Surface functional electro-textile with functionality modulation capability, methods for making the same, and applications incorporating the same

• US 7,849,888 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Muromoto, Jr.; Bobby H
• Application Number:
  US12/389,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20090159149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 139/383.R, 139/420.R, 139/421, 139/422, 139/425.R, 139/426.R, 139/420.A
• US Class Current: 139/426.00R
• 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 textile substrates H05K1/038
• 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 of modulating functionality of an electro-textile fabric comprising:

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

integrating the non-conductive textile filaments and the energy-active functional filaments by weaving into the electro-textile fabric in accordance with a weave pattern selected from the group consisting of;

satin, twill, rib, basket weave, double face construction, and any derivative based on these, resulting in floats of energy-active functional filaments on at least a first surface of the electro-textile fabric, wherein at least one of the non-conductive textile filaments and the energy-active functional filaments is elastic; and

selectively removing from the electro-textile fabric at least one of the energy-active functional filaments or the non-conductive filaments to isolate at least one electrical pathway.

2. 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.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a higher concentration of floats of energy-active functional filaments than the concentration of floats of non-conductive textile filaments is incorporated on both surfaces of the electro-textile fabric.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the ratio of number of weft filaments density to number of total filaments density (weft plus warp) is at least 30%.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein floats of non-conductive textile filaments are formed between the floats of energy-active functional filaments.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein an asymmetric number of floats of weft filaments and an asymmetric number of floats of warp filaments are formed on both surfaces of the electro-textile fabric.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

treating the electro-textile fabric with vapor; and

heat setting the electro-textile fabric.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

stretching and relaxing the electro-textile fabric.