Functional fiber and panel interconnect for electronic textiles

Abstract

An apparatus includes: a fabric panel having a first edge and an electrically nonconductive material; a plurality of electrically conductive fibers integrated in the fabric panel, the plurality of electrically conductive fibers having ends adjacent to or located at the first edge and being optionally insulated; and a flexible electrical connector disposed adjacent to or located at the first edge, the flexible electrical connector having a flexible substrate, wherein the ends of the plurality of electrically conductive fibers are electrically coupled to the flexible electrical connector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a fabric panel comprising a first edge and an electrically nonconductive material;   a plurality of electrically conductive fibers integrated in the fabric panel, the plurality of electrically conductive fibers:
 having ends adjacent to or located at the first edge; and 
 being optionally insulated; and 
   a flexible electrical connector disposed adjacent to or located at the first edge, the flexible electrical connector comprising a flexible substrate,   wherein the ends of the plurality of electrically conductive fibers are electrically coupled to the flexible electrical connector.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrically conductive fibers comprise at least one functional fiber. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one functional fiber comprises at least one of an energy generation fiber, an energy storage fiber, an active sensor fiber, a local-emissions fiber, or a transmitting device. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a first electrically conductive fiber of the plurality of electrically conductive fibers is electrically coupled to a second electrically conductive fiber of the plurality of electrically conductive fibers with an aerosol-jet-printed conductor. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an end of at least one of the plurality of electrically conductive fibers is electrically connected to the flexible electrical connector with an anisotropic material. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the anisotropic material is a z-axis electrically conductive tape. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is one of a garment or an article of clothing. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises an electrical routing bus. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 a fabric panel comprising a first edge and an electrically nonconductive material;   a plurality of pairs of electrically conductive fibers integrated in the fabric panel, each electrically conductive fiber comprising a first end adjacent to or located at the first edge; and   a flexible electrical connector disposed adjacent to or located at the first edge, the flexible electrical connector comprising:
 a flexible substrate; 
 a first electrically conductive area on the flexible substrate; 
 a second electrically conductive area on the flexible substrate; and 
 a deposition of non-conductive dielectric material on the flexible substrate, 
   wherein at least one of the first ends of the electrically conductive fibers is electrically connected to the first electrically conductive area of the flexible electrical connector,   wherein at least one of the first ends of the electrically conductive fibers is electrically connected to the second electrically conductive area of the flexible electrical connector.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 a pair of electrically conductive fibers includes a positive-designated fiber and a negative-designated fiber;   the first conductive area is a positive-designated conductive area; and   the second conductive area is a negative-designated conductive area.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the positive-designated fiber of the pair of electrically conductive fibers is electrically connected to the positive-designated conductive area; and   the negative-designated fiber of the pair of electrically conductive fibers is electrically connected to the negative-designated conductive area.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the positive-designated fiber is electrically connected to the positive-designated conductive area; and   the negative-designated fiber is electrically connected to the negative-designated conductive area.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein at least two of the electrically conductive fibers are electrically connected to the flexible electrical connector in a series. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein at least two of the electrically conductive fibers are electrically connected to the flexible electrical connector in parallel. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first fabric panel comprising a first edge and a plurality of first electrically conductive fibers, the plurality of first electrically conductive fibers having ends adjacent to or located at the first edge;   a second fabric panel comprising a second edge and a plurality of second electrically conductive fibers, the plurality of second electrically conductive fibers having ends adjacent to or located at the second edge; and   a flexible electrical connector disposed between the first edge of the first fabric panel and the second edge of the second fabric panel, the connector comprising a flexible substrate and an electrical connection route, the electrical connection route at least partially comprising a non-conductive dielectric material,   wherein the ends of the plurality of the first electrically conductive fibers and the ends of the plurality of second electrically conductive fibers are electrically coupled to the flexible electrical connector, and   wherein at least one of the first electrically conductive fibers is electrically connected to one of the second electrically conductive fibers via the electrical connection route of the flexible electrical connector.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the plurality of first electrically conductive fibers comprises a first electrically conductive fiber and a second electrically conductive fiber,   the plurality of second electrically conductive fibers comprises a third electrically conductive fiber and a fourth electrically conductive fiber,   the flexible electrical connector comprises a first bus-board line and a second bus-board line,   the first electrically conductive fiber and the third electrically conductive fiber are electrically coupled to the first bus-board line, and   the second electrically conductive fiber and the fourth electrically conductive fiber are electrically coupled to the second bus-board line.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the plurality of first electrically conductive fibers comprises a first electrically conductive fiber and a second electrically conductive fiber,   the plurality of second electrically conductive fibers comprises a third electrically conductive fiber and a fourth electrically conductive fiber,   the flexible electrical connector comprises a common bus-board line, and   the first, second, third, and fourth electrically conductive fibers are electrically connected to the common bus-board line.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the plurality of first electrically conductive fibers comprises a first electrically conductive fiber and a second electrically conductive fiber,   the plurality of second electrically conductive fibers comprises a third electrically conductive fiber and a fourth electrically conductive fiber,   the flexible electrical connector comprises a first conductive area and a second conductive area, the first and second conductive areas being electrically isolated from each other,   the first electrically conductive fiber and the third electrically conductive fiber are electrically coupled to the first conductive area, and   the second electrically conductive fiber and the fourth electrically conductive fiber are electrically coupled to the second conductive area.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the flexible electrical connector comprises a first conductive area and a second conductive area,   each of the first and second pluralities of electrically conductive fibers are electrically connected to the first conductive area,   the second conductive area is electrically connected to the first conductive area.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the plurality of first electrically conductive fibers comprises a first electrically conductive fiber,   the plurality of second electrically conductive fibers comprises a second electrically conductive fiber, and   the first electrically conductive fiber is electrically connected to the second electrically conductive fiber with at least one of an aerosol-jet-printed conductor or an anisotropic material.