Clevertex - Grado Zero Espace Srl

power and ground planes, the circuit is complete and the LED lights. The bodice (with a conductive
front panel) and the necklace form a second dynamic element. The necklace is a simple analogue
computer, powered when any of its conducting tassels brush against a plane of conducting organza
sewn to the front of the bodice. Each tassel has its own resistor network and provides a different
colour bias to the red, green, and blue LEDs on the face of the necklace. It is exhibited at the National
Textile Museum in Washington D.C. [34].
Fig. 61 Firefly Dress
2.1.4.3.1 Patents published
The first patents on electronic textiles were assigned in the late 60’s, namely a woven electrical
connector with wires and dielectric threads in warp and weft direction and a woven high-frequency
transition line consisting of electrically cables woven in. They find applications in circuitry and in
transmitting high-frequency electrical signals, respectively (US patents 3414666 and 3447120).
In 2003, Alan Magill published a patent (US patent 2003/0212319) in which he described a health
monitoring garment, especially for electrophysiological cardiac and respiratory monitoring. The
garment employs a means of conducting electricity from the surface of the skin, through the fibres of a
fabric to another fabric which is removable attached to it. This removable fabric contains a
microprocessor, telemetry and a power source.
A woven electronic textile is claimed in the US patent 2004/0009729. The woven fabric contains
electrically conductive yarns in warp and weft direction. The conductive yarns comprise an elongate
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