TOWARDS SYSTEMS ON CLOTH: THE DESIGN, MANUFACTURING, AND VALIDATION OF OPEN-SOURCE EMBROIDERED RESISTORS

This thesis is focused on advancing embroidered wearable electronics and textile electronics by creating open-source flexible resistors. Advancements in textile electronics could usher a new generation of smart devices that are entirely flexible. Current systems on cloth primarily use rigid components, which limits the flexibility and comfort of using the fabric devices. To advance this field, I propose a novel method of creating flexible electrical resistors with embroidery. To realize this technology, I created an open-source tool to create embroidery files for machine fabrication. This thesis details the methods and tools created for resistor fabrication. The resistors were tested to cover a range of conditions wearable electronic devices may be subjected to, then tested in an applied setting by being used in a touch sensing device. It is concluded that the embroidered resistors are a viable technology and warrant continued study, development, and use

Fabric circuits and method of manufacturing fabric circuits

A flexible, fabric-based circuit comprises a non-conductive flexible layer of fabric and a conductive flexible layer of fabric adjacent thereto. A non-conductive thread, an adhesive, and/or other means may be used for attaching the conductive layer to the non-conductive layer. In some embodiments, the layers are attached by a computer-driven embroidery machine at pre-determined portions or locations in accordance with a pre-determined attachment layout before automated cutting. In some other embodiments, an automated milling machine or a computer-driven laser using a pre-designed circuit trace as a template cuts the conductive layer so as to separate an undesired portion of the conductive layer from a desired portion of the conductive layer. Additional layers of conductive fabric may be attached in some embodiments to form a multi-layer construct

Listening to twining chords and wedded words in Joyce's Ulysses: an interdisciplinary approach

This research study aims to shed light on how Joyce made use of music in Ulysses to create a literary work that exceeded the borders of literature until then, producing an extradimensional and transdisciplinary work of art that did not fit in the classification ranks that existed in the early stage of the twentieth century. This interdisciplinary study is organised according to its main concern, which is the analysis of the influence of music in both the structure and the characterisation of Ulysses. The first section deals with the musical structure found in Joyce's masterpiece as a whole – and in each of the chapters – with a particular emphasis on the 'Sirens' episode. The next section studies the characters in Ulysses as performers, and it can subsequently be divided into two parts: the analysis of the characterisation in the work – with Joyce's own concept and use of the leitmotif –, and the study of the counterpoint between characters in Ulysses. Finally, an annex is included in which the reader will observe how Joyce referred to his work – as a whole or in parts – in terms that can be expected to describe a musical composition instead of literature. The conclusion of the annex is the result of the analysis of Joyce's letters in Ellmann's compound, and it contextualises the starting point of the study

Multichannel biphasic muscle stimulation system for post stroke rehabilitation

We present biphasic stimulator electronics developed for a wearable functional electrical stimulation system. The reported stimulator electronics consist of a twenty four channel biphasic stimulator. The stimulator circuitry is physically smaller per channel and offers a greater degree of control over stimulation parameters than existing functional electrical stimulator systems. The design achieves this by using, off the shelf multichannel high voltage switch integrated circuits combined with discrete current limiting and dc blocking circuitry for the frontend, and field programmable gate array based logic to manage pulse timing. The system has been tested on both healthy adults and those with reduced upper limb function following a stroke. Initial testing on healthy users has shown the stimulator can reliably generate specific target gestures such as palm opening or pointing with an average accuracy of better than 4 degrees across all gestures. Tests on stroke survivors produced some movement but this was limited by the mechanical movement available in those users' hands

Infrastructure for washable computing

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, 1999.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-74).Wash-and-wear multilayer electronic circuitry can be constructed on fabric substrates, using conductive textiles and suitably packaged components. Fabrics are perhaps the first composite materials engineered by humanity; their evolution led to the development of the Jacquard loom, which itself led to the development of the modern computer. The development of fabric circuitry is a compelling closure of the cycle that points to a new class of textiles which interact with their users and their environments, while retaining the properties that made them the first ubiquitous "smart material". Fabrics are in several respects superior to existing flexible substrates in terms of their durability, conformability, and breathability. The present work adopts a modular approach to circuit fabrication, from which follow circuit design techniques and component packages optimized for use in fabric-based circuitry, flexible all-fabric interconnects, and multilayer circuits. While maintaining close compatibility with existing components, tools, and techniques, the present work demonstrates all steps of a process to create multilayer printed circuits on fabric substrates using conductive textiles.by E. Rehmi Post.S.M

Wearable sensors for respiration monitoring: a review

This paper provides an overview of flexible and wearable respiration sensors with emphasis on their significance in healthcare applications. The paper classifies these sensors based on their operating frequency distinguishing between high-frequency sensors, which operate above 10 MHz, and low-frequency sensors, which operate below this level. The operating principles of breathing sensors as well as the materials and fabrication techniques employed in their design are addressed. The existing research highlights the need for robust and flexible materials to enable the development of reliable and comfortable sensors. Finally, the paper presents potential research directions and proposes research challenges in the field of flexible and wearable respiration sensors. By identifying emerging trends and gaps in knowledge, this review can encourage further advancements and innovation in the rapidly evolving domain of flexible and wearable sensors.This work was supported by the Spanish Government (MICINN) under Projects TED2021-131209B-I00 and PID2021-124288OB-I00.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Experimental Fabrication and Characterisation of Textile Metamaterial Structures for Microwave Applications

PhDThis thesis presents an investigation of fabrication technologies and electromagnetic characterisation of textile metamaterials in the microwave frequency range. Interdisciplinary in nature, the work bridges textile design practice and electromagnetic engineering. The particular ambition was to explore a number of surface techniques prevalent in the textile design field, and map their suitability for the construction of metatextiles for microwave operation. Two different classes of metatextiles, all-dielectric and dielectric with electrically conductive patterns, were examined. First, five structures of all-dielectric textiles and papers are reported; three textiles with graded embroidered and screen printed patterns, and two papers embellished with regular and irregular laser cut patterns. Permittivities for these materials were measured in a purpose-built test chamber and shown to be similar to permittivity ranges exhibited by solid discrete metamaterial cells previously reported in the scientific literature. Importantly these metatextiles were realised within one textile surface and one fabrication process, bypassing the need to assemble large numbers of isotropic material cells. This reveals the potential for rapid and low-cost manufacture of graded textile materials to produce anisotropic ground plane cloaks. Secondly, three studies are presented that examine the use of electrically conductive patterned textile materials in the design of metatextiles which exhibit negative refractive index over a narrow frequency band. A range of e-textile (electronic textile) fabrication technologies were explored to assess their suitability for prototyping splitring and wire arrays, resonating in a narrow region between 3 - 10 GHz. Designs utilised a repeated unit cell pattern on a two-dimensional textile surface and were subsequently pleated into the required three-dimensional structure. A small negative refractive index was achieved for an embroidered prototype at 4.9 GHz, and two ‘printed and plated’ prototypes at, 7.5 GHz and 9.5 GHz respectively. In summary the thesis demonstrates a set of guidelines for the fabrication of textile metamaterials for microwave frequencies, derived through a practice-led and interdisciplinary method based on material experimentation.Media and Arts Technology programme, EPSRC Doctoral Training Centre EP/G03723X/1