Abstract: Electronic devices (4, 24) are mounted in sequence or series along a plurality of laterally spaced discrete lines (10) on a sheet of non-conductive flexible planar support material (50). The sheet is slit or stripped between said lines to create at least two yarns each in the form of a strip bearing a series of said devices. The width of each strip can be substantially the same as that of the mounted device or devices and is normally less than twice that of the device or devices. The thickness of the support material is normally no more than 10 ?m, and with the width of the devices typically being no more than 800 nm, a strip bearing the devices can thus be used as a yarn or strip for use in many applications, both functional and decorative, either alone or within a sleeve.

Abstract: An electronically functional yarn comprises a plurality of carrier fibers (6) forming a core with a series of electronic devices (2) mounted on the core with conductive interconnects (8) extending along the core. A plurality of packing fibers (10) are disposed around the core, the devices and the interconnects, and a retaining sleeve (12) is disposed around the packing fibers. The core, the devices and the interconnects are confined within the plurality of packing fibers retained in the sleeve. In the manufacture of the yarn the electronic devices with interconnects coupled thereto in sequence are mounted on the core; the carrier fibers with the mounted devices and interconnects are fed centrally through a channel with packing fibers around the sides thereof to form a fiber assembly around the core, which is fed into a sleeve forming unit in which a sleeve is formed around the assembly to form the composite yarn.

Abstract: Electronic devices (4, 24) are mounted in sequence or series along a plurality of laterally spaced discrete lines (10) on a sheet of non-conductive flexible planar support material (50); and the sheet is slit or stripped between said lines to create at least two yarns each in the form of a strip bearing a series of said devices. The width of each strip can be substantially the same as that of the mounted device or devices; normally less than twice that of the device or devices. The support material can be in the form of a continuous length passing through a mounting station (54), and on which series of the electronic devices are mounted in said lines substantially parallel to the direction of passage of the material. The material bearing the devices can be slit into strips directly, or wound onto a roll (64) for subsequent division into strips The material may be formed with lines of weakness (14) to facilitate slitting into strips.

Abstract: An electronically functional yarn comprises a plurality of carrier fibres (6) forming a core with a series of electronic devices (2) mounted on the core with conductive interconnects (8) extending along the core. A plurality of packing fibres (10) are disposed around the core, the devices and the interconnects, and a retaining sleeve (12) is disposed around the packing fibres. The core, the devices and the interconnects are confined within the plurality of packing fibres retained in the sleeve. In the manufacture of the yarn the electronic devices with interconnects coupled thereto in sequence are mounted on the core; the carrier fibres with the mounted devices and interconnects are fed centrally through a channel with packing fibres around the sides thereof to form a fibre assembly around the core, which is fed into a sleeve forming unit in which a sleeve is formed around the assembly to form the composite yarn.

Abstract: A non-invasive sensor has a contact membrane (6,16) and a cover membrane (2,12), the cover membrane being adapted for extension of a body surface to project the contact membrane against a body surface beneath it. The contact membrane will normally be attached to the cover membrane around its periphery such that at least one of the membranes forms a convex outer surface, and a spacing material (8,20) can be interposed between the membranes to achieve this object. The cover membrane may extend over a support element (10), with the contact membrane overlaying and spaced from the other face of the support element by spacing material.

Abstract: A contact element is held against the skin of a human limb by a sleeve comprising a tube body (2) knitted with elastomeric yarn. At the ends of the tube body margins (4) are formed which prevent the tube from rolling on itself. In preferred embodiments the margins 4 are also knitted, with a different knitting pattern from that used in the tube body, which is normally a plain knitted structure. Sleeves of the invention can be manufactured in a tubular knitting process on a computerised flat bed knitting machine.

Abstract: In a method of knitting a garment having a defined axis (A), the knitting layers are formed in a direction parallel to the axis. Pathways (8) defined by distinctive yarns extending substantially parallel to the axis are incorporated in the knitting process seriatim, each distinctive yarn being knitted into its respective pathway using the same yarn feeder. The distinctive yarns are normally conductive, to provide connections to sensors (6) located on the garment, and such sensors may themselves be an integral part of the garment fabric.

Abstract: A non-invasive sensor has a contact membrane (6,16) and a cover membrane (2,12), the cover membrane being adapted for extension of a body surface to project the contact membrane against a body surface beneath it. The contact membrane will normally be attached to the cover membrane around its periphery such that at least one of the membranes forms a convex outer surface, and a spacing material (8,20) can be interposed between the membranes to achieve this object. The cover membrane may extend over a support element (10), with the contact membrane overlaying and spaced from the other face of the support element by spacing material.

Abstract: In a method of knitting a garment having a defined axis (A), the knitting layers are formed in a direction parallel to the axis. Pathways (8) defined by distinctive yarns extending substantially parallel to the axis are incorporated in the knitting process seriatim, each distinctive yarn being knitted into its respective pathway using the same yarn feeder. The distinctive yarns are normally conductive, to provide connections to sensors (6) located on the garment, and such sensors may themselves be an integral part of the garment fabric.