FR3038210A1 - METHOD OF SOLIDARIZING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE ON A TEXTILE PIECE AND ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING THE ELECTRONIC DEVICE TO AT LEAST ONE ELECTRICAL WIRE INSERTED IN THE TEXTILE PART. - Google Patents

Abstract

Method of joining an electronic device to a textile part and electrically connecting said electronic device to at least one electrical wire inserted into said textile part. The present invention relates to a method of joining an electronic device (120) to a piece of textile (130) while ensuring the electrical connection of said electronic device (120) to at least one electrical wire (131) inserted in said piece of textile (130), characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - a step E1 of forming a window (133) in said piece of textile (130) in line with at least one electric wire (131), a step E2 stripping said electrical wire (131) to the right of the corresponding window (133) making said wire accessible for an electrical connection, a step E3 of electrical connection of lines or connection pads of said electronic device with said wire electrical (131), a step E4 of coating said electronic device (120) and the part of the textile piece (130) on which it rests in a resin block (150). The present invention also relates to a garment thus manufactured.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of joining an electronic device to a textile piece and electrically connecting the device or devices to electrical son inserted into said textile piece.

In the present application, the term textile part means a part that can be woven or otherwise non-woven.

In many applications, it may be advantageous to provide a textile piece of at least one electronic device which is secured to said textile piece while providing electrical connection to electrical son inserted into said textile piece. For example, these electrical wires provide power to said electronic device as well as the transfer of analog or digital signals representative of data to or from said electronic device. Several electronic devices can also be interconnected.

Among these applications, one can quote that which consists in providing a so-called intelligent garment. The present invention therefore also relates to a method of manufacturing a garment provided with at least one textile body on which is secured and connected at least one electronic device, such as a sensor, and such a garment manufactured by said manufacturing process.

With the development of the practice of sport, new needs are emerging. This is the case of so-called smart clothing that satisfies the need for athletes to know their physical condition throughout their sporting activity and to evaluate the intensity of the efforts they have made. These garments consist of textile on which are mounted electronic devices, generally sensors such as a heart rate sensor, a temperature sensor, a respiratory rate sensor, a hygrometry sensor, a sweat rate sensor, etc. which are connected, by electrical son inserted in said textile, to a central unit which records the signals from these sensors as data. This data is downloaded by a personal computer, for example via a wireless link or on the contrary wired, a mobile phone says Smartphone, or any similar device and software analyzes this data, displays them and the results of this analysis which allows the athlete to evaluate his performances.

Such sets textile piece / electronic device pose a number of problems for their manufacture to ensure a quality electrical connection with, on the one hand, electrical son in the piece of textile itself in which they are inserted, are sheathed and, secondly, with pads and / or lines that includes the circuit of said electronic device.

Furthermore, especially in the application to a garment, these sets textile piece / electronic device must be washable without being damaged. In this case, this assumes that the sensors, the central unit, the electrical connections between them and the different connections can not take water or any detergent product used during a washing and be damaged by the water and / or detergent. In the same way, this garment, to be comfortable to wear, must be as flexible as possible and therefore not be stiff. This stiffness could be brought by electronic devices, their connections and their electrical connections.

The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a method of joining an electronic device to a textile piece and electrically connecting the device (s) to electrical wires inserted in said textile piece which makes it possible to solve the problems raised above. . To this end, the present invention relates to a method for joining an electronic device to a piece of textile which is characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a step of forming a window in said piece of textile at right of at least one electrical wire, - a step of stripping said electrical wire to the right of the corresponding window making said wire accessible for an electrical connection, - a step of electrical connection of lines or connection pads of said electronic device with said electrical wire, a step of coating said electronic device and the part of the textile piece on which it rests in a resin block.

The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a garment provided with at least one textile body on which is secured and connected at least one electronic device, such as a sensor. This manufacturing method is characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a step of joining said or each electronic device to a textile strip in which electrical wires are embedded while ensuring the electrical connection of said electronic device to at least one of the electrical son according to the method of joining previously described, and - a step of fixing to said body of said garment of said textile strip with said electronic device or devices.

Finally, the present invention relates to a garment provided with at least one textile body on which is secured and connected at least one electronic device, such as a sensor. This garment is characterized in that it comprises: a textile strip in which electrical wires are inserted, said or each electronic device being secured to said textile strip while being electrically connected to at least one of the electric wires in accordance with previously described method, said textile strip being attached to the body of said garment.

The characteristics of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being given in relation to the attached drawings, among which:

FIGS. 1a-1d illustrate the various steps constituting a joining method according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 2 a diagram showing the different steps of a joining process according to the present invention,

Fig. 3 is a diagram of a textile strip supporting electrical wires, said electrical wires being connected to a connector to a central unit and to a sensor according to the present invention,

Figs. 4a to 4d illustrate the different steps constituting a joining method according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 5 is a diagram of a garment according to the present invention,

Fig. 6 is a block diagram of a sensor connected to a digital bus of a textile strip according to the present invention, and

Fig. 7 illustrates the various steps of a method of manufacturing a garment according to the present invention.

We now describe a first embodiment of a method of securing an electronic device sensor 120 on a textile part 130 and, this, in relation to Figs, la to ld as well as in FIG. 2. In FIG. la, there is shown a textile piece 130 in which is inserted an electric wire 131. This method of joining comprises a first step E1 (see FIG 2) according to which, in line with each electrical wire 131, is formed in the piece textile 130, a window 133, for example of square shape with dimensions of the order of one millimeter.

At the same time that a window 133 is formed in step E1, a stripping step E2 of the electrical wire 131 is carried out at the right of the window 133, for example by burning the electrical insulator 131a which sheaths the conductor electrical 131b of the electrical wire 131, making accessible the electrical conductor 131b for electrical connection.

To form each window 133 and strip the wires inserted into the textile part 130, a laser is for example used, advantageously of the type emitting in the middle infrared, for example of the CO2 type, whose beam is focused on the workpiece textile 130 by scanning its surface corresponding to the window 133 to achieve.

It is shown in FIG. 3, a textile piece 130, more exactly a textile band 130, in which are inserted four electrical son 131. In line with the electrical son 131, four windows 133 have been formed; they are arranged transversely on the textile strip 130. Through these windows 133, we see the stripped portions 131b of the electrical wires 131. The step E3 of the method consists in providing the electrical connection of connection lines or pads of said electronic device 120 with said one or more electrical wires 131.

As can be seen in FIG. lb and in FIG. 2, this step E3, according to a first embodiment, comprises a step E31 for depositing a window 140 of a drop 140 of an electrically conductive resin or glue, for example a glue loaded with graphite. or money. The resin in question may be of the thermosetting type, for example, at a temperature of 80 ° C. for 4 hours or at room temperature. In FIG. the, step E32 consists in setting up the circuit board plate 124 of an electronic device 120 to the right of the windows 133. This plate 124 comprises lines and / or conductive pads 120a on the surface of an insulating support 120b on which are mounted the electrical or electronic components 120c constituting the electronic circuit of the electronic device 120. As can be seen, the electrical contact between the electrical conductor 131b of an electrical wire 131 and a line or pad 120a is provided by the intermediate of the electrically conductive resin 140.

In an advantageous embodiment, the insulating support 120b is flexible so as to adapt to the conformation, during use, of the textile part 130 considered making it as flexible as possible.

In the case where the electrically conductive resin constituting the drop 140 is thermosetting, a step E33 of steaming of the assembly formed in the step E32, for example by introducing it into a suitable oven, is carried out at a temperature of 20.degree. temperature such that this resin hardens.

The method of joining the invention further comprises a step E4 of coating, for example by molding, the assembly resulting from step E3 in a block 150 of polymer resin, for example a silicone resin also providing elasticity to this set. Step E4 includes a step of polymerizing said resin, for example by baking at an appropriate temperature. This step E4 makes it possible to ensure the liquid-tightness of the electronic device 120 and of its connection with the electrical wires 131 of the textile part 130 as well as the mechanical strength of the electronic device 120.

We now describe a second embodiment of a method of securing an electronic device 120 on a textile part 130 and, in connection with FIGS. 4a to 4d as well as in FIG. 2. Figs. 4a and 4d are strictly identical to FIGS. 1a and 1d thus indicating that steps E1, E2 and E4 of the second embodiment of the joining method according to the invention are identical to those of the first embodiment described above. .

In this second embodiment, only differs the step E3 which now comprises a step Ε3Γ of placing the electronic device 120 on the textile part 130 so that the pads and / or conductive lines on the surface of the plate 124 constituting of the electronic device 120 are found at the right of the windows 133 (see Fig. 4b). It also comprises a step E32 'for welding the portion 131b of the electrical wire 131 to the pad or to the conductive line of said electronic device 120 (see FIG.4c). It follows from this step E32 'a solder drop 140 which is not in contact with the textile part 130 and which therefore does not risk burning at the time of its application.

One possible application of the method of joining as just described is a garment, such as that shown in FIG. 5. This is a T-shirt (it could also be a shirt, a jacket, a "stretch" garment or any other garment) with a textile body 10, two short sleeves 11 and a collar 12 also made of textile material. A garment according to the invention is equipped with a measuring and recording system 100 itself consisting of a central unit 110, for example housed in a pocket 13 of the body 10, near the neck 12, of electronic devices which are, for example, sensors 120, here three in number (the invention is not limited to this number) electrically connected to the central unit 110 by means of a digital bus formed of electric wires inserted in a strip of textile 130. This textile band 130 is mounted on the body 10 of the garment in question, for example by sewing or gluing. The set of sensors 120 is formed of at least one of the following sensors: a heart rate sensor, a body temperature sensor carrying said garment, a respiratory rate sensor, a hygrometry sensor, a sensor of sweat rate, etc. Each sensor 120 is equipped with an electronic circuit powered electrically by the digital bus consisting of the electrical wires which are inserted into the textile strip 130 and interfacing it so as to transmit data to the central unit 110 and receive data. data from the latter.

In a particular embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a sensor 120 is constituted by a transducer 121 transforming a physical quantity (the temperature, the humidity, a pulsation of acoustic or other pressure, a low electric current, etc.) into an analog signal A whose amplitude is representative of the value taken by the physical quantity in question. A sensor 120 also comprises an analog / digital converter 122 transforming the analog signal A coming from the transducer 121 into a digital signal D. It further comprises a transmission / reception unit 123 for receiving the digital signal D coming from the converter 122 and the transmit, for example in the form of a serial digital signal, on a transmission wire 131 which constitutes the digital bus of the band 130. The transmission / reception unit 123 can also receive a digital signal, for example a series, of a receiving wire 13 lr constituting the digital bus of the band 130, for example a control signal emanating from the central unit 110. The converter 122, the transmission / reception unit 123 and, optionally, the transducer 121 are powered. by the two feed son 131+ and 131- constituting the digital bus of the band 130. In FIG. 7, there is shown a diagram of the various steps that comprises a method of manufacturing a garment on which is mounted at least one sensor 120 and a central unit 110 electrically connected to each other, namely: a step E10 for securing said or each sensor 120 on a textile strip 130 in which electrical wires 131 are inserted while ensuring the electrical connection of said sensor 120 to at least one of the electrical wires 131, in particular at connection points L (see FIG. a step E20 for securing a connector 115 intended to connect to a central unit 110, on the textile strip 130 while ensuring the electrical connection of said electrical wires 131 to said connector 115, in particular by soldering points S (see FIG. Fig. 3), and - a step E30 of attachment to the body 10 of said garment of said textile band 130 with said one or more sensors 120 and said connector 115.

Claims (11)

1) A method of securing an electronic device (120) on a piece of textile (130) while ensuring the electrical connection of said electronic device (120) to at least one electrical wire (131) inserted into said piece of textile ( 130), characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a step E1 of forming a window (133) in said piece of textile (130) in line with at least one electric wire (131); step E2 stripping said electrical wire (131) to the right of the corresponding window (133) making said wire accessible for an electrical connection, - a step E3 of electrical connection of lines or connection pads of said electronic device with said electric wire ( 131), a step E4 of coating said electronic device (120) and the part of the textile piece (130) on which it rests in a resin block (150). 2) A method of joining according to claim 1, characterized in that said step E1 of forming a window (133) in said piece of textile (130) to the right of each electric wire (131) is made at the same time as the stripping step E2 of each electrical wire (131) to the right of the corresponding window (133) by means of a laser of the type emitting in the mean infra-red, the beam of which is focused on said textile piece (130) in sweeping its surface corresponding to the window (133) to achieve. 3) a method of joining according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said step E3 of electrical connection of lines or connection pads of said electronic device with said electrical wire (131) comprises: - a step E31 of deposit to the location of a window (133) of a drop (140) of a resin or an electrically conductive adhesive, and - a step E32 of placing said electronic device on said piece of textile (130) so that the electrical connection of connecting lines or pads of said electronic device (120) to said electrical wire (131) is provided via the electrically conductive resin (140). 4) A method of joining according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said step E3 of electrical connection of lines or connection pads of said electronic device (120) with said electric wire (131) comprises a step Ε3Γ of establishment said electronic device (120) on said textile piece and a step E32 'of welding lines or pads with said electric wire (131). 5) A method of manufacturing a garment provided with at least one textile body (10) on which is secured and connected at least one electronic device, such as a sensor, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a step E10 of securing said or each electronic device (120) to a textile strip (130) in which electrical wires (131) are embedded while ensuring the electrical connection of said electronic device (120) to at least one of the electric wires (131) according to the joining method according to one of claims 1 to 4, and - a step E30 of fixing to said body (10) of said garment of said textile strip (130) with said electronic device or devices. 6) Garment provided with at least one textile body (10) on which is secured and connected at least one electronic device, such as a sensor, characterized in that it comprises: a textile strip (130) in which electrical wires (131) are inserted, said or each electronic device (120) being secured to said textile strip (130) while being electrically connected to at least one of the electrical wires (131) by a joining method according to a Claims 1 to 4, said textile web (130) being attached to the body (10) of said garment. 7) garment according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a pocket (13) in which can be housed a central unit (110) and be connected by a connector (115). 8) Garment according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said electrical son (131) embedded in said textile strip (130) constitute a digital bus electrically connecting the or each electronic device (110, 120). 9) Apparel according to claim 8, characterized in that each sensor consists of a transducer (121) transforming a quantity into an analog signal whose amplitude is representative of the value taken by said physical quantity, an analog / digital converter (122) transforming the analog signal from the transducer (121) into a digital signal and a transmitting / receiving unit (123) for receiving the digital signal from the converter (122) and transmitting it on at least one wire (13). the) of the digital bus. 10) garment according to claim 9, characterized in that said transmitting / receiving unit (123) receives a digital signal from at least one receiving wire (13 lr) of the digital bus. 11) garment according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the converter (122), the transmission / reception unit (123) and, optionally, the transducer (121) are powered by two power supply wires ( 131+ and 131-) of the digital bus.