Electronically Functional Yarn

Kurzfassung

A North West UK University has a new technology under development, which enables fully integrated textile structures capable of integrating electronic circuits and systems with traditional textile fibres; creating the fundamentals for integrating information technology into everyday textile, high-tech textile products. The University is looking for an industrial technical textile partner to develop the product under a Joint venture, Technical cooperation or licence agreement.

Details

A North West UK University has a new technology under development with the potential to change the way advanced circuits and systems integrate with traditional textile fibres. Present wearable systems comprise of packaged integrated electronic components and protective casing, interconnected with each other by means of conductive fibres. This is a bulky, solution for intelligent wearable computing and limits its wider adoption.

This Novel technology has the potential to integrate powerful circuits and systems with traditional textile fibres and therein yarn, which will create the fundamentals for integrating information technology into everyday textile clothing and high-tech textile products.

The technology enables a basic electronic unit, such as the transistor, to be embedded into the fibres that make up the textile. The aim is to turn existing electronic bricks positioned around the body into a comfortable, flexible and wearable textile form. With the successful integration of these fibres into yarn, the infrastructure for making wearable computers becomes possible.

- Fully washable garments, fibres or other textile structures.
- Existing manufacturing techniques are used.
- Electronic component is very small- appears only as a flaw (limited impact on aesthetics).
- Versatile – wide range of electronic devices can be incorporated.
- Textile structures/products created via existing manufacturing techniques.

Electronic yarns for integration into textiles for wearable applications will impact on the way of life for many people. The delivery of healthcare has changed dramatically with the information technology revolution. New encapsulation technologies have the potential to provide a platform for the next generation of wearable, non-invasive, personal sensing systems. Further more, in the healthcare sector it could enable the status and vital sign monitoring of the ever-growing elderly population. The demand for functional fibres is on the increase.

- Wearable computing.
- Smart wound care.
- RFID.
- Healthcare monitoring.

Collaboration

The University have filed an international patent and are looking for an industrial partner with interests in clothing manufacture, specialist yarn manufacture, RFID, Medical textiles or automotive and transport textiles to develop the product under a Joint venture, Technical cooperation or licence agreement.

Innovative Aspects:
This Novel technology has the potential to integrate powerful circuits and systems with traditional textile fibres and therein yarn, which will create the fundamentals for integrating information technology into everyday textile clothing and high-tech textile products.