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.

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.

The invention relates to a sensor (15) which is produced by stitching it onto a carrier (16) using threads (17, 19, 33). The stitching forms a first electrode (18), a second electrode (20) and a covering layer (32). The covering layer (32) can be used to produce an electrically conductive connection between the first electrode (18) and the second electrode (20), at least if a force (F) acts on the covering layer (32) and presses at least one part of the covering layer (32) against a part of the first electrode (18) and of the second electrode (20). This force (F) can be caused by a pressure locally exerted on the covering layer (32) and/or by bending of the covering layer (32) or of the carrier (16). The entire sensor (15) and, in particular, the first electrode (18), the second electrode (20) and the covering layer (32) are produced solely by being stitched onto a common carrier (16). The sensor can be produced in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner and is robust.

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 inserting a wire into a longitudinal groove of a semiconductor chip for the assembly thereof, the groove containing a pad made of a bonding material having a set melting point, comprises: in a positioning step, placing a longitudinal section of the wire along the groove, in forced abutment against the pad; and, in an insertion step, exposing a zone containing at least one portion of the pad to a processing temperature higher than the melting point of the bonding material and for a sufficient time to make the pad at least partially melt, and causing the wire to be inserted into the groove. The present disclosure also relates to a piece of equipment allowing the insertion method to be implemented.

A planar (two-dimensional, XY location) touch sensor may include a knitted structure and supplementary method of sensing detects human touch on a fabric surface. This sensor may be fully knitted and detect the continuous planar location and contact force of human touch along the surface of the structure. The fabric may conform to any arbitrary surface and may be a rectangle for touch pad applications. This sensor may be used for applications that include robotics and human-machine interaction, smart garments and wearables, as well as medical textiles and flexible embedded sensors. This touch sensor may require as few as only two electrode connections from the fabric to sense both planar touch and pressure, which allows it to work in areas with limited space that allow for limited complexity for wiring.

An interactive cord system can include sensing circuitry coupled to a system ground and an interactive cord. The interactive cord can include a plurality of non-conductive lines a plurality of conductive sensing lines at least partially woven with one or more of the plurality of non-conductive lines to form at least one touch-sensitive area along the interactive cord and one or more conductive grounding lines electrically connected with the system ground and extending at least partially along an outer portion of the interactive cord.

A surface element with a first layer, which has a conductive loop embedded in an insulating material, and with a sensor layer forming a second layer that is in contact with the conductive loop. The sensor layer is designed for detecting at least one external input variable. Dependent upon this detection, a current flowing through the conductive loop is affected. The surface element can be operated in a reverse operation such that by feeding currents into the conductive loop, the one or each of multiple sensor layer(s) generates output variables.

Sensing devices including flexible and stretchable pressure sensors may be associated with or incorporated in garments intended to be worn against a body surface (directly or indirectly), or may be associated with other types of flexible substrates. Systems and methods for storing, communicating, processing, analyzing and displaying data collected by sensor components for remote monitoring of conditions at or near body surfaces are also disclosed. Sensors and sensor systems provide substantially real-time feedback relating to current body conditions and may provide user-specific feedback relating to gait and footwear fit and performance, facilitating improved footwear matching to individual users and improved footwear design and manufacturing, and enabling early intervention when conditions indicate intervention is appropriate.

Provided is a configuration capable of improving the signal strength of a piezoelectric element using piezoelectric fibers. This braided piezoelectric element comprises a core comprising conductive fibers and a sheath comprising braided piezoelectric fibers so as to cover the core, the braided piezoelectric element further comprising a metal terminal connected and fixed to the core in either of the following states A or B. A) A state where a portion of the metal terminal grasps a fiber portion constituting the end of a braided piezoelectric element and the core and the metal terminal are electrically connected to each other and fixed within 1 mm from where the metal terminal grasps the fiber portion. B) A state where: a portion of the metal terminal has a fork or needle shape; the fork-shaped or needle-shaped portion is electrically connected to the core while in contact with the sheath; and the braided piezoelectric element is secured to the metal terminal by another portion of the metal terminal or a component fixed to the metal terminal within 10 mm from the point of the electrical connection.