An Embroidery Touch Sensor With Layered Structure of Conductive and Nonconductive Threads

Abstract

Textile-based touch sensing methods for ubiquitous and wearable interfaces employ multiple independent or specific shaped electrodes, leading to limitations on three aspects: design freedom of electrode shape, durability, and simple production. We introduce the creation approach of an embroidery touch sensor by adding embroidery using non-conductive threads on top of an electrode made of conductive threads. Changes of stitch densities of the non-conductive thread embroidery lead to differences in electrical properties, which can be useful to distinguish which part of the embroidery is touched. Our method enables the creation of touch-sensitive embroidery with high design freedom of electrode shape and durability in a simple process.