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Abstract
Heading for a largely improved interface between individuals and electronics this
paper presents enabling technologies for the integration of electronics into textile
fabrics. For the realization of ‘wearable electronics’ we discuss a packaging and
interconnect technology, a silicon-based micro-machined thermoelectric
generator chip for energy harvesting from body heat, and an interwoven antenna
concept for textile RF ID labels. Furthermore, a self-organizing network of
electronic units for large area textiles is presented.
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bottom). As a demonstrator, a speech- demonstrator system has been designed
controlled MP3 player system is realized into the jacket shown in Fig. 3.
which is based on a DSP/µC-two-
processor system [3]. The demonstrator
system architecture shown in Fig. 2 is 3. Thermogenerator for Harvesting
composed of four units, all connected via Electric Power from Body Heat
the conductive textiles: the audio module Numerous wearable devices such as
which is a miniaturized PCB containing small remote wireless sensor units for
the audio chip with several auxiliary medical applications dissipate only a
elements, a detachable module small amount of power. The human body
containing a rechargeable Li-ion battery produces several 10 W of heat energy.
and a MultiMediaCard for data storage, Miniaturized thermoelectric generators
an earphone and microphone module, can harness part of this energy and
and a capacitive keyboard module. The convert it into electrical power. These
user can control the music player either generators are built of a large number of
by speaker-independent voice thermocouples that are electrically
recognition or by means of the keypad. connected in series and arranged in
When integrating the proposed system meanders to make best use of a given
into clothing, special care is necessary area. They consist of bars of different
for the textile design. The materials are materials joined at one end. Due to the
chosen according to maximum wear thermoelectric Seebeck effect, a
comfort and environmental compliance. temperature difference between both
E.g., the audio module has been fully ends generates a voltage and an
covered by garment, so that the wearer electrical current through a connected
still feels a textile touch. The load.
2
stereo
earphones battery
voltage +
2 2
regulators
2 -
HiFi I2S
DAC audio
I2C
chip SPI
2 5
GPIO program
programming EEPROM
tool
RS232
MMC
microphone
Multimediacard
capacitive
sensing circuit
keypad
3
14
10
alu
m inu
m
cavity 8
n-p
oly ox
ide Si substrate
loc
p-p
oly 6
os alu µ-TEG
ca oxid m inu
1 µ vity e m
m
n-p 4
Sili oly
c
(no on su
t to bs
t
sc ate r
loc
os
p-p
oly 2
ale
) ca oxide
vit
y
z 0
y x 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Fig. 4: Cross-section of a silicon-based micro-machined thermoelectric generator chip (a). The vertical heat
flow generates a voltage within the junctions of n- and p-polysilicon. In (b) the measured output power is
depicted of the thermoelectric generator as a function of the temperature difference. At a temperature
difference of 5K, the demonstrator chip generates approximately 1.6µW/cm².
4
group of
conductive
threads
contact
RFID
Chip
laser
hole
(a) (b)
Fig. 5 (a) Photograph of a modern RF ID product with a printed antenna on plastic substrate connected
to a small silicon chip. The complete structure is sealed by a second plastic layer to prevent corrosion
and mechanical defects. (b) Concept of a woven antenna structure for a textile transponder system.
Conductive warp and weft threads are connected to realize a spiral.
monitoring vital signals of patients in For ease of use we invented a self-
hospitals, defect detection for condition organizing technique based on simple
monitoring in textile concrete locally processed algorithms [7]. Small
constructions, and many more. Each of microprocessors on the integrated
these applications poses high technical modules control the data flow. After an
requirements regarding functionality, initial learning phase, each module in
reliability, and ease and cost-efficiency the fabric network knows its exact
of manufacturing. physical position within the grid.
The idea was realized by Moreover, the network automatically
microelectronics integration in a coarsely configures data flow paths through the
meshed fabric. This fabric could be a grid, routing sensor or display
basic or intermediate layer of floor or information even around defective
wall covering or any kind of technical regions. Figure 7 shows the final status:
the channels for data flow within the grid
textile. Figure 6a shows a schematic of
are established, automatically routing
an embedded network of processing
around defective regions.
elements in a textile fabric. In Figure 6b
a photograph of the concept study of a The unique feature of the proposed
smart carpet is depicted. Red and blue integration concept is its fault-tolerance:
threads indicate the supply wires, the by means of a self-organization
green threads mark data lines. A small technique, the fabric network
microelectronics module is connected at automatically recognizes defective
the cross-over points of the wires. In this regions. It therefore remains operational
way, each module is connected at each even if a microdevice fails, or conductive
of its four sides to the supply and data threads are damaged. The fabric may
lines. After encapsulation, a smart fabric even be cut to arbitrary shapes to fit into
is realized featuring a regular grid of a given room while maintaining its
integrated microelectronics modules. function. Moreover, due to the self-
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organization, booting is automatic. There
is no need for a manual installation of
the grid microelectronics.
6. Conclusion
The realization of 'textile electronics' is a
result of the convergence of
microelectronics with textiles
surrounding us in our daily life, be it
clothing, home textiles or technical
textiles. This process requires the
Fig. 6b Concept Demonstrator of a network of
development of enabling key
electronic units connected via conducting leads in
technologies. Various technology
the fabric.
demonstrators were proposed which
consistently aim for improving the
-4/7 -3/7 -2/7 -1/7 0/7 1/7 2/7 3/7 4/7 5/7 6/7
interaction between the human -4/6 -3/6 -2/6 -1/6 0/6 2/6 3/6 4/6 5/6 6/6
individual and information technology. -4/5 -3/5 -2/5 -1/5 0/5 1/5 2/5 3/5 4/5 5/5 6/5
-4/4 -3/4 -2/4 -1/4 0/4 1/4 2/4 3/4 4/4 5/4 6/4
0/3 1/3 2/3 3/3 5/3 6/3
0/2 1/2 2/2 3/2 4/2 5/2 6/2
0/1 1/1 2/1 3/1 4/1 5/1 6/1
0/0 1/0 2/0 3/0 4/0 5/0 6/0
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