A prototype network embedded in textile fabric

ABSTRACT

A digital network between active components or "buttons" atop an e-textile fabric must handle the inexact placement of wires in the fabric both for signal distribution and for power distribution. We approach the problem of signal distribution by making the pin logic of the buttons reconfigurable and by providing enough local state to allow an external agent to discover and to reconfigure the buttons into a working network. We describe a prototype system of a 2x2 array of FPGA-and-microcontroller buttons atop a fabric with 0.100"-pitch wiring including architecture decisions, circuits and software algorithms.

REFERENCES

• 1: W. B. Culbertson , R. Amerson , R. J. Carter , P. Kuekes , G. Snider, Defect tolerance on the Teramac custom computer, Proceedings of the 5th IEEE Symposium on FPGA-Based Custom Computing Machines, p.116, April 16-18, 1997
• 2: C.Gopalsamy,S.Park,R.Rajamanic am,and S.Jayaraman.The Wearable Motherboard:The First Generation of Adaptive and Responsive Textile Structures (ARTS)for Medical Applications.Virtual Reality. 4:152 -168,1999.
• 3: IEEE.IEEE 802.15 Working Group. http://www.ieee802.org/15/.
• 4: E. R. Post , M. Orth , P. R. Russo , N. Gershenfeld, E-broidery: design and fabrication of textile-based computing, IBM Systems Journal, v.39 n.3-4, p.840-860, July 2000
• 5: Thad Starner, August 2001.personal communication.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.3 SPECIAL-PURPOSE AND APPLICATION-BASED SYSTEMS
      Subjects: Real-time and embedded systems

Additional Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
      C.2.1 Network Architecture and Design
          Subjects: Network communications; Distributed networks

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design, Performance