Experimental evaluation of electrical properties of fabrics elaborated with conductive yarns

Abstract

In this paper, the electrical characterization of two different fabric structures elaborated with conductive yarns and several pick densities are investigated in order to evaluate their electrical properties as conductive media of digital electrical signals. The real and imaginary impedance and the signal integrity have been measured for each e-textile. The results show that the impedance depends on the fabric structures and pick density. The eye diagram measurements experimentally demonstrate the functionality of these fabrics to transmit digital electric signals to communicate sensors with microcontrollers in wearable applications.

Keywords:

• e-textile
• yarn
• fabrics
• signal integrity
• wearable
• wireless sensor networks

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Spanish Government-MINECO [grant number TEC2013–41996-R]; AGAUR [grant number 2014 SGR 375].