
weft of a fabric, then it is as long as the width of the fabric,
and if the functional yarn is to be woven in the warp of a fabric,
then it is as long as the length of the fabric or longer. Although
functional yarn may be similar to a conventional slit-film yarn in
that it is slit from a sheet of material, it differs substantially
in that conventional slit-film yarn does not include any electrical
and/or electronic device and/or functionality as described
herein.
[0065] It is noted that the functional yarn may be fabricated as a
sheet or panel of electrical substrate having electrical conductors
formed thereon or applied thereto, and having electrical and/or
electronic devices attached and/or applied thereon, which sheet or
panel is then cut or slit or otherwise separated into individual
functional yarn. For example, a sheet of polyimide, polyester or
other plastic suitable for use as an electrical substrate, has a
layer of conductive material thereon that is patterned, e.g., as by
photo-etching, to form the electrical conductors for power, ground,
data and the like as desired. Alternatively, the conductor pattern
could be printed with an electrically conductive ink or epoxy or
adhesive. Typically, electronic devices are attached as flip-chip
and/or surface mount devices. If electronic devices are to be
connected using solder or conductive adhesive, then balls of solder
or conductive adhesive may be deposited on the conductors in the
positions where the terminals of the electronic devices are to
connect. The electronic devices are then placed on the substrate
and connected via their terminals to the substrate. A coating,
e.g., an epoxy or "glop-drop" or "glob-drop" coating, or an
insulating film, may be applied thereover to additionally secure
the electronic devices to the substrate and/or to smooth any edges
or projections that might snag or otherwise interfere with the
weaving process. An underfill encapsulation may also be employed.
The sheet substrate is then slit or otherwise cut into strips, or
is cut in a serpentine pattern, wherein each strip is a length of
one or more functional yarn having electrical conductors and
electronic devices thereon. Typically, the length of each strip is
the length of one functional yarn, but may be a multiple
thereof
[0066] Functional yarn may also be fabricated as a strip or roll of
electrical substrate having electrical conductors formed thereon or
applied thereto, and having electrical and/or electronic devices
attached and/or applied thereon to provide a functional yarn, which
strip or roll may include plural functional yarn and is then slit
to separate individual lengths of functional yarn or may include a
single width of functional yarn and so need not be cut or slit or
otherwise separated into individual functional yarn. Electrical
conductors are formed on the strip and electronic devices connected
thereon in like manner to that described above. Each strip or roll
of functional yarn contains many lengths of functional yarn and is
cut to the length of one functional yarn as fed to the loom for
weaving. The functional yarn may be coated as above.
[0067] FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are plan view schematic diagrams of an
example embodiment of a circuit carrier 300 including an example
electronic circuit function suitable for a woven fabric as
illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, and FIG. 4D is an isometric view
thereof when folded. FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate opposite sides of a
generally rectangular substrate 310, e.g., a short strip of
flexible printed circuit, that is folded at or near fold lines 312
into a "U"-shape so that the opposite ends of substrate 310 are
substantially parallel, thereby to form carrier 300. Substrate 310
may be folded relatively sharply at or near fold lines 312 or may
be folded to have a radius formed of the portion of substrate 310
between fold lines 312, as desired.
[0068] On one side (broad surface) of substrate 310 (FIG. 4A) near
opposite ends thereof are respective carrier contacts WAC, WEC for
contacting electrically conductive yarn 120, 140 in the warp and
weft of a textile and/or fabric 100' into which carrier 300 is
placed. While as little as one contact may be provided, typically
plural contacts WAC and WEC are provided. Preferably, warp contacts
WAC are substantially parallel rectangular contacts having a longer
dimension in the direction along the length of the electrically
conductive warp yarn 120. Parallel warp carrier contacts WAC are
spaced apart a distance about the same as the distance between
adjacent electrically conductive warp yarn 120 having one or more
insulating warp yarn 110 therebetween. Also preferably, and
similarly, weft contacts WEC are substantially parallel rectangular
contacts having a longer dimension orthogonal to that of warp
contacts WAC, i.e. weft contacts WEC are longer in the direction
along the length of the electrically conductive weft yarn 140.
Parallel weft carrier contacts WEC are spaced apart a distance
about the same as the distance between adjacent electrically
conductive warp yarn 140 having one or more insulating warp yarn
130 therebetween.
[0069] On the other side (broad surface) of substrate 310 (FIG. 4B)
are mounted one or more electronic devices 160 for performing all
or part of an electronic function. Electronic devices 160 may
include integrated circuits, semiconductors, transistors diodes,
sensors, active components, passive components and the like, as
necessary and desirable for performing the desired electronic
function, and may include any or all of the devices and functions
described in relation to devices 160 and/or 170 herein. Typically,
ones of electronic devices 160 are of different sizes and shapes,
may be a surface mounted or flip chip type, e.g., using solder or
electrically conductive adhesive, and usually, but not necessarily,
comprise devices performing more complex functions, such as
microprocessors, encoders and decoders, addressable drivers and/or
switches, and the like. Typically, devices 160 are interconnected
by metal conductors formed in a pattern on substrate 310 in any
suitable manner, including as for a conventional printed circuit
board. Connections through substrate 310 to contacts WAC, WEC may
be made by conductive vias and/or by plated through holes and/or by
any other suitable manner.
[0070] Substrate 310 with electronic device(s) 160 thereon is
folded so that contacts WAC, WEC are exposed and devices 160 are
enclosed, and preferably is filled and/or sealed with an
encapsulant 320 to encapsulate electronic devices 160 and to
maintain the surfaces of substrate 310 containing contacts WAC and
WEC in substantially parallel relationship in carrier 300, as
illustrated in FIG. 4D. Optionally, contacts WAC, WEC may be coated
with an electrically conductive adhesive that is set during the
weaving process, e.g., described below.
[0071] Typically, substrate 310 may be formed of a thin sheet of
polyimide material with copper printed wiring conductors thereon,
or of any of the materials described in relation to any other
substrate. Typically, a number of substrates are fabricated on a
sheet of substrate material, the electrical contact and conductor
patterns are formed thereon, electronic devices 160 are mounted,
and then individual or rows of substrates 310 are cut from the
sheet thereof. Substrates 310 or rows of substrates 310 are then
folded and encapsulated with encapsulant 320. Suitable encapsulants
include Hysol brand encapsulants available from Henkel Loctite
Corporation located in Industry City, Calif. Typical examples of
carrier 300 may range in size from about 0.5.times.0.5.times.0.1 cm
to about 2.5.times.2.5.times.1 cm, but may be larger or smaller, as
may be necessary and/or desirable. Carriers 300 may be utilized,
e.g., where an electronic device 160 is too large to conveniently
be mounted to functional yarn 150.
[0072] Carriers 300 are placed into cavities in a multilayer fabric
as the fabric is being woven, and the thread count precision and
dimensions of the pocket are predetermined so that carrier 310 is a
generally snug fit in the pocket, so that conductive yarn 120, 140
in the warp and in the weft align with sufficient precision so as
to contact warp and weft contacts WAC and WEC, respectively. With
proper yarn tension and weave density, the physical contact between
conductive yarn 120, 140 and contacts WAC, WEC is sufficient to
provide reliable electrical connection therebetween. If desired,
electrically conductive adhesive or solder paste may be applied to
the contacts WAC, WEC of carrier 300 for making a mechanical
connection as well as an electrical connection therewith.
[0073] FIG. 4C illustrates an optional variation of substrate 310
of carrier 300 wherein one or more irregularities and/or
indentations are provided along any one or more edges of substrate
310. Such irregularities and/or indentations are provided for
guiding conductive yarn 120, 140 into alignment with contacts WAC,
WEC. Examples of suitable irregularities include "V"-shaped notches
316 and/or curved or circular indentations 318. In each example,
irregularities 316, 318 are generally aligned with the long axis of
rectangular contacts WAC, WEC in like manner to the desired
alignment of conductive yarn 120, 140 therewith.
[0074] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram
illustrating an example circuit carrier 300 disposed in a cavity
106 of a multilayer woven fabric 100. Carrier 300 is snugly
enclosed in cavity 106 with electrically conductive warp yarn 120
(cross-sectioned with diagonal lines) in physical and electrical
contact with warp carrier contacts WAC in the warp direction and
with electrically conductive weft yarn 140 in physical and
electrical contact with weft carrier contacts WEC in the weft
direction. Insulated warp yarn 110 and weft yarn 130 are interwoven
therewith to define cavity 106. While the illustrated cross-section
is cut along the weft direction, a cross-section if cut along the
warp direction would appear similar, although the designations of
warp and weft yarn would be interchanged.
[0075] It is noted that the tension of the yarn tends to enclose
carrier 300 snugly and in proper position within cavity 106 so that
reliable electrical connection between electrically conductive warp
yarn 120 and carrier warp contacts WAC, and between electrically
conductive weft yarn 140 and carrier weft contacts WEC, is provided
solely as a result of the physical contact therebetween, without
the need for a solder or an electrically conductive adhesive
connection, although such connections may be employed.
[0076] FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic diagrams illustrating example
loom arrangements suitable for making the example embodiments
described herein. Rapier loom 200 weaves warp yarn 210 and weft
yarn 220 into a fabric or textile 100. Alternate first ones 210a of
the warp yarn 210 are raised and second ones 210b of the warp yarn
210 intermediate therewith are lowered whilst weft yarn 220 drawn
from weft supply 222 is pulled between the raised and lowered warp
yarn 210a, 210b, respectively, by rapier 230. Comb or reed 214
maintains the spacing and position of warp yarn 210 in the opening
or shed formed by separated warp yarn 210a, 210b being raised and
lowered alternately during weaving. Typically, rapier 230 is a
flexible rapier 230 and is pulled back and forth between rapier
capstan wheels 240 for pulling weft yarn 220 from weft supply 222
and through the space between raised and lowered warp yarn 210a,
210b. Then, the raised first warp yarn 210a are lowered and the
lowered second warp yarn 210b are raised and another weft yarn 220
from weft supply 222 is pulled therebetween by rapier 230. Next,
the raised second warp yarn 210b are lowered and the lowered first
warp yarn 210a are raised and another weft yarn 220 from weft
supply 222 is pulled therebetween by rapier 230, and the weaving
sequence repeats interweaving warp and weft yarn 210, 220 for
weaving fabric/textile 210.
[0077] For multilayer weaving, warp yarn 210 in each layer or in
part of a layer is raised and lowered in accordance with the
desired weave pattern as weft yarn 220 is woven therethrough, as is
known for conventional fabrics in the art of weaving. The raising
and lowering of warp yarn 210 and the weaving of weft yarn 220
produces cavities 106 in the woven fabric wherein two layers are
separately woven in a region defining the cavity 106 and are
interwoven in the region surrounding the cavity, thereby to form a
closed cavity or pocket 106. As a cavity 106 is woven, a circuit
carrier 300 is inserted into each partially woven cavity 106 before
cavity 106 is woven to closure to surround the carrier 300. Modern,
automated computer-controlled looms can rapidly and reliably raise
and lower a few or many warp yarn very rapidly and in complicated
patterns, as may be desired for weaving cavities 106 in desired
positions in a fabric.
[0078] Warp yarn 210 may include insulating yarn, electrically
conductive yarn and/or functional yarn, in any desired sequence.
Typically, one or more insulating yarn are woven between
electrically conductive yarn and/or functional yarn to provide
physical spacing and electrical insulation between adjacent ones
thereof.
[0079] Where weft supply 222 provides weft yarn 220 of different
colors or of different types, such as insulating yarn, electrically
conducting yarn and/or functional yarn, selector 224 selects the
appropriate weft yarn 220 at the appropriate times for providing
the sequence of weft yarn desired for fabric 100. Where weft yarn
220 is electrically conducting, for example, selector 224 selects
an insulating yarn 220 for the weft threads woven prior to and
following the insulating yarn, so that adjacent conductive yarn are
not contiguous, but are separated by an insulating yarn and so are
insulated one from the other. In some cases, however, it may be
desired that plural conductive yarn be contiguous, e.g., in
parallel for increasing current carrying capacity and/or increasing
the reliability of the contact with conductive warp yarn and/or
functional warp yarn at the crossings thereof.
[0080] Where, for example, it is desired to produce a fabric or
textile 100 wherein different functional yarn are woven into the
weft, either in a single layer or in a multilayer weave, weft
supply 222 provides functional weft yarn 220 of different colors or
of different types, selector 224 selects the appropriate functional
weft yarn 220 at the appropriate times for providing the sequence
of weft yarn desired. One example of a fabric employing different
functional yarn is a multicolor display fabric, as for a two-color,
three-color, or full-color display. In such case, weft supply 222
selects the functional weft yarn having the appropriate color light
emitters thereon. For example, functional yarn having LEDs
producing red light, functional yarn having LEDs producing green
light, and functional yarn having LEDs producing blue light may be
woven into fabric 100 in a red-green-blue sequence for providing a
display fabric having the capability to produce color images when
the red, green and blue light emitting elements are activated at
suitable times and at suitable illumination intensities.
[0081] FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram illustrating an example
capstan 240 and roller 242 arrangements suitable for utilization
with the example loom 200 of FIG. 6A. Capstan wheel rotates
clockwise and counterclockwise, i.e. bidirectionally, for feeding
any weft yarn in weaving by loom 100. Rollers 242 are spring loaded
or otherwise biased so as to press against capstan wheel 240 so as
to maintain the weft yarn in frictional contact therewith so that
it can be inserted into the weft of the fabric/textile being woven
by loom 100. In particular, functional weft yarn 150 is so woven by
capstan wheel 240 into the weft of a fabric. So that functional
yarn 150 may be properly positioned with respect to the weft
direction of fabric 100, sensor 250 is positioned proximate capstan
wheel 240 in a location where one or more registration indicia 180
of functional yarn 150 may be detected. Sensor 250 may be an
optical detector for detecting one or more optical (e.g.,
reflective) indicia on functional yarn 150 and/or may be an
electrical detector such as a continuity detector for detecting one
or more electrically conductive (e.g., metal contact) indicia 180
of functional yarn 150 and/or may be a mechanical detector for
detecting one or more mechanical features of functional yarn
150.
[0082] Alternatively, an arm attached to loom 100 may be utilized
pull the yarn out of the shed to counter the rapier pulling the
yarn into the shed, thereby to properly position functional yarn
150 and register elements thereof. Also alternatively, where the
rapier is designed to draw the weft yarn into the shed a
predetermined distance with suitable tolerance, registration
mark(s) 180 may be utilized to position functional yarn 150 in
predetermined manner for subsequently being drawn into the loom by
the predetermined rapier distance.
[0083] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an example carrier
insertion arrangement 260 and an example roller arrangement 270
suitable for weaving and finishing multilayer weave fabric woven in
accordance with FIGS. 6A-6B. Carrier insertion is provided, for
example, by carrier insertion rod 260 which moves laterally (as
indicated by the double-ended arrow) into and out of the shed (reed
or comb 214 not shown) for inserting circuit carriers 300 into
cavities 106 in fabric 100. When the weave has progressed to the
point where one or more cavities 106 are partially woven, the
weaving of weft yarn by the rapier ceases for a short time wherein
carrier insertion rod is inserted into the shed and dispenses
circuit carriers 300 in predetermined orientation into the
partially woven cavities 106. When the carriers have been inserted
into the partially woven cavities 106, insertion rod 260 is
withdrawn and weaving of weft yarn resumes to complete the weaving
of cavities 106 enclosing carriers 106.
[0084] Carrier insertion rod 260 may dispense one carrier at a
time, e.g., as in a pick-and-place operation, or may dispense
plural carriers 300 at a time, e.g., as in a contemporaneous
pick-and-place operation. Alternatively, insertion rod 260 may
include a carrier feed arrangement wherein carriers 300 are fed
along insertion rod 260 and are dispensed from one or more
locations thereon. Any of the foregoing may be employed where all
of carriers 300 are of like type and/or where carriers 300 are of
different types.
[0085] Optional roller 270 includes a pair of heated rollers 270a,
270b between which woven fabric 100 passes as it is woven on loom
200. Where circuit carriers 300 include, e.g., thermoplastic and/or
thermosetting electrically conductive adhesive on contacts WAC, WEC
for making connection thereto, heated rollers 270a, 270b apply
suitable heat and pressure for melting a thermoplastic adhesive
and/or for melting and/or curing a thermosetting adhesive. Heated
rollers 260 may similarly be employed where such thermoplastic
adhesive and/or thermosetting adhesive is included on contacts of
functional yarn 150.
[0086] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an example yarn 150
including an example electronic circuit function suitable for use
with the example loom arrangements 200 of FIGS. 6A-6B. Functional
yarn 150 includes a flexible substrate 152 suitable for carrying
electrical and/or electronic circuits thereon. For example,
substrate 152 carries a plurality of electrical circuit components
160 attached thereto and connecting to conducting circuit traces
154, 156. External connection to conductors 154, 156 of functional
yarn 150 is made via one or more contacts 158, an illustrated
example of which is located at or near one or both ends of
substrate 152. Secure and/or permanent connection thereto may be
made, for example, by an electrically conductive adhesive 159, such
as a thermoplastic or thermosetting adhesive, which is typically
filled with electrically conductive particles, which is set or
cured under heated compliant pressure pads or rollers. Functional
yarn 150 also typically includes one or more registration marks or
indicia 180 located at or near one end of yarn 150 for registering
functional yarn 150, e.g., with respect to the warp yarn when
functional yarn 150 is utilized in the weft. Such registration of
functional yarn 150 is, for example, for positioning contacts 158
in locations in fabric 100 wherein they will make electrical
connection with conductive yarn in the warp thereof and/or for
positioning electronic devices 160 with respect to each other and
fabric 100. To this end, registration indicia 180 is in known
predetermined position along the length of substrate 152 of
functional yarn 150 with respect to contacts 158 and/or electronic
components/devices 160 thereof. Mark(s)/indicia 180 may be of any
desired shape and may be optically reflective when intended for use
with an optical detector and/or may be electrically conductive when
intended for use with an electrical continuity or conductivity
detector. Registration mark(s) 180 may also be utilized for
properly aligning functional yarn on the loom where functional yarn
is utilized in the warp of the fabric.
[0087] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an example woven textile
100 illustrating an ordinary weave and a complex weave which may be
utilized in connection with any of the single layer and/or
multilayer weaves herein. Example fabric 100 includes insulating
yarn 110 and electrically conductive yarn 120 in the warp and
insulating yarn 130 and conductive yarn 140 in the weft.
Ordinarily, electrical connection between electrically conductive
yarn 120 in the warp and electrically conductive yarn 140 in the
weft is satisfactorily made by the physical contact therebetween in
a plain weave having a typical tightness and/or density of yarn, as
are connections between conductive yarn 120 and/or 140 and a
functional yarn. Fabric so made have been observed to exhibit
stable connection, e.g., as in bright, stable light from LEDs,
under the application of shearing forces to the fabric, bending the
fabric, and otherwise distorting and/or conforming the fabric
shape.
[0088] For looser weaves and/or where highly reliable electrical
contact is important, a more complex weave may be employed. For
example, a Leno weave having plural conductive yarn 120a and 120b
intertwined as they are woven to provide an electrically conductive
yarn 120' may be utilized. Because the two conductive yarn 120a,
120b wrap around conductive yarn 140 (and/or a functional yarn) at
locations where they cross, providing a tight weave and a
connection of higher reliability thereat. While intertwined
conductive yarn 120' is illustrated by way of example as being in
the warp in the case of a Leno weave, twisted conductive yarn may
be utilized in the warp and/or the weft and twisted yarn may be
utilized with insulating and/or conductive yarn in other
weaves.
[0089] While the electrically conductive yarn and the functional
yarn are generally orthogonal and cross in a woven fabric or
textile, the conductive and functional yarn need not be orthogonal,
and conductive yarn and functional yarn may run in the same weave
direction in a fabric or textile. Further, while either or both
electrically conductive yarn and functional yarn may be woven in
either or both the warp and/or the weft, it is generally preferred
that electrically conductive yarn be woven in the warp and
functional yarn be woven in the weft, for example, to permit
different functional yarn to be utilized in a fabric/textile. For
example, by utilizing a first type of functional yarn containing
sensors and/or light sources and a second type of functional yarn
containing processors in the same fabric, a "smart" fabric may be
woven that both senses data and processes the data sensed and/or
that generates addressing for illuminating light sources and
illuminates the addressed light sources.
[0090] Woven textiles including electronic function as described
herein are suitable for many different applications and/or articles
having utility for consumer, private, public, professional,
commercial, government, military and other entities. Among such
are, for example, programmable alpha-numeric signage as for traffic
warning, advertising, window signs, banners, portable signs,
garments and articles of clothing (e.g., for people and/or
animals), safety-wear bibs, vests and other safety garments,
footwear, articles and/or garments for a baby and/or an infant,
personal flotation devices, life saving apparatus, blankets,
medical devices, light blankets, warming blankets, sensing
blankets, apparatus and/or equipment for sport, sports wear,
uniforms, toys, entertainment devices, truck and other vehicle
signage, construction and/or work area signs, directional signs,
lighting, emergency lighting, lighting panels, decorative lights,
accent lights, reading lights, lighting for a tent, tarp, canvas
and/or umbrella, display lighting, sensor fabrics, environmental
and/or chemical and/or biological agent sensor arrays, camouflage,
a parachute, a uniform (e.g., for government, military, sport
and/or medical personnel), light sensing arrays, imaging arrays,
and any other article including a woven fabric.
[0091] In each application, because the article is a woven fabric
article it has the give and drape characteristics of fabric, and so
can be hung, draped, folded, rolled or otherwise placed in a
non-planar condition. Thus, even very large articles can be folded,
rolled up or otherwise stored in a small space. For example, a 2 by
3 meter sign could easily be folded and/or rolled up and placed in
the trunk or other storage compartment of a vehicle such as a
police, fire, ambulance or other emergency vehicle and/or the
storage space of a truck or automobile. In addition, a lightweight
pop-up support frame, similar to the support frames employed with a
camping tent, may be employed with a textile article as described
herein. When unfolded, woven fabric articles may be draped or
otherwise placed to conform to a desired surface and/or shape.
[0092] The yarn utilized in weaving the fabric may be made wider
consistent with the size of the woven sign and the resolution
and/or pixel or display element size desired and/or the capability
of the loom (either an automated or a manual loom) to weave wide
yarn. For example, standard modern looms can weave yarn up to about
10 mm wide. A large display and/or sign, such as a banner
scoreboard, may be 10 meter long and 1 meter wide, and may, e.g.,
be woven of yarn and functional yarn strips having a width of about
2-3 cm. Because the message presented by such large signs and
banners is easily changed, one sign or banner can be reused many
times for many different purposes, the cost is lower than if a
different printed sign is utilized for each event, and external
illumination is not needed for use during darkness. Signs and
banners may be rolled, e.g., on a window-shade-type roller for
convenient and quick set up and removal, or may simply be
folded.
[0093] While the present invention has been described in terms of
the foregoing exemplary embodiments, variations within the scope
and spirit of the present invention as defined by the claims
following will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For
example, while it is preferred that cavities in a multilayer woven
fabric be closed, i.e. completely surround a circuit carrier
disposed therein, a closed cavity is not mandatory. Open pockets
may be employed in which case circuit carriers therein may be
easily removed and inserted after the fabric is woven, thereby
facilitating the reconfiguration or modification of the function of
an electronic textile, or for purposes of the repair, maintenance,
upgrading and/or updating thereof.
[0094] Electrical connection to contacts and/or conductors of
functional yarn may be made directly to the functional yarn at an
edge of the fabric or may be made via crossing conductive yarn to
which connections are made at an edge of the fabric, or a
combination of connection arrangements may be utilized.
[0095] In addition, functional yarn could include an electrically
conductive substrate on which are placed electronic devices and
contacts therefor, wherein an insulating layer and/or a pattern of
insulating areas are disposed on the conductive substrate to
provide insulation for such contacts. Further, placement and
registration of functional yarn in a fabric may be to align the
electronic devices thereon, or registration of the functional yarn
may be to place such devices in a pattern other than an aligned
pattern, as might be desirable for an electronically functional
fabric utilized for camouflage.
[0096] While sufficient electrical connection between conductive
yarn and/or functional yarn is typically made at locations where
such yarn cross in a fabric, other conductive adhesive such as
ultraviolet-cured adhesive may optionally be employed to improve
such connection.
[0097] As stated herein, examples of a fabric, textile and/or
article having a particular yarn in one of the warp and weft is
intended to describe the fabric, textile and/or article with such
yarn in the warp, in the weft, or in the warp and in the weft. Any
weave may be employed, including but not limited to, plain or
tabby, twill, overshot, laid-in, leno, gauze, loop, double,
multilayer, combinations thereof, and any other weave.
[0098] The terms electrical device, electronic device, electrical
component and electronic component are used interchangeably herein,
and any one is intended to include any or all of the others. The
same is true as to the terms conductor, contact and terminal, e.g.,
in the context of a functional yarn and/or electronic device, and
the terms "electrical" and "electronic." Similarly, "optical"
devices include, for example, devices that detect and/or produce
electromagnetic radiation, and/or that otherwise operate, in the
visible, infrared, ultra-violet, x-ray and/or other regions of the
electromagnetic spectrum, including a narrow band thereof such as
would define a "color."
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