Woven Textile Pressure Switch

Abstract

In this paper has shown that the three-dimensional hollow weaving technique enables to produce a textile pressure sensor in one continuous process. Based on the multilayer fabric principle, the hollow woven fabrics can be created by connecting adjacent layers of the fabrics according to certain rules. The appropriate fabric structure has been selected and the three-layer weaving technique was used to make the textile pressure switch. The fabric structure is selected to ensure that the top and bottom layers are kept at a distance from each other. The electrically conductive tracks were embedded in the hollow structure of the fabric in bottom and middle layers. Three conditions must be fulfilled in order to create the textile switch: a) the fabric in normal condition keeps the shape required, i.e. the conductive elements are physically separated from each other; b) when the fabric is pressed, conductive elements are in contact, i.e. the switch is now in an electrically on state; c) after the pressure has been removed the fabric returns to its original position, i.e. switch is in an electrically off state. The behavior of the electrically conductive yarn and conductive tracks were tested in various ways. The stainless steel yarn woven in particular way can be used to create woven conductive tracks. Example of application: the pressure sensitive woven rug, the whole area or part of which acts as the pressure sensor or simple switch. The pressure switch in the floor coverings can turn on alarm systems or indicator lamps in the floor or wall coverings for guidance systems in public buildings.