Linear Electronic Transducer
First Claim
1. An electronic transducer comprising a knitted structure of stitches arranged in courses and wales, and extendible in two dimensions defined by the courses and wales to distort the stitches, extension in the course dimension separating loops forming the stitches and extension in the wale dimension urging the loops together, wherein an electro-conductive yarn defines at least one single course in the structure adjacent non-conductive yarns, in which, when unextended in either dimension successive loops of the stitches including the electro-conductive yarn are in engagement, which yarn is adapted to be part of a circuit for providing an indication of an electrical characteristic of the yarn.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic transducer comprises a knitted structure extendible in two dimensions defined by its courses and wales. An electro-conductive yarn (4) defines at least one single course in the structure adjacent non-conductive yarns (2), and is to be part of a circuit providing an indication of an electrical characteristic of the yarn. When unextended in either direction, successive loops of the stitches including the electro-conductive yarn are in engagement. Extension of the structure in the course direction separate loops forming the stitches, and extension in the wale direction urges the loops together. The structure can be used in methods of registering extension of the structure in either or both of the course and wale directions.
21 Citations
19 Claims
- 1. An electronic transducer comprising a knitted structure of stitches arranged in courses and wales, and extendible in two dimensions defined by the courses and wales to distort the stitches, extension in the course dimension separating loops forming the stitches and extension in the wale dimension urging the loops together, wherein an electro-conductive yarn defines at least one single course in the structure adjacent non-conductive yarns, in which, when unextended in either dimension successive loops of the stitches including the electro-conductive yarn are in engagement, which yarn is adapted to be part of a circuit for providing an indication of an electrical characteristic of the yarn.
- 12. A method of registering the extension of a knitted structure in the direction of its courses, in which structure an electro-conductive yarn defines at least one single course in the structure adjacent non-conductive yarns and has a predetermined electrical characteristic when the structure is in a reference condition, wherein extension of the structure in the course direction causes successive loops in the stitches of the electro-conductive yarn to separate, the method comprising monitoring the electrical characteristic for a change indicative of a given said extension.
- 14. A method of registering the extension of a knitted structure in the direction of its wales, in which structure an electro-conductive yarn defines at least one single course in the structure adjacent non-conductive yarns and has a predetermined electrical characteristic when the structure is in a reference condition, wherein extension of the structure in the wale direction causes successive loops in the stitches of the electro-conductive yarn to come together, the method comprising monitoring the electrical characteristic for a change indicative of a given said extension.
Specification