Exploring the electrical robustness of conductive textile fasteners for wearable devices in different human motion conditions

Abstract Conventional snap fasteners used in clothing are often used as electrical connectors in e-textile and wearable applications for signal transmission due to their wide availability and ease of use. Nonetheless, limited research exists on the validation of these fasteners, regarding the impact...

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Main Authors: Afonso Fortes Ferreira, Helena Alves, Hugo Plácido da Silva, Nuno Marques, Ana Fred
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56733-8
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author Afonso Fortes Ferreira
Helena Alves
Hugo Plácido da Silva
Nuno Marques
Ana Fred
author_facet Afonso Fortes Ferreira
Helena Alves
Hugo Plácido da Silva
Nuno Marques
Ana Fred
author_sort Afonso Fortes Ferreira
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Conventional snap fasteners used in clothing are often used as electrical connectors in e-textile and wearable applications for signal transmission due to their wide availability and ease of use. Nonetheless, limited research exists on the validation of these fasteners, regarding the impact of contact-induced high-amplitude artefacts, especially under motion conditions. In this work, three types of fasteners were used as electromechanical connectors, establishing the interface between a regular sock and an acquisition device. The tested fasteners have different shapes and sizes, as well as have different mechanisms of attachment between the plug and receptacle counterparts. Experimental evaluation was performed under static conditions, slow walking, and rope jumping at a high cadence. The tests were also performed with a test mass of 140 g. Magnetic fasteners presented excellent electromechanical robustness under highly dynamic human movement with and without the additional mass. On the other hand, it was demonstrated that the Spring snap buttons (with a spring-based engaging mechanism) presented a sub-optimal performance under high motion and load conditions, followed by the Prong snap fasteners (without spring), which revealed a high susceptibility to artefacts. Overall, this work provides further evidence on the importance and reliability of clothing fasteners as electrical connectors in wearable systems.
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spelling doaj.art-3b71419c32d7456991b829f0cf4d347c2024-04-07T11:18:34ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-04-0114111010.1038/s41598-024-56733-8Exploring the electrical robustness of conductive textile fasteners for wearable devices in different human motion conditionsAfonso Fortes Ferreira0Helena Alves1Hugo Plácido da Silva2Nuno Marques3Ana Fred4Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores-Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias (INESC-MN)Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores-Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias (INESC-MN)Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of LisbonMeia Mania LdaInstituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of LisbonAbstract Conventional snap fasteners used in clothing are often used as electrical connectors in e-textile and wearable applications for signal transmission due to their wide availability and ease of use. Nonetheless, limited research exists on the validation of these fasteners, regarding the impact of contact-induced high-amplitude artefacts, especially under motion conditions. In this work, three types of fasteners were used as electromechanical connectors, establishing the interface between a regular sock and an acquisition device. The tested fasteners have different shapes and sizes, as well as have different mechanisms of attachment between the plug and receptacle counterparts. Experimental evaluation was performed under static conditions, slow walking, and rope jumping at a high cadence. The tests were also performed with a test mass of 140 g. Magnetic fasteners presented excellent electromechanical robustness under highly dynamic human movement with and without the additional mass. On the other hand, it was demonstrated that the Spring snap buttons (with a spring-based engaging mechanism) presented a sub-optimal performance under high motion and load conditions, followed by the Prong snap fasteners (without spring), which revealed a high susceptibility to artefacts. Overall, this work provides further evidence on the importance and reliability of clothing fasteners as electrical connectors in wearable systems.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56733-8
spellingShingle Afonso Fortes Ferreira
Helena Alves
Hugo Plácido da Silva
Nuno Marques
Ana Fred
Exploring the electrical robustness of conductive textile fasteners for wearable devices in different human motion conditions
Scientific Reports
title Exploring the electrical robustness of conductive textile fasteners for wearable devices in different human motion conditions
title_full Exploring the electrical robustness of conductive textile fasteners for wearable devices in different human motion conditions
title_fullStr Exploring the electrical robustness of conductive textile fasteners for wearable devices in different human motion conditions
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the electrical robustness of conductive textile fasteners for wearable devices in different human motion conditions
title_short Exploring the electrical robustness of conductive textile fasteners for wearable devices in different human motion conditions
title_sort exploring the electrical robustness of conductive textile fasteners for wearable devices in different human motion conditions
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56733-8
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