# US 10,772,197 B2 · Electronically functional yarn

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- Number: US 10,772,197 B2
- Document ID: US10772197B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/961,355
- Filed: 2018-04-24
- Published: 2019-10-24
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-24
- Assignees: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
- Applicants: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
- Inventors: James David Holbery; Don Pasindu Vijai Lugoda; Kelly Marie Bogan; Siyuan Ma; Benjamin Sullivan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10772197B2

## CPC

- H05K 1/038: {Textiles (used as reinforcing materials for organic insulating substrates H05K1/0366)}
- D02G 3/36: Cored or coated yarns or threads ({D02G3/34, D02G3/40 take precedence}; elastic yarns or threads D02G3/32)
- D02G 3/38: Threads in which fibres, filaments, or yarns are wound with other yarns or filaments, {e.g. wrap yarns, i.e. strands of filaments or staple fibres are wrapped by a helically wound binder yarn; (D02G3/32 takes precedence)}; (covering endless core threads with fibres by using open-end spinning techniques D01H4/00)
- D02G 3/441: {Yarns or threads with antistatic, conductive or radiation-shielding properties (electroconductive, anti-static or radiation-shielding filaments D01F1/09, D01F1/106; anti-static fabrics D03D15/533; conducting, insulating or anti-static layers for floor coverings D06N7/0042)}
- H01B 7/18: {Protection against damage caused} by wear, mechanical force or pressure; {Sheaths; Armouring}
- H01B 7/292: {using material resistant to heat}
- H01B 13/0036: {Details}
- H01B 13/22: Sheathing; Armouring; Screening; Applying other protective layers (H01B13/32 takes precedence)
- H05K 1/189: characterised by the use of flexible or folded printed circuits
- H05K 3/0044: {Mechanical working of the substrate, e.g. drilling or punching (H05K3/0008 takes precedence)}
- H05K 3/284: {for encapsulating mounted components (H05K1/185 takes precedence)}
- H05K 3/32: electrically connecting electric components or wires to printed circuits
- H05K 3/4038: {Through-connections; Vertical interconnect access [VIA] connections (H05K3/403, H05K3/42 take precedence)}
- H05K 9/0067: {Devices for protecting against damage from electrostatic discharge}
- A41B 1/08: Details
- A41D 13/01: with reflective or luminous safety means {(visible signalling arrangements G08B5/00)}
- D10B 2401/041: thermoplastic; thermosetting
- D10B 2401/16: antistatic; conductive
- D10B 2401/18: including electronic components
- D10B 2501/04: Outerwear; Protective garments
- D10B 2503/04: Floor or wall coverings; Carpets
- D10B 2505/08: Upholstery, mattresses
- G06F 3/014: {Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves}
- H05K 2201/09681: Mesh conductors, e.g. as a ground plane
- H05K 2201/10106: Light emitting diode [LED]
- H05K 2201/10121: Optical component, e.g. opto-electronic component
- H05K 2201/10151: Sensor
- H05K 2201/10174: Diode
- H05K 2203/0228: Cutting, sawing, milling or shearing
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- D02G: CRIMPING OR CURLING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, OR YARNS; YARNS OR THREADS
- H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K})
- A41B: SHIRTS; UNDERWEAR; BABY LINEN; HANDKERCHIEFS
- A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- D10B: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

Examples are disclosed that relate to electronically functional yarns. One example provides an electronically functional yarn comprising a core, a sheath at least partially surrounding the core, and an electronic circuit formed on the core. The circuit includes three or more control lines and more than three diode-containing circuit elements controllable by the three or more control lines, each circuit element being controllable via a corresponding set of two of the three or more control lines.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronically functional yarn, comprising:
a core;
a sheath at least partially surrounding the core, the sheath comprising one or more electronically non-functional windings; and
an electronic circuit formed on the core, the circuit including three or more control lines and more than three diode-containing circuit elements controllable by the three or more control lines, each circuit element being controllable via a corresponding set of two of the three or more control lines.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronically functional yarn of claim 1, wherein one or more of the circuit elements comprises an input device in electrical series with a diode.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The electronically functional yarn of claim 2, wherein the input device comprises one or more of an infrared light sensor, a visible light sensor, an acoustic sensor, a pressure sensor, an antenna, a chemical sensor, and a haptic actuation device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electronically functional yarn of claim 1, wherein one or more of the circuit elements comprises an output device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The electronically functional yarn of claim 4, wherein the output device comprises one or both of a light-emitting diode and a haptic feedback device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The electronically functional yarn of claim 4, wherein the output device is in electrical series with a diode.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The electronically functional yarn of claim 1, wherein the electronically functional yarn is incorporated into a textile comprising a plurality of electronically non-functional yarns.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The electronically functional yarn of claim 7, wherein the electronically functional yarn is one of a plurality of electronically functional yarns that form an array of diode-containing circuit elements incorporated in the textile.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The electronically functional yarn of claim 1, further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the electronic circuit.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The electronically functional yarn of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to sequentially read input from one or more of the circuit elements.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The electronically functional yarn of claim 1, wherein the sheath comprises a thermoconductive material and is configured as a heat exchanger.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The electronically functional yarn of claim 1, wherein the sheath further comprises a conductive material and is configured as an electrostatic discharge shield.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The electronically functional yarn of claim 1, wherein the sheath further comprises one or more apertures each arranged at a location corresponding to a location of a respective circuit element.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The electronically functional yarn of claim 1, wherein the sheath comprises an electrically insulating yarn wound around the electronically functional core.

### Claim 15

An electronically functional textile, comprising:
a plurality of electronically non-functional yarns; and
one or more electronically functional yarns, each electronically functional yarn comprising
a core;
a sheath at least partially surrounding the core, the sheath comprising one or more electronically non-functional windings; and
an electronic circuit formed on the core, the circuit including n control lines and up to n2-n diode-containing circuit elements, each circuit element being controllable via a corresponding set of two of the n control lines, n being greater than or equal to three.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The electronically functional textile of claim 15, wherein one or more of the circuit elements comprises an input device in electrical series with a diode.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The electronically functional textile of claim 16, wherein the input device comprises one or more of an infrared light sensor, a visible light sensor, an acoustic sensor, a pressure sensor, an antenna, and a chemical sensor.