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Unless the
electronic functionality is implemented entirely by solid packages held
in pockets and communicating using wireless, some kind of electrical
connectivity needs to be implemented in smart clothing (if only to
reduce the number of batteries employed). Therefore a wiring harness
must be integrated which should be fully integrated and therefore
washable. Electrically conductive fibres woven or sewn into the clothing
are achieving this. In addition controls and switches should be
integrated enabling the wearer to modify the functions of the clothing.
Textile switches
l A
number of companies now successfully supply fabric-based
switches which can be integrated in clothing and which
successfully survive washing.
Quantum
Tunnelling Composite (QTC) is a material from
Peratech which becomes
electrically conducting upon pressure in a manner which enables switches
and sensors. peratech licenses the material but have set up a company -
lQio systems - to supply fabric
switches for smart clothingl
Peratech has patents on a proprietary
conductive polymer (Quantum Tunneling Composite – QTC) comprised
of a mixture of silicon and metal particles which becomes
conducting on compression. It focuses on wearable technology,
for example it introduced the completely washable five-button
keypad integrated into O'Neill's ski jackets.
QIO Systems has been set up by Peratech
(including Eleksen and Softswitch) as a licensee for high street
consumer retail jackets and bags and sells textile components
under the Eleksen brand to its customers to incorporate into
their products.
Wearable applications for military,
industrial, sports or consumer products.
QTC sensor provides a flexible control interface for hi-vis
garment, allowing the wearer to select which part of the garment
to illuminate for optimum safety.
Playback buttons on sleeve to control
music/mobile device without any contact with device.
lFibretronic
is a leading
developer and manufacturer of soft electronic component
solutions making platform technologies, such as textile based
switches and keypads, fabric iPod controls, wearable sensor and
lighting systems and other soft-format electronics are available
for immediate application in a broad range of textile and
related products.
International Fashion
Machines incorporate conductive materials directly into the
textile itself. Our patented and patent pending Plush Touch
sensing technology.
Conductive Fibres and Textiles
Conductive fibres are needed for linking active
electronic elements together as well as range of other functions,
including:
- Power supply
- Connections for data
- Heating
- Block EMF
- Antistatic
Many different types of conductive fibres and materials
exist that can be integrated into clothing:
- Yarns with conducting metal wires integrated
- Conducting polymers
- Carbon fibre composite fibers
Some companies providing conductive yarns and
textiles include:
Sefar produce
Powermatrix - a hybrid fabric consisting of polyester (PET) and copper
monofilaments in warp and weft. The copper wires have a thin silver coating with
a polymer varnish on top to serve as insulation. This enables the copper wires
to be used to form a grid without electrical contact between the wires.
   
Noble
Biomaterials use X-static - a silver surfaces texctile with
antistatic, antimicrobial and heat dissipation features, and CircuiteX® which
enables fabric circuits.
Thermion flexible
heating material is a thin, conductive textile consisting of nickel coated
carbon fibers formed into a nonwoven fabric. It is manufactured using a
specialized paper making technology, precisely controlled to produce a fabric
with the desired material weight, thickness, and electrical resistivity.
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