Nov 8 2004
The British company Eleksen has developed a technology that makes it possible to manufacture sensors and switches from textiles. This means that electronic components can be integrated into clothing or a teddy bear, reports the Siemens research magazine "Pictures of the Future". The textile sensors can measure how hard they are pressed and also whether moisture is present. But that’s not all: The "intelligent fabric" is flexible, and it can be sewn or washed.
Eleksen - financed in large part by Siemens Venture Capital - manufactures a flexible keyboard for PDAs that can be rolled up. In hospitals, sensors in bed linen could detect whether patients are lying in bed. Another possibility is a cell phone that can be folded, or airplane seats with integrated control elements in the upholstery.
The fabric is a combination of conductive fibers and conventional textile fibers. It consists of two external, electrically conductive nylon layers. Between these two layers is a layer of insulating material, into which are woven individual conductive fibers. On the outer layers there is a low measuring voltage supplied by a battery. If the user exerts pressure on the outer layers - with a finger, for example - the voltage changes. The sensor detects this change and can thereby precisely determine the amount of pressure exerted and its position. The thin sensor layers are capable of withstanding enormous strain - not even the weight of a car will damage them. A more sensitive application might be a doll that begins to cry if it’s pressed too hard and laughs when it is tickled. Eleksen is now working on weaving individual sensor threads into textiles. This would further slash costs and open up an even broader range of applications.
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