18-01-2013, 11:49 AM
E-Textiles
[attachment=47482]
INTRODUCTION:
The scaling of device technologies has made possible significant increases in the embedding of computing devices in our surroundings. Embedded microcontrollers have for many years surpassed microprocessors in the number of devices manufactured. The new trend, however, is the networking of these devices and their ubiquity not only in traditional embedded applications such as control systems, but in items of everyday use, such as clothing, and in living environments. A trend deserving particular attention is that in which large numbers of simple, cheap processing elements are embedded in environments. These environments may cover large spatial extents, as is typically the case in networks of sensors, or may be deployed in more localized constructions, as in the case of electronic textiles.
BENEFITS OF E-TEXTILES:
Electronic textiles, or e-textiles, are a new emerging inter disciplinary field of research, bringing together specialists in information technology, microsystems , materials, and textiles. E textiles offers the following advantages:
– Flexible
– No wires to snag environment
– Large surface area for sensing
– Invisible to others
– Cheap manufacturing
The focus of this new area is on developing the enabling technologies and fabrication techniques for the economical manufacture of large-area, flexible, conformable information systems that are expected to have unique applications for both the consumer electronics and aerospace/military industries.
MAKING OF E-TEXTILES:
E-textiles of various forms have previously been demonstrated, but have typically been hindered by one or more shortfalls. For example, geometrically complex antennas have revealed performance levels that are indistinguishable from identical designs on conventional materials. However, construction of the complex geometrical patterns has often been laborious, involving hand-stitching. Another automated method for e-textiles circuit construction uses conductive threads in an embroidery process. However, the embroidered conductive threads do not provide sufficient surface conductivity for many high-speed digital and RF applications. Furthermore, some studies have indicated that the conductive embroidery threads are more subject to breaking than conventional non-conductive embroidery thread.
RESEARCH WORKS:
Conductive E-Textiles:
Researchers move from making batteries from paper to making batteries from cloth. A team of Stanford researchers is producing batteries and simple capacitors from ordinary textiles dipped in nanoparticle-infused ink. The conductive textiles - dubbed "eTextiles" - represent a new class of integrated energy storage device, born from the synthesis of prehistoric technology with cutting-edge materials science. While conventional batteries are made by coating metallic foil in a particle slurry and rolling it into compact form - a capital-intensive process - the new energy textiles were manufactured using a simple "dipping and drying" procedure, whereby a strip of fabric is coated with a special ink formula and dehydrated in the oven. The procedure works for manufacturing batteries or supercapacitors, depending on the contents of the ink - oxide particles such as LiCoO2 for batteries; conductive carbon molecules (single-walledcarbon nanotubes, or SWNTs) for supercapacitors.
CONCLUSION:
Over the past decade, electronics have been shrinking in size and increasing in functionality. The idea for the most wearable system is to attach technological components to the textile in which transmission lines and connectors are embedded. Because the electronics are attac detached freely, they can be protected from the physical stresses of laundering. As many different electrics can be connected to any clothing, a wearable system becomes more versatile, and the user can change its look depending on environmental and situational changes and individual preference.
[attachment=47482]
INTRODUCTION:
The scaling of device technologies has made possible significant increases in the embedding of computing devices in our surroundings. Embedded microcontrollers have for many years surpassed microprocessors in the number of devices manufactured. The new trend, however, is the networking of these devices and their ubiquity not only in traditional embedded applications such as control systems, but in items of everyday use, such as clothing, and in living environments. A trend deserving particular attention is that in which large numbers of simple, cheap processing elements are embedded in environments. These environments may cover large spatial extents, as is typically the case in networks of sensors, or may be deployed in more localized constructions, as in the case of electronic textiles.
BENEFITS OF E-TEXTILES:
Electronic textiles, or e-textiles, are a new emerging inter disciplinary field of research, bringing together specialists in information technology, microsystems , materials, and textiles. E textiles offers the following advantages:
– Flexible
– No wires to snag environment
– Large surface area for sensing
– Invisible to others
– Cheap manufacturing
The focus of this new area is on developing the enabling technologies and fabrication techniques for the economical manufacture of large-area, flexible, conformable information systems that are expected to have unique applications for both the consumer electronics and aerospace/military industries.
MAKING OF E-TEXTILES:
E-textiles of various forms have previously been demonstrated, but have typically been hindered by one or more shortfalls. For example, geometrically complex antennas have revealed performance levels that are indistinguishable from identical designs on conventional materials. However, construction of the complex geometrical patterns has often been laborious, involving hand-stitching. Another automated method for e-textiles circuit construction uses conductive threads in an embroidery process. However, the embroidered conductive threads do not provide sufficient surface conductivity for many high-speed digital and RF applications. Furthermore, some studies have indicated that the conductive embroidery threads are more subject to breaking than conventional non-conductive embroidery thread.
RESEARCH WORKS:
Conductive E-Textiles:
Researchers move from making batteries from paper to making batteries from cloth. A team of Stanford researchers is producing batteries and simple capacitors from ordinary textiles dipped in nanoparticle-infused ink. The conductive textiles - dubbed "eTextiles" - represent a new class of integrated energy storage device, born from the synthesis of prehistoric technology with cutting-edge materials science. While conventional batteries are made by coating metallic foil in a particle slurry and rolling it into compact form - a capital-intensive process - the new energy textiles were manufactured using a simple "dipping and drying" procedure, whereby a strip of fabric is coated with a special ink formula and dehydrated in the oven. The procedure works for manufacturing batteries or supercapacitors, depending on the contents of the ink - oxide particles such as LiCoO2 for batteries; conductive carbon molecules (single-walledcarbon nanotubes, or SWNTs) for supercapacitors.
CONCLUSION:
Over the past decade, electronics have been shrinking in size and increasing in functionality. The idea for the most wearable system is to attach technological components to the textile in which transmission lines and connectors are embedded. Because the electronics are attac detached freely, they can be protected from the physical stresses of laundering. As many different electrics can be connected to any clothing, a wearable system becomes more versatile, and the user can change its look depending on environmental and situational changes and individual preference.