The invention relates to a fuel cell (2) comprising at least one membrane/electrode unit (10) comprising a first electrode (21) and a second electrode (22), which electrodes are separated from one another by a membrane (18), and comprising at least one bipolar plate (40) which comprises a first distribution region (50) for distributing a fuel to the first electrode (21) and a second distribution region (60) for distributing an oxidation agent to the second electrode (22). A distribution unit (30) is provided in at least one of the distribution regions (50, 60) and has at least one flat woven fabric (80), wherein the flat woven fabric (80) is deformed in such a way that raised portions (32) of the woven fabric (80) touch one of the electrodes (21, 22).

One variation of a method for producing a smart yarn includes: aligning a set of sensing elements offset along a lateral axis in a magazine, wherein each sensing element in the set of sensing elements includes a sensor, a first conductive lead extending from a first side of the sensor along a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the lateral axis, and a second conductive lead extending from a second side of the sensor opposite the first side and along the longitudinal axis; wrapping a set of fibers into a yarn within a wrapping field; feeding a leading end of a first sensing element, in the set of sensing elements, from the magazine into the wrapping field; releasing the first sensing element from the magazine into the wrapping field; encasing the first sensing element between the set of fibers within the yarn; and repeating this process for the set of sensing elements.

A capacity touch fabric sensor (10) comprising a fabric layer (30) and layer (20) of a highly resistive material coating, the resistive coating layer (20) coating the fabric layer (30), wherein the fabric sensor (10) further comprises a plurality of electrodes (40) superimposed to the fabric layer (30), the plurality of electrodes (40) being electrically coupled with the first layer (20) of resistive material coating, each electrode (40) being electrically connected to an electronic control unit (450), the electronic control unit (450) being configured to evaluate the capacitance variation of the resistive layer that is indicative of a touch event on the capacity touch fabric sensor (10). [FIG. 1]

Disclosed and described herein are systems and methods of energy generation from fabric electrochemistry. An electrical cell is created when electrodes (cathodes and anodes) are ‘printed’ on or otherwise embedded into fabrics to generate DC power when moistened by a conductive bodily liquid such as sweat, wound, fluid, etc. The latter acts, in turn, as the cell's electrolyte. A singular piece of fabric can be configured into multiple cells by dividing regions of the fabric with hydrophobic barriers and having at least one anode-cathode set in each region. Flexible inter-connections between the cells can be used to scale the generated power, per the application requirements.

Examples are disclosed herein that relate to electronically functional textile articles. One example provides a knitted textile article comprising a first conductive thread and a second conductive thread knit into the article in such a manner as to form a conductive junction separated by a gap. The knitted textile article further comprises a knitted surface texture feature formed at a location that defines an opening over the gap, and an electronic component connecting the gap to form a circuit with the first conductive thread and the second conductive thread.

Woven flexible thermoelectric fabrics are provided. The fabric is a woven material that includes a series of longitudinal threads interwoven with a series of transverse threads. Within the longitudinal series, the threads have a repeating thread pattern of an n-type thermoelectric thread, a p-type thermoelectric thread, and an insulating thread. Within the transverse series, the threads have a repeating thread pattern of a first double-sided thread with conducting side down and insulating side up, a second double-sided thread with conducting side down and insulating side up, and a third double-sided thread with conducting side up and insulating side down.

An item may include fabric having insulating and conductive yarns or other strands of material. The conductive strands may form signal paths. Electrical components can be mounted to the fabric. Each electrical component may have an electrical device such as a semiconductor die that is mounted on an interposer substrate. The interposer may have contacts that are soldered to the conductive strands. A protective cover may encapsulate portions of the electrical component. To create a robust connection between the electrical component and the fabric, the conductive strands may be threaded through recesses in the electrical component. The recesses may be formed in the interposer or may be formed in a protective cover on the interposer. Conductive material in the recess may be used to electrically and/or mechanically connect the conductive strand to a bond pad in the recess. Thermoplastic material may be used to seal the solder joint.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods for a knitted textile with integrated fiber optic light pipes and systems and methods for using such a knitted textile. According to one embodiment, a knitted textile can comprise a woven fabric, one or more fiber optic light pipes woven into a plurality of courses within the woven fabric, and two or more supporting structures disposed at opposite sides of the knitted textile. The one or more fiber optic light pipes can be woven into the plurality of courses within the woven fabric, can extend beyond an edge of the woven fabric, and can wrap around each of the two or more supporting structures.

A woven structure includes thermoelectric ribbons interwoven with thread. Each thermoelectric ribbon includes a folded matrix of thermoelectric elements, the matrix having an insulating substrate that supports plural rows of thermoelectric elements, a plurality of conductive elements, and two terminals. The conductive elements form a series connection of the thermoelectric elements between the two terminals. A set of first conductive elements have a first temperature and a set of second conductive contacts have a second temperature lower than the first temperature when a first current flows in a first direction between the first matrix terminal and the second matrix terminal. The folded matrix is configured to form spaced-apart alternating stacks of the first conductive contacts and second conductive contacts. Each length of the yard or thread is interwoven such that it passes alternately under stacks of first conductive contacts and over stacks of second conductive contacts.

A touch-sensitive textile device that is configured to detect the occurrence of a touch, the location of a touch, and/or the force of a touch on the touch-sensitive textile device. In some embodiments, the touch-sensitive textile device includes a first set of conductive threads oriented along a first direction, and a second set of conductive threads interwoven with the first set of conductive threads and oriented along a second direction. The device may also include a sensing circuit that is operatively coupled to the first and second set of conductive threads. The sensing circuit may be configured to apply a drive signal to the first and second set of conductive threads. The sensing circuit may also be configured to detect a touch or near touch based on a variation in an electrical measurement using the first or second set of conductive threads.