Patent Description:
Conventionally, as cloth materials utilized in wearable devices such as biological signal measuring devices, for example, cloth materials that include an electrode section for contact with a living body or sensor connection and a wiring section connected to the electrode section are employed (see, for example, Patent Document <NUM>).

[Patent Document <NUM>] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (<CIT>. <CIT> discloses a wearable means for monitoring movement of a human body comprising two electrodes connected by a variable-resistance wiring section wherein a measured change in resistance indicates an elongation of the wearable means. <CIT> discloses a wearable system for monitoring a patient's vital signs comprising piezoresistive sensors provide within a knitted fabric. <CIT> discloses an implantable device for monitoring an electric potential of an organ. <CIT> discloses a method for knitting gloves using a conductive yarn to form a transducer within the glove. <CIT> discloses a textile pressure sensor based on a capacitive measuring system. <CIT> discloses a stretchable interconnect comprising an elastic substrate and a plurality of electrically conductive traces for use in wearable electronic devices. <CIT> discloses an electrode provided within a fabric for measuring biological signals.

However, in such cloth materials having an electrode section and a wiring section, the electrode section and the wiring section are separately provided and connected via a connecting material (e.g., a solder or a conductive paste) or a connecting member (e.g., a caulking or a connector).

Particularly, in a case of arranging an electrode section for contact with a living body on a cloth material, since the wiring section is required to be coated with an insulating material for insulation while the electrode section for contact with a living body needs to be exposed, a constitution in which the electrode section and the wiring section are separately prepared and then connected via a connecting material or a connecting member tends to be adopted.

Accordingly, a connecting part of the electrode section and the wiring section is sometimes deteriorated due to repeated deformation (e.g., distortion, bending and/or elongation) of the cloth material. Specifically, for example, when the electrode section and the wiring sections are connected using a connecting material or a connecting member, repeated deformation of the cloth material causes cracking of the connecting material or the connecting member. A further deterioration of the connecting part leads to defective connection between the electrode section and the wiring section.

Moreover, a structure in which a conductive linear body contained in the electrode section and a conductive linear body contained in the wiring section are connected via a connecting member has higher durability against repeated deformation of the cloth material than a structure in which such linear-bodies are connected via a connecting material; however, since the connecting part of the former structure is less flexible, the utility value as a flexible cloth material is deteriorated.

In view of the above, an object of the disclosure is to provide an electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material which has flexibility as a cloth material and in which defective connection between an electrode section and a wiring section caused by repeated deformation is inhibited.

The above-described problems are solved by the features defined in claims <NUM>-<NUM>.

According to the disclosure, an electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material which has flexibility as a cloth material and in which defective connection between an electrode section and a wiring section caused by repeated deformation is inhibited can be provided.

One exemplary embodiment of the disclosure is described below in detail.

In the present specification, the same symbols are assigned to members having substantially the same functions in all of the drawings, and redundant descriptions thereof may be omitted.

Those numerical ranges that are expressed with "to" each denote a range that includes the numerical values stated before and after "to" as the minimum value and the maximum value, respectively.

In the stepwise range of numerical values shown in this specification, an upper limit value or a lower limit value disclosed in a certain range of numerical values may be replaced with an upper limit value or a lower limit value of another stepwise range of numerical values. In addition, in the range of numerical values disclosed in this specification, an upper limit value or a lower limit value disclosed in a certain range of numerical values may be replaced with values shown in examples.

In this specification, a term "step" not only includes an independent step, but also includes a step, in a case where the step may not be distinguished from the other step, as long as the expected object of the step is achieved.

The electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material according to an example useful for understanding the invention includes: a cloth material main body; an electrode section which is provided on a surface of or inside the cloth material main body and contains a conductive linear body; and a wiring section which is provided adjacent to the electrode section on the surface of or inside the cloth material main body and contains a conductive linear body.

At least one conductive linear body contained in the electrode section and at least one conductive linear body contained in the wiring section are the same single conductive linear body.

The term "the same single conductive linear body" used herein also encompasses a linear body formed by joining conductive linear-bodies at their ends by knotting, twisting or the like without the use of a connecting material (e.g., a solder or a conductive paste) or a connecting member (e.g., a caulking or a connector) other than the linear body.

In the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material according to said example, at least one conductive linear body contained in the electrode section and at least one conductive linear body contained in the wiring section are the same single conductive linear body. In other words, since the electrode section and the wiring section are connected via the same single conductive linear body, deterioration of the connecting part of the electrode section and the wiring section, which is caused by repeated deformation (e.g., distortion, bending and/or elongation) of the cloth material, is suppressed. As a result, defective connection between the electrode section and the wiring section is inhibited. Moreover, the flexibility of the cloth material is maintained as well.

The term "cloth material main body" used herein refers to a cloth material on which a conductive linear body(ies) is/are to be provided.

An expression "an electrode section or a wiring section is provided on a surface of a cloth material main body" used herein means that the electrode section or the wiring section (i.e., conductive linear body) is provided on a cloth material layer constituting front and back surfaces of the cloth material main body (the term "cloth material layer" also encompasses a cloth material layer partially constituting the front and back surfaces). In other words, the expression "an electrode section or a wiring section is provided on a surface of a cloth material main body" means that the electrode section or the wiring section (i.e., conductive linear body) is arranged in a state where the conductive linear body constituting the electrode section or the wiring section is at least partially exposed from the cloth material main body.

An expression "an electrode section or a wiring section is provided inside a cloth material main body" used herein means that the electrode section or the wiring section (i.e., conductive linear body) is provided in an inner layer of the cloth material main body, for example, in a cloth material layer constituting the inner layer of the cloth material main body or between such cloth material layers.

The phrase "at least one conductive linear body contained in the electrode section and at least one conductive linear body contained in the wiring section are the same single conductive linear body" means that the wiring section contains at least one conductive linear body extending from the electrode section (in other words, the electrode section contains at least one conductive linear body extending from the wiring section).

One example of the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below referring to the drawings.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, an electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes: a cloth material main body <NUM>; electrode sections <NUM>; and a wiring section <NUM>.

The cloth material main body <NUM> is constituted by three cloth material layers of, for example, a surface cloth material layer 10A constituting a front surface, a back-surface cloth material layer 10B constituting a back surface, and an intermediate cloth material layer 10C provided between the surface cloth material layer 10A and the back-surface cloth material layer 10B.

Other than such a three-cloth-material-layer constitution, the cloth material main body <NUM> may also be constituted by, for example, one, two, or four or more cloth material layers.

The cloth material main body <NUM> having multiple layers composed of two or more cloth material layers may be produced by, for example, a method of preparing the respective cloth material layers and then sewing together the thus prepared cloth material layers, or the cloth material main body <NUM> having multiple layers may be produced at once using a weaving/knitting machine.

Representative examples of the cloth material main body <NUM> include-woven/knitted fabrics. The cloth material main body <NUM> may be a nonwoven fabric as well.

Examples of the woven/knitted fabrics include-woven fabrics obtained by plain weaving, twill weaving, satin weaving, well-known applied weaving or the like; and knitted fabrics obtained by weft knitting, warp knitting, lace knitting, well-known applied knitting or the like.

Yarns (linear-bodies) constituting the cloth material main body <NUM> are insulating yarns. The term "insulating yarns" used herein refers to yarns having a line resistance of not less than <NUM> × <NUM><NUM> Ω/cm. The line resistance of the insulating yarns is measured by the same method as the below-described line resistance of conductive linear-bodies.

Examples of the yarns (linear-bodies) constituting the cloth material main body <NUM> include yarns of well-known fibers.

The yarns of well-known fibers may be synthetic fiber yarns or natural fiber yarns.

Examples of the synthetic fiber yarns include yarns of polyurethane fibers, polyester fibers (e.g., polyalkylene terephthalate fibers and polyarylate fibers), polyamide fibers (e.g., nylon <NUM> fibers, nylon <NUM> fibers, and nylon <NUM> fibers), aromatic polyamide fibers (e.g., fibers of copolymers of para-phenylene terephthalamide and aromatic ether), vinylon fibers, polyvinyl chloride fibers, polyolefin fibers (e.g., rayon fibers and ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers), polyoxymethylene fibers, sulfone-based fibers (e.g., para-phenylene sulfone fibers and polysulfone fibers), polyether ether ketone fibers, polyether imide fibers, polyimide fibers and the like.

Examples of the natural fiber yarns include fiber yarns of cotton, silk, hemp, wool and the like.

The cloth material main body <NUM> is desirably an elastic cloth material. In other words, it is desired that the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> has elasticity. Particularly, when the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> has elasticity, the connecting parts of the electrode sections <NUM> and the wiring section <NUM> are deteriorated by repeated elongation and contraction, which is likely to cause defective connection. However, by adopting the constitution of the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> according to the present embodiment, defective connection between the electrode sections <NUM> and the wiring section <NUM> is inhibited.

The cloth material main body <NUM> having elasticity can be realized by applying a woven/knitted fabric utilizing an elastic yarn.

Examples of the elastic yarn include covered yarns (single-covered yarns and double-covered yarns) obtained by winding a non-elastic yarn(s) in a coil form on the outer circumference of an elastic yarn; core-spun yarns obtained by spinning and intertwisting an elastic yarn with a non-elastic yarn; air-entangled covered yarns obtained by winding a non-elastic yarn on the outer circumference of an elastic yarn using an air pressure nozzle; and twisted yarns obtained by twisting an elastic yarn with a non-elastic yarn.

Examples of the elastic yarn also include yarns of fibers showing so-called rubber-like elasticity, such as polyurethane elastic fibers, polyester elastic fibers and polyamide elastic fibers.

Examples of the non-elastic yarn include yarns of synthetic fibers (e.g., polyester fibers, polyamide fibers, acryl fibers, polypropylene fibers, and rayon fibers) and natural fibers (e.g., fibers of cotton, silk, hemp, wool and the like).

The electrode sections <NUM> include a first electrode section 20A and a second electrode section 20B. In accordance with the intended purpose, two or three or more electrode sections <NUM> may be provided.

For example, in cases where the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> is utilized in a wearable device such as a biological signal measuring device, it is desired that at least one of the electrode sections <NUM> is used as an electrode section for contact with a living body. Specifically, for example, of the two electrode sections <NUM>, the first electrode section 20A is used as an electrode section for contact with a living body, while the second electrode section 20B is used as an electrode section for connecting other instrument (e.g., for connecting a transmission device, or for connecting an external instrument). The first electrode section 20A is not particularly restricted to be an electrode section for contact with a living body, and it may also be used as an electrode section for sensor connection. Further, when three or more electrode sections <NUM> are provided, two or more of the electrode sections <NUM> may be used as an electrode section for contact with a living body and an electrode section for sensor connection.

The electrode sections <NUM> are provided in the surface cloth material layer 10A of the cloth material main body <NUM>. In other words, the electrode sections <NUM> are provided on the surface of the cloth material main body <NUM>.

The electrode sections <NUM> may also be provided in the intermediate cloth material layer 10C of the cloth material main body <NUM>. In other words, the electrode sections <NUM> may be provided inside the cloth material main body <NUM>.

For example, the electrode section for contact with a living body (i.e., the conductive linear body <NUM> constituting the electrode section for contact with a living body) is required to be exposed from the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM>. On the other hand, the electrode section for sensor connection and the electrode section for connecting other instrument (e.g., for connecting a transmission device, or for connecting an external instrument) (i.e., the conductive linear-bodies <NUM> constituting the electrode section for sensor connection and the electrode section for connecting other instrument) are not required to be exposed from the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM>. This is because, even when the electrode section for sensor connection and the electrode section for connecting other instrument are provided inside the cloth material main body <NUM>, they can be connected by a pin electrode or the like.

Meanwhile, a single wiring section <NUM> is provided adjacent to the first electrode section 20A and the second electrode section 20B. In other words, a single wiring section <NUM> is provided in such a manner to link the first electrode section 20A and the second electrode section 20B. Depending on the number of the electrode sections <NUM>, two or more wiring sections <NUM> may be provided.

The wiring section <NUM> is provided inside the cloth material main body <NUM>. Specifically, the wiring section <NUM> can be provided inside the cloth material main body <NUM> by, for example, providing the wiring section <NUM> in the intermediate cloth material layer 10C which is an inner cloth material layer (including a cloth material layer partially serving as an inner layer) of the cloth material main body <NUM> constituted by three cloth material layers. Further, for example, in the cloth material main body <NUM> constituted by two cloth material layers, the conductive linear body <NUM> serving as the wiring section <NUM> may be provided between the two cloth material layers.

The wiring section <NUM> may also be provided on a surface of the cloth material main body <NUM>. For example, the wiring section <NUM> may be provided on the surface cloth material layer 10A or the back-surface cloth material layer 10B of the cloth material main body <NUM> constituted by three cloth material layers. It is noted here, however, that the wiring section <NUM> is desirably provided inside the cloth material main body <NUM> from the standpoint of attaining insulation from the outside by the cloth material main body <NUM>.

In the electrode sections <NUM> and/or the wiring section <NUM>, at least a part of each conductive linear body <NUM> is restrained by a yarn of the cloth material main body <NUM>. This mode is preferred from the standpoint that the conductive linear body <NUM>, which functions as a conductive material of the electrode sections <NUM> or the wiring section <NUM>, can also be used as a means for immobilizing the electrode sections <NUM> or the wiring section <NUM> with the cloth material main body <NUM>. The conductive linear body <NUM> restrained to the cloth material main body <NUM> is the same single conductive linear body <NUM> contained in both the electrode sections <NUM> and the wiring section <NUM>. It is noted here that, in the electrode sections <NUM> or the wiring section <NUM>, the conductive linear body <NUM> does not have to be restrained by a yarn of the cloth material main body <NUM>. For example, in cases where the wiring section <NUM> or the electrode sections <NUM> are immobilized with the cloth material main body <NUM> by an adhesive, or in cases where the wiring section <NUM> or the electrode sections <NUM> are sewn on the cloth material main body <NUM> using an insulating yarn, the wiring section <NUM> or the electrode sections <NUM> can be immobilized on the cloth material main body <NUM> even if the conductive linear body <NUM> is not restrained by a yarn of the cloth material main body <NUM>.

For example, a rectangular region where the conductive linear body <NUM> is provided in a manner of being repeatedly bent or curved at <NUM>° is formed. The rectangular region is formed by partially restraining the conductive linear body <NUM> using a yarn of the surface cloth material layer 10A of the cloth material main body <NUM>. This rectangular region is defined as a planar electrode section <NUM>.

A region where the conductive linear body <NUM> is spirally provided may be adopted as one electrode section <NUM>. Further, an arbitrary planar shape (e.g., a polygonal shape or a circular shape) in which the conductive linear body <NUM> is provided in a bent or curved manner may also be adopted as one electrode section <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the conductive linear-bodies <NUM> of the electrode sections <NUM> (the first electrode section 20A and the second electrode section 20B) are extended in an undulating shape between the electrode sections <NUM> to form a region having an undulating shape. The region having an undulating shape is formed by partially restraining the conductive linear-bodies <NUM> using a yarn of the intermediate cloth material layer 10C of the cloth material main body <NUM>. This region having an undulating shape is defined as the wiring section <NUM>.

A linear-shaped region where the conductive linear body <NUM> is provided in a linear shape may be adopted as the wiring section <NUM>. However, from the standpoint of inhibiting defective connection between the electrode sections <NUM> and the wiring section <NUM> caused by elongation of the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM>, the wiring region <NUM> is desirably a region having an undulating shape (i.e., a region where the conductive linear body <NUM> is provided in an undulating shape).

Specifically, when the cloth material main body <NUM> is a woven fabric, as illustrated in <FIG>, from the standpoint of simultaneously forming the electrode sections <NUM> and/or the wiring section <NUM> at the time of preparing the woven fabric as the cloth material main body <NUM>, as well as from the standpoint of improving the integrity of the cloth material main body <NUM> with the electrode sections <NUM> and/or the wiring section <NUM>, it is preferred to constitute the electrode sections <NUM> and/or the wiring section <NUM> by weaving the conductive linear body <NUM> into a woven structure of a woven fabric obtained by weaving a warp yarn and a weft yarn.

When the cloth material main body <NUM> is a knitted fabric, as illustrated in <FIG>, from the standpoint of simultaneously forming the electrode sections <NUM> and/or the wiring section <NUM> at the time of preparing the cloth material main body <NUM> by knitting, as well as from the standpoint of improving the integrity of the cloth material main body <NUM> with the electrode sections <NUM> and/or the wiring section <NUM>, it is preferred to constitute the electrode sections <NUM> and/or the wiring section <NUM> by knitting the conductive linear body <NUM> in any of the above-described shapes into a knitted structure of a knitted fabric obtained by knitting a yarn in the form of loops. For the knitting of the conductive linear body <NUM> into a knitted structure of a knitted fabric, for example, parallel knitting, plating knitting, or inlay knitting can be employed. <FIG> illustrates an example where the conductive linear body <NUM> is knitted by inlay knitting.

Further, as illustrated in <FIG>, from the standpoint of also simultaneously immobilizing the electrode sections <NUM> and/or the wiring section <NUM> on the cloth material main body <NUM> at the time of forming the electrode sections <NUM> and/or the wiring section <NUM>, it is preferred to constitute the electrode sections <NUM> and/or the wiring section <NUM> by embroidering the conductive linear body <NUM> in any of the above-described shapes on the cloth material main body <NUM>. As an embroidering method, for example, a well-known stitching technique such as running stitch, couching stitch, back stitch, chain stitch or outline stitch can be employed. <FIG> illustrates an example where the conductive linear body <NUM> is embroidered by chain stitching.

Moreover, from the standpoint of using a common conductive linear body <NUM> for both constituting and immobilizing the electrode sections <NUM> and/or wiring section <NUM>, it is preferred to immobilize the electrode sections <NUM> and/or the wiring section <NUM> on the cloth material main body <NUM> by sewing them with the conductive linear body <NUM>.

Examples of such a mode of immobilizing the electrode sections <NUM> and/or the wiring section <NUM> by sewing them with the conductive linear body <NUM> include a mode in which the electrode section(s) <NUM> and the wiring section <NUM> are continuously formed from a woven fabric obtained by weaving the conductive linear body <NUM> or a knitted fabric obtained by knitting the conductive linear body <NUM> and the thus formed electrode sections <NUM> and wiring section <NUM> are sewn on the cloth material main body <NUM> with the conductive linear body <NUM>.

In <FIG>, "<NUM>" represents the warp yarn constituting the cloth material main body <NUM> (knitted fabric), and "<NUM>" represents the weft yarn constituting the cloth material main body <NUM> (knitted fabric). In <FIG>, "<NUM>" represents the yarn constituting the cloth material main body <NUM> (knitted fabric).

In addition to the mode in which the electrode sections <NUM> and the wiring section <NUM> are constituted by the same single conductive layer-body <NUM>, the electrode section(s) <NUM> and the wiring section <NUM> may also be constituted by two or more of the same conductive linear-bodies.

Further, the electrode sections <NUM> and the wiring section <NUM> may each be constituted by plural conductive linear-bodies <NUM> as well. However, among the plural conductive linear-bodies <NUM>, at least one conductive linear body <NUM> constitutes both the electrode sections <NUM> and the wiring section <NUM>.

As plural electrode sections <NUM> are provided, at least one conductive linear body contained in at least one of the electrode sections <NUM> and at least one conductive linear body contained in the wiring section <NUM> provided adjacent to the at least one of the electrode sections <NUM> are the same single conductive linear body <NUM>.

In cases where an elastic yarn is employed as a yarn constituting the cloth material main body <NUM>, it is desirable to weave or knit a conductive linear body into the cloth material main body <NUM> while forming a woven/knitted fabric with the elastic yarn being in an elongated state.

The conductive linear-bodies constituting the electrode sections <NUM> and the wiring section <NUM> are not particularly restricted as long as they are electrically conductive, and examples thereof include metal wire-containing linear-bodies and conductive yarn-containing linear-bodies. The conductive linear body <NUM> may be a linear body containing both a metal wire and a conductive yarn (e.g., a linear body obtained by twisting a metal wire and a conductive yarn).

Metal wire-containing linear-bodies and conductive yarn-containing linear-bodies both have high conductivity and high electrical conductivity; therefore, the resistance of the electrode sections <NUM> and that of the wiring section <NUM> are easily reduced by applying such a linear body as the conductive linear body <NUM>.

Examples of the metal wire include-wires containing a metal, such as copper, aluminum, tungsten, iron, molybdenum, nickel, titanium, silver or gold, or an alloy of two or more metals (e.g., steels such as stainless steel and carbon steel, brass, phosphor bronze, zirconium-copper alloy, beryllium-copper, iron-nickel, nichrome, nickel-titanium, kanthal, hastelloy, and rhenium-tungsten). The metal wire may be plated with tin, zinc, silver, nickel, chromium, a nickel-chromium alloy, a solder or the like, and the surface of the metal wire may be covered with any of the below-described carbon materials and polymers.

Examples of the metal wire also include metal wires covered with a carbon material. When the metal wire is covered with a carbon material, metal corrosion is inhibited.

Examples of the carbon material covering the metal wire include amorphous carbons, such as carbon black, activated charcoal, hard carbon, soft carbon, mesoporous carbon, and carbon fibers; graphite; fullerene; graphene; and carbon nanotubes.

Meanwhile, the conductive yarn-containing linear-bodies may be linear-bodies composed of a single conductive yarn, or linear-bodies obtained by twisting plural conductive yarns. The conductive yarn-containing linear-bodies may also be linear-bodies obtained by twisting a conductive yarn and an insulating yarn. Such conductive yarn-containing linear-bodies are advantageous in that they have higher flexibility and are thus less likely to be broken when woven, knitted or embroidered into the cloth material main body <NUM> or sewn onto the cloth material main body <NUM> as compared to metal wire-containing linear-bodies.

Examples of the conductive yarn include yarns containing conductive fibers (e.g., metal fibers, carbon fibers, and fibers of ion-conductive polymers); yarns containing conductive fine particles (e.g., carbon nanoparticles); yarns on which a metal (e.g., copper, silver, or nickel) has been plated or vapor-deposited; and yarns impregnated with a metal oxide.

Examples of particularly preferred conductive yarn-containing linear-bodies include linear-bodies that contain a yarn containing carbon nanotubes as carbon nanoparticles (carbon nanotube yarn) (such linear-bodies are hereinafter also referred to as "carbon nanotube linear-bodies").

A carbon nanotube linear body can be obtained by, for example drawing carbon nanotubes into a sheet form from an edge of a carbon nanotube forest (i.e., a growth body sometimes referred to as "array", which is produced by growing plural carbon nanotubes on a substrate such that the carbon nanotubes are vertically oriented with respect to the substrate), bundling the thus drawn carbon nanotube sheet, and then twisting the resulting carbon nanotube bundle. In this production method, a ribbon-form carbon nanotube linear body is obtained when no torsion is added during the twisting, while a thread-form linear body is obtained when torsion is added during the twisting. The ribbon-form carbon nanotube linear body is a linear body that does not have a structure in which an aggregate of plural carbon nanotubes is distorted. In addition, a carbon nanotube linear body can also be obtained by, for example, spinning from a dispersion of carbon nanotubes. The production of a carbon nanotube linear body by spinning can be performed in accordance with, for example, the method disclosed in <CIT> (<CIT>). From the standpoint of obtaining a carbon nanotube linear body having a uniform diameter, it is desirable to use a thread-form carbon nanotube linear body and, from the standpoint of obtaining a high-purity carbon nanotube linear body, it is preferred to obtain a thread-form carbon nanotube linear body by twisting a carbon nanotube sheet. The carbon nanotube linear body may also be a linear body in which two or more carbon nanotube linear-bodies are twisted together.

The carbon nanotube linear body may also be a linear body that contains carbon nanotubes and a conductive material other than carbon nanotubes, such as a metal, a conductive polymer or graphene (such a linear body is hereinafter also referred to as "composite linear body"). In a composite linear body, the conductivity can be easily improved while maintaining the above-described characteristics of a carbon nanotube linear body.

Examples of the composite linear body include, as linear-bodies containing carbon nanotubes and a metal: (<NUM>) a composite linear body obtained by, in the process of drawing carbon nanotubes into a sheet form from an edge of a carbon nanotube forest, bundling the thus drawn carbon nanotube sheet and the twisting the resulting carbon nanotube bundle to obtain a carbon nanotube linear body, allowing a surface of the carbon nanotube forest, sheet or bundle or the twisted linear body to carry a simple metal or a metal alloy by vapor deposition, ion plating, sputtering, wet plating or the like; (<NUM>) a composite linear body obtained by twisting a bundle of carbon nanotubes together with a linear body of a simple metal, a linear body of a metal alloy or a composite linear body; and (<NUM>) a composite linear body obtained by twisting a linear body of a simple metal, a linear body of a metal alloy or a composite linear body together with a carbon nanotube linear body or another composite linear body. In the composite linear body of (<NUM>), at the time of twisting the bundle of the carbon nanotubes, the carbon nanotubes may be allowed to carry a metal in the same manner as in the composite linear body of (<NUM>). Further, the composite linear body of (<NUM>) is a composite linear body obtained by knitting two linear-bodies; however, as long as at least one linear body of a simple metal, linear body of a metal alloy or composite linear body is included, the composite linear body of (<NUM>) may be obtained by knitting together three or more of carbon nanotube linear-bodies, linear-bodies of a simple metal, linear bodies of a metal alloy, or composite linear-bodies.

Examples of the metals of these composite linear-bodies include simple metals, such as gold, silver, copper, iron, aluminum, nickel, chromium, tin and zinc; and alloys containing at least one of these simple metals (e.g., copper-nickel-phosphorus alloys and copper-iron-phosphorus-zinc alloys).

Among these conductive linear-bodies <NUM>, carbon nanotube yarn-containing conductive linear-bodies (particularly, conductive linear-bodies containing only carbon nanotube yarns, and conductive linear-bodies containing carbon nanotube yarns and a non-metallic conductive material) are preferred.

For example, yarns whose surfaces are plated or vapor-deposited with a metal (e.g., copper, silver or nickel) and yarns impregnated with a metal oxide have low durability since the metal or the metal oxide is easily cracked due to repeated elongation and contraction. In this respect, carbon nanotube linear-bodies have strong resistance to bending, and the resistance value of the wiring section is thus unlikely to change even when the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> is subjected to repeated elongation and contraction. In addition, carbon nanotube linear-bodies are also advantageous in that they have high corrosion resistance.

The line resistance of the conductive linear body <NUM> is preferably from <NUM> × <NUM>-<NUM> Ω/cm to <NUM> × <NUM><NUM> Ω/cm, more preferably from <NUM> × <NUM>-<NUM> Ω/cm to <NUM> × <NUM><NUM> Ω/cm.

The line resistance of the conductive linear body <NUM> is measured as follows. First, both ends of the conductive linear body <NUM> are coated with a silver paste, and the resistance of the part between the silver paste-coated ends is measured to determine the resistance value (unit: Ω) of the conductive linear body <NUM>. Then, the line resistance of the conductive linear body <NUM> is calculated by dividing the thus obtained resistance value by the distance (cm) between the silver paste-coated ends.

When the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> is elongated at <NUM>% of a maximum elongation, the rate of change in the resistance of the wiring section <NUM> is desirably <NUM>% or less (preferably <NUM>% or less) with respect to the resistance of the wiring section <NUM> prior to the elongation of the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM>.

Further, two electrode sections <NUM> (e.g., the first electrode section 20A and the second electrode section 20B) are provided at the respective ends of the wiring section <NUM> to be measured in such a manner that these sections share the same single conductive linear body <NUM>, the "resistance of the wiring section <NUM>" means the resistance between the two electrode sections <NUM>. In this case, the elongation direction of the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> is defined as the extending direction of an imaginary line that connects the centers of the two electrode sections <NUM>.

With the rate of change in the resistance of the wiring section <NUM> being small, the operational stability of an elastic device such as a wearable device (e.g., a biological signal measuring device) against elongation of the cloth material is improved. Also in those applications where the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> is elongated at a high degree, from the standpoint of improving the operational stability of a device, the rate of change in the resistance of the wiring section <NUM> is desirably <NUM>% or less (preferably <NUM>% or less) when the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> is elongated to the maximum elongation.

In order to control the rate of change in the resistance of the wiring section <NUM> to be <NUM>% or less under elongation at <NUM>% of the maximum elongation or under the maximum elongation, for example, the above-described method in which an elastic yarn is used as a yarn constituting the cloth material main body <NUM> and a conductive linear body is woven or knitted into the cloth material main body <NUM> while forming a woven/knitted fabric with the elastic yarn being in an elongated state can be employed.

The rate of change in the resistance of the wiring section <NUM> is measured as follows.

While continuously measuring the resistance of the wiring section <NUM>, a portion of the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> that corresponds to the wiring section is elongated to the maximum elongation at a rate of <NUM>/s and subsequently allowed to contract back to the original state at the same rate. In this process, the resistance value RA (Ω) of the wiring section <NUM> prior to the elongation of the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> and the resistance value RB (Ω) of the wiring section <NUM> at a prescribed elongation degree (e.g., at <NUM>% of the maximum elongation or at the maximum elongation (<NUM>%)) of the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> are measured.

Then, the rate of change in the resistance of the wiring section <NUM> is calculated using the following equation: Rate of change in resistance of wiring section <NUM> = (RB - RA)/RA × <NUM>. It is noted here that the rate of change in the resistance of the wiring section <NUM> is an absolute value.

The "maximum elongation" of the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> is defined as follows.

The maximum elongation of the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> is a length at which the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> cannot be elongated any further when elongated with an appropriate tension. In other words, a length of the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> elongated with a tension that stops the elongation is defined as the maximum elongation of the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM>.

The electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> according to the present embodiment is not restricted to the above-described modes and may be modified or improved within the scope of the claims. Modification examples of the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> are described below. In the followings, with regard to the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM>, the same members as those of the above-described modes are assigned with the same symbols in the drawings, and descriptions thereof are omitted or simplified.

The electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> according to the present embodiment may be, for example, an electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. Specifically, as illustrated in <FIG>, the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> has a three-layered cloth material main body <NUM>, which includes a surface cloth material layer 10A, an intermediate cloth material layer 10C and a back-surface cloth material layer 10B. In the intermediate cloth material layer 10C, electrode sections <NUM> (a first electrode section 20A and a second electrode section 20B) each containing a conductive linear body <NUM> are provided along with a wiring section <NUM> containing the respective conductive linear-bodies <NUM> extending from the electrode sections <NUM>. Only the wiring section <NUM> provided in the intermediate cloth material layer 10C is covered with the surface cloth material layer 10A.

The electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> according to the present embodiment may also be, for example, an electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. Specifically, as illustrated in <FIG>, the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> has electrode sections <NUM> including plural first electrode sections 20A. It is noted here that, in <FIG>, as the first electrode sections 20A, a mode of having two electrode sections, which are a first electrode section 20A-<NUM> and a first electrode section 20A-<NUM>, is illustrated.

In this mode, for example, a same single conductive linear body 40A is commonly provided in the first electrode section 20A-<NUM>, a wiring section <NUM> and a second electrode section 20B, and a same single conductive linear body 40B is commonly provided in the first electrode section 20A-<NUM>, the wiring section <NUM> and the second electrode section 20B.

The electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> can be utilized in wearable devices such as biological signal measuring devices. For example, the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> to which a prescribed instrument is attached may be cut and processed to obtain a clothing item equipped with a wearable device. Further, the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> cut to a prescribed size may be attached to a clothing item.

The electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> can also be utilized in, for example, non-wearable biological devices that are not for wearing (e.g., sensors), carpets, curtains, cushion covers, bedding textiles, and fabrics of tents and tarps.

The disclosure is described more concretely by way of examples thereof. It is noted here, however, that the following examples do not restrict the invention as defined by the claims at any rate.

A multi-wall carbon nanotube forest formed on a silicon wafer was prepared. While drawing a ribbon of carbon nanotubes from a side surface of the carbon nanotube forest, the ribbon was twisted to obtain a carbon nanotube yarn of <NUM> in diameter. Then, eight of this carbon nanotube yarn were twisted together to obtain a single twisted carbon nanotube yarn.

Meanwhile, an elastic yarn (yarn having elasticity) of a polyurethane fiber covered with polyester was, while being stretched, processed into a two-layer cloth material by a knitting method. In the process of knitting this cloth material, the twisted carbon nanotube yarn was knitted between two cloth material layers in a substantially linear form along the cloth knitting direction. The thus formed undulating region where the carbon nanotube yarn was knitted was defined as a wiring section.

Further, at the respective ends of the substantially linearly knitted carbon nanotube yarn in the knitting direction of the cloth material, the same carbon nanotube yarn as the knitted carbon nanotube yarn was knitted on the same surface of the cloth material (surface cloth material layer) in a repeatedly bending manner such that a quadrangular shape was formed. The thus formed quadrangular regions where the carbon nanotube yarn was knitted were each defined as an electrode section for contact with a living body (first electrode section) and an electrode section for instrument connection (second electrode section).

By performing the above-described steps, an electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material (see <FIG>) was obtained. The thus obtained cloth material had the following properties.

An electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material (see <FIG>) was obtained in the same manner as in Example <NUM>, except that a silver-plated polyester yarn (ODEX40/<NUM> available from Osaka Electric Industry Co. ) was used in place of the carbon nanotube yarn.

In accordance with the above-described method, the rate of change in the resistance of the wiring section before and after elongation of each electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material at <NUM>% of a maximum elongation was determined. It is noted here that the elongation was performed for the part between the electrodes connected via the wiring section. The maximum elongation was <NUM> for both of the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth materials prepared in Examples <NUM> and <NUM>, and the resistance was measured at an elongation of <NUM>, which is <NUM>% of the maximum elongation, and at the maximum elongation to calculate the rate of change in the resistance.

Each electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material was subjected to <NUM>,<NUM> repeated operations of elongation to the maximum elongation and subsequent contraction at a reciprocating frequency of <NUM>, and the resistance value of the wiring section was measured before and after the elongation-contraction operations. As the resistance value of the wiring section, the resistance in a non-elongated state was measured for the value before the repeated elongation-contraction operations, and the resistance of the wiring section at the maximum elongation of the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material <NUM> was measured for the value after the repeated elongation-contraction operations. These resistance values of the wiring section were determined by the same method as the one used for determining the rate of change in the resistance of the wiring section <NUM>. Then, the rate of change in the resistance of the wiring section after the elongation-contraction operations with respect to the resistance of the wiring section before the elongation-contraction operations was determined and evaluated based on the following criteria.

In Example <NUM>, the evaluation of durability after the repeated elongation-contraction operations was rated OK up to <NUM> repeated operations of elongation.

From the results shown above, it is seen that, in the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material according to the present embodiment, defective connection between the electrode sections and the wiring section caused by repeated deformation can be inhibited.

Claim 1:
An electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>), comprising:
a cloth material main body (<NUM>);
a first electrode section (20A) and a second electrode section (20B) that are provided on a surface (10A) of, or inside, the cloth material main body (<NUM>) and that comprise a conductive linear body (<NUM>); and
a wiring section (<NUM>) that is provided on the surface (10A) of, or inside, the cloth material main body (<NUM>) and that comprises a conductive linear body (<NUM>); and
the conductive linear body (<NUM>) of the first electrode section (20A) and the conductive linear body (<NUM>) of the second electrode section (20B) are provided in a bent or curved manner so as to form planar first and second electrode sections;
wherein at least one conductive linear body (<NUM>) contained in the electrode sections (20A, 20B) and at least one conductive linear body (<NUM>) contained in the wiring section (<NUM>) are the same single conductive linear body (<NUM>);
characterised in that:
the wiring section (<NUM>) is provided adjacent to the first electrode section (20A) and the second electrode section (20B);
the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material has elasticity; and
when the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) is elongated at <NUM>% of a maximum elongation, a rate of change in resistance, measured in ohms, of the wiring section (<NUM>) is <NUM>% or less with respect to a resistance of the wiring section (<NUM>) prior to elongation of the electrode-wiring-equipped cloth material (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>), wherein the rate of change of resistance is determined as specified in the description.