• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.733-745
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• 2016

This paper provides a review of wearable textile strain sensors that can measure the deformation of the body surface according to the movements of the wearer. In previous studies, the requirements of textile strain sensors, materials and fabrication methods, as well as the principle of the strain sensing according to sensor structures were understood; furthermore, the factors that affect the sensing performance were critically reviewed and application studies were examined. Textile strain sensors should be able to show piezoresistive effects with consistent resistance-extension in response to the extensional deformations that are repeated when they are worn. Textile strain sensors with piezoresistivity are typically made using conductive yarn knit structures or carbon-based fillers or conducting polymer filler composite materials. For the accuracy and reliability of textile strain sensors, fabrication technologies that would minimize deformation hysteresis should be developed and processes to complement and analyze sensing results based on accurate understanding of the sensors' resistance-strain behavior are necessary. Since light-weighted, flexible, and highly elastic textile strain sensors can be worn by users without any inconvenience so that to enable the users to continuously collect data related to body movements, textile strain sensors are expected to become the core of human interface technologies with a wide range of applications in diverse areas.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.697-707
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• 2019

This review paper deals with materials, classification, and a current article investigation on smart textile sensors for wearable vital signs monitoring (WVSM). Smart textile sensors can lose electrical conductivity during vital signs monitoring when applying them to clothing. Because they should have to endure severe conditions (bending, folding, and distortion) when wearing. Imparting electrical conductivity for application is a critical consideration when manufacturing smart textile sensors. Smart textile sensors fabricate by utilizing electro-conductive materials such as metals, allotrope of carbon, and intrinsically conductive polymers (ICPs). It classifies as performance level, fabric structure, intrinsic/extrinsic modification, and sensing mechanism. The classification of smart textile sensors by sensing mechanism includes pressure/force sensors, strain sensors, electrodes, optical sensors, biosensors, and temperature/humidity sensors. In the previous study, pressure/force sensors perform well despite the small capacitance changes of 1-2 pF. Strain sensors work reliably at 1 ㏀/cm or lower. Electrodes require an electrical resistance of less than 10 Ω/cm. Optical sensors using plastic optical fibers (POF) coupled with light sources need light in-coupling efficiency values that are over 40%. Biosensors can quantify by wicking rate and/or colorimetry as the reactivity between the bioreceptor and transducer. Temperature/humidity sensors require actuating triggers that show the flap opening of shape memory polymer or with a color-changing time of thermochromic pigment lower than 17 seconds.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.67-78
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• 2022

Interest in bio-signal monitoring of wearable devices is increasing significantly as the next generation needs to develop new devices to dominate the global market of the information and communication technology industry. Accordingly, this research developed a resistive textile strain sensor through a wetting process in a single-wall carbon nanotube dispersion solution using an E-Band with low hysteresis. To measure the resistance signal in the E-Band to which electrical conductivity is applied, a universal material tester, an Arduino, and LCR meters that are microcontroller units were used to measure the resistance change according to the tensile change. To effectively handle various noises generated due to the characteristics of the fabric textile strain sensor, the filter performance of the sensor was evaluated using the moving average filter, Savitsky-Golay filter, and intermediate filters of signal processing. As a result, the reliability of the filtering result of the moving average filter was at least 89.82% with a maximum of 97.87%, and moving average filtering was suitable as the noise filtering method of the textile strain sensor.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.168-179
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• 2021

This study presents and develops a textile type touch sensor structural design that is easy to implement. First, the design of the touch sensor circuit finds the size of the switch with the easiest finger contact and selects a structure with a long circuit with the lowest resistance value. An experiment is performed on a change in an electrostatic capacitance value that accompanies the distance on the electrode and the magnitude of the electrode area of the structure; however, the structure having the distance on the electrode and the large electrode area shows the best resistance change. The laundry assessment was conducted three times at a time and ten times at a time with an average standard deviation less than one ohm, with little change in resistance. Consequently, there were no problems with durability and performance for laundry. Finally, in the bending evaluation, the difference in resistance can be seen between 1-2 ohms and was developed as a smart wearable in the future; in addition, there was no problem as a difference in resistance can be seen between 1 and 2 ohms.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.41-50
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• 2023

This study aims to develop electromyography (EMG) textile electrodes and assess their performance and signal stability by examining variations in layer count and fabric types. We fabricated the electrodes through layering and pressing techniques, focusing on configurations with different layer counts (Layer-0, Layer-1, and Layer-2). Our findings indicate that layer presence significantly influences muscle activation measurements, with enhanced performance correlated with increased layer numbers. Subsequently, we created electrodes from five distinct fabrics (neoprene, spandex cushion, 100% polyester, nylon spandex, and cotton canvas), each maintaining a Layer-2 structure. In performance tests, nylon spandex fabric, particularly heavier variants, outperformed others, while the spandex cushion electrodes showed superior stability in muscle activation signal acquisition. This research elucidates the connection between electrode performance and factors like layer number and electrode-skin contact area. It suggests a novel approach to electrode design, focusing on layer properties and targeted pressure application on specific sensor areas, rather than uniformly increasing sleeve pressure.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.17-29
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• 2020

This study aimed to produce fiber stretch sensors for smart soccer socks to prevent injuries during training. A sensor was manufactured with stretchable fabric and tested to ensure convenience during training. In order to manufacture the fiber stretch sensor, a CNT dispersion solution was applied to an e-band and elastic polyester fabric, and the performance of the sensors was evaluated by a tensile test. Performance evaluation showed that both of the tested fabrics are excellent for this purpose. Both sensors were attached to socks to create prototype wearable devices, and an experiment was conducted to determine whether a resistance change accompanying relaxation and contraction of the gastrocnemius muscle could be detected. In order to accurately evaluate performance as a sensor, the fabric was stretched 20 times at low speeds of 1 Hz and 0.5 Hz. A change in resistance due to tension was observed, with both the E-band and the stretchable poly fabric showing high sensitivity and high reproducibility. Both can be used as relaxation/contraction sensors. Smart soccer socks were made using the two materials, and an evaluation was conducted. Tensile tests were done on the smart soccer socks; the tests were done 20 times per sock, and the sensor showed a stable resistance change between 30 and 40 ohms depending on the tension of the sensor. As a result, we confirmed that smart soccer socks with stretch sensors made of E-bands can measure changes in the gastrocnemius muscle.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.45-52
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• 2022

Recently, interest in and demand for sensors that recognize physical activity and their products are increasing. In particular, the development of wearable materials that are flexible, stretchable, and able to detect the user's biological signals is drawing attention. In this study, an experiment was conducted to improve the dip-coating efficiency of a single-walled carbon nanotube dispersion solution after fine holes were made in a hydrophobic material with a micro needle. In this study, dip-coating was performed with a material that was not penetrated, and comparative analysis was performed. The electrical conductivity of the sensor was measured when the sensor was stretched using a strain universal testing machine (Dacell Co. Ltd., Seoul, Korea) and a multimeter (Keysight Technologies, Santa Rosa, CA, USA) was used to measure resistance. It was found that the electrical conductivity of a sensor that was subjected to needling was at least 16 times better than that of a sensor that was not. In addition, the gauge factor was excellent, relative to the initial resistance of the sensor, so good performance as a sensor could be confirmed. Here, the dip-coating efficiency of hydrophobic materials, which have superior physical properties to hydrophilic materials but are not suitable due to their high surface tension, can be adopted to more effectively detect body movements and manufacture sensors with excellent durability and usability.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.140-157
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to develop three functions for smartphones and PCs using a textile touch sensor in an everyday sports jacket and to present their usefulness; to this end, we have developed a mutual capacitive textile touch sensor and corresponding structure, and we have implemented three functions into a textile touch sensor jacket, of which we also conducted a usability evaluation. The jacket has a sensor on the wrist of the left sleeve and a device on the left arm. The sensor system can be divided into three main categories: a sensor acting as a switch, a circuit connecting the sensor and the device, and the device that acts as power control and system on/off. The functions are implemented in the texture touch sensor jacket in three modes: cell phone mode, music mode, and PPT presentation mode. We conducted an evaluation of each function in each mode, which indicated that all functions performed well without errors and that the switch had excellent operation for the number and intensity of touch. In terms of usability in a humid environment, the performance of touch functions was found to be equally implemented. In the temperature environment, neither high nor low temperatures caused issues with the functions. A wearing satisfaction assessment evaluated psychological satisfaction, clothing convenience, device convenience, device usability, and device effectiveness. This research jacket is thought to be desirable for the relatively bendable, flexible, and intimate sensor used on the clothing, and the circuit made of conductive fabric tape.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.65-74
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• 2021

With recent innovations in the ICT industry, the demand for wearable sensing devices to recognize and respond to biological signals has increased. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) spacer fabric was embedded in a single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) dispersive solution through a simple penetration process to develop a monolayer piezoresistive pressure sensor. To induce electrical conductivity in the 3D spacer fabric, samples were immersed in the SWCNT dispersive solution and dried. To determine the electrical properties of the impregnated specimen, a universal testing machine and multimeter were used to measure the resistance of the pressure change. Moreover, to examine the changes in the electrical properties of the sensor, its performance was evaluated by varying the concentration, number of penetrations, and thickness of the specimen. Samples that penetrated twice in the SWCNT distributed solution of 0.1 wt% showed the best performance as sensors. The 7-mm thick sensors showed the highest GF, and the 13-mm thick sensors showed the widest operating range. This study confirms the effectiveness of the simple process of fabricating smart textile sensors comprising 3D spacer fabrics and the excellent performance of the sensors.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.125-140
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• 2023

This study aimed to develop a smart wearable device for assessing the risk angle associated with turtle neck syndrome in patients with Video Display Terminal (VDT) syndrome. Turtle neck syndrome, characterized by forward head posture resulting from upper cross syndrome, leads to thoracic kyphosis. In this research, a stretch sensor was used to monitor the progression of turtle neck syndrome, and the sensor data was analyzed using a Universal Testing Machine (UTM) and the Gauge Factor (GF) calculation method. The scapula and cervical spine angles were measured at five stages, with 15-degree increments from 0° to 60°. During the experimental process, the stretch sensor was attached to the thoracic spine in three different lengths: 30mm, 50mm, and 100mm. Among these, the attachment method yielding the most reliable data was determined by measuring with three techniques (General Trim Adhesive, PU film, and Heat Transfer Machine), and clothing using the heat transfer machine was selected. The experimental results confirmed that the most significant change in thoracic kyphosis occurred at approximately 30° of forward head posture. Prolonged deformity can lead to various issues, highlighting the need for textile sensor solutions. The developed wearable device aims to provide users with real-time feedback on their turtle neck posture and incorporate features that can help prevent or improve the condition.