Performance Evaluation of Textile-Based Electrodes and Motion Sensors for Smart Clothing

Development of textile-based electrodes and motion sensors is one of the main issues of recent smart textile research utilizing electronic textiles. Electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes have been developed by various textile technologies such as sputtering or electroless-plating on the fabric surfaces, and embroidering or knitting with stainless steel yarns. In addition, two types of motion sensors have also been developed using piezo-resistive textiles. They were fabricated by knitting and braiding. To examine the usability of the ECG electrode, waveforms of the conventional AgCl electrode, and the new electrodes developed in our lab were compared. It was found that electrodes using metallic embroidering are more efficient when its substrate was a metal blended fabric. The electrolessly Cu/Ni plated fabrics obtained the best conductivity in textile-based electrodes. The first motion-measuring textile-based sensor was used to predict and measure the changes in electric resistances that accompany the angle changes in the elbow joint. An advanced piezo-resistive textile by braiding showed more accurate resistance changes and also better durability. Changes in its electrical resistance were mapped to changes in its length extension. From the relationship between the extension and the electrical resistance, movement or posture of human body was detected.