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Electronics and sensors

E-Textile

Fabricademy 2023

Emma Pareschi

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Program

Basic of electronics (current-voltage-resistance: Ohm's law) and basic circuit

Use of the multimeter to characterise each element of the circuit

Sensors: digital and analog

How to test the sensors without Arduino

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The standard elements of interactive project.

Input

device

Output

device

Power

Collect data

Change the space

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The standard elements of an interactive project.

Input

device

Output

device

Power

Microcontroller

Collect data

Change the space

Process and control

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BASICS OF ELECTRONICS

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“Among those who eat and those who are eaten nothing is created and nothing is destroyed but everything is transformed..”

Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier. Father of modern chemistry

Any kind of interaction is a transformation/exchange...of energy.

ELECTRIC ENERGY.

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Electric energy

A form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles

Particles:

electrons - negative charge

neutrons - no charge

protons - positive charge

e-

e-

p+

p+

e-

p+

reject

attract

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Electrical energy

p+

n

p+

n

e-

e-

p+

n

p+

n

e-

p+

n

p+

n

e-

e-

e-

NO charged

POSITIVELY charged

NEGATIVELY charged

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Electricity

Electricity is the presence and use of electric energy.

Static

Dynamic

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Dynamic electricity

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

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Dynamic electricity

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

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Dynamic electricity

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

p+

p+

e-

e-

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Dynamic electricity

also known as ELECTRIC CURRENT.

Current = flow of electric charges (electronics).

Unit of measure: Amperes (A) (“Amps”).

1A = 6241000000000000000 electrons

Most probably you won’t work with Amperes

but with lower amount.

Ex. LED: 0,005 / 0,020 Ampere

Annotation note:

1 milliAmpere (mA) = 0,001A

5mA = 0,005A

20mA = 0,020A

350mA = 0,350A

0,005 A - 0,02A

0,350 A

0,200 A

0,100 A

8 A

16 A

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Dynamic electricity

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

p+

p+

e-

e-

Why the electrons should move?

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Dynamic electricity

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

p+

p+

e-

e-

Positively charged

Negatively charged.

Source of electrons.

The power source causes the movement of the electrons (current).

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Dynamic electricity

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

e-

p+

p+

p+

e-

e-

The power source causes the movement of the electrons (current).

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Power source - Voltage

+ + + + + +

Positively charged

+ + + + + +

- - - - - -

Negatively charged

- - - - - -

Positive

terminal

+

VCC

Negative

terminal

-

GND

The power source has always two terminals.

It has an orientation!!

The capability to move the charges between two points is called VOLTAGE.

Unit of measure: Volt (V).

Schematic representation.

9V

3.7V

1.5V

3V

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Power source - How to measure it

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Power source - Voltage

Can you measure the Voltage between two points? Yes.

Your best friend in the electronic lab is THE MULTIMETER

Black lead => port COM

Red lead => port V

To measure the voltage of a battery.�- select the right mode and range�- check if the the lead are in the right position�- touch the terminals of the battery with the two leads

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Power source - Voltage

Positive number

Negative number

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Circuit

A circuit is a system in which we use electric energy.

A circuit is a CLOSE LOOP in which electrons can travel in.

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Circuit

A circuit is a system in which we use electric energy.

A circuit is a CLOSE LOOP in which electrons can travel in.

What do you need:�- source of electrons: POWER SOURCE�- material to let the electrons flow: TRACES

Battery

Wire

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Circuit

A circuit is a system in which we use electric energy.

A circuit is a CLOSE LOOP in which electrons can travel in.

What do you need:�- source of electrons: POWER SOURCE�- material to let the electrons flow: TRACES

Battery

Wire

SHORT CIRCUIT

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Circuit

A circuit is a system in which we use electric energy.

A circuit is a CLOSE LOOP in which electrons can travel in.

What do you need:

  • source of electrons: POWER SOURCE
  • material to let the electrons flow: TRACES
  • something to avoid the short circuit: LOAD

Battery

Wire

Resistor

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Circuit - Power Source

5V

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Circuit - Traces

The traces are physical media that lets the electrons to flow in.

How do I know if a material is conductive? MULTIMETER in Continuity Mode.

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Circuit - Load - Resistor

A resistor is one of the most fundamental com­ponents in electronics. Its purpose is to impede a flow of current and impose a voltage reduction.

Two wires or conductors attached at opposite ends or sides of a relatively poor elec­trical conductor.

It has two sides, it doesn’t matter the orientation.

The resistance of resistor is meas­ured in Ohms, universally represented by the Greek omega symbol, Ω.

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Circuit - Load - Resistor

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The simplest circuit

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what is the relation between

Voltage - Current - Resistance?

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OHM’S LAW

Ohm’s Law defines the relation between voltage, current and resistor:

V = I * R = IR

Higher is the Resistor => Lower is the current

Lower is the Resistor => higher is the Current

You know the Voltage and the Resistor =>

=> calculate the current you consume —>

You know the Voltage and the Current =>

=> calculate the resistor you need —>

I = V / R

R = V / I

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OHM’S LAW

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Circuit

The simplest and most useless circuit: there is current but the energy is not used.

(it is useless unless you use the resistor as heating element)

Let’s use the electric energy to generate light.

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Led

Light Emitting Diode

  • Orientation: current can flow only in one direction.

  • Forward Voltage: the voltage across the LED is an specified for the component

  • Forward current: it emits light only if the current is within in a range

long +

short -

+

-

Anode (+)

Cathode (-)

Vf = 2V / 3V

If = 0,005A / 0,02A

Vf = 3V

If = 0,300 A

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Led circuit

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Led circuit

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Led circuit

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Led circuit

?

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Led circuit

R = (Vcc - Vf) / If

R = (9V - 2V) / 0,02 A = 350 Ohm

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Voltage across a circuit

350 Ohm

Vr = 7V

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Led calculations

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Circuit with Led

If we use a 3V battery

long

+

short

-

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Circuit with Led and resistor

If we use a 9V battery

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Led circuit

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Led circuit

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Led circuit

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FABRIC

TRACES

  1. Copper Taffeta (iron*)
  2. Bremen (iron)
  3. Kassel (iron)
  4. Stretch (iron)
  5. TechniTex Stretch (sewn)
  6. Kassel (sewn)

*Fused with Heat’n’bond. See appendix

A

B

C

D

E

F

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THREAD

TRACES

  • Karl Grimm High Flex Silver (machine, bobbin)
  • Karl Grimm High Flex (machine, bobbin)
  • Karl Grimm High Flex Silver (machine, 3 threads, zigzag)
  • Karl Grimm High Flex (machine, 1 thead, zigzag)
  • Karl Grimm High Flex Silver (hand sewn, running)
  • Stainless steel (hand sewn, running)
  • Karl Grimm High Flex (hand sewn, chain stitch)

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

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PERMANENT

SOLDER + SEW

  1. Curl the legs of the LED and sew them into the circuit
  2. Solder onto the fabric if possible.

Solder if you can and ALWAYS cover knots and joints with fabric or hot glue.

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PERMANENT

SOLDERING SMD

Place a bit of solder onto the thread or fabric and back of component first, then solder them together. Use flux and tweezers to make your life easier - it takes some getting used to.

Solder if you can and ALWAYS cover knots and joints with fabric or hot glue.

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PERMANENT

SOLDER + SEW + CRIMP

  • Use a crimp bead to connect to thread
  • Use pliers to create a sewable hole in a wire
  • Solder directly onto fabric
  • Sew the wire to the fabric
  • Sew directly into the perfboard using conductive thread

A

B

C

D

E

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It is a good result, but what about interaction?

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Circuit that interacts - Sensors

A circuit is a system in which we use electric energy.

A circuit is a CLOSE LOOP in which electrons can travel in.

What do you need:

  • source of electrons: POWER SOURCE
  • material to let the electrons flow: TRACES
  • something to avoid the short circuit: OUTPUT DEVICE
  • something that opens and close the loop: INPUT DEVICE

Battery

Wire

Light

Sensor

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Sensors

We use sensors because the interaction with them generates an electric signal: a change of Voltage.

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Digital vs Analog

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Circuit that interacts - digital

A circuit is a system in which we use electric energy.

A circuit is a CLOSE LOOP in which electrons can travel in.

What do you need:

  • source of electrons: POWER SOURCE
  • material to let the electrons flow: TRACES
  • something to avoid the short circuit: OUTPUT DEVICE
  • something that opens and close the loop: INPUT DEVICE

Battery

Wire

Light

Digital sensor

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Digital Sensor

Digital sensors are devices that have only two possible status:

ON or OFF

They OPEN or CLOSE

They have two terminals that can be connected or not.

Example: the push button or stroke sensor

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Digital Sensor

Two conductive parts that can mechanically touch each other. When they touch each other, we say that the switch is close, otherwise it is open.

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Momentary switch

Digital Sensor

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Momentary switch

Digital Sensor

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Momentary switch

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Digital sensor - how to test it

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Digital sensor - the circuit

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Digital sensor - the circuit - how to test it

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Circuit that interacts - analog

A circuit is a system in which we use electric energy.

A circuit is a CLOSE LOOP in which electrons can travel in.

What do you need:

  • source of electrons: POWER SOURCE
  • material to let the electrons flow: TRACES
  • something to avoid the short circuit: OUTPUT DEVICE
  • something that changes the current : INPUT DEVICE

Battery

Wires

Light/Motor

Analog sensor

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Analog Sensor

Analog sensors are VARIABLE RESISTORS.

Interacting with the sensor,

you change the resistance,

so you change the current.

They have two terminals.

Example: pressure sensor, stretch sensor

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Material

Analog Sensor

Velostat is a piezoresistive material, meaning it’s electrical resistance decreases when pressured.

When sandwiched between two conductive layers, it has a wonderful range for making pressure and bend sensors.

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Analog Sensor

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Analog Sensor

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Analog Sensor

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Analog Sensor - how to test it

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Analog Sensor - the circuit

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Analog Sensor - the circuit - how to test it

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Examples

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Examples

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Modular system

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Modular system

Power Module

Input Module

Output Module

End Module

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Full system

Power source

Sensor

Digital or Analog

Output device

Trace

Traces

Traces

Connection

Connection

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Beautiful examples

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Beautiful examples