The growth of the electronic industry and the widespread use of electronic equipment in communications, computations, automations, bio-medicine, space, and other purposes have led to many electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems as systems operate in close proximity. It is likely to become more severe in the future, unless proper EMI control methodology and techniques are used to meet the electromagnetic compatibility requirements. This article presents a comprehensive review of EMI shielding theory and materials. Furthermore, a method for fabricating a multifunctional metal composite fabric with electromagnetic (EM) shielding characteristics was successfully developed. The parameters influencing EM shielding properties of the metal composite fabrics were investigated. It was shown that the EM shielding effectiveness of the metal composite fabrics could be tailored by modifying the metal grid size and geometry.
The design of textile touch sensing interaction was explored with the new metal composite embroidery yarns (MCEYs) and a simple and easy fabrication technique aimed towards robust and reliable pressure sensitive position sensors for wearable tangible interfaces. In this paper, the resistive sensing method of a potentiometer as an accurate positional indicator was chosen to make simple prototypes of MCEY embroidered touch sensors. A simple structure of embroidered potentiometer to create textile switches as an input device in a smart textile system was tested. Both one- and two-point sensing method were successfully demonstrated. A complete success rate on switching was observed. These simple but ingenious embroidered touch sensors showed the possibility of a soft, lightweight, flexible, freely foldable touchpad as a ubiquitous solution. It was also shown that these minimal fabrication technologies may be highly valued in the smart textile field thanks to their simplified interconnections, customizability and tailorability on double curvature surfaces.
The state-of-the-art in the field of smart interactive textiles is to develop a pure textile with smart electronics (all-fabric electronics). This article reports the production and testing of a temperature sensing and heating textile which consistently maintains a certain targeted temperature in order to provide optimal thermal comfort in everyday wear regardless of the internal microclimate and external climate conditions as well as the voltage level of the battery. The design and fabrication method of the robust, reliable, flexible, light, highly breathable, and simply constructed smart textile with dual functionality of temperature sensing and heating was explored with a metal composite embroidery yarn. The feasibility of the temperature regulating system based on the power on-off switching method referencing real-time temperature measured from the correlation between resistance and temperature of the heating metal composite embroidery yarn textile was shown. A uniform temperature distribution, a quick adjustment to a newly set temperature, and effective maintaining of a set temperature were identified. Many potential customized designs for smart garments will be possible in a wide range of fabric size, heating area, and different temperature requirement.
Spinal disease is a common yet important condition that occurs because of inappropriate posture. Prevention could be achieved by continuous posture monitoring, but most measurement systems cannot be used in daily life due to factors such as burdensome wires and large sensing modules. To improve upon these weaknesses, we developed comfortable “smart wear” for posture measurement using conductive yarn for circuit patterning and a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) for interconnections. The conductive yarn was made by twisting polyester yarn and metal filaments, and the resistance per unit length was about 0.05 Ω/cm. An embroidered circuit was made using the conductive yarn, which showed increased yield strength and uniform electrical resistance per unit length. Circuit networks of sensors and FPCBs for interconnection were integrated into clothes using a computer numerical control (CNC) embroidery process. The system was calibrated and verified by comparing the values measured by the smart wear with those measured by a motion capture camera system. Six subjects performed fixed movements and free computer work, and, with this system, we were able to measure the anterior/posterior direction tilt angle with an error of less than 4°. The smart wear does not have excessive wires, and its structure will be optimized for better posture estimation in a later study.
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