A thermoelectric fabric may include a plurality of first threads and second threads. The first threads may be alternately formed by p-doped and n-doped thread portions and electrically conductive first thread portions and second thread portions arranged in between. The first thread portions may form a hot side of the fabric, and the second thread portions may form a cold side. The first threads may form one of warp threads or weft threads of the fabric, and the second threads may form the other of the warp threads or weft threads. On at least one of the first thread portions of at least one of the plurality of first threads, a temperature control structure with at least one temperature control element for cooling the hot side may be present.

The present biological electrode includes a conductive fabric (2) formed of base fibers which are filled with a conductor and/or to which the conductor is adhered, a thin metallic wire (3) formed into a spiral shape and connected with the conductive fabric (2) at a distal end of the thin metallic wire, and a filling material (5) with which a gap between the conductive fabric (2) and the thin metallic wire (3) is filled and which supports the conductive fabric (2) and the thin metallic wire (3), the conductive fabric (2) is supported in a roll shape, and the conductor is electrically connected with the thin metallic wire (3).

A flexible wire comprises a conductive core surrounded by one or more radial p-n diodes and alternating conductive and non-conductive bands along an outermost surface. Methods for producing the wire are also disclosed, as are textiles and other flexible materials comprising or consisting of such flexible wires.

An electrical circuit assembly comprising: a circuit component, a fabric-based component, and a fastener is disclosed along with methods for fabricating the electrical circuit assembly and for using the electrical circuit assembly. The circuit component may comprise: a substrate layer comprising an integrated circuit disposed on the substrate layer; and a first conductive linkage electrically coupled to the integrated circuit. The fabric-based component may comprise: a fabric layer comprising a first at least one conductive thread; and a second conductive linkage electrically coupled to the first at least one conductive thread. The fastener may be configured to couple the circuit component and the fabric-based component at the first conductive linkage and the second conductive linkage.

A method of forming a color-changing fiber that can be incorporated into fabrics and other woven materials. The color changing fibers include an annular wall and a conductive wire axially extending through the annular wall, a core strand surrounded by the annular wall and extending axially through a central portion of the fiber, and an encapsulated electro-optic medium disposed on a surface of the core strand.

For a woven fabric (20) with an additional thread (30, 34) laid out in a zigzag shape, in order to ensure in certain cases that the zigzag thread (30, 34) has its zigzag tip (38) always at the same position over the length of the woven fabric, it is proposed that the weft thread (24) is introduced at certain points in the woven fabric (20) in a floating manner over a plurality of adjacent warp threads (21) and that the feed needle (32, 36) is introduced or inserted into the woven fabric (20) at least at one side of the zigzag laid cover thread (30, 34) at several laying points or at all laying points where the weft thread (24) is floating over several adjacent warp threads (21). The cover thread (30, 34) is positioned at the inside of the zigzag shape.

Electrical components may have plastic packages. Contacts may be formed on exterior surfaces of the plastic packages. A plastic package for an electrical component may have an elongated shape that extends along a longitudinal axis. A first groove may run parallel to the longitudinal axis on a lower surface of the plastic package. A second groove may run perpendicular to the first groove on an opposing upper surface of the plastic package. The electrical components may be coupled to fibers in a fabric such as a woven fabric. A first solder connection may be formed between the first groove and a first fiber such as a weft fiber. A second solder connection may be formed between the second groove and a second fiber such as a warp fiber.

A pre-fabricated sensor assembly for an interactive object including an object substrate is provided. The pre-fabricated sensor assembly includes a touch sensor comprising a plurality of flexible sensing elements, a first electronics module comprising sensing circuitry in electrical communication with the plurality of flexible sensing elements, a communication interface comprising a first end portion coupled to the first electronics module and comprising a second end portion, a receptacle coupled to the second end portion of the communication interface, and one or more flexible retaining layers that define a housing for a first portion of the pre-fabricated sensor assembly. The first portion of the pre-fabricated sensor assembly can include at least a portion of each of the plurality of flexible sensing elements.

A fabric-based item may be provide with a stretchable band. The stretchable band may be formed from a ring-shaped strip of stretchable fabric having an opening configured to fit around a body part of a user. Circuitry may be coupled to strands of material in the stretchable band. The circuitry may include sensor circuitry for making measurements on the body part such as electrocardiogram measurements, blood pressure measurements, and respiration rate measurements. Wireless communications circuitry in the fabric-based item may be used to communicate wirelessly with external electronic equipment. A wireless power transmitting device may transmit wireless power. A coil formed from conductive strands in the fabric-based item may be used by wireless power receiving circuitry in the fabric-based item to receive the wireless power. The coil may have one or more turns that run around the ring-shaped strip of stretchable fabric.

For example, provided is an RFID-bearing flexible material, in which an RFID is attached to a flexible material, the RFID includes an antenna portion, and the antenna portion is formed of a conductive linear body containing a carbon nanotube yarn.