5. E-textiles¶

Research & Ideation

Inspiration: Artists and Projects

Objective:

Research on artists and projects utilizing E-textiles and soft sensors in fashion and textiles, focusing on how electronics are embedded into fabrics to create interactive, responsive garments or installations.

E-textiles and Smart Fabrics:

Ebru Kurbak:¶

An artist and researcher working with electronic textiles, Kurbak's work explores the intersection of technology and craft. She often uses soft, flexible materials, like conductive thread, to create interactive textiles that respond to touch, pressure, or sound. Her pieces highlight the invisible, often unseen, connection between craftwork and technology. Picture reference: Ebru Kurbak project

Kobakant:¶

A collaborative project founded by Mika Satomi and Hannah Perner-Wilson, Kobakant explores the integration of electronic textiles and wearable technology. Their work emphasizes handmade, DIY approaches to embedding sensors and actuators into fabrics, allowing for interactive garments and installations. Their explorations range from touch-sensitive clothing to soft sound-producing textiles.

Picture reference: Kobakant project

Syuzi Pakhchyan:¶

A pioneer in the wearable tech space, she combines fashion and electronics to create interactive garments. Her designs feature sensors and actuators embedded within fabrics to enhance the sensory experience of fashion.

Technologies in E-textiles::

Conductive Threads and Fabrics:¶

Conductive materials, like silver-coated threads, are used in E-textiles to transmit electrical signals throughout the garment, allowing for responsive interaction and embedded electronics. These threads enable the creation of circuits within fabric, making textiles functional and interactive. Picture reference: Conductive thread in action

Flexible Sensors:¶

Sensors woven into fabric allow garments to detect environmental changes or user input. For instance, pressure sensors can be used to monitor body movements or heart rate, while temperature sensors adjust the warmth of clothing based on outside conditions. Picture reference: Smart fabric with sensors

Wearable Microcontrollers:¶

Microcontrollers like Arduino or Lilypad are integrated into E-textiles to manage the input from sensors and produce corresponding outputs, such as lighting up LEDs or generating sound based on user activity.

Picture reference: Arduino in wearables

Relevant Projects:¶

Project Jacquard by Google: A collaborative project between Google and Levi's that integrates touch-sensitive panels into fabric. This technology allows users to control smartphones or other devices by touching specific areas on their garments. Picture reference: Google Jacquard jacket

CuteCircuit:¶

A fashion label that uses E-textiles to create garments with embedded LEDs and smart fabrics that change color or pattern based on user input. Their collections demonstrate the artistic and commercial potential of E-textiles in the fashion industry.

Picture reference: CuteCircuit's LED dress

Soft circuits :

Soft circuits are flexible, conductive materials used to create electronic circuits in textiles or soft materials. Unlike traditional circuits, they integrate components like conductive threads, fabrics, or inks, allowing them to bend, stretch, and move without breaking.

Sensors :

Sensors in soft circuits detect environmental changes such as temperature, pressure, or motion. They convert these changes into electrical signals, which can be processed to trigger actions or feedback. Soft sensors are often used in wearable technology, smart textiles, and interactive fashion, enabling devices to respond to the user or environment in real time.

Digital Soft Sensor¶

Conductive Thread Button Sensor: A digital soft sensor can be created using conductive thread stitched into a garment to form a simple button. When the thread makes contact (like when the fabric is pressed or squeezed), it completes a circuit, sending a digital signal (either on or off, 1 or 0). This type of sensor is often used in wearable electronics to detect touch or pressure.

Reference: HILLAMAN CURTIS HILLAMAN CURTIS

Analog Soft Sensor¶

Stretchable Fabric Sensor: An analog soft sensor can be made by using stretchable conductive fabrics or threads. For example, a stretch sensor made from conductive elastomer or fabric can detect the amount of stretch or deformation of the material. As the fabric is stretched, its resistance changes, and this variation in resistance can be read as an analog signal, giving a range of values (rather than just on/off). This type of sensor is useful in applications like detecting body movement or measuring strain in wearable devices.

Embedding electronics in fabrics¶

Embedding electronics in fabrics involves integrating electronic components like sensors, circuits, and microcontrollers directly into textiles. This can be done by using conductive materials such as conductive threads or fabrics, which can be sewn or woven into garments to create soft circuits. Components like LEDs, batteries, or microcontrollers are attached to the fabric either by sewing, adhering, or embedding them during the manufacturing process.

Reference: E-Textile Swatch Exchange 2015 E-Textile Swatch Exchange 2015

Soft-hard connection¶

Soft-hard connections refer to the challenge of linking soft, flexible textile components with rigid electronics. To achieve reliable connections between the two, techniques like using snap buttons, conductive Velcro, flexible PCBs, or connector sockets are often employed. These methods allow for durability and maintain electrical conductivity while enabling the fabric to retain its flexibility. Careful design ensures that the hard components do not hinder the wearability or functionality of the fabric, making them suitable for applications in wearable tech, smart clothing, and interactive textiles.

FIRST EXPERIMENT¶

1 LED

2 Resistance

3 Jumper wires

4 Breadboard

5 Arduino nano board

6 cotton fabric

Initial Experiment¶

In my initial experiment, my primary focus was on learning and gaining hands-on experience with basic electronics. I set out to construct a simple circuit involving LEDs, a power source, and a resistor to better understand how these components interact. I did 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.

CODE USED¶

#define TRIG_PIN 9
#define ECHO_PIN 10

#define LED1 4
#define LED2 5
#define LED3 7
#define LED4 6
#define LED5 8

const int ledPins[] = {LED1, LED2, LED3, LED4};
const int ledCount = sizeof(ledPins) / sizeof(ledPins[0]);

unsigned long lastStepTime = 0;
const unsigned long interval = 300; // 300ms
int ledIndex = 0;

float distance = 0;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  pinMode(TRIG_PIN, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(ECHO_PIN, INPUT);
  pinMode(LED5,OUTPUT);

  for (int i = 0; i < ledCount; i++) {
    pinMode(ledPins[i], OUTPUT);
  }
}

void loop() {
  measureDistance();

  if (distance < 10) {
    unsigned long currentMillis = millis();
    if (currentMillis - lastStepTime >= interval) {
      lastStepTime = currentMillis;

      //Turn on motor
      digitalWrite(LED5,0);

      // Turn off all LEDs first
      for (int i = 0; i < ledCount; i++) {
        digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
      }

      // Turn on only the current LED
      digitalWrite(ledPins[ledIndex], HIGH);

      // Move to next LED in sequence
      ledIndex = (ledIndex + 1) % ledCount;
    }
  } else {
    //Resets all LEDs
      digitalWrite(LED5,1);
    // Reset LEDs if distance >= 9
    for (int i = 0; i < ledCount; i++) {
      digitalWrite(ledPins[i], LOW);
    }
    ledIndex = 0; // Reset animation index
  }

  delay(100);
}

// Function to measure distance
void measureDistance() {
  digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(2);
  digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, HIGH);
  delayMicroseconds(10);
  digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, LOW);

  long duration = pulseIn(ECHO_PIN, HIGH, 30000);
  distance = duration * 0.034 / 2;

  Serial.print("Distance: ");
  Serial.print(distance);
  Serial.println(" cm");
}

SECOND EXPERIMENT¶

Hardware:¶

Buzzer
Xiao ESP32-C3 microcontroller
SMD LEDs
Resistors
Push button
Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)
Jumper wires
Paper

Textiles and Accessories:¶

Embroidered machine
Embroidery fabric
Embroidery thread
Glue

Other Equipment:¶

Soldering machine
Power supply (USB cable)

Process and workflow¶

alt text

Embroidery Phase¶

I produced a woman's face embroidery design using computerized embroidery machinery. This embroidered artwork functioned as the foundational substrate for subsequent LED integration.

Circuit Preparation¶

During the embroidery process, I simultaneously prepared the electronic components by soldering jumper wire connections to SMD LEDs, ensuring proper readiness for circuit implementation.

Digital Sensor Implementation¶

Description: A tactile push button was used to control the LED lighting patterns, with different illumination sequences triggered by pressing duration on the sensor.

Circuit Implementation¶

System Overview¶

The project implements a digital push-button sensor interfaced with a Xiao ESP32-C3 microcontroller to control: Visual feedback: LED lighting patterns (on/off, blink, fade) Auditory feedback: Sound output via a piezo buzzer (driven by the microcontroller)

Key signal flow:¶

Button → ESP32-C3 (GPIO processing) →Buzzer (D0) for audio output

Hardware Configuration¶

Microcontroller: Xiao ESP32-C3

Digital Input:¶

Push-button switch connected to GPIO D10 (with pull-up/pull-down resistor)

Outputs:¶

LEDs: Three SMD LEDs on D1, D2, D3 (with current-limiting resistors)

Buzzer: Piezo buzzer connected to a dedicated GPIO pin (e.g., D0)

Power: USB 5V supply

Functional Behavior The system responds to button press duration with distinct actions:

Short Press (Instant Release):

LEDs: Turn on/off or blink once

Buzzer: Short "beep" (e.g., 1kHz tone for 100ms)

Long Press (Hold for 1+ second):

LEDs: Activates fading or sequential pattern

Buzzer: Continuous tone until release

Software Implementation Button Detection:

Uses digitalRead() with debounce filtering (software delay or hardware capacitor)

Tracks press duration via millis() for short vs. long press logic

LED Control:

Basic on/off with digitalWrite()

Smooth fading via PWM (analogWrite())

Buzzer Feedback:

Triggered using tone(pin, frequency)

alt text

DIGITAL SENSOR VIDEO¶

Code example¶

// Pin definitions
#define LDR     2  // A0 on Seeed XIAO ESP32-C3 
#define BLED    3   // Blue LED
#define GLED    4   // Green LED
#define RWHITE  5   // Red or White LED
#define BUTTON  6   // Digital input with pull-up
#define BUZZER  8   // Buzzer


// Timing
unsigned long lastUpdate = 0;
const unsigned long interval = 100; // 100ms for responsive updates

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);

  pinMode(BUTTON, INPUT_PULLUP); // Button connected to GND

  pinMode(BLED, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(GLED, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(RWHITE, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(BUZZER, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  unsigned long currentMillis = millis();

  if (currentMillis - lastUpdate >= interval) {
    lastUpdate = currentMillis;

    int ldrValue = analogRead(LDR);         // Read light level (0–4095)
    int buttonState = digitalRead(BUTTON);  // LOW when pressed

    Serial.print("LDR: ");
    Serial.print(ldrValue);
    Serial.print(" | Button: ");
    Serial.println(buttonState);

    // Threshold for night (adjust based on real readings)
    bool isNight = ldrValue < 60;

    // LED control based on light level
    digitalWrite(BLED,    isNight ? HIGH : LOW);
    digitalWrite(GLED,    isNight ? HIGH : LOW);
    digitalWrite(RWHITE,  isNight ? HIGH : LOW);
    digitalWrite(RWHITE,  isNight ? HIGH : LOW);

    // Buzzer ON only while button is pressed
    digitalWrite(BUZZER, buttonState == LOW ? HIGH : LOW);
  }

  // Place for other non-blocking tasks
}

code used

Analog Sensor Implementation¶

System Overview¶

The system uses an LDR (Light-Dependent Resistor) as an analog input to dynamically control LED brightness and blink speed based on ambient light levels. The Xiao ESP32-C3 reads the LDR's analog values and adjusts the LED behavior accordingly.

Hardware Configuration¶

Microcontroller: Xiao ESP32-C3

Analog Input:

LDR in a voltage divider circuit (connected to an analog pin, e.g., A0)

Outputs:

LEDs: Three SMD LEDs on D1, D2, D3 (with current-limiting resistors)

Power: USB 5V supply

Functional Behavior Low Light (Dark):

LEDs at high brightness + slow blinking

Moderate Light:

LEDs at medium brightness + medium blink speed

Bright Light:

LEDs at low brightness (or off) + fast blinking (or no blinking)

Software Implementation¶

Analog Reading:

analogRead(A0) measures LDR voltage (0-1023 range)

Values mapped to PWM output (analogWrite()) for brightness control

LED Control:¶

Brightness: Adjusted via PWM (0-255)

Blink Speed: Controlled with delay() or non-blocking millis() logic

alt text

### ANALOG SENSOR VIDEO

Code example¶

// Pin definitions
#define LDR     2  // A0 on Seeed XIAO ESP32-C3 
#define BLED    3   // Blue LED
#define GLED    4   // Green LED
#define RWHITE  5   // Red or White LED
#define BUTTON  6   // Digital input with pull-up
#define BUZZER  8   // Buzzer


// Timing
unsigned long lastUpdate = 0;
const unsigned long interval = 100; // 100ms for responsive updates

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);

  pinMode(BUTTON, INPUT_PULLUP); // Button connected to GND

  pinMode(BLED, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(GLED, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(RWHITE, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(BUZZER, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  unsigned long currentMillis = millis();

  if (currentMillis - lastUpdate >= interval) {
    lastUpdate = currentMillis;

    int ldrValue = analogRead(LDR);         // Read light level (0–4095)
    int buttonState = digitalRead(BUTTON);  // LOW when pressed

    Serial.print("LDR: ");
    Serial.print(ldrValue);
    Serial.print(" | Button: ");
    Serial.println(buttonState);

    // Threshold for night (adjust based on real readings)
    bool isNight = ldrValue < 60;

    // LED control based on light level
    digitalWrite(BLED,    isNight ? HIGH : LOW);
    digitalWrite(GLED,    isNight ? HIGH : LOW);
    digitalWrite(RWHITE,  isNight ? HIGH : LOW);
    digitalWrite(RWHITE,  isNight ? HIGH : LOW);

    // Buzzer ON only while button is pressed
    digitalWrite(BUZZER, buttonState == LOW ? HIGH : LOW);
  }

  // Place for other non-blocking tasks
}

code used

5. E-textiles¶

Ebru Kurbak:¶

Kobakant:¶

Syuzi Pakhchyan:¶

Conductive Threads and Fabrics:¶

Flexible Sensors:¶

Wearable Microcontrollers:¶

Relevant Projects:¶

CuteCircuit:¶

Digital Soft Sensor¶

Analog Soft Sensor¶

Embedding electronics in fabrics¶

Soft-hard connection¶

FIRST EXPERIMENT¶

Initial Experiment¶

CODE USED¶

SECOND EXPERIMENT¶

Hardware:¶

Textiles and Accessories:¶

Other Equipment:¶

Process and workflow¶

Embroidery Phase¶

Circuit Preparation¶

Digital Sensor Implementation¶

Circuit Implementation¶

System Overview¶

Key signal flow:¶

Hardware Configuration¶

Digital Input:¶

Outputs:¶

DIGITAL SENSOR VIDEO¶

Code example¶

Analog Sensor Implementation¶

System Overview¶

Hardware Configuration¶

Software Implementation¶

LED Control:¶

Code example¶

FINAL VIDEO¶