Active T‐shirt

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to realize an electronic circuit design on the fabric surfaces to form a fully integrated functional active T‐shirt structure.

Design/methodology/approach

Functional products combining textile, electronics and the software have attracted great attention in recent years. The integration of the electrical and electronic devices on the garment surface using conductive threads is a challenging issue considering conductiveness, long durability, washability and manufacturing process. As an application, a group of light emitting diode (LED) lights controlled by a light sensor, accelerometer and related electronic control circuits were placed on a fabric construction.

Findings

The brightness of LED lights is controlled by using a light sensor depending on the perceived ambient light intensity. LED lighting patterns are controlled by means of an accelerometer which senses the physical activities of the wearer, such as walking, running and standing.

Originality/value

In this study, new construction methods have been successfully implemented and the active T‐shirt has been realized with its related hardware and software.

Citation

Şenol, Y., Akkan, T., Yazgan Bulgun, E. and Kayacan, O. (2011), "Active T‐shirt", International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, Vol. 23 No. 4, pp. 249-257. https://doi.org/10.1108/09556221111136511