Electrically conductive patterns on cloth have arrived

Tag : Textile Patterns

NASA has demonstrated a method for automated fabrication offlexible, electrically conductive patterns on cloth substrates. Theproducts developed using this method are instances of a technologyknown as "e-textiles." For many applications, includinghigh-speed digital circuits, antennas, and RF circuits, ane-textile should be capable of exhibiting high surfaceconductivity, tight tolerances for control of characteristicimpedance, and geometrically complex conductive patterns.
Unlike prior methods, NASA's new method satisfies all three ofthese criteria. Typical patterns can include circuit structuressuch as RF transmission lines, antennas, filters, and otherconductive patterns equivalent to those of conventional printedcircuits.
In fact, geometrically complex antennas have exhibited performancelevels that are indistinguishable from identical designs onconventional materials.
A typical fabrication process according to the present method,involves selecting the appropriate conductive and non-conductivefabric layers to build the e-textile circuit. It usescommercially-available woven conductive cloth with establishedsurface conductivity specifications.
Dielectric constant, loss tangent, and thickness are some of theparameters to be considered for the non-conductive fabric layers.The circuit design of the conductive woven fabric is secured to anon-conductive fabric layer using sewing, embroidery, or anadhesive. The portion of the conductive fabric that is not part ofthe circuit is next removed using an automated machine such as aprinted-circuit-board milling machine or a laser cutting machine.Multilayer circuits can be built starting with the inner layer andusing conductive thread to make electrical connections betweenlayers.
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