Surface functional electro-textile with functionality modulation capability, methods for making the same, and applications incorporating the same

Abstract

A surface functional electro-textile fabric incorporates energy-active, electrically conductive or optically conductive fibers and nonconductive fibers in a woven or knitted textile fabric. The weave or knit pattern is selected so as to form floats of the electrically conductive fibers on at least one surface of the electro-textile fabric. The electro-textile fabric can be incorporated into an antenna structure that interacts with high frequency electromagnetic radiation, particularly in the frequency range of DC to 100 GHz.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to an electro-textile fabric that comprises energy-active functional filaments and electrically non-conductive standard textile filaments and to an electro-textile antenna structure fabricated in the form of a woven textile for interacting with high frequency electromagnetic radiation, particularly radiation in the frequency range of wireless communication. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] A. Electro-Textile Fabrics [0003] It is known to employ textiles as the means for providing electronic functionalities. Smart textiles or electro-textiles provide the features of flexibility, structure and large area capability and therefore find unique applications as substrates for carrying functional attributes. Example applications include: wearable electronics, monitoring of physiological signs through interaction with the human body, heating, sensing, and energy storage. [0004] As compared to the traditional hard-wired electronic ...

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Benefits of technology

[0066] Another embodiment of the present invention is a method for increasing conductivity of a fabric antenna of woven fabric by the steps of tensioning the warp yarn of the woven fabric during weaving on a weaving loom, and removing the woven fabric from the weaving loom and allowing the woven fabric to relax without tension. Yet another embod

Problems solved by technology

As compared to the traditional hard-wired electronic circuits and integrated systems, textiles are not considered conventional substrates for providing energy-active functionalities.

Type 1 electro-textile fabrics for EMI shielding (e.g., WO 92/13352, U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,960, U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,861) are not ideal as the surface coating may negatively impact the textile properties, such as mechanical properties, flexibility, and aesthetics.

In addition, the surface coating may be destroyed during use by abrasion or during movement, in which case the efficiency of the electro-textile as a means for EMI shielding is significantly reduced.

However, with this construction, the fabric can contract and expand during fabrication, which makes it difficult to handle, and further can distort the grid pattern.

Although these Type 2 electro-textile fabrics are indicated as useful for EMI shielding in a range of frequencies, providing a fabric based on 100% conductive fibers is not ideal in several aspects.

For example: (a) metal fibers are heavy; (b) the conductive fibers have mechanical properties that may not allow a fabric to perform across applications; (c) such structures may not be suitable for use alone or for use in an external surface of a textile application; (d) metal and other conductive fibers have higher cost, and (e) aesthetics may prevent use of such structures in wearable textiles.

Although the fabric made by this disclosure may have shielding properties, the textile process disclosed is very restrictive, and cannot be applied widely across end-use applications.

Although this textile may achieve shielding properties, it requires extra processing steps that need accurate parameter controls that cannot

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