A novel intelligent textile technology based on silicon flexible skins

This paper reports the successful prototype development of a novel intelligent textile technology based on the integration of silicon flexible skins with regular textiles. This novel approach enables the embedding of sensing and computational components into textiles without significantly compromising the flexibility and wearable properties. Silicon flexible skins comprised of arrays of silicon islands integrated with boron-doped strain gauges and metal pads were successfully fabricated using micromachining techniques. Prototypes of intelligent textiles were developed by stitching the silicon flexible skins onto the surface of textiles. The preliminary tests demonstrated excellent durability of the prototypes. The strain experienced by the silicon islands was monitored in real-time using the integrated strain gauges when the prototypes were mechanically deformed. These strain data provide valuable information for the further optimization, and the next stage of development, of this intelligent textile technology. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.