Relating to textiles incorporating electronic devices

Abstract

A fiber for incorporation into a textile has an electronic device, and an electrical conductor connected to the electronic device is provided. The electrical conductor extends along a longitudinal axis of the fiber, and the electronic device and the electrical conductor are encapsulated by a unitary body of at least a first material.

Claims

1. A fiber for incorporation into a textile, the fiber comprising: an electronic device; and an electrical conductor connected to the electronic device and extending along a longitudinal axis of the fiber, wherein the electronic device and the electrical conductor are encapsulated by a unitary body of at least a first material; wherein the fiber comprises a reinforcing member for reinforcing the fiber, and the electrical conductor is wound around the reinforcing member.

2. The fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unitary body comprises a first material that encapsulates both the electronic device and the electrical conductor, or a first material that encapsulates the electronic device that is bonded, as a single body, to a second material that encapsulates the electrical conductor.

3. The fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unitary body comprises a plurality of materials in a layered structure.

4. The fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unitary body comprises an inner layer of at least the first material, which is in contact with the electronic device and/or the electrical conductor, and an outer layer that extends about the inner layer.

5. The fiber as claimed in claim 4, wherein the inner layer is configured to protect the electronic device and/or the electrical conductor, the inner layer having a greater rigidity, a greater thermal resistance and/or a greater electrical resistance relative to the outer layer.

6. The fiber as claimed in claim 4, wherein a material of the outer layer has an inherently greater flexibility relative to the inner layer.

7. The fiber as claimed in claim 4, wherein a material of the inner layer is translucent or transparent.

8. The fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member comprises a thread extending along the longitudinal axis of the fiber.

9. The fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member comprises a thread extending along at least 70% of a longitudinal axis of the fiber.

10. The fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical conductor is fixed to the reinforcing member, prior to encapsulation by the first material.

11. The fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fiber has a width or diameter of at most 2000 m.

12. The fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fiber has a width or diameter which is at least 200% of the width or diameter of the electrical conductor.

13. The fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first material comprises a resin.

14. The fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first material has a thermal conductivity of at least 0.1 W/(m.Math.K).

15. The fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of: a controller, a sensor, a transmitter and/or a receiver of electrical or electromagnetic signals, and a memory for storing data.

16. The fiber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fiber comprises a plurality of electronic devices, each of the plurality of electronic devices connected to at least one electrical conductor, the plurality of electronic devices and the electrical conductors being encapsulated by the unitary body of at least a first material.

17. The fiber as claimed in claim 16, wherein the electrical connectors are encapsulated by the unitary body of at least a first material along the entire length of the electrical connectors.

18. A textile incorporating a fiber as claimed in claim 1.

19. A method of manufacturing a fiber for incorporation into a textile, the method comprising connecting an electrical conductor to an electronic device, winding the electrical conductor around a reinforcing member, and encapsulating the electronic device and the electrical conductor in a unitary body of at least first material, such that the electrical conductor extends along a longitudinal axis of the fiber.

20. A method of manufacturing a textile, the method comprising incorporating a fiber according to claim 1 into the textile.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

(1) Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with references to the following Figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a fiber according to a first embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fiber of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a method of manufacturing the fiber of FIGS. 1 and 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic view of two fibers according to the present invention attached to fabric tape;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a textile according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the form of a garment, incorporating the fabric tape of FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a textile according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the form of a garment, incorporating the fiber of FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of a garment according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the form of a garment, incorporating the fiber of FIG. 1;

(9) FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a fiber according to the first aspect of the present invention;

(10) FIG. 9 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a third embodiment of a fiber according to the first aspect of the present invention;

(11) FIG. 10 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a fiber according to the first aspect of the present invention; and

(12) FIG. 11 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a fifth embodiment of a fiber according to the first aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(13) A fiber, generally designated 10, according to a first aspect of embodiments of the present invention, is shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(14) The fiber 10 comprises an electronic device 12, an electrical conductor 16, a reinforcing thread 18, and a resin body 20. The fiber 10 is in the region of 1 m long.

(15) The electronic device 12 may be any appropriate electronic device, but in the present case is a temperature sensor 12. The temperature sensor 12 has a maximum dimension of 500 m or 300 m. The electrical conductor 16 is formed from copper wire, and is electrically connected to an appropriate contact point on the temperature sensor 12. The electrical conductor 16 extend across the entire length of the fiber 10, as shown in FIG. 1.

(16) The reinforcing thread 18 is attached to the temperature sensor 12, and extends across the entire length of the fiber 10, as shown in FIG. 1. The reinforcing thread 18 may be formed of any material sufficient to reinforce the fiber 10, and in the present case is formed from nylon.

(17) The resin body 20 encapsulates each of the temperature sensor 12, the electrical conductor 16, and the reinforcing thread 18, such that the resin body 20 forms an outermost layer of the fiber 10. In this manner, the resin body 20 prevents exposure of the remaining components to the external environment of the fiber 10. Furthermore, and as seen in FIG. 1, the resin body 20 forms a main body of the fiber 10 along the length of the fiber 10.

(18) A method of manufacturing the fiber 10 is shown schematically in FIG. 3. Initially, the electrical conductor 16 and the reinforcing thread 18, are connected to the temperature sensor 12. This combined structure is dipped into a resin bath 22, and subsequently passed to a curing station 24. The curing station 24 utilises a suitable form of curing, for example applying heat, UV light, or hot air, to cure the resin, thereby forming the resin body 20.

(19) An example use of the fiber 10 is shown schematically in FIGS. 4 and 5.

(20) As shown in FIG. 4, first 10 and second 10 fibers are attached to fabric tape or ribbon 26. One side of the fabric tape that is not contact with skin of a user is provided with a thermally insulating material (not-shown) in the region of the temperature sensors 12, 12 of the first 10 and second 10 fibers. Thus the temperature sensors 12, 12 are shielded from ambient conditions when the fabric tape 26 is attached to a garment 30. The first 10 and second 10 fibers are provided at one end with a connection member 28, for connection to a Bluetooth transmitting device 32.

(21) As shown in FIG. 5, the fabric tape 26 is attached to the inside of a underwear t-shirt 30, such that the thermally insulating material contacts the fabric of the t-shirt 30, and the temperature sensors 12,12 are exposed to the interior of the t-shirt 30. The first 10 and second 10 fibers are connected to a Bluetooth transmitting device 32 via the connection member 28. When the t-shirt 30 is worn, the temperature sensors 12, 12 are able to sense the temperature of the body of the wearer, and are able to relay this information to a remote monitoring location via the Bluetooth transmitting device 32.

(22) Another embodiment of a garment incorporating the first 10 and second 10 fibers is shown schematically in FIG. 6. The garment is a bra, which incorporates the first 10 and second 10 fibers in a similar manner to the t-shirt 30 shown in FIG. 5.

(23) Such applications may be particularly useful in both the sporting and medical fields. In particular, in the sporting field, the fiber 10 of embodiments of the present invention may be used to provide real time feedback of an athlete's performance and/or body vitals. In the medical field, the fiber 10 of embodiments of the present invention may be incorporated into a garment intended to be worn by an infant. The body temperature of the infant may be monitored using fibers according to embodiments of the present invention, and relevant data can be transmitted to, for example, a parent, or a clinician. In such a manner, rises or falls in the body temperature of the infant can be immediately notified to the relevant persons, such that the relevant person can then take action should such action be necessary. The fiber 10 may be used in a garment for adults and/or elderly patients in a similar manner.

(24) A further embodiment of a garment incorporating a fiber according to embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, the garment 36 is a t-shirt 36, which has a fiber 38 sewn into its side seam. The fiber 38 differs from the fibers 10, 10 previously discussed, in that the fiber 38 has an RFID sensor 40 instead of a temperature sensor 12,12.

(25) A second embodiment of a fiber according to embodiments of the present invention, generally designated 100, is shown schematically in FIG. 8.

(26) The fiber 100 comprises an electronic device 102, first 104 and second 106 electrical conductors, a reinforcing thread 108, a resin body 110, and first 112 and second 114 electrical connectors.

(27) The electronic device 102 may be any appropriate electronic device, but in the present case is a temperature sensor 12. The first 104 and second 106 electrical conductors are formed from copper wire, and are electrically connected to the first 112 and second 114 electrical connectors of the temperature sensor 102. The first 104 and second 106 electrical conductors extend across the entire length of the fiber 100, as shown in FIG. 8.

(28) The reinforcing thread 108 extends across the entire length of the fiber 100, as shown in FIG. 8. The reinforcing thread 108 may be formed of any material sufficient to reinforce the fiber 100, and in the present case is formed from nylon. The first 104 and second 106 electrical conductors are wound around the reinforcing thread 108 in a helical manner.

(29) The resin body 110 encapsulates each of the temperature sensor 102, the first 104 and second 106 electrical conductors, the reinforcing thread 108, and the first 112 and second 114 electrical connectors such that the resin body 110 forms an outermost layer of the fiber 100. In this manner, the resin body 110 prevents exposure of the remaining components to the external environment of the fiber 100. Furthermore, and as seen in FIG. 8, the resin body 110 forms a main body of the fiber 100 along the length of the fiber 100.

(30) A third embodiment of a fiber according to embodiments of the present invention, generally designated 200, is shown schematically in FIG. 9. The third embodiment of the fiber 200 is substantially the same as the first embodiment 10, and differs only in that the fiber 200 has a plurality of different electronic devices 202, 204, 206, 208 encapsulated therein.

(31) A fourth embodiment of a fiber according to embodiments of the present invention, generally designated 300, is shown schematically in FIG. 10.

(32) The fiber 300 comprises an electronic device 302, first 304 and second 306 electrical conductors, a reinforcing thread 308, and first 310, second 312, third 314, and fourth 316 resin bodies.

(33) The electronic device 302 in the fourth embodiment is an RFID tag. The first 304 and second 306 electrical conductors are formed from copper wire, and are electrically connected to the RFID tag 302. The first 304 and second 306 electrical conductors extend across the entire length of the fiber 300, as shown in FIG. 10.

(34) The reinforcing thread 308 extends across the entire length of the fiber 300, as shown in FIG. 10. The reinforcing thread 308 may be formed of any material sufficient to reinforce the fiber 300, and in the present case is formed from nylon.

(35) The first resin body 310 is formed of epoxy resin and encapsulates the RFID tag 302, along with portions of the first 304 and second 306 electrical conductors, and a portion of the reinforcing thread 308. The use of epoxy resin for the first resin body 310 may be beneficial as it may provide a region of relatively high structural strength about the RFID tag 302.

(36) The second 312 and third 314 resin bodies are formed of an electrically insulating resin, and encapsulate the remainder of the first 304 and second 306 electrical conductors and the reinforcing thread 308 either side of the RFID tag 302.

(37) The fourth resin body 316 encapsulates the first 310, second 312, and third 314 resin bodies, such that the fourth resin body 314 defines an outer layer of the fiber 300, and is formed from a resin which is more flexible than the resin of the first 310, second 312, and third 314 bodies of resin, for example polyurethane or silicone elastomer.

(38) The use of different resins for the first 310, second 312, third 314 and fourth 316 bodies of resin may allow resins having different material properties, eg structural strength, flexibility, heat/electrical conduction, to be chosen dependent on the application of the fiber 300, whilst still ensuring that the electronic device (eg the RFID tag 302) and the electrical conductors 304, 306 are encapsulated, thereby preventing exposure to ambient conditions.

(39) A fifth embodiment of a fiber according to embodiments of the present invention is shown schematically in FIG. 11. The fifth embodiment of the fiber is substantially identical to the fourth embodiment of the fiber 300, and hence the reference numerals used for the fourth and fifth embodiments of the fiber 300 are the same. The fifth embodiment differs from the fourth embodiment only in that the fourth resin body 316 in the region of the RFID tag 302 is thicker relative to the remaining regions of the fourth resin body 316 along the length of the fiber 300. This region of increased thickness may, for example provide increased thermal resistance or increased mechanical strength in the region of the RFID 302.

(40) Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

(41) For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of a or an throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and comprising does not exclude other steps or elements.