Cloth electronization product and method

• US 11,006,557 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2012
• Issued: 05/11/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chang-Ming Yang, Chunmei Chou
• Original Assignee: Chang-Ming Yang, Chunmei Chou
• Inventors: Yang, Chang-Ming, Chou, Chunmei
• Primary Examiner(s): Tucker, Philip C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Slawski, Brian R
• Application Number:
  US14/114,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20140084045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,300 Days
• Field of Search: 156 60, 156 64, 156 70, 156 91, 156 92, 156 93, 156277, 156297, 156298, 156299, 156300, 1563082, 1563096, 228175, 11247508, 11247509, 600388, 600389
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/12 Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/18 Shielding or protection of sensors from environmental influences, e.g. protection from mechanical damage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/16 Screening or neutralising undesirable influences from or using, atmospheric or terrestrial radiation or fields using atmospheric electricity or earth currents H05F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/40 Applying molten plastics, e.g. hot melt using welding bar combined with hot gases B29C65/12; by moulding B29C65/70
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/4815 Hot melt adhesives, e.g. thermoplastic adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/62 Stitching
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/72 by combined operations or combined techniques, e.g. welding and stitching
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/202 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: D05B 23/00 Sewing apparatus or machines not otherwise provided for for making zip closures A44B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

Cloth electronic product, by which physiological information can be examined through cloth, includes a packaging cloth or a heat melt adhesive film as circuit, at least an electronic component, such as resistors, microprocessors and sensing assembly, etc., at least a transmission line to be connected with the conductive region of electronic component. Method of producing a cloth electronic product includes sewing the electronic component on packaging cloth or heat melt adhesive film after being connected with the transmission line, or connecting electronic component with the transmission line during the process of jointing of transmission or sewing of packaging cloth or heat melt adhesive film, and then sewing the packaging cloth on the clothing cloth or integrating the heat melt adhesive film into the packaging cloth or clothing cloth. Original structure of the heat melt adhesive film cannot be viewed and miniaturization effects can be produced.

Claims

1. A method for fabricating electronic cloth comprising:

providing a first cloth layer, at least one hot melt adhesive film and a second cloth layer;

forming circuit wiring on the at least one hot melt adhesive film to provide a film-based circuit board with the at least one hot melt adhesive film as a substrate;

providing at least one electronic component comprising a conductive region and connecting the conductive region to at least one transmission line on the at least one hot melt adhesive film, where a first face of the at least one electronic component is attached to the at least one hot melt adhesive film, wherein a second face of the at least one electronic component, which is opposite to the first face, is attached to the second cloth layer such that the at least one electronic component is fixed between the first cloth layer and the second cloth layer and unmovable with respect to the first cloth layer and the second cloth layer; and

heating the at least one hot melt adhesive film so that the at least one hot melt adhesive film is attached to the first cloth layer and the second cloth layer to package, isolate and secure the at least one electronic component, wherein the at least one hot melt adhesive film is sandwiched by the first cloth layer and the second cloth layer and there is no gap formed therein;

wherein the first cloth layer and the second cloth layer are bonded to the conductive region of the at least one electronic component by the at least one hot melt adhesive film; and

wherein a connection between the conductive region of the at least one electronic component and the at least one transmission line is completely isolated by and completely in contact with the at least one hot melt adhesive film.

2. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one hot melt adhesive film forms a plurality of circuit boards that are stacked one above another to produce a multilayer textile structure of circuit boards and have the at least one transmission line to connect the circuit boards, wherein an insulation material is placed between the circuit boards having the at least one transmission line to connect the circuit boards or a grounding layer is disposed between an upper layer board and a lower layer board, so as to achieve grounding structure.

3. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 2, wherein an insulating plastic film, fabrics, oil separation paper, a hot melt adhesive film, or a glass fiber cloth is disposed between the upper layer board and the lower layer board.

4. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1, further comprising checking packaging insulation of the at least one electronic component by dripping water or colored liquid on the at least one electronic component, or by measuring at least one characteristic of the at least one electronic component.

5. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1, wherein the method used to couple the conductive region of the at least one electronic component and the at least one transmission line is also used for connecting between transmission lines or between electronic components.

6. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1, wherein a conductive material is provided below the at least one electronic component, and an insulating material layer is provided between the conductive material and the at least one electronic component to generate electromagnetic shielding.

7. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1, wherein an electronic equipment is used to measure whether the at least one electronic component is in good contact with the at least one transmission line and whether a contact between the at least one electronic component and the at least one transmission line changes under an effect of external force to adjust a relation between the at least one electronic component and the at least one transmission line or between the at least one electronic component and another electronic component or between two transmission lines.

8. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic component functions as a pressure sensor or a tension sensor, wherein an output value has different results due to a closing degree of the conductive region and the at least one transmission line, or a closing degree of the conductive region and another conduction region, or a closing degree of the at least one transmission line and another transmission line, wherein the closing degree produces variation as an external pressure or tension changes.

9. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 8, wherein non-conductive yarns or materials are added between the conductive region of the at least one electronic component and the at least one transmission line to increase a sensing value of the pressure sensor or the tension sensor.

10. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one transmission line comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of twin-lead wire, parallel multi-conductor, coaxial wire, ribbon line, single-core wire, multi-core and multiple strands, conductive fabric, conductive strips, stainless steel wire, conductive wire, silver fiber, conductive polymer material, encapsulated conductive line, and enameled wire;

wherein the at least one transmission line is made of metal fibers comprising copper, gold, silver, nickel, aluminum, iron, stainless steel, or nickel alloy, or made of non-conductive fibers embedded or coated with conductive materials comprising conductive carbon, nickel, copper, gold, silver, titanium, or conductive wires;

or wherein the at least one transmission line has an insulator outside of a conductor.

11. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic component is selected from a group consisting of a resistance, a capacitance, an inductance, a switch, a diode, amplifiers, a battery, sensors for temperature/breathing/heartbeat, an electromyogram, an acceleration gauge, a gyroscope, a camera, temperature sensors, chemical sensors, biological sensors, pressure sensors, sound sensors, electric fields sensors, magnetic fields sensors, acceleration and/or environmental conditions sensors, power sensors, heat sensors, electromagnetic radiation and/or sound sensors, an infrared and/or wireless transmitter and/or receiver, an imager, a CCD imager, a thermocouple sensor, a cooler, a heater and/or generators, LCD components, an electro-luminescent element, an organic light emitting element, an OLED, electrophoretic elements, an LED, piezo-electric element and/or sensors, a microphone, speakers, processors, digital signal processors, microprocessors, microcontrollers, a CPU, analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, a data production equipment, a data application equipment, a process equipment, a switchboard, a man-machine interface device, an input device for an individual, signal lights and/or flashing lights, solar cells, a photovoltaic power generation equipment, an electrode and addressing devices.

12. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one hot melt adhesive film comprises one or more selected from a group consisting of polyamide hot melt adhesive film (PA), polyester hot melt adhesive film (PET), polyurethane hot melt adhesive film (PU), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyolefin hot melt adhesive film (PO), and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer hot melt adhesive film (EVA).

13. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1, further comprising using one or more selected from a group consisting of sewing, sticking and pasting, and using ultrasonic or electromagnetic waves to package the at least one electronic component.

14. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1, wherein low temperature soldering tin, conducting cloth, or conducting glue is added to connect the at least one transmission line with the conductive region of the at least one electronic component.

15. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1, wherein a peripheral of an individual packaging component is processed by sewing, sticking, pasting, ultrasonic waves, or electromagnetic waves to reinforce packaging and improve anti-interference effect.

16. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic component is disposed on the circuit board formed by the at least one hot melt adhesive film in such a way that the conductive region of the at least one electronic component is in contact with the at least one transmission line;

wherein the first and second cloth layers then are disposed above and underneath the circuit board and are heated to be fixed with the circuit board, so that the at least one electronic component is connected with the at least one transmission line; and

wherein the at least one hot melt adhesive film is attached to the first or second cloth layer to achieve a packaging effect.

17. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1,

wherein the first cloth layer or the second cloth layer has a material to connect the conductive region of the at least one electronic component and the at least one transmission line;

and

wherein the material is conductive silicone rubber, a conductive fabric, a conductive rubber, a conductive cloth, a conductive bar, a conductive polymer material, or conductive adhesive tape.

18. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1, wherein the circuit board comprises the at least one electronic component, and forms an individual packaging component after being heated and fixed to the first cloth layer;

wherein the individual packaging component is set onto the second cloth layer to connect with another individual packaging component by the at least one transmission line, creating a large scale circuit board.

19. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1,

wherein the circuit board is secured to the first cloth layer or the second cloth layer using heat pressing;

or

wherein the circuit board is secured to the first cloth layer or the second cloth layer by;

attaching and covering the at least one hot melt adhesive film on one of the first cloth layer and the second cloth layer;

heating the at least one hot melt adhesive film to a melting temperature;

attaching and covering the other one of the first cloth layer and the second cloth layer on the at least one hot melt adhesive film with pressure; and

cooling the at least one hot melt adhesive film, the first cloth layer, and the second cloth layer so that the at least one hot melt adhesive film solidifies; and

wherein an electric iron, a bonding machine, a press machine, an oven, a mold, ultrasonic heating, or electromagnetic induction heating is used to secure the circuit board to the first cloth layer or the second cloth layer.

20. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1, wherein a conductive magnetic material is used to prevent electromagnetic interference.

21. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic component or the at least one transmission line is fixed to the hot melt adhesive film via glue or adhesive paste.

22. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1, wherein the first or the second cloth layer is made of cotton, nylon, plastic, or linen.

23. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1, wherein a conductive wire is provided on an upper layer of a signal wire, providing a shield layer that prevents electromagnetic interference (EMI).

24. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 1, wherein conductive wires are sewn alongside the at least one transmission line or the at least one electronic component in positions that need electromagnetic interference shielding.

25. A method for fabricating electronic cloth comprising:

providing a first cloth layer, a second cloth layer and at least one electronic component comprising a conductive region coupled to a transmission line on a hot melt adhesive film to form a circuit board, at least part of the transmission line being buried in the hot melt adhesive film;

wherein;

a first face of the at least one electronic component is attached to the hot melt adhesive film;

a second face of the at least one electronic component, which is opposite to the first face, is attached to the second cloth layer such that the at least one electronic component is fixed between the first cloth layer and the second cloth layer and unmovable with respect to the first cloth layer and the second cloth layer;

the transmission line and the at least one electronic component are directly sewn, by a computerized sewing machine according to a pre-arranged routing plan, on the hot melt adhesive film;

a thermal combination machine is used to package the circuit board by heating and feeding the circuit board formed by the hot melt adhesive film and by sandwiching the circuit board with an oil separation paper or fabrics, and there is no gap formed in the hot melt adhesive film.

26. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 25, wherein a circuit routing layout is thermal printed or ink ejected on the hot melt adhesive film prior to sewing, sticking, or pasting the transmission line and the at least one electronic component on the hot melt adhesive film according to the circuit routing layout.

27. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 25, wherein the hot melt adhesive film comprises one or more selected from a group consisting of polyamide hot melt adhesive film (PA), polyester hot melt adhesive film (PET), polyurethane hot melt adhesive film (PU), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyolefin hot melt adhesive film (PO), and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer hot melt adhesive film (EVA).

28. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 25, wherein the circuit board functions as a pressure sensor or a tension sensor.

29. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 25,

wherein the transmission line passes through or comes into contact with a conductive silicone rubber, a conductive strip, a conductive rubber, a conductive cloth, or a conductive bar, and is sewn on the hot melt adhesive film;

and

wherein the conductive region of the at least one electronic component is embedded in or in contact with the conductive silicone rubber, the conductive strip, the conductive rubber, the conductive cloth, or the conductive bar.

30. The method for fabricating electronic cloth as described in claim 25, wherein the thermal combination machine is a drum-type thermal combination machine using heating rollers and feeding rollers.