The present disclosure generally relates to an electronic strain sensor, a system incorporating the sensor, and a method of manufacturing the sensor. The present disclosure also relates to methods of measuring one or more physiological parameters of a living subject, or methods of diagnosing a sleep-related disorder of a living subject, the methods comprising sensing a signal produced by the living subject with the electronic strain sensor or system. The strain sensor comprises: an electrode layer printed on a substrate, a sensing layer printed on a portion of the electrode layer, and an encapsulation layer encapsulating the electrode and sensing layers. The electrode layer exhibits a sheet resistance less than that of the sensing layer, and the sensing layer is in direct contact with the electrode layer. The sensor's electrical resistance can be increased through forming microscopic cracks in the sensing layer in response to forces applied to the sensor.

An electronic module assembly and method of assembling an electronic module to a conductive fabric are provided. An electronic module assembly comprises a non-conductive fabric and a conductive fabric covering at least part of a first side of the non-conductive fabric. An electronics module is disposed on the conductive fabric, and a portion of the electronics module includes a wall defining a through hole. A fastener passing through the through hole and passing through the conductive fabric is configured to electronically couple the electronics module to the conductive fabric.

This disclosure relates to an implantable lead for electrical stimulation of an organ and/or for collecting electrical potentials on this organ. The lead comprises a distal termination able to come into contact with the tissues of an organ, the termination comprising an insulating substrate and at least one conductive interface carried by the substrate. The lead further comprises a lead body having at least one bonding conductor connected to a respective conductive interface. The conductive interface comprises at least one deformable conductive wire with a woven, embroidered, braided or knitted configuration for anchoring the deformable wire to the substrate.

A photovoltaic apparatus is provided including a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module. Each photovoltaic module includes a front sheet having an outer portion and an inner portion. The outer portion is disposed around a core to form a keder. Each photovoltaic module further includes a back sheet and a photovoltaic device disposed between the front sheet and the back sheet. Each photovoltaic device includes an array of photovoltaic cells.

A stretchable wire member includes a base body in which a fixed wire is formed on a hard base material, and a stretching body in which a flexible wire is formed at a flexible base material. In the stretchable wire member in which the base body and the stretching body are fixed and connected to each other, the hard base material includes a projecting part that reduces concentration of stress that is generated at a boundary between the base body and the stretching body, and an upper surface and a lower surface of the projecting part and an upper surface and a lower surface of a recessed part surrounded by the projecting part are covered by a base-body-side flexible base material extending from the stretching body.

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.

A machine knittable hybrid yarn for providing conductive traces through a textile is disclosed. The hybrid yarn includes conductive wires coated with an insulating material and twisted together with a nonconductive yarn. The nonconductive yarn is from a strong, inelastic, and nonconductive fiber, such as a meta-aramid or para-aramid that protects the integrity of the conductive wire during knitting. The conductive wire can be copper-clad stainless steel or copper wire is coated with polyurethane, and the nonconductive yarn can have no-drip and no-drip properties to allow ablation of the hybrid yarn to remove the conductive yarn and insulating coating on the wire such that the ablated region becomes externally conductive and suitable for making an electrical contact. The hybrid yarn can be bonded with nylon or similar polymer after twisting.

Disclosed herein are communication devices and connected clothing systems. The communication devices comprise a circuit printed on a portion of fabric, the circuit comprising means for transmitting electrical signals to and from a user, a controller electrically pairable to the circuit, and means for attaching the circuit to an item of apparel. Connected clothing systems comprises a communication device as disclosed herein attached to an item of apparel.

Disclosed herein are communication devices and connected clothing systems. The communication devices comprise a circuit printed on a portion of fabric, the circuit comprising means for transmitting electrical signals to and from a user, a controller electrically pairable to the circuit, and means for attaching the circuit to an item of apparel. Connected clothing systems comprises a communication device as disclosed herein attached to an item of apparel.

Described herein are apparatuses (e.g., garments, including but not limited to shirts, pants, and the like) for detecting and monitoring physiological parameters, such as respiration, cardiac parameters, and the like. Also described herein are methods of forming garments having one or more stretchable conductive ink patterns and methods of making garments having one or more highly stretchable conductive ink pattern formed of a composite of an insulative adhesive, a conductive ink, and an intermediate gradient zone between the adhesive and conductive ink. The conductive ink typically includes between about 40-60% conductive particles, between about 30-50% binder; between about 3-7% solvent; and between about 3-7% thickener. The stretchable conductive ink patterns may be stretched more than twice their length without breaking or rupturing.