Conductive Filament Textile for Pressure Mapping and Haptic Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fabric technologies fail to seamlessly integrate conductive elements like switches and sensors into woven or knitted fabrics while maintaining electrical insulation and functionality, particularly in applications requiring pressure mapping and haptic feedback.

Innovation Solution

A textile assembly with conductive filaments woven or knitted into non-conductive fabric panels, including a controller to generate pressure maps and haptic signals, using materials like silver, copper, or piezoelectric fibers, and incorporating electrical shields for insulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conductive elements are integrated into fabric panels, then electronic device functionality is achieved, but electrical insulation between elements becomes difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectronic device functionalityVSAvoidelectrical interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fabric panel is divided into multiple insulated sections with conductive filaments contained within discrete conductive yarns. Each conductive yarn acts as an isolated segment, preventing electrical interference between adjacent conductive elements while maintaining individual functionality for sensors and switches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The non-conductive fabric matrix serves as an intermediary insulating medium between conductive filaments. The fabric structure physically separates and electrically isolates conductive elements, enabling multiple electronic functions to coexist without interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conductive filaments are woven or knitted into non-conductive fabric, then sensor and switch functionality is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor and switch functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive filaments are integrated directly into the fabric manufacturing process through weaving or knitting, merging the structural and electronic functions into a single unified textile product. This eliminates separate assembly steps for attaching electronic components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The same fabric manufacturing processes (weaving, knitting) used for traditional textiles are adapted to also create conductive electronic devices. The conductive yarns can form multiple different electronic functions (sensors, switches, pressure mapping elements) using the same base technology.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple conductive filaments are arranged to form sensors and switches, then electronic device capability is improved, but electrical insulation between adjacent elements becomes more challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectronic device capabilityVSAvoidelectrical insulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fabric structure provides localized insulation properties at each intersection and adjacent region of conductive filaments. The non-conductive yarns surrounding each conductive filament create local electrical isolation zones, ensuring reliable insulation even when multiple conductive elements are in close proximity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the integration of electronic devices within fabrics, providing effective pressure mapping and haptic feedback while preventing electrical interference, suitable for applications like vehicular upholstery and trim panels.

Implementation Method 1

The conductive filaments include one of a silver fiber, a copper fiber, a steel fiber, a capacitive fiber, a piezoelectric fiber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

The first conductive filament is arranged for generating a magnetic field. Electrical excitation of the first conductive filament and the reactive element alternatingly attracts and repels the first conductive filament and the reactive element generating a vibratory haptic signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS10233571B1Multi-functional textiles with integrated sensing and control elements

Publication Date: 2019.03.19 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A textile assembly includes a knitted or woven textile panel of non-conductive fibers, and defines a first delimited area. A first conductive filament is knitted or woven into the textile panel in the first delimited area, and is arranged to form an electronic device, such as a sensor or a switch, in the first delimited area. The textile assembly may further include a third conductive filament that is knitted or woven into the textile panel in a second delimited area. The third conductive filament is arranged to form a second electronic device, such as a sensor or a switch, in the second delimited area. A controller may use a signal from the first electronic device and the second electronic device to execute a function, such as generate a pressure map of the textile panel.