Development of a Smart Garment Prototype with Enuresis Alarm Using an Embroidery-machine-based Technique for the Integration of Electronic Components

Abstract

Smart textiles is a modern, fast-growing interdisciplinary research field. One of the central problems, which concerns garments with embedded electronics, is interconnection of the embedded components. Since rigid PCBs are not particularly suitable for most practical applications, this paper studies the possibility to integrate the connecting traces using conductive threads and to attach the components using a semi-automatic approach, which involves an embroidery machine. There are many advantages to this approach – the garments preserve flexibility, the procedure and the materials are cheap, besides that, it enables one to speed-up production, while keeping the component size to a minimum. This paper demonstrates the whole development process, from designing the PCB to its embroidery and testing. The prototype developed is a child's underwear set with a built-in alarm and a moisture sensor, which helps to treat enuresis in children under the age of five.