Development of automotive plastic components with sensor function integrated in smart textile
May 2009 – October 2011
* Collaboration project at CETEMMSA Technology Centre (now EURECAT).
Smart Cover is inscribed within the growing tendency for the adoption of novel, lighter, more compact and eco-friendly solutions in the design of components for the automobile sector, which constitutes an added value and represents a fundamental part in the development of new vehicle concepts.
Soft button panel
This flexible button panel for integration into the armrest of the door of a vehicle consists of two sensor areas that open and shut the window of the vehicle. Visual and haptic features indicate the functions of the buttons. The visual indicator is provided by retro-illumination of a solid 3D shape with an electroluminescent lamp, printed on to the textile substrate, whereas haptic indication and feedback is given by the soft 3D shape itself.
Technologies and materials
• Resistive textile sensor made of printed silver electrodes andPolypyrrole-coated twill.
• Multi-layered electroluminescent flexible lamp, printed onto the textile substrate.
[ M Y R O L E ]
Design, development and characterisation of the soft button panel
• Definition of the technical specifications for the sensory textile (in collaboration with CTAG).
• Design of the resistive sensors and the visual and haptic features that indicate the function of the buttons, according to the specified dimensions and geometry.
• Selection of materials for the sensors and the button panel.
• Construction of testing probes.
• Coordination of characterisation tests (in collaboration with CTAG and AIMPLAS).
FUNDING
Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
CONSORTIUM
CTAG (Galician Automotive Technology Centre)
CETEMMSA Technology Centre (now EURECAT)
AIMPLAS (Technological Institute of Plastics)