TY - GEN
T1 - Theory and characterization of a top-thread coverstitched stretch sensor
AU - Gioberto, Guido
AU - Dunne, Lucy
PY - 2012/12/1
Y1 - 2012/12/1
N2 - One of the chief challenges of wearable sensing is adapting electronic components and sensors to the wearable environment. Electronic components are often rigid, bulky, and impermeable: factors that usually detract from wearing comfort. Here, we present a novel stretch sensor fabricated using the top thread of a standard industrial coverstitch machine. The machine is common in apparel production and offers the ability to easily fabricate custom-placed stretch sensors on textile and apparel products. The sensing properties of the stitch are enabled by a conductive thread which increases its electric resistance as the fabric is stretched, due to the geometry of the stitches. Our empirical analysis shows a sensor response in the order of 10 ohms, with almost linear behavior prior to saturation (when the stitch is fully stretched) for low-frequency extensions of 119% of initial sample length. An equivalent electrical model is presented for theoretical modeling of the sensor behavior.
AB - One of the chief challenges of wearable sensing is adapting electronic components and sensors to the wearable environment. Electronic components are often rigid, bulky, and impermeable: factors that usually detract from wearing comfort. Here, we present a novel stretch sensor fabricated using the top thread of a standard industrial coverstitch machine. The machine is common in apparel production and offers the ability to easily fabricate custom-placed stretch sensors on textile and apparel products. The sensing properties of the stitch are enabled by a conductive thread which increases its electric resistance as the fabric is stretched, due to the geometry of the stitches. Our empirical analysis shows a sensor response in the order of 10 ohms, with almost linear behavior prior to saturation (when the stitch is fully stretched) for low-frequency extensions of 119% of initial sample length. An equivalent electrical model is presented for theoretical modeling of the sensor behavior.
KW - e-textile
KW - sensor
KW - wearable technology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84872388270&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84872388270&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/ICSMC.2012.6378296
DO - 10.1109/ICSMC.2012.6378296
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84872388270
SN - 9781467317146
T3 - Conference Proceedings - IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics
SP - 3275
EP - 3280
BT - Proceedings 2012 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, SMC 2012
T2 - 2012 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, SMC 2012
Y2 - 14 October 2012 through 17 October 2012
ER -