Electronic textile, article and method

Abstract

A woven article having plural weave layers comprises a plurality of electrically insulating and/or electrically conductive yarn in the warp and a plurality of electrically insulating and/or electrically conductive yarn in the weft interwoven with the yarn in the warp. An electrical function is provided by one or more circuit carriers disposed in cavities in the plural layer woven article and/or one or more functional yarn in the warp and/or the weft, wherein the circuit carrier and/or functional yarn include an electrical contact for connecting to the electrically conductive yarn in the warp and/or weft.

1 . A woven article for supporting a load, comprising:
 a. a plurality of vertically stacked layers, each having a warp and a weft;   b. at least one of said warps having at least one electrically conductive yarn running though at least a part of the warp;   c. at least one of said wefts having at least one electrically conductive yarn running though at least a part of the weft;   d. the electrically conductive yarns in the warp and the weft being sufficiently close at one position as to form an electric circuit by connection of the yarns to an electrical device at the position.   
     
     
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         13 . A woven support article, comprising:
 a. a plurality of vertically stacked layers, each having a warp and a weft;   b. electrically conductive yarns in the warp and the well of at least one of the layers being sufficiently close to form an electric circuit by connection of the yarns to an electrical device.   
     
     
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         15 . A woven fabric support article, comprising:
 a. a plurality of vertically stacked layers, each having a warp and a weft;   b. at least one of said warps and wefts having electrically conductive yarns running along at least a part thereof with the electrically conductive yarns being sufficiently close as to form an electric circuit by connection of the yarns to an electrical device.   
     
     
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         18 . A method for weaving a fabric or textile article having a plurality of vertically stacked layers capable of supporting a load, each layer having a warp and a weft, comprising:
 a. providing a first group of yarns including at least one electrically conductive yarn in a plurality of warps;   b. providing a second group of yarns including at least one electrically conductive yarn, in a plurality of wefts;   c. weaving the first group of yarns in the warps with the second group of yarns in the wefts to create the plurality of vertically stacked layers of the article, with the electrically conductive yarns in the warp and the well being sufficiently close as to form an electric circuit by connection of a warp and a well electrically conductive yarn to an electrical device.   
     
     
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