tactile fabric panel in an eight zones structure触觉织物面板在八区结构.pdfVIP

Sensors 2007, 7, 2953-2969 sensors ISSN 1424-8220 © 2007 by MDPI /sensors Full Research Paper Tactile Fabric Panel in an Eight Zones Structure 1 1 2 1 Maria Alsina , Francesc Escudero , Jordi Margalef and Sonia Luengo 1TT- Area Electrònica, Enginyeria i Arquitectura La Salle, Quatre Camins 30 08022 Barcelona – Spain. E-mails: M.Alsina:malsinac@; F.Escudero: sisco@; S. Luengo: sonia@. 2 Department d’Electrònica, Enginyeria i Arquitectura La Salle, Quatre Camins 30 08022 Barcelona – Spain. jordm@ Received: 30 October 2007 / Accepted: 21 November 2007 / Published: 23 November 2007 Abstract: By introducing a percentage of conductive material during the manufacture of sewing thread, it is possible to obtain a fabric which is able to detect variations in pressure in certain areas. In previous experiments the existence of resistance variations has been demonstrated, although some constrains of cause and effect were found in the fabric. The research has been concentrated in obtaining a fabric that allows electronic detection of its shape changes. Additionally, and because a causal behavior is needed, it is necessary that the fabric recovers its original shape when the external forces cease. The structure of the fabric varies with the type of deformation applied. Two kinds of deformation are described: those caused by stretching and those