EP3301210B1 - Light sensor yarn - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sensor yarn for use in a textile material part. The sensor yarn has a thread core whose longitudinal central axis extends in an extension direction. The thread core may be monofilament or formed of several fibers or filaments. The thread core is preferably elastically extensible in the direction of extension. The extensibility of the sensor yarn can be adapted to the material in which the sensor yarn is integrated and can therefore vary within a wide range.

To form a capacitive component, a first conductor and a second conductor are each helically or helically wound with respect to the direction of extent. The sensor yarn can be designed as a thread or as Umwindegarn. The two conductors can therefore be wound in and / or around the thread core. The two conductors are electrically isolated from each other. For example, at least one of the two conductors can be insulated by a lacquer or a coating around the electrically conductive core.

A sensor yarn is for example in DE 10 2008 003 122 A1 described. The yarn is there to determine tensile stresses in a medical knit or knitted fabric. The yarn has a core thread about which a binding thread may be wound in one embodiment. If the yarn is bent or stretched in its direction of extent, the electrical property of the yarn, for example the electrical conductivity and / or the capacitance, changes. For example, a bimetallic thread can be used as the binding thread.

DE 103 42 787 A1 describes an electrically conductive yarn in which at least one electrically conductive thread is wound around a core thread.

Another electrically conductive yarn is in DE 10 2006 017 340 A1 disclosed. To the electrically conductive thread, which is wound around a core thread, also a non-conductive multifilament yarn is wrapped, which should preferably lay flat on the core thread, so that when touching two electrically conductive yarns in a textile material no accidental electrically conductive contact.

WO 2007/020511 A1 describes an energy-active composite yarn with a data core and a functional filament. The composite yarn may have, for example, electrically, optically or magnetically active material.

Out US 2005/0040374 A1 It is known to helically wrap a core of photovoltaic material with a ribbon which forms a light transmitting electrical conductor to form a photovoltaic thread.

Nowadays, sensory textile materials are used in a wide variety of applications. For example, such sensory textile materials can detect pressure forces, tensile forces or the like. In many applications, a localization of the applied force is advantageous or necessary. Often, sensory yarns are then incorporated into the fabric in a dense matrix pattern to form a two-dimensional pattern of intersecting sensory yarns. If a force acts on this surface at a certain point or approaches an object to this surface, it can depend on the density of the sensory A local determination of the force or the approach of an object by the sensory matrix.

The cost of such sensory textile materials is large, whereby the textile material is correspondingly expensive. As a result, the distribution of sensory textile materials is still low.

It can therefore be regarded as an object of the present invention to improve a sensor yarn.

This object is achieved by a sensor yarn having the features of patent claims 1.

1. a) Das photosensitive Material ist photostriktiv und bewirkt eine Längenänderung des Sensorgarns in Erstreckungsrichtung und/oder schräg oder quer hierzu, wenn sich die Intenstität des auf das Sensorgarn einfallenden Lichts ändert.
2. b) Das photosensitive Material ändert seine Dielektrizitätszahl, wenn sich die Intensität des auf das Sensorgarn einfallenden Lichts ändert.

The sensor yarn has a photosensitive material. The photosensitive material may for example be part of a thread core or be arranged on the thread core. The photosensitive material may change the total capacitance of the sensor component capacitive component by one or both of the effects described below:

1. a) The photosensitive material is photostrictive and causes a change in length of the sensor yarn in the direction of extent and / or obliquely or transversely thereto, when the intensity of the light incident on the sensor yarn changes.
2. b) The photosensitive material changes its dielectric constant as the intensity of incident light on the sensor yarn changes.

This changes the total capacity of the capacitive component of the sensor yarn. Thus, light incident on the sensor yarn can be detected.

For example, for the effect described under b) copper-doped zinc sulfide (ZnS: Cu) or a doped semiconductor material may be used. The limited mobile free charges in the material form dipoles in the electric field depending on the intensity of the light irradiation, whereby the dielectric constant and thus the measurable total capacitance changes.

The photostrictive material may be a polymer material and / or a semiconductor material and / or a ferroelectric material and / or a magnetic material and / or a magnetoelectric material. For example, the thread core may be made of a polymer material doped with a semiconductor material. The polymer material may additionally or alternatively be doped with a semiconductor material also doped with another suitable material, for example with bismuth ferrite.

A sensory textile material part may have at least one above-described sensor yarn according to the invention and optionally at least one sensor yarn according to another embodiment explained below. The textile material part can be designed as a knit fabric or as a fabric. The sensor yarns can be introduced into a fabric, for example, as a weft thread or as a warp thread. The sensor yarns can also be placed in a fabric or knitwear and held by non-sensory yarns or threads in the fabric. Preferably, the sensor yarns are arranged without crossing in a direction of the textile material, preferably in the direction of the weft threads. In a knitted fabric, the at least one sensor yarn can be incorporated, for example, as standing thread.

The sensor yarn according to a further embodiment can be executed as a Umwindegarn with a thread core or as a thread. The sensor yarn has at least one first and at least one second conductor, wherein at least one of the two conductors is helically wound with respect to the extension direction of the sensor yarn. The two conductors can be crossing and / or each with the same Windungssteigung next to each other without crossing wound on the thread core or the thread core can have or form one of the two conductors (Umwindegarn). In a twisted yarn, one or both conductors may be helically wound.

The two conductors are electrically insulated from each other, whereby the conductor pair of at least one first conductor and at least one second conductor together forms further yarn components, for example with the thread core, a capacitive component. The further yarn components or the thread core represents the dielectric of the capacitive component.

This capacitive component is characterized in that its capacitance per unit length changes in the extension direction of the thread core and thus in the extension direction of the sensor yarn. The change in the capacitance per unit length of the capacitive component can be provided continuously and / or in stages or sections. For example, the capacitive component in the extension direction may have successive yarn sections which have different capacities. In this case, the capacity per unit length in a yarn section can be constant. It is also possible, at least in sections, to continuously change the capacitance per unit length of the capacitive component, for example initially to increase continuously from a minimum value to a maximum value of the capacitance per unit length and / or from the maximum value to Minimize the minimum value of the capacity per unit length. The pattern of the continuously or sectionally changing capacity per unit length can be repeated from a certain yarn length of the sensor yarn.

Any two portions of the sensor yarn according to the further embodiment have a mutually different capacity per unit length, if they have different total capacities for the same length.

With the sensor yarn according to the further embodiment, a force acting on the sensor yarn force, such as compressive force and / or tensile force, a force change, media exposure to a liquid or vapor medium or an approach of an object, a change in temperature (due to the change in length of Sensorgarns) or the like be determined.

As a result of the capacitance per unit of length that selectively changes in the extension direction, a spatial resolution in the direction of extent can be achieved. For a sensory impact on the sensor yarn now depends not only on the type and amount of impact, but also on the place where the sensor yarn is acted upon. For example, the total capacity of the sensor yarn of a certain length varies depending on what capacity per unit length the capacitive component has at the location of the impact. Thus, it is possible by the sensor yarn according to the further embodiment to provide a sensory textile material part, in which the sensor yarns can no longer be crossed in a matrix, but only parallel to each other in one direction can be arranged. In the case of an action to be sensed, the total capacity of a sensor yarn incorporated in the textile material part changes. In general, for example at a contact of the textile material part or an approach to the textile material part affects the overall capacity of several sensor yarns. The fact that the capacitance of each capacitive sensor of a sensor yarn changes in the direction of extent allows a position determination to be carried out therefrom. The production of a sensory textile material part is significantly simplified by the sensor yarn. In particular, the electrical contacting of a sensory textile material part on a single side is sufficient since the sensor yarns no longer need to be laid over one another in two directions as previously crossed. As a result, the production of a sensory textile material is significantly simplified.

Preferably, the capacitance per unit length of the capacitive component in a first yarn section is different from the capacitance per unit length in another second yarn section of the sensor yarn according to the further embodiment. In particular, at least two yarn sections may be present, to each of which a substantially constant capacitance per unit length is assigned. For example, the first yarn section may have a first capacity per unit length, the second yarn section may have a second capacity per unit length, a third yarn section may have a third capacity per unit length, and so on. Between such yarn sections with different capacitance per unit length, a transition section may be present in each case in which the capacitance changes continuously. Depending on which measure the capacity per unit length is changed, it may be necessary for manufacturing reasons, to provide such a transition section. Because it is not always possible to increase or decrease the capacity per unit length at one point of the sensor yarn according to the further embodiment so to speak jump-like.

The change in the capacitance per unit length in the direction of extent in one embodiment according to the further embodiment is at least 0.03 pF and / or at most 250 pF. For example, there may be two or more yarn sections, with the capacity between successive yarn sections, with any transition section therebetween, varying by at least 0.03 pF each. The difference between a minimum capacity yarn section per unit length and a maximum capacity yarn section per unit length may be up to 250 pF or more.

To change the capacitance per unit length of the capacitive component in the direction of extension, one or more measures can be provided. In an embodiment according to the further embodiment, the change of the capacitance per unit length can be effected by providing a change in the number of turns per unit length of the thread core. Alternatively or additionally, a change in the pitch of the helical winding of the at least one first conductor and / or the at least one second conductor may be provided. The slopes of the helical winding of the two conductors can have the same amount and / or the same value in a common yarn section. However, it is also possible that the pitch of the two conductors in a common yarn section is different in size in terms of magnitude and / or value.

An additional or alternative measure for changing the capacitance per unit length of the capacitive component can be achieved in that the dielectric constant of the thread core changes in the direction of extent. This can be done, for example, that different materials or material combination with a each other dielectric constant be used for the thread core. By way of example, a plastic used for producing the thread core can be combined or doped in sections with at least one further material in order to change the relative permittivity. By the material and / or the proportion of doping relative to the base material of the thread core, a change in the dielectric constant can be achieved.

In one embodiment, the thread core may contain or be made of a polymeric material. For example, the thread core may comprise polyurethane and be made in one embodiment of spandex. The at least one first conductor and / or the at least one second conductor may contain metal and be made, for example, from wires, in particular copper wires. The wires can be provided with a paint or a coating for electrical insulation. The conductors preferably have a diameter of not more than 0.1 mm.

In one embodiment, the at least one first conductor and / or the at least one second conductor can each run around the thread core in a multi-start helix.

As an alternative to the previously described embodiments, the two conductors can also be formed by a respective conductor layer which is applied to the thread core, wherein the conductor layers are electrically insulated from one another. Through the dielectric of the thread core and / or an additional layer, the capacity per unit length can be changed. Alternatively or additionally, the shape and in particular the layer thickness of at least one of the conductor layers can also be varied to change the capacity per unit length.

• Figur 1a eine schematische Teildarstellung eines Sensorgarns mit einem kapazitiven Bauteil,
• Figur 1b ein elektrisches Ersatzschaltbild des kapazitiven Bauteils,
• Figur 2 eine schematische Teildarstellung eines Sensorgarns gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel,
• Figur 3 eine schematische Teildarstellung eines Sensorgarns gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel,
• Figuren 4a und 4b eine schematische Teildarstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Sensorgarns, das ein photostriktives Material aufweist,
• Figur 4c eine schematische Teildarstellung eines weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Sensorgarns, das ein photosensitives Material aufweist,
• Figur 5 eine schematische Darstellung eines Textilmaterialteils als Maschenware mit mehreren Sensorgarnen,
• Figur 6 eine schematische Darstellung eines Textilmaterialteils in Form eines Gewebes mit mehreren Sensorgarnen gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung und
• Figuren 7 und 8 jeweils ein abgewandeltes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Sensorgarns in schematischer Darstellung.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings. The description explains essential features of the invention based on exemplary embodiments. The embodiments are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail. Show it:

• FIG. 1a a schematic partial view of a sensor yarn with a capacitive component,
• FIG. 1b an electrical equivalent circuit diagram of the capacitive component,
• FIG. 2 a schematic partial view of a sensor yarn according to an embodiment,
• FIG. 3 a schematic partial view of a sensor yarn according to a further embodiment,
• FIGS. 4a and 4b a schematic partial view of a sensor yarn according to the invention comprising a photostrictive material,
• Figure 4c a schematic partial view of another sensor yarn according to the invention comprising a photosensitive material,
• FIG. 5 a schematic representation of a textile material part as a knitted fabric with multiple sensor yarns,
• FIG. 6 a schematic representation of a textile material part in the form of a fabric having a plurality of sensor yarns according to an embodiment of the present invention and
• FIGS. 7 and 8 in each case a modified embodiment of a sensor yarn in a schematic representation.

In the FIGS. 1 to 4 Embodiments of a sensor yarn 10 are illustrated in a schematic partial representation. The sensor yarn 10 has a thread core 11 extending in an extension direction E. The thread core 11 may be monofilament or formed by a plurality of fibers or filaments. It can consist of one single material or a combination of several materials. In the exemplary embodiment, the thread core 11 comprises a polymeric material. The thread core 11 is preferably elastically stretchable in the extension direction E and can be elastically stretched in the direction of extension E. In certain embodiments of the sensor yarn 10, the thread core 11 in the extension direction E different materials and / or different material combinations and / or different proportions of the materials have a combination of materials, which will be discussed later in more detail.

At least one first conductor 12 and at least one second conductor 13 are wound around the thread core 11. In the embodiments illustrated here, only a single first conductor 12 and a single second conductor 13 are illustrated in each case. In a modification to this, in each case a plurality of first conductor 12 and second conductor 13 may be present.

The conductors 12, 13 comprise or are made of an electrically conductive material, in particular metal Material produced. In the embodiment, the conductors 12, 13 are made of a metallic wire, preferably a copper wire. In order to avoid an electrical connection between the two conductors 12, 13 and between the conductors 12, 13 and the thread core 11, the conductors 12, 13 have on their outer surface an electrically insulating coating or an electrically insulating lacquer. By way of example, the conductors have a diameter of up to 0.1 mm or 0.2 mm.

By way of example, the first conductor 12 and the second conductor 13 form a conductor pair 14. The conductor pair 14 is part of a capacitive component 15. The capacitive component 15 of a sensor yarn of a specific length has a total capacitance CG. In FIG. 1b the electrical circuit diagram for the sensor yarn 10 with the capacitive component 15 is illustrated.

• eine Kraft, wie beispielsweise Druckkraft oder/oder Zugkraft, oder eine Kraftänderung,
• eine Medienbeaufschlagung mit einem flüssigen oder dampfförmigen Medium,
• eine Annäherung eines Objekt,
• eine Temperaturänderung,
• und bei einer Ausführung des Sensorgarns auch eine Bestrahlung mit elektromagnetischen Wellen, insbesondere mit Licht.

The capacitance of the capacitive component 15 depends on the structural design of the sensor yarn 10. The sensor yarn 10 can be produced in almost any length and wound on a spool. When incorporating the sensor yarn 10 into a textile material part 16, a sensor yarn 10 of a certain length has the total capacity CG. This total capacity CG changes when the sensor yarn 10 is pressurized, for example, by a force such as a compressive force or a tensile force. By a change in length of the thread core 11, which serves as a dielectric for the capacitive component 15 and / or a relative displacement of the at least one first conductor 12 relative to the at least one second conductor 13, the total capacitance CG may change. Thus, the sensor yarn thus constitutes a capacitive sensor. Via an evaluation unit 17, which is electrically connected from one end of the sensor yarn 10 to the two conductors 12, 13, the current total capacity CG to be determined. From this an influence on the sensor yarn 10 can be determined. As a sensible effect on the sensor yarn 10, one or more of the following effects can be determined:

• a force, such as compressive force and / or tensile force, or a force change,
• a medium with a liquid or vapor medium,
• an approach of an object,
• a temperature change,
• and in an embodiment of the sensor yarn also irradiation with electromagnetic waves, in particular with light.

In the FIGS. 2 and 3 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the sensor yarn 10, which is referred to as the first sensor yarn 10a. In the case of the first sensor yarn 10a, the capacitive component 15 has a capacitance C1 changing in the extension direction E per unit length l of the sensor yarn. The capacitance C1 per unit length l indicates the capacitance of the capacitive component 15 at the viewing point of the sensor yarn 10a, wherein this capacitance C1 changes per unit length l in the extension direction E. The total capacity CG is therefore not only dependent on the length of a sensor yarn 10 in the direction of extent E, but additionally varies spatially in the direction of extent E. Two equal-length sections of a sensor yarn 10 can thus have a different total capacity CG.

In the in the FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrated embodiments, the capacitance C1 per unit length l changes in sections. For example only, a first yarn section 21, a second yarn section 22 and a third yarn section 23 are illustrated. In each of the yarn sections 21, 22, 23, the sensor yarn 10 or its capacitive component 15 has a different capacitance C 1 per unit length l. In the embodiments illustrated herein, the capacitance C1 per unit length l in a respective yarn section 21, 22, 23 is substantially constant. According to the example, the sensor yarn 10 in the first yarn section 21 has a first capacity Cl ₁ per unit length l, in the second yarn section 22 a second capacity Cl ₂ per unit length l and in the third yarn section 23 a third capacity Cl ₃ per unit length l.

In a modification to sections constant capacities Cl per unit length l, the capacity Cl per unit length l can be at least partially continuously increased or decreased. For example, the capacitance C L per unit length L may be steadily increased from a minimum value of, for example, 10 pF to a maximum value of 250 pF or more, and / or conversely continuously reduced from the maximum value to the minimum value. Such continuously changing sections may also be provided sequentially in the sensor yarn 10.

The value of the capacitance Cl per unit length l, which changes in the extension direction E, is determined at the in FIG. 2 illustrated embodiment of the first sensor yarn 10a achieved in that the slope S of a helix of the helically wound first conductor 12 and / or the second conductor 13 with respect to the extension direction E, ie the longitudinal central axis of the sensor yarn 10 varies. In the first yarn section 21, the pitch S of a helical turn of the two conductors 12, 13 has a first slope amount S ₁ . Correspondingly, the pitch S of the helical turns of the first and second conductors 12, 13 in the second yarn section 22 has a second pitch amount S ₂ and in the third yarn section 23 a third pitch amount S ₃ . As the amount of increase increases, the number of turns per unit length increases, and hence the capacitance C1 per unit length increases. The slope amounts are substantially constant in the respective yarn section 21, 22, 23. Since the pitch between two adjacent in the extension direction yarn sections 21 and 22 or 22 and 23 for manufacturing reasons often can not be changed suddenly, between two adjacent yarn sections 21 and 22 and 22 and 23 each have a transition section 24 is present. In this transition section 24, the pitch of the first conductor 12 and / or the second conductor 13 is continuously increased or decreased to provide a transition between the respective slope amounts S ₁ and S ₂ or S ₂ and S ₃ . These transitional sections 24 could optionally also be dispensed with if a transition point with an abruptly changing pitch between two yarn sections 21, 22 with different pitch amounts can be produced by the manufacturing process of the sensor yarn 10.

At the in FIG. 2 illustrated embodiment of the first sensor yarn 10a, the slope amounts for the two conductors 12, 13 are the same size, but have different signs. As a result, intersection points in the windings of the two conductors 12, 13 are formed. It is not absolutely necessary that the pitch amounts for the two conductors 12, 13 in a yarn section 21 are equal, but the pitch amounts of the two conductors 12, 13 may also be different from each other. In addition, only the pitch of the first conductor 12 or the second conductor 13 can be changed between two adjacent yarn sections with different capacitance Cl per unit length l.

In FIG. 3 is another way to change the capacitance C1 per unit length l for the capacitive element 15 illustrated. In this embodiment, the pitch of the winding of the two conductors 12, 13 in the different yarn sections 21, 22, 23 can remain essentially unchanged. To change the capacitance C1 per unit length, the dielectric constant or permittivity ε is changed according to the example. For this purpose, the dielectric, which is formed, for example, by the thread core 11, changed in sections. The thread core 11 has, for example, in the first yarn section 21 a first dielectric constant ε ₁ , in the second yarn section 22 a second dielectric constant ε ₂ and in the third yarn section 23 a third dielectric constant ε ₃ . The different dielectric constants are achieved by different materials or material compositions in the yarn sections 21, 22, 23. For example, the thread core 11 may have an at least partially doped base material. It is expedient here if the dielectric constant of the base material differs sufficiently from the added doping material, for example by at least 10 to 30%. To change the dielectric constant ε, for example, the proportion of the doping material relative to the base material can be increased. Additionally or alternatively, different doping materials or different combinations of doping materials in the different yarn sections 21, 22, 23 may be used.

In the preferred embodiment described here, the material that changes the dielectric constant is introduced into the base material of the thread core 11 as a doping material. Furthermore, it would also be possible to provide a coating enclosing the thread core 11 and the conductors 12, 13, which has the material which alters the dielectric constant contains or consists of such.

In an embodiment not explicitly illustrated, it is also possible to vary both the relative permittivity ε and the pitch of the turns for changing the capacitance C 1 per longitudinal section 1, and thus for those in FIG FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrated and described embodiments of the first sensor yarn 10a to combine with each other.

With the aid of the first sensor yarn 10a, a sensory textile material part 16 can be produced, as shown schematically in FIGS FIGS. 5 and 6 is illustrated. With the help of the sensor yarn 10a, effects such as a force, for example, a compressive force and / or a tensile force, influences by liquid media, such as water, approaches by objects, etc. can be detected. As a result of the fact that the capacitance C1 per unit length L of the sensor yarn 10a changes in the extension direction E, location information is already provided by the sensor yarn 10a, via which it is possible to determine the position of the action. In particular, when several of the sensor yarns 10 in a textile material part 16 are arranged parallel to one another, the effect usually has an effect not only on the total capacity CG of a single sensor yarn 10 but on the total capacity CG of several sensor yarns 10. By evaluating the combination of changing total capacities CG, a very precise location determination of the action on the textile material part 16 can take place without a matrix-like arrangement of sensor yarns 10 with intersection points being necessary. This has the advantage that the textile material part 16 only has to be electrically contacted on one side for connection to the evaluation unit 17. This considerably simplifies the construction of a sensory textile material part 16.

As in the FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrated highly schematically, it may be in the textile material part 16 to knitwear, such as a knitted fabric or a knitted fabric ( FIG. 5 ) or a tissue ( FIG. 6 ) act. At the in FIG. 5 illustrated knit the sensor yarns 10 are inserted as Steherfäden in the fabric and do not participate in the stitch formation itself. At the in FIG. 6 illustrated embodiment, the sensor yarns 10 are incorporated as weft threads in a fabric. Depending on the application, one or more conventional, non-sensory textile threads 25 can be woven in between two sensor yarns 10 in each case. The number and density of the sensor yarns in a textile material part 16 depend on the specific application.

The textile material 16 has, in addition to the sensor yarns 10 arranged in parallel, one or more conventional textile threads 25. The non-sensory textile thread 25 can be used for stitch formation ( FIG. 5 ) or as a weft thread and warp thread ( FIG. 6 ) be used.

The representations in the FIGS. 5 and 6 are not to scale and only schematic. The sensor yarns 10 may have the same or a different thickness (titre) than the other textile threads 25 used.

In the FIGS. 4a and 4b FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the sensor yarn 10 according to the invention, referred to as the second sensor yarn 10b. In the case of the second sensor yarn 10b, in contrast to the first sensor yarn 10a, the capacitance C1 per unit length l, which has the capacitive component 15 of the sensor yarn 10, can be substantially constant. However, it is also possible, in the extension direction E changing capacity Cl per unit length l as the first sensor yarn 10a provide.

The second sensor yarn 10b contains a photosensitive material 30. This photosensitive material 30 can be attached anywhere on the sensor yarn 10b or introduced into the sensor yarn 10b. In the preferred embodiment described here, the photosensitive material 30 is introduced as doping material into the base material of the thread core 11. Alternatively, the thread core 11 could also consist of photosensitive material. Furthermore, it would also be possible to provide a coating enveloping the thread core 11 and the conductors 12, 13, which contains or consists of photosensitive material 30.

Based on FIGS. 4a and 4b is schematically seen that takes place by the irradiation of the second sensor yarn 10b with light L, a change in length of the thread core 11 by photostriction. By way of example, the length of a longitudinal section A changes by a difference d when the second sensor yarn 10b is irradiated with the light L. This in turn causes a change in the total capacity CG of the sensor yarn 10b irradiated with light L. If the intensity of the incident light L changes, the total capacity CG also changes.

As the photorefractive material 30, for example, a polymer material, a semiconductor material, a ferroelectric material, a magnetic material, or a magnetoelectric material may be used. For example, bismuth ferrite can be used as a photostrictive material.

At the in Figure 4c illustrated embodiment of a photosensitive second sensor yarn 10b no change in length (photostriction) instead. Rather, the photosensitive material is selected there in such a way that the intensity of the light causes a change in the dielectric constant. For example, a doped semiconductor material such as copper-doped zinc sulfide (ZnS: Cu) may be used. Depending on the light intensity, dipoles form in the electric field and change the dielectric constant, which in turn alters the detectable total capacitance of the second sensor path 10b.

The photosensitive second sensor yarn 10b can thus be used to detect the presence of incident light L or a change in intensity. For example, a lighting sensor or even a brightness sensor could thereby be realized. Such a sensor could be integrated by means of the sensor yarn 10b into a shading textile, for example a roller blind or the like, which is moved into its extended or retracted position as a function of the solar radiation. The sensors could therefore be an integral part of a sun blinds and could be dispensed with a separate sensor.

In the case of both sensor yarns 10a, 10b, one of the two conductors, for example the second conductor 13, can also be formed by the thread core 11 ( FIG. 7 ). The sensor yarn 10a, 10b can also be embodied as a thread without a thread core 11 (FIG. FIG. 8 not according to the invention). If no thread core 11 is present, the two conductors 12, 13 with other filaments (hatching in FIG. 8 ) combined to form the twine.

In all embodiments of the first sensor yarn 10a and also in the case of the second sensor yarn 10b, at least one of the two conductors is wound helically with respect to the extension direction E.

The first sensor yarn 10a and the second sensor yarn 10b can also be used together in a textile material part 16 if both the action of light L, and an approach of an article to the textile material part 16 and / or a force on the textile material part 16 and / or a Influence by a liquid or vaporous medium and / or another influence affecting the total capacity CG of a sensor yarn 10 is to be detected.

The invention relates to a sensor yarn 10. The sensor yarn 10b has photosensitive material 30, so that a change in length can be effected by incident light L. A change in length or a different deformation of the sensor yarn 10b causes the total capacity CG of the respective sensor yarn 10b to change, which can be determined by an evaluation unit 17.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Sensorgarn

10a

first sensor yarn

10b

second sensor yarn

11

thread core

12

first leader

13

second conductor

14

conductor pair

15

capacitive component

16

Fabric part

17

evaluation

21

first yarn section

22

second yarn section

23

third yarn section

24

Transition section

25

textile yarn

30

photosensitive material

A

longitudinal section

Cl

Capacity per unit length

Cl ₁

first capacity per unit length

Cl ₂

second capacity per unit length

Cl ₃

third capacity per unit length

CG

total capacity

d

difference

e

extension direction

ε

permittivity

ε ₁

first dielectric constant

ε ₂

second dielectric constant

ε ₃

third dielectric constant

l

unit of length

L

light

S ₁

first increase amount

S ₂

second increase amount

S ₃

third increase amount

Claims (14)

1. Sensor yarn (10b),
   with a thread core (11) extending in an extension direction (E),
   with at least a first conductor (12) and a second conductor (13), wherein at least one of the two conductors (12, 13) is wound helically relative to the first extension direction (E),
   wherein the at least one first conductor (12) and the at least one second conductor (13) are electrically isolated from each other and are part of a capacitative component (15), and wherein the sensor yarn (10b) comprises a photosensitive material (30) so that on irradiation of the sensor yarn (10b) with light (L), a change occurs in the total capacitance (CG) of the capacitative component (15).
2. Sensor yarn according to claim 1, characterised in that the photosensitive material (30) is copper-doped zinc sulphide, a polymer material, a semiconductor material, a ferro-electric material, a magnetic material or a magneto-electric material.
3. Sensor yarn according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the photosensitive material (30) is present in or on the thread core (11).
4. Textile material part (16) with several sensor yarns (10, 10b) according to any of the preceding claims.
5. Textile material part according to claim 4, characterised in that the sensor yarns (10, 10a, 10b) are arranged without crossing.
6. Textile material part according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that at least one further sensor yarn (10a) is present in addition to the several sensor yarns (10), wherein the at least one additional sensor yarn (10a) comprises:

   a thread core (11) extending in an extension direction (E),

   at least a first conductor (12) and a second conductor (13), wherein at least one of the two conductors (12, 13) is wound helically relative to the first extension direction (E),

   wherein the at least one first conductor (12) and the at least one second conductor (13) are electrically isolated from each other and are part of a capacitative component (15),

   and wherein the capacitative component (15) has a capacitance (Cl) per length unit (1) of the sensor yarn (10) which changes in the extension direction (E).
7. Textile material part according to claim 6, characterised in that one of the two conductors (12) of the at least one additional sensor yarn (10a) is formed by the thread core (11) and the other conductor (13) of the sensor yarn (10a) is wound around the thread core (11), or that both conductors (12, 13) of the at least one additional sensor yarn (10a) are wound around the thread core (11), or that one of the two conductors (13) of the at least one additional sensor yarn (10a) is part of the thread core (11) and the other conductor (13) of the additional sensor yarn (10a) is wound around the thread core (11).
8. Textile material part according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the capacitance (Cl) per length unit (l) in a first yarn portion (21) of the at least one additional sensor yarn (10a) is different from the capacitance (Cl) per length unit (l) in another yarn portion (22, 23) of the additional sensor yarn (10a).
9. Textile material part according to claim 8, characterised in that the at least one additional sensor yarn (10a) comprises at least two yarn portions (21, 22, 23) in which the capacitative component (15) has a substantially constant capacitance (Cl₁, Cl₂, Cl₃) per length unit (l).
10. Textile material part according to claim 9, characterised in that between two adjacent yarn portions (21, 22 or 22, 23) with different capacitance (Cl₁, Cl₂, Cl₃) per length unit (l), a transitional portion (24) is present in which the capacitance (Cl) per length unit (l) changes continuously.
11. Textile material part according to any of claims 6 to 10, characterised in that the amount of the capacitance (Cl) per length unit (l) of the at least one additional sensor yarn (10a) in the extension direction (E) changes by at least 0.03 pF and/or by up to maximum 250 pF.
12. Textile material part according to claim 11 and any of claims 8 to 10, characterised in that the at least one additional sensor yarn (10a) has at least three yarn portions (21, 22, 23) with different capacitances (Cl₁, Cl₂, Cl₃) per length unit (l), wherein the capacitance (Cl) per length unit (l) changes by at least 10 pF between yarn portions (21, 22 or 22, 23) which are adjacent in the extension direction (E).
13. Textile material part according to any of claims 6 to 12, characterised in that the change of capacitance (Cl) per length unit (l) of the at least one additional sensor yarn (10a) is caused by a change in the number of windings per length unit of the thread core (11) in the extension direction (E) and/or by a change in pitch (S) of the helical winding of the at least one first conductor (12) and/or the at least one second conductor (13) in the extension direction (E).
14. Textile material part according to any of claims 6 to 13, characterised in that the change of capacitance (Cl) per length unit (l) is caused by a change in the dielectric constant (ε) of the at least one additional sensor yarn (10a) in the extension direction (E).

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