SURFACE FUNCTIONAL ELECTRO-TEXTILE WITH FUNCTIONALITY MODULATION CAPABILITY, METHODS FOR MAKING THE SAME, AND APPLICATIONS INCORPORATING THE SAME

• US 20090159149A1
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Textronics Incorporated (Adidas AG)
• Inventors: Munoz, Eduardo, Burr, Stacey B., Coulston, George W., Karayianni, Eleni, Micka, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,849,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 139/425.R
• CPC Class Codes: D02G 3/32 Elastic yarns or threads ; Production of plied or cored yarns, one of which is elastic
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 1/0088 Fabrics having an electronic function
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/258 Noble metal
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/283 synthetic polymer-based, e.g. polyamide or polyester fibres cellulose-based artificial fibres D03D15/225
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/292 Conjugate, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, fibres or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/46 Flat yarns, e.g. tapes or films
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/49 textured chenille D03D27/18; curled; crimped
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/56 elastic
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/67 Metal wires
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/14 Other fabrics or articles characterised primarily by the use of particular thread materials
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2101/20 Metallic fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2201/02 Cotton
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2201/04 Linen
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2211/02 Wool
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2211/04 Silk
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2331/02 polyamides D10B2331/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2331/04 polyesters, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate [PET]
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/061 elastic
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/16 antistatic; conductive
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0114 with one or more yarns appearing predominantly on one face, e.g. plated or paralleled yarns for pile fabrics D03D27/00, D04B1/02, D04B21/02; for intarsia fabrics D04B1/126
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/02431 : with electronic components, e.g. sensors or switches
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/00 : Wearing apparel
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/038 : Textiles used as reinforcing materials for organic insulating substrates H05K1/0366
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0281 : Conductive fibers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/029 : Woven fibrous reinforcement or textile
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/30 : Woven fabric [i.e., woven strand or strip material]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3024 : Including elastic strand or strip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3976 : Including strand which is stated to have specific attributes [e.g., heat or fire resistance, chemical or solvent resistance, high absorption for aqueous composition, water solubility, heat shrinkability, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/40 : Knit fabric [i.e., knit strand or strip material]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/413 : Including an elastic strand
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/45 : Knit fabric is characterized by a particular or differential knit pattern other than open knit fabric or a fabric in which the strand denier is specified

Abstract

A surface functional electro-textile fabric incorporates energy-active, electrically conductive or optically conductive fibers and nonconductive fibers in a woven or knitted textile fabric. The weave or knit pattern is selected so as to form floats of the electrically conductive fibers on at least one surface of the electro-textile fabric. The electro-textile fabric can be incorporated into an antenna structure that interacts with high frequency electromagnetic radiation, particularly in the frequency range of DC to 100 GHz.

Claims

1. A method for forming an electro-textile fabric, comprising:

providing non-conductive textile filaments in a warp direction of a textile weaving apparatus;

providing energy active functional textile filaments in a weft direction of a textile weaving apparatus; and

weaving the filaments with a weave pattern that has at least 1/1 interlacing to form the electro-textile fabric, wherein floats of energy-active functional filaments are formed on at least a first surface of the electro-textile fabric.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the weave pattern is selected from the group consisting of:

satin, twill, rib, basket weave, double face construction, and any derivative based on these, and plain weaves.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein floats are formed and electrical pathways are isolated by selectively removing at least one of the energy-active functional filaments or the non-conductive filaments.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy-active functional filaments and non-conductive filaments are in at least one of the warp direction and weft directions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a higher concentration of floats of energy-active functional filaments is incorporated in one surface of the electro-textile fabric than another surface of the electro-textile fabric.

6. A method of modulating functionality of an electro-textile fabric, comprising:

incorporating elastic non-conductive textile filaments into a weaving apparatus;

incorporating inelastic energy-active functional filaments into the weaving apparatus, wherein at least one of the non-conductive textile filaments is elastic;

tensioning the elastic non-conductive textile filaments;

integrating the elastic non-conductive textile filaments and the inelastic energy-active textile filaments by weaving in accordance with a weave pattern; and

removing the electro-textile fabric from the weaving apparatus.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the weave pattern is selected from the group consisting of:

satin, twill, rib, basket weave, double face construction, and any derivative based on these, and plain weaves.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the weave pattern results in floats of energy-active functional filaments on at least a first surface of the electro-textile fabric.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a higher concentration of floats of energy-active functional filaments is incorporated in one surface of the electro-textile fabric than another surface of the electro-textile fabric.

10. A method of modulating functionality of an electro-textile fabric comprising:

incorporating non-conductive textile filaments and energy-active functional filaments into a weaving apparatus;

integrating the non-conductive textile filaments and the energy-active functional filaments by weaving in accordance with a weave pattern, wherein at least one of the non-conductive textile filaments and the energy-active functional filaments is elastic; and

stretching and recovering the fabric during use.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the weave pattern is selected from the group consisting of:

satin, twill, rib, basket weave, double face construction, and any derivative based on these, and plain weaves.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the weave pattern results in floats of energy-active functional filaments on at least a first surface of the electro-textile fabric.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a higher concentration of floats of energy-active functional filaments is incorporated in one surface of the electro-textile fabric than another surface of the electro-textile fabric.

14. A method of modulating functionality of an electro-textile fabric, comprising

weaving or knitting non-conductive textile filaments and energy-active functional filaments into the electro-textile fabric;

and

incorporating floats of non-conductive textile filaments between floats of energy-active functional filaments on a first surface of the electro-textile fabric.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a higher concentration of floats of energy-active functional filaments is incorporated in one surface of the electro-textile fabric than another surface of the electro-textile fabric.

16. A method for increasing the electrical conductivity of a woven electro-textile fabric antenna wherein the antenna is formed at least in part in a weaving process, comprising the steps of:

tensioning warp yarn of the fabric during weaving on a weaving loom, wherein the warp yarn comprises elastic non-electrically conductive textile filaments and a weft yarn comprises electrically conductive textile filaments;

removing the fabric from the weaving loom; and

allowing the fabric to relax without applied tension.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

treating the fabric with vapor;

applying heat to the fabric by at least one of heat setting and boiling water treatment; and

allowing the fabric to relax without applied tension.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

changing a frequency response of the electro-textile fabric antenna by stretching and recovering the fabric.