Patterned conductive textile sensors and devices

• US 20060148351A1
• Filed: 01/06/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Original Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Inventors: Tao, Xiaoming, Ho, Hoi-Lut, Yuen, Marcus Chun-Wah, Leung, Sarah Mei-Yi, Kwok, Wing-Yin
• Granted Patent: US 7,531,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 442/110
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/12 to obtain a coating with specific electrical properties
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/12 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/24 Vacuum evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/28 Halides of elements of Groups 8, 9, 10 or 18 of the Periodic Table
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/61 Polyamines polyimines
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/16 Processes for the non-uniform application of treating agents, e.g. one-sided treatment; Differential treatment
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/20 by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids of piezo-resistive materials G01L1/18; by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/20 Coated or impregnated woven, knit, or nonwoven fabric which is not [a] associated with another preformed layer or fiber layer or, [b] with respect to woven and knit, characterized, respectively, by a particular or differential weave or knit, wherein the coating or impregnation is neither a foamed material nor a free metal or alloy layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2418 Coating or impregnation increases electrical conductivity or anti-static quality

Abstract

This invention relates to patterned conductive textile sensors such as those for simultaneously measurement of strain, temperature and relative humidity. The patterned textile structures comprise sensing elements of various electrical conductivity and they are in the forms of fabrics, fibres, filaments or yarns coated with conductive polymers.

Claims

1. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays comprising:

applying an oxidising agent to selected areas of the textile;

coating the textile with pyrrole by vapour deposition;

stabilising the coating; and

forming a sensor from the conductive textile.

2. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays as claimed in claim 1 wherein said oxidising agent is applied by a jet spray technique.

3. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays as claimed in claim 1 wherein said oxidising agent is applied by screen printing.

4. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays as claimed in claim 1 wherein said oxidising agent is applied by inkjet printing.

5. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays as claimed in claim 1 wherein said oxidising agent is applied by padding.

6. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pyrrole is applied by exposure of the textile with the oxidising agent still wet to an atmosphere saturated with pyrrole monomer vapor under a vacuum.

7. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays as claimed in claim 6 wherein said deposition occurs at substantially room temperature and continues for approximately 24 hours.

8. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stabilising includes a washing process to age the coating.

9. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stabilising includes exposing the coated textile to a radiating light source to degrade the outer coating.

10. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stabilising includes applying an electrical current to the textile.

11. A method for the production of conductive flexible textile arrays as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stabilising includes applying an electrical current to the textile during the vapor deposition of the pyrrole onto the textile to control the morphology of the pyrrole-coated fabric.

12. A flexible textile array sensor as produced by the method of claim 1.