5. E-textiles

Research

Starting this e-textile week has been an exciting journey into the fusion of electronics and textiles. Exploring how conductive materials can be integrated into fabrics has sparked endless creative possibilities. The ability to bring textiles to life with LEDs, sensors, and interactive circuits feels like opening a door to a new realm of innovation in fashion and design. It’s fascinating to see how traditional techniques like knitting, weaving, or embroidery can merge with modern technology to create functional, responsive, and aesthetically captivating pieces. This week has truly broadened my perspective on what textiles can achieve.

Besides reminiscing, I found these projects both inspiring and captivating.

1. E-Textiles for Healthcare

2. Electronic Textiles

BASIC ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS

KEY WORDS

Circuit: A complete circular path that electricity flows through.

Current: A flow of charged particles, such as electrons or ions, moving through an electrical conductor or space.

Resistance: A measure of the opposition to current flow in an electrical circuit. Measured in Ohms(Ω).

Trace: A pathway for electricity to flow.

Voltage: THe pressure from an electrical circuit's power source that pushes charged electrons (current) through a conducting loop, enabling them to do work such as illuminating a light.

ELECTRONICAL SYMBOLS AND TERMS

Resister:An electrical device which resists current flow regardless of frequency. Basic unit of measurement is Ohm.

Capacitor: A pair of parallel "plates" separated by an insulator (the dielectric). It stores an electric charge, and tends to pass higher frequencies more readily than low frequencies. Does not pass direct current, and acts as an insulator. Electrically it is the opposite to an inductor. Basic unit of measurement is the Farad, but is typically measured in micro-farads (uF = 1 x 10-6F) or nano-farads (nF - 1 x 10-9 F)

Diode: A semiconductor device that essentially acts as a one-way switch for current. It allows current to flow easily in one direction, but severely restricts current from flowing in the opposite direction.

Transistor: A miniature semiconductor that regulates or controls current or voltage flow in addition amplifying and generating these electrical signals and acting as a switch/gate for them.

Cell: one section of a battery.

Ground: A reference point that carries a voltage of 0V. Voltage measurements are relative measurements.

Fuse: A safety device that operates to provide overcurrent protection of an electrical circuit.

Circuit Breaker: A switch that automatically interrupts the current of an overloaded electric circuit, ground faults, or short circuits.

Inductor: A coil of wire which exhibits a resistance to any change of amplitude or direction of current flow through itself. Inductance is inherent in any conductor, but is "concentrated" by winding into a coil. An inductor tends to pass low frequencies more readily than high frequencies. Electrically it is the opposite of a capacitor. Basic unit of measurement is the Henry (H), in crossover networks it will typically be measured in milli-henrys (mH = 1 x 10-3H) and for RF micro-henrys (uH) are common.

Transformer: A passive component that transfers electrical energy from one electrical circuit to another circuit, or multiple circuits. It steps up or steps down voltage.

Relay： A switch that uses electromagnetism to convert small electrical stimuli into larger currents.

Generator: A machine which transforms mechanical energy or magnetic energy into electric energy.

DIGITAL CIRCUIT

Digital Circuit is a circuit where the signal must be one of two discrete levels. It's discontinued and acts like a switch where each level is interpreted as one of two different states for example, on/off, 0/1

ANALOG CIRCUIT

Analog, or linear, circuits typically use only a few components and are thus some of the simplest types of ICs. Generally, analog circuits are connected to devices that collect signals from the environment or send signals back to the environment.

What are the differences between a digital and an analogue circuit?

1. The current and voltage of an analogue circuit are constant over a cycle, whereas in a digital circuit they pulsate and change.

2. Analogue and digital circuits are also carriers of signal changes. Analogue circuits operate by amplifying and reducing the signal in the circuit through the amplification characteristics of the components (e.g. triodes), whereas digital circuits operate by switching the signal (e.g. triodes).

3. In analogue circuits, voltage, current frequency and period are mutually constrained, whereas in digital circuits the change in voltage, current frequency and period in the circuit is discrete.

4. Analogue circuits can operate at high voltages with high currents, whereas digital circuits only operate at low voltages with low currents and low power consumption. to complete or produce a stable control signal.

5. The analog circuit supplies the power to the digital circuit and executes the actuator. The digital circuit, on the other hand, completes the entire circuit operation process through its unique logic operation. Therefore, if we have a clear understanding of the boundaries between digital and analogue circuits in maintenance, we can be more comfortable and convenient.

TYPES OF CIRCUIT CONNECTION

Series circuit

series circuit, any electrically conducting pathway comprising an electric circuit along which the whole current flows through each component. The total current in a series circuit is equal to the current through any resistor in the series

parallel circuit

A parallel circuit is one that has two or more paths for the electricity to flow, the loads are parallel to each other

RESISTOR COLOR CODING

The resistor color code calculator makes it easy to identify and select resistance and tolerance values for 4, 5, and 6 band through hole resistors.

### First Experiment

For my first experiment, I set out to create a straightforward circuit using LEDs, a power supply, and a resistor. The goal was to understand the basic principles of circuit design and how these components interact with one another. I began by gathering all the necessary materials, ensuring I had a variety of LEDs to experiment with different colors and brightness levels. I connected the power supply, carefully choosing the voltage to match the requirements of the LEDs to avoid any potential damage.

TOOLS

1 LED

2 Batteries

3 Resistance

4 Jumper wires

Process and workflow

Hardware

1. Xiao ESP32-C3 microcontroller
2. SMD LEDs
3. Resistors
4. switch
5. Jumper wires

Textiles and Accessories

1. Woven fabric

2. Balloon glue dots

Other Equipment

1. Soldering machine

2. Power supply (USB cable)

DIGITAL sensor

circuit code

const int led1 = 1;       // Pin for LED 1 (D1 on XIAO)
const int led2 = 2;       // Pin for LED 2 (D2 on XIAO)
const int switchPin = 0;  // Pin for the push button (D0 on XIAO)
int buttonState = 0;      // Variable to hold the button state

void setup() {
  pinMode(led1, OUTPUT);       // Set LED 1 as output
  pinMode(led2, OUTPUT);       // Set LED 2 as output
  pinMode(switchPin, INPUT_PULLUP); // Set the switch as input with internal pull-up resistor
}

void loop() {
  buttonState = digitalRead(switchPin); // Read the state of the push button

  if (buttonState == LOW) { // Button is pressed (active low)
    digitalWrite(led1, HIGH); // Turn on LED 1
    delay(5000);             // Wait for 5 seconds
    digitalWrite(led1, LOW); // Turn off LED 1
    delay(500);              // Short delay before switching to next LED

    digitalWrite(led2, HIGH); // Turn on LED 2
    delay(1000);             // Wait for 1 second
    digitalWrite(led2, LOW); // Turn off LED 2
    delay(500);              // Short delay before looping
  } else {
    digitalWrite(led1, LOW); // Ensure LED 1 is off
    digitalWrite(led2, LOW); // Ensure LED 2 is off
  }
}

circuit diagram

sketch diagram

This is my sketch diagram, which I used as a reference to create the digital version. It helped me map out the structure, proportions, and key elements before translating them into a precise digital format.

Results

I could have done a better job creating a proper lining to conceal the LEDs, but I was working on a tight schedule. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed adding the beading details, which brought an extra layer of charm to the design. The combination of the flower motif, vibrant orange hues, and the soft, glowing light beautifully captured a spark of beauty and radiance, perfectly aligning with the theme I envisioned.

zip switch

I wanted to make a fabric sample using a zipper as a switch. When the zipper is up, the LED turns ON, and when it's down, the LED turns OFF. I wanted to combine different materials to create both flexible and firm connections, and this seemed like a great project for that.

I focused on making sure the connections to the LED and battery were secure so that the circuit would work reliably. It was also important to wrap enough conductive thread around the zipper teeth to create a good electrical connection while still allowing the zipper to move freely without obstruction. Balancing these elements was key to ensuring the switch functioned smoothly.

ANALOG SENSOR

At first, I had a simple idea and wanted to create a basic soft circuit of potentiometer. My goal was to understand its functionality and experiment with integrating it into a flexible design. However, as I progressed, I realized there were more complexities to consider, pushing me to refine my approach and explore better solutions.

Process and workflow

Inspired by Anna Cain, I wanted to explore innovative approaches to soft circuits. Her work encouraged me to experiment with flexible electronics and rethink how materials interact with technology. This inspiration pushed me to refine my ideas and explore new possibilities in my design.

CODE

int Sensor = A0
int LED = 6
int threshold = 

// the setup function runs once when you press reset or power the board
void setup() {
  // initialize digital pin LED_BUILTIN as an output.
  pinMode(Sensor, INPUT);
  pinMode(LED, OUTPUT);
}

// the loop function runs over and over again forever
void loop() {
  int Sensorreading = analogRead(Sensor);
  Serial.print(SensorReading);
  if (SensorReading < threshold) {
    digitalWrite(LED, HIGH); 
    Serialprintln("LED ON");
  }
  else {
    digitalWrite(LED,LOW);
    Serial.printlm("LED off");
  }
  delay 

Sketch

circuit diagram

Result

Working with a voltage divider (potentiometer) is challenging, but I’m determined to improve. Day by day, I’ll keep experimenting and refining my understanding as I become more familiar with analog sensors.

Swatches Project

My aim is to investigate a technique for creating a three-dimensional sensor using crochet, shaped as a rose. Crafted with a blend of resistive, conductive, and wool yarn, this rose functions as a pressure sensor, responding to deformation by altering its resistance. Its interconnected layers invite interaction—begging to be pressed, pinched, ruffled, and flattened before returning to its original form. I am refining different material configurations to achieve the optimal balance of stability and resistance.

Materials

1. Resistive yarn
2. crochet hook
3. power supply

References/Inspirations

Swatch Rose Resistance

Circuit Diagram

Findings

More to come😊

For the e-textile project, I was really excited because this isn’t my first time working with electronics, and I was eager to combine my knowledge in fashion with technology. It felt like a great opportunity to bring both worlds together in a meaningful way.