Fabric and yarn structures for improving signal integrity in fabric-based electrical circuits

Abstract

Coaxial and twisted pair conductive yarn structures reduce signal crosstalk between adjacent lines in woven electrical networks. A coaxial conductive yarn structure includes an inner conductive yarn having a plurality of conductive strands twisted together. An outer conductive yarn is wrapped around the inner conductive yarn. An insulating layer separates the inner and outer yarns. A twisted pair conductive yarn structure includes first and second conductive yarns, each including a plurality of conductive strands being twisted together. The first and second conductive yarns are twisted together to form a helical structure. In a woven electrical network, at least one conductor of adjacent conductive yarn structures is connected to ground to reduce signal crosstalk. Coaxial and twisted pair yarn structures may also be formed simultaneously with weaving or knitting the threads that make up the structures into a fabric.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 609,074, filed Jun. 27, 2003, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 392,591, filed Jun. 28, 2002 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 447,438, filed Feb. 14, 2003, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.GOVERNMENT INTEREST[0002]This invention was made with U.S. Government support under Grant No. N39998-98-C3566 awarded by the Department of Defense-Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The U.S. Government has certain rights in the invention.TECHNICAL FIELD[0003]The present invention relates to methods and systems for improving signal integrity in fabric-based electrical circuits. More particularly, the present invention relates to new fabric and yarn structures and methods for making the same for solving signal integrity related problems, such as crosstalk, in woven or knitted ele...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to improving signal integrity in fabric-based electrical circuits by incorporating conductive yarns into fabrics. The conductive yarns are twisted together to form a single conductor with sufficient flexibility, conformability, resiliency, bending characteristics, and recovery required for fabric-based circuits to be incorporated in wearable garments. The conductive yarns can be made of various materials such as copper, steel, gold, aluminum, silver, iron, and conductive polymers. The invention also includes coaxial conductive yarns and twisted pair conductive yarns, which help reduce crosstalk in a fabric-based electrical network. The conductive yarns can be woven or knitted into the fabric during the weaving process, making the production faster and more flexible.

Problems solved by technology

Conventional wires lack one or more of these characteristics, making them unsuitable for incorporation in a fabric.

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