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Textile-Integrated Electronics

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2021) | Viewed by 17108

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
Interests: applied electromagnetics; body-centric communication; wearable technologies; optimization

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: small, active, integrated and textile antennas; EMI; EMC; human exposure to EM fields

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The issue is focused on the integration of electronic components and subsystems into textile materials and the exploitation of textiles and textile-like materials for fabrication of electronic components and systems. When submitting a paper, attention can be turned to conventional materials (fleece, denim, etc.) and special textile substrates (three-dimensional knitted fabrics, e.g.), as well as conductive textiles and yarns. Potential applications might comprise vehicular technologies (intelligent upholstery and seat covers), wearable electronics (t-shirts with sensoric and communication functions), medically oriented systems (sensoric and reconfigurable mattresses, EM therapy applicators and sensors, telemedicine applications), intelligent clothing (sensors, personal communications, navigation), and other potential applications.

Emphasis is expected to be given to material aspects ensuring the requested utility properties, electrical and mechanical parameters of textile materials. Discussions devoted to the durability and washability of electronic structures as well as environmental impacts (moisture, deformation) on these structures are welcome. Manufacturing aspects covering printing, sewing, embroidering, fireproofing, waterproofing, and related approaches are appreciated for discussion. Aspects of simulating, measuring, and testing textile integrated systems and components are welcome to be provided.

Prof. Zbyněk Raida
Prof. Davor Bonefačić
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • textile-integrated waveguide
  • antennas
  • sensors
  • reconfigurable structures
  • inkjet printing
  • screen printing
  • sewing
  • embroidering
  • wearable applications
  • on-body, in-body, and off-body communications
  • medical applications
  • vehicular applications

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 7617 KiB  
Article
Development of Flexible and Functional Sequins Using Subtractive Technology and 3D Printing for Embroidered Wearable Textile Applications
by Ramona Nolden, Kerstin Zöll and Anne Schwarz-Pfeiffer
Materials 2021, 14(10), 2633; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14102633 - 18 May 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3902
Abstract
Embroidery is often the preferred technology when rigid circuit boards need to be connected to sensors and electrodes by data transmission lines and integrated into textiles. Moreover, conventional circuit boards, like Lilypad Arduino, commonly lack softness and flexibility. One approach to overcome this [...] Read more.
Embroidery is often the preferred technology when rigid circuit boards need to be connected to sensors and electrodes by data transmission lines and integrated into textiles. Moreover, conventional circuit boards, like Lilypad Arduino, commonly lack softness and flexibility. One approach to overcome this drawback can be flexible sequins as a substrate carrier for circuit boards. In this paper, such an approach of the development of flexible and functional sequins and circuit boards for wearable textile applications using subtractive and additive technology is demonstrated. Applying these techniques, one-sided sequins and circuit boards are produced using wax printing and etching copper-clad foils, as well as using dual 3D printing of conventional isolating and electrically conductive materials. The resulting flexible and functional sequins are equipped with surface mounted devices, applied to textiles by an automated embroidery process and contacted with a conductive embroidery thread. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Textile-Integrated Electronics )
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17 pages, 31232 KiB  
Article
Electrically Tunable Left-Handed Textile Metamaterial for Microwave Applications
by Kabir Hossain, Thennarasan Sabapathy, Muzammil Jusoh, Ping Jack Soh, Mohd Haizal Jamaluddin, Samir Salem Al-Bawri, Mohamed Nasrun Osman, R. Badlishah Ahmad, Hasliza A. Rahim, Mohd Najib Mohd Yasin and Nitin Saluja
Materials 2021, 14(5), 1274; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14051274 - 8 Mar 2021
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3763
Abstract
An electrically tunable, textile-based metamaterial (MTM) is presented in this work. The proposed MTM unit cell consists of a decagonal-shaped split-ring resonator and a slotted ground plane integrated with RF varactor diodes. The characteristics of the proposed MTM were first studied independently using [...] Read more.
An electrically tunable, textile-based metamaterial (MTM) is presented in this work. The proposed MTM unit cell consists of a decagonal-shaped split-ring resonator and a slotted ground plane integrated with RF varactor diodes. The characteristics of the proposed MTM were first studied independently using a single unit cell, prior to different array combinations consisting of 1 × 2, 2 × 1, and 2 × 2 unit cells. Experimental validation was conducted for the fabricated 2 × 2 unit cell array format. The proposed tunable MTM array exhibits tunable left-handed characteristics for both simulation and measurement from 2.71 to 5.51 GHz and provides a tunable transmission coefficient of the MTM. Besides the left-handed properties within the frequency of interest (from 1 to 15 GHz), the proposed MTM also exhibits negative permittivity and permeability from 8.54 to 10.82 GHz and from 10.6 to 13.78 GHz, respectively. The proposed tunable MTM could operate in a dynamic mode using a feedback system for different microwave wearable applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Textile-Integrated Electronics )
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18 pages, 16177 KiB  
Article
Textile Antenna for Bio-Radar Embedded in a Car Seat
by Caroline Loss, Carolina Gouveia, Rita Salvado, Pedro Pinho and José Vieira
Materials 2021, 14(1), 213; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14010213 - 4 Jan 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3585
Abstract
A bio-radar system is presented for vital signs acquisition, using textile antennas manufactured with a continuous substrate that integrates the ground plane. Textile antennas were selected to be used in the RF (Radio Frequency) front-end, rather than those made of conventional materials, to [...] Read more.
A bio-radar system is presented for vital signs acquisition, using textile antennas manufactured with a continuous substrate that integrates the ground plane. Textile antennas were selected to be used in the RF (Radio Frequency) front-end, rather than those made of conventional materials, to further integrate the system in a car seat cover and thus streamline the industrial manufacturing process. The development of the novel substrate material is described in detail, as well as its characterization process. Then, the antenna design considerations are presented. The experiments to validate the textile antennas operation by acquiring the respiratory signal of six subjects with different body structures while seated in a car seat are presented. In conclusion, it was possible to prove that bio-radar systems can operate with textile-based antennas, providing accurate results of the extraction of vital signs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Textile-Integrated Electronics )
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21 pages, 7048 KiB  
Article
Wash Testing of Electronic Yarn
by Dorothy Anne Hardy, Zahra Rahemtulla, Achala Satharasinghe, Arash Shahidi, Carlos Oliveira, Ioannis Anastasopoulos, Mohamad Nour Nashed, Matholo Kgatuke, Abiodun Komolafe, Russel Torah, John Tudor, Theodore Hughes-Riley, Steve Beeby and Tilak Dias
Materials 2020, 13(5), 1228; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13051228 - 9 Mar 2020
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 5103
Abstract
Electronically active yarn (E-yarn) pioneered by the Advanced Textiles Research Group of Nottingham Trent University contains a fine conductive copper wire soldered onto a package die, micro-electro-mechanical systems device or flexible circuit. The die or circuit is then held within a protective polymer [...] Read more.
Electronically active yarn (E-yarn) pioneered by the Advanced Textiles Research Group of Nottingham Trent University contains a fine conductive copper wire soldered onto a package die, micro-electro-mechanical systems device or flexible circuit. The die or circuit is then held within a protective polymer packaging (micro-pod) and the ensemble is inserted into a textile sheath, forming a flexible yarn with electronic functionality such as sensing or illumination. It is vital to be able to wash E-yarns, so that the textiles into which they are incorporated can be treated as normal consumer products. The wash durability of E-yarns is summarized in this publication. Wash tests followed a modified version of BS EN ISO 6330:2012 procedure 4N. It was observed that E-yarns containing only a fine multi-strand copper wire survived 25 cycles of machine washing and line drying; and between 5 and 15 cycles of machine washing followed by tumble-drying. Four out of five temperature sensing E-yarns (crafted with thermistors) and single pairs of LEDs within E-yarns functioned correctly after 25 cycles of machine washing and line drying. E-yarns that required larger micro-pods (i.e., 4 mm diameter or 9 mm length) were less resilient to washing. Only one out of five acoustic sensing E-yarns (4 mm diameter micro-pod) operated correctly after 20 cycles of washing with either line drying or tumble-drying. Creating an E-yarn with an embedded flexible circuit populated with components also required a relatively large micro-pod (diameter 0.93 mm, length 9.23 mm). Only one embedded circuit functioned after 25 cycles of washing and line drying. The tests showed that E-yarns are suitable for inclusion in textiles that require washing, with some limitations when larger micro-pods were used. Reduction in the circuit’s size and therefore the size of the micro-pod, may increase wash resilience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Textile-Integrated Electronics )
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