Patent ID: 8191433

Claim:
A fabric composite strain sensor for measuring in-plane unidirectional strain comprising: an elastic fabric substrate, itself comprising a plurality of individual fibers integrated together; a solid composite film comprised of a mixture of electrically conductive particles or fibers and an elastomer matrix, layered onto a single side of said elastic fabric substrate; wherein the fabric composite strain sensor is mechanically treated by cycling at high extensions to stabilize it; wherein the application of strain on said elastic fabric substrate causes the formation of cracks within said solid composite film; wherein the resistance within the fabric composite strain sensor is correlated with the width of said formed cracks; and wherein a gauge factor of the sensor is controlled by adjusting any one from the group consisting of: type of knitting structure of the elastic fabric substrate, density of loops in the warp and weft direction of the elastic fabric substrate, yarn linear density of the elastic fabric substrate, concentration of the electrically conductive particles or fibers, thickness of the solid composite film and direction of the sensor.