Wearable electronics formed on intermediate layer on textiles

Abstract

One manner of producing more desirable clothing with electronic capabilities is to manufacture electronics, such as the charging wires or devices themselves, directly onto the textile materials. Textile materials generally do not support the manufacturing of electronic devices, in part because the surface of the textile is too rough for electronic devices or the processes used to manufacture electronic devices. An intermediate layer may be placed on the textile material to reduce the roughness of the surface of the textile material and provide other beneficial characteristics for the placement of electronic devices directly on the textile material.

Claims

1. A method, comprising: forming an intermediate layer on plural fibers of yarn woven together in a pattern forming a textile material; and forming electronics on the intermediate layer on the yarn woven together in the pattern forming the textile material, wherein the step of forming the electronics comprises attaching an already formed thin silicon substrate with the electronics to the intermediate layer on the yarn woven together in the pattern forming the textile material.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer is formed with a surface having a lower roughness than the yarn woven together in the pattern forming the textile material.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming the intermediate layer comprises depositing the intermediate layer on the yarn woven together in the pattern forming the textile material by at least one of ink jet printing, vacuum deposition, additive manufacturing, and suspensions.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising pressing the yarn woven together in the pattern forming the textile material before forming the intermediate layer on the yarn woven together in the pattern forming the textile material.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of forming the intermediate layer comprises forming the intermediate layer on the yarn woven together in the pattern forming the textile material by a paint brushing technique.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the intermediate layer comprises at least one of forming an insulating layer and forming a semiconductor layer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the electronics comprises forming at least one of a light emitting diode (LED), a thermoelectric generator (TEG), a sensor, an interconnect, and a processor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the thin silicon substrate is formed through a process different from the process of forming the intermediate layer on the yarn woven together in the pattern forming the textile material.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the attaching of the thin silicon substrate to the intermediate layer comprises attaching the thin silicon substrate to the intermediate layer by an adhesive.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the adhesive comprises one or more of polymers and resins.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the yarn woven together in the pattern forming the textile material comprises at least one of cotton, polyester, silk, wool, and jeans.

12. An apparatus, comprising: yarn woven together in a pattern forming a textile material; an intermediate layer extending over plural fibers of the yarn woven together in the pattern forming the textile material; and electronics on the intermediate layer, wherein the electronics on the intermediate layer include a thin silicon substrate attached on the intermediate layer and extending over the plural fibers.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the yarn woven together in the pattern forming the textile material comprises at least one of cotton, polyester, silk, wool, and jeans.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the electronics comprise at least one of a light emitting diode (LED), a thermoelectric generator (TEG), a sensor, an interconnect, and a processor.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the intermediate layer is configured with a surface having a lower roughness than the yarn woven together in the pattern forming the textile material.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the yarn woven together in the pattern forming the textile material comprises a pressed textile material.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the yarn woven together in the pattern forming the textile material is pressed before the intermediate layer is deposited on the yarn woven together in the pattern forming the textile material.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the intermediate layer is deposited on the yarn woven together in the pattern forming the textile material by a paint brushing technique.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the thin silicon substrate is attached to the intermediate layer by an adhesive.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the intermediate layer comprises at least one of a semiconductor material and an insulating material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a more complete understanding of the disclosed system and methods, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

(2) FIG. 1A is a drawing illustrating a conventional outerwear jacket with embedded electronics according to the prior art.

(3) FIG. 1B is a drawing illustrating a surface profile of textile according to the prior art.

(4) FIG. 2 is a cross-section illustrating wearable electronics attached to textile materials through an intermediate layer according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

(5) FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of manufacturing wearable electronics on textile materials with an intermediate layer according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

(6) FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method of manufacturing wearable electronics on textile materials by pressing textiles and forming an intermediate layer on the pressed textile according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

(7) FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method of manufacturing wearable electronics on textile materials by attaching silicon substrates according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIG. 2 is a cross-section illustrating wearable electronics attached to textile materials through an intermediate layer according to one embodiment of the disclosure. In an article 200 of clothing, an intermediate layer 204 may be formed on textile material 202. Electronics 206 may then be formed on the intermediate layer 204. The intermediate layer 204 may be placed on the textile material 202 to reduce the roughness of the surface of the textile material 202 and provide other beneficial characteristics for the placement of electronics 206 directly on the textile material 202. The intermediate layer 204 and the electronics 206 may be formed by many manufacturing methods and techniques, some of which are described with reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5. The textile material 202 may be, for example, cotton, polyester, silk, wool, or jeans. The intermediate layer 204 may be either a semiconducting layer or an insulating layer. When the intermediate layer 204 is an insulating layer, electronics may be built on top of the insulating layer. When the intermediate layer 204 is a semiconducting layer, the semiconducting layer may be part of the electronics, such as by being a conduction channel for a transistor. The electronics 206 may include components that make up a larger electronic device, such as transistors that are used to build logic circuitry. The electronics 206 may also include interconnects for transporting power and signals between devices coupled together through the article 200.

(9) FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of manufacturing wearable electronics on textile materials with an intermediate layer according to one embodiment of the disclosure. A method 300 begins at block 302 with forming an intermediate layer on a textile. Then, at block 304, electronics are formed on the intermediate layer on the textile. The electronics may be formed, for example, through formation of suspensions, ink jet printing, additive manufacturing, and/or vacuum technologies such as physical sputter deposition, evaporation, and chemical vapor deposition.

(10) FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method of manufacturing wearable electronics on textile materials by pressing textiles and forming an intermediate layer on the pressed textile according to one embodiment of the disclosure. A method 400 begins at block 402 with pressing a textile to smooth a surface of the textile, such as by iron pressing the textile. Then, at block 404, an intermediate layer is formed on the pressed textile of block 402. The intermediate layer may be formed by, for example, paint brushing or any of the techniques described above with reference to FIG. 3. Next, at block 406, electronics are formed on the intermediate layer. The electronics may be formed, for example, through formation of suspensions, ink jet printing, additive manufacturing, and/or vacuum technologies such as physical sputter deposition, evaporation, and chemical vapor deposition.

(11) FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method of manufacturing wearable electronics on textile materials by attaching silicon substrates according to one embodiment of the disclosure. A method 500 begins at block 502 with forming an intermediate layer on a textile. Then, at block 504, thin silicon substrates are formed through a different process, and those thin silicon substrates may include electronics manufactured thereon. Some methods for producing the thin silicon substrates are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2014/0239459 entitled “Method for producing mechanically flexible silicon substrate,” and 2014/0141571 entitled “Integrated circuit manufacturing for low-profile and flexible devices,” which are incorporated by reference herein. Next, at block 506, the thin silicon substrates are attached to the intermediate layer on the textile, such as through the use of adhesives, including polymers and resins.

(12) The electronics integrated into textile clothing may be formed into any type of electronic device or component for an electronic device. For example, the electronics 206 of FIG. 2 may form light emitting diodes (LEDs) for emitting light of different colors. Thus, wearable clothing may be manufactured allowing changes to styling of the clothing. The LEDs may be programmed to display different colors, display stripes, display herring bones, or display another custom style. In another example, the electronics 206 of FIG. 2 may be designed to add utility to the clothing, such as by providing water repelling capability, self-cleaning capability, or bug-repelling capability. In a further example, the electronics of FIG. 2 may be designed to control climate around the wearer, such as by cooling or heating the wearer. In yet another example, the electronics 206 of FIG. 2 may be designed to produce energy, such as by converting light or heat to energy, and supply charge to other electronics either integrated with the clothing or external to the clothing. In one embodiment, the electronics 206 may include a thermoelectric generator (TEG) configured to convert heat into energy for charging mobile electronic devices, such as a smartphone or tablet. Some thermoelectric generator designs and manufacturing methods are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0199592 entitled “Apparatuses and systems for embedded thermoelectric generators,” which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. In other examples, the electronics 206 of FIG. 2 may include sensors, logic circuitry, and/or processors.

(13) The schematic flow chart diagrams of FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 are generally set forth as a logical flow chart diagram. As such, the depicted order and labeled steps are indicative of aspects of the disclosed method. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the illustrated method. Additionally, the format and symbols employed are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and are understood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flow chart diagram, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted method. Additionally, the order in which a particular method occurs may or may not strictly adhere to the order of the corresponding steps shown.

(14) Although the present disclosure and certain representative advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.