Imagine if computers were linked into your clothes. We may be getting to that point with a new innovation. Scientists have developed a way to embroider circuits into fabric with .1 mm precision, which is the perfect size to integrate electronic components such as sensors and computer memory devices.
These functional textiles, which are textiles with electronics, are known as e-textiles. They're created on a typical tabletop sewing machine. Like many modern sewing machines, it embroiders thread into fabric automatically based on a pattern loaded via a computer file. Instead of thread, though, researchers load the machine with fine silver metal wires that, once embroidered, feel the same as traditional thread to the touch.
"A revolution is happening in the textile industry," said John Volakis, director of the ElectroScience Laboratory at Ohio State, one of the researchers involved in the new study. "We believe that functional textiles are an enabling technology for communications and sensing-and one day even medical applications like imaging and health monitoring."
In this latest effort, the researchers refined their fabrication method in order to create prototype wearables at a fraction of the cost and in half the time as they could only two years ago.
"We started with a technology that is very well known-machine embroidery-and we asked, how can we functionalize embroidered shapes?" Volakis said. "How do we make them transmit signals at useful frequencies, like for cell phones or health sensors? Now, for the first time, we've achieved the accuracy of printed metal circuit boards, so our new goal is to take advantage of the precision to incorporate receivers and other electronic components."
The shape of the embroidery actually determines the function of the circuit. For example, a spiral-like antenna embroidered into clothing can improve cell phone reception. Another antenna, which is stretchable with an integrated RFID chip embedded in rubber, can take the applications for the technology beyond clothing.
In theory, the new technology could boost the reception of your smartphone or tablet. It could also send information to your phone or tablet about your health or athletic performance.
With that said, the technology is still being tested. It will likely take some time before researchers are able to fully release the new clothing to the general public.
The findings were published in the April 2016 edition of the journal IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters.
