Sensory yarn
A sensor yarn ( 10 ) having a thread core ( 11 ) around which first and second conductors ( 12, 13 ) are helically wound. The two conductors ( 12, 13 ) are electrically insulated from each other and from the thread core ( 11 ). The two conductors ( 12, 13 ) form a capacitive component ( 15 ) together with the thread core ( 11 ). In one embodiment, the sensor yarn ( 10 a ) has a capacitance (Cl) per unit of length that changes in the direction of extent (E) of the sensor yarn. This can be accomplished by a change in the winding geometry of the first or second conductors ( 12, 13 ) or by a change of the relative permittivity (E) of the sensor yarn ( 10 ). In another embodiment, the sensor yarn ( 10 b ) has photosensitive material ( 30 ) and a length change is effected by an incident to the light (L). As a result of a length change or other deformation of the sensor yarn ( 10 a, 10 b ), the total capacitance (CG) of the sensor yarn ( 10 a, 10 b ) changes, which can be determined by means of an evaluating unit ( 17 ).
1. A textile material part ( 16 ) comprising:
a plurality of sensory yarns ( 10 , 10 a , 10 b ), wherein at least one sensory yarn ( 10 a ) of the plurality of sensory yarns ( 10 , 10 a , 10 b ) comprises:
a thread core ( 11 ) extending in a direction of extent (E);
at least one first conductor ( 12 ) and at least one second conductor ( 13 ), at least one of said first and second conductors ( 12 , 13 ) being helically wound relative to the direction of extent (E),
said at least one first conductor ( 12 ) and at least one second conductor ( 13 ) being components of a capacitive component ( 15 ) and are electrically isolated relative to each other; and
said capacitive component ( 15 ) having a capacitance (Cl) per unit of length (l) of the sensory yarn ( 10 ), and said capacitance (Cl) changes in the direction of extent (E).
2. The textile material part ( 16 ) of claim 1 in which one of said first and second conductors ( 12 , 13 ) is a component of said thread core ( 11 ) and the other of said first and second conductor ( 13 ) is wound around the thread core ( 11 ).
3. The textile material part ( 16 ) of claim 1 in which at least one of said first and second conductors ( 12 , 13 ) is helically wound around said thread core ( 11 ).
4. The textile material part ( 16 ) claim 1 in which said capacitive component ( 15 ) has a capacitance (Cl) per unit of length (l) in a first yarn section ( 21 ) that is different from the capacitance (Cl) per unit of length (l) in another yarn section ( 22 , 23 ).
5. The textile material part ( 16 ) of claim 4 in which said capacitive component ( 15 ) has at least two yarn sections ( 21 , 22 , 23 ) that have a constant capacitance (Cl 1 , Cl 2 , Cl 3 ) per unit of length (l).
6. The textile material part ( 16 ) of claim 1 in which said capacitive component ( 15 ) has two adjacent yarn sections ( 21 , 22 or 22 , 23 ) having different capacitances (Cl 1 , Cl 2 , Cl 3 ) per unit length (l) and between said two adjacent yarn sections there is a transition section ( 24 ) having a capacitance (Cl) per unit of length that changes continuously.
7. The textile material part ( 16 ) of claim 1 in which said capacitive component ( 15 ) has a capacitance (Cl) per unit of length in a direction of extent (E) that changes by at least 0.03 pF.
8. The textile material part ( 16 ) of claim 7 in which said capacitive component ( 15 ) has a capacitance (Cl) per unit of length in a direction of extent (E) that changes to a maximum capacity of 250 pF.
9. The textile material part ( 16 ) of claim 1 in which said capacitive component ( 15 ) has at least three yarn sections ( 21 , 22 , 23 ) having different capacitances (Cl 1 , Cl 2 , Cl 3 ) per unit of length (l), and the capacitance (Cl) per unit length of said capacitive component between said yarn sections ( 21 , 22 , 23 ) changes in the direction of extend (E) by at least 10 pF.
10. The textile material part ( 16 ) of claim 1 in which the change of capacitance (Cl) per unit length (l) of said capacitive component ( 15 ) is effected by a changing number of helical windings or pitch of the helical windings per unit of length of the thread core ( 11 ) in the direction of extent (E).
11. The textile material part ( 16 ) of claim 1 in which the change of the capacitance (Cl) per unit length (l) of said capacitive component ( 15 ) is effected by a changing permittivity (ε) of the sensory yarn ( 10 a ) in the direction of extent (E).
12. The textile material part ( 16 ) of claim 1 in which said thread core ( 11 ) contains a polyester material.
13. The textile material part ( 16 ) of claim 1 in which at least one of said first and second conductors ( 12 , 13 ) contains metal.