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.

A method for knitting a garment having a tubular form, including knitting at least one conductive textile electrode on a machine having N participating feeders and M needles. The method includes the steps of continuously knitting the tubular form with one or more flexible non-conductive yarns, and knitting the electrode integrally within the tubular form, using a conductive yarn, in addition to the non-conductive yarns. The conductive yarn is knitted in a float-loop form by knitting a stitch and skipping over y needles, as follows: repeatably knitting a line segment L.sub.k, using feeder F.sub.i and starting at needle D.sub.1; and knitting line segment L.sub.k+1, using the next feeder and start stitching the first float-loop at needle D.sub.1+s where 0<s<y. The tubular form has a preconfigured 10 knitting density, wherein the electrode has a knitting density that is higher than the preconfigured knitting density of the tubular form.

A detection device includes: a frequency property acquisition unit that acquires a frequency property when an alternating-current signal is input to at least two conductive bodies provided on a fiber sheet; and a detection signal output unit that outputs a detection signal when the frequency property acquisition unit acquires a predetermined frequency property.

A method for manufacturing a knitted fabric embodying a basic knit, into which at least one functional yarn filament, such as an electrically conductive yarn filament, is incorporated as a vertical yarn filament (F3). The basic knit is formed from a first and a second yarn (F1, F2) using a plaiting technique. The vertical yarn filament (F3) is incorporated by a third yarn carrier (FF3) positioned, on a third yarn carrier rail located between respective yarn carrier rails for the first and the second yarn carriers (FF1, FF2), at a location at which the vertical yarn filament (F3) is to be incorporated. During formation of a sequence of stitch rows (MR1-MR7) using the first and second yarns (F1, F2), the first yarn (F1) is guided over the vertical yarn filament (F3) on a front side of the knitted fabric and the second yarn (F2) is guided over the vertical yarn filament (F3) on a back side of the knitted fabric.

A machine knittable hybrid yarn is disclosed. The hybrid yarn includes one or more electrically non-conductive yarns and two or more electrically conductive wires wrapped around the electrically non-conductive yarns. The electrically conductive wires have an exterior layer of an insulated material. The electrically non-conductive yarns include a majority fraction of an overall cross-section of the hybrid yarn. The two or more electrically conductive wires are wrapped around the one or more electrically non-conductive yarns at between 1 and 15 twists per inch. The one or more electrically non-conductive yarns are 1500 denier or finer.

A textile-based electrode system includes a first fabric layer having an inner and an outer surface. The inner surface includes a knitted electrode configured to be placed in contact with the skin of a user. A second fabric layer is disposed and configured to contact the outer surface of the first fabric layer. The second fabric layer includes a knitted conductive pathway configured to be electrically coupled to the knitted electrode. Furthermore, a third fabric layer is configured and disposed to contact the second fabric layer. A connector is disposed on the third fabric layer and is configured to be electrically coupled to the knitted conductive pathway. The second fabric layer can be folded about a first fold axis and the third fabric layer can be folded about a second fold axis to place the second fabric layer in contact with the first fabric layer and the third fabric layer.

A textile-based electrode system includes a first fabric layer having an inner and an outer surface. The inner surface includes a knitted electrode configured to be placed in contact with the skin of a user. A second fabric layer is disposed and configured to contact the outer surface of the first fabric layer. The second fabric layer includes a knitted conductive pathway configured to be electrically coupled to the knitted electrode. Furthermore, a third fabric layer is configured and disposed to contact the second fabric layer. A connector is disposed on the third fabric layer and is configured to be electrically coupled to the knitted conductive pathway. The second fabric layer can be folded about a first fold axis and the third fabric layer can be folded about a second fold axis to place the second fabric layer in contact with the first fabric layer and the third fabric layer.

A textile-based electrode system includes a first fabric layer having an inner and an outer surface. The inner surface includes a knitted electrode configured to be placed in contact with the skin of a user. A second fabric layer is disposed and configured to contact the outer surface of the first fabric layer. The second fabric layer includes a knitted conductive pathway configured to be electrically coupled to the knitted electrode. Furthermore, a third fabric layer is configured and disposed to contact the second fabric layer. A connector is disposed on the third fabric layer and is configured to be electrically coupled to the knitted conductive pathway. The second fabric layer can be folded about a first fold axis and the third fabric layer can be folded about a second fold axis to place the second fabric layer in contact with the first fabric layer and the third fabric layer.

A method for optimizing contact resistance in electrically conductive yarns and textiles, and textiles having such optimized contact resistance, can include selecting a sensing activity for the textile; selecting a combination of variables from among yarn variables, stitch variables, and textile variables; and knitting an electrically conductive yarn in the textile in accordance with the selected combination of variables, wherein the knitted combination of variables provides an optimal contact resistance in the textile correlated with a desired electrical conductivity for the sensing activity. The knitted combination of variables can provide a predictable yarn contact area for the electrically conductive yarn correlated with the optimal contact resistance.

A combined sensor adapted to measure at least one medical or clinical sign is provided. The combined sensor comprises a textile sensor configured so as to determine pressure applied to the combined sensor; and an optical sensor. The optical sensor typically comprises at least one fibre-optic sensor (FOS) and may function as a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, optionally a reflectance mode photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor. The combined sensor is able to eliminate motion artefacts caused by movement of a subject wearing the sensor thereby facilitating long-term ambulatory monitoring of subjects.