LOOMIA Electronic Layer

The Loomia Electronic Layer is a soft, flexible circuit that can enable next-generation products in wearables, automotive, and beyond. The LEL comes in a few different stack-ups optimized for different performance features.

The different design configurations as Below:

1. For washable, sew-in applications that require long-term robustness. Also ideal for applications that require very low resistance like antennas. Average Resistance .03 O/sq ± .2 O. Stack up layer Insulation > Conductor > Insulation
2. For applications that will be laminated in and may or may not require washing. Average resistance .03 O/sq ± .2 O. Stack up layer Adhesive > Conductor > Insulation.
3. For cost-sensitive applications that do not need to be washed. Average resistance 1 O/sq ± .2 O. Stack up layer Adhesive > Conductor > Adhesive.
4. For applications that will be laminated in and may or may not require washing. Average resistance 0.1 1 O/sq .0 ± .2 O. Stack up layer Adhesive > Conductor > Insulation.

The LEL is more Drapable than flex PCBs, wires on mesh, or most other flexible electronics options. It has similar flexibility to printed ink on TPU, but LEL technology is not printed, allowing the design to achieve low resistance conductors that do not easily change resistance when stretched.

The Loomia Electronic layer can also be used to combine functionalities such as heating, switching, and lighting all into one component that directly integrates into a surface textile or material of your choice. Can be electronics are designed to integrate into products without the need for plastic housing.

Suitable for RS-485, CAN, and LIN interfaces.

The LEL can be designed to include a connector of your choice. Termination and connector options include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Magnetic pogo pin Connector Barrel jack Connector.
2. USB Connector.
3. Snaps
4. Wire termination

The LEL can be sewn or bonded to the surface of your choice. There are a few options:

1. Heat-activated adhesive: Electronic layer can be produced with a layer of heat-activated adhesive. Typically bonded around 250F/121C at 100PSI. Not to be exposed to anything over 250F/121C, in processing, and keep it at 200F/93C for functionality.
2. Pressure-sensitive adhesive: In case temperatures are needed, it can be provided with a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive.
3. Sewing: Another option is sewing, which is perfectly possible if the electrical traces are not sewn. Can include sections in a custom part that are meant to be seen.

Technology is not inherently stretchable but can obtain stretch by being patterned into a serpentine geometry. The data below provides details on possible stretches for different trace designs.

Common LEL Applications are as below:

• Automotive interior smart surfaces Cabling for wearable technology projects.
• Pressure sensing for robotic end effectors Heating for outdoor / performance gear.
• Resistive Heating
• Lighting (can support a range of white and RGB LED components)
• Data and Power Cabling Mechanical Switching
• Pressure Sensing (single sensing and matrix sensing).
• Automotive interior smart surfaces Cabling for wearable technology projects.
• Pressure sensing for robotic end effectors Heating for outdoor / performance gear

A few LEL Technology Application Advantages over other technologies:

1. Designed to integrate into soft surfaces.
2. No bend radius limitations.
3. Also capable of strong hard-soft connection.
4. Wire-free and simple integration.
5. Better electrical properties and circuit design

The LEL heating system consists of a fully insulted heating panel that is thin, flexible, and can be easily integrated into any textile product with adjustable heat and temperature dispersion.

1. The LEL has a custom range of 3v-12v, or standard of 5v (for reference, a heated glove would take approx. 3.7v and a car seat would take approx. 12v to produce adequate heat). Most comparable textile-based heating systems can take 12v, but do not put out as much heat) and in as wide of a surface area) as the LEL.
2. The LEL system can heat up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius). A similar product on the market today (with the same surface area) can only heat to around 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Can pass CC certification (does not interfere with other communication signals)
4. Can heat with as little as 1A

As for the specific applications among the most exciting, however is automotive heating for steering wheels and car seats. A little while back, LOOMIA designed a custom heater for a large Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). This heater was made to be used in car seats and was designed to adhere directly to the leather of the seat. It was found that the LEL system produced a higher temperature threshold with less current pull than a hard wire heater – the standard method used. It was also found that the LEL produced more even heating, and at a

LEL, which can heat up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, could also be anti-bacterial or anti-viral. Turns out; it might be. When bacteria were heated on the surface of the LEL, there was a 50 percent reduction after just two minutes of heating! This needs more exploration to be scientifically proven, but just imagine if this could be applied to PPE.

The LEL soft circuit system can be designed to output visual and tactile responses to sensor readings and can integrate any SMD (Surface-Mount Device) into a product. This allows for input/output mechanisms to be used in LEL-powered soft circuit systems. Most comparable solutions contain hard-to-integrate wires. LOOMIA’s soft circuits contain flat wires, so it can be more easily bonded or sewn into a product and easily customized due to its infinite bend radius. Here are some additional advantages to our soft circuit system:

1. No bend radius limitation. Most products on the market have a bend radius of up to 5mm.
2. .01ohm/square
3. Tensile strength of 5lbf with no resistance change, and up to 20lbf with an acceptable resistance change
4. Up to 20 percent stretch possible, through a serpentine design

When it comes to systems that combine interconnect and sensor integration methods, wearables are not the only application. Smart textiles can also be used to make a driving or flying experience more enjoyable via smart user interfaces and embedded technology. Just last year, TAP Air Portugal installed passenger seating equipped with sensors that would collect data on passenger behavior during flight. The information collected can help the airline make better decisions for the comfort of passengers and is a promising first step towards a new generation of air travel. LOOMIA’s soft circuit system would be ideal for this application, as it could be embedded right into the seat upholstery. As opposed to the current system which requires the bottom cushion to be removed for access.

The LEL System can combine lights and flat, flexible switches for modern looking HMI. For automotive interiors and consumer electronics, our mechanical and pressure buttons can remove component bulk, adhering right to a surface fabric.  Some additional specs include:

1. Adjustable light animation, color, and placement options
2. Custom, low-axis height boards for LEDs
3. Luminous flux of 300 to 400 lm/ft, and a luminous efficacy of 25 to 30 lm/W
4. Mechanical buttons tested for 10,000 presses up to 5lbf

Lighting and user interface systems can be used for a wide range of purposes, from a single button on a wearable device, to a full set of controls on a dashboard. Our lighting can also be used for purely aesthetic purposes – just imagine the LEL illuminating the roof of a car like a Starlight Headliner.

LOOMIA Seamless E-Textile User Interfaces for Automotive and Interiors

Flat, flexible LEDS. Last week, we united them with our capacitive touch sensing LEL to make control panels that could be used for automotive or furniture.  These interfaces are a seamless part of the base textile, giving the user a water-tight and beautiful surface that can control another function in a car, or home. All you need is a quick tap to trigger a function, so no clicking and clacking like traditional buttons.

Coupled with that is TILE tag is a small device that is designed to collect data over time for soft good products. Using the tag, a brand can start to understand how customers are using a product and ideally, design better products over time. The tag collects three kinds of data- time, temperature and motion. Using this data, it can start to paint of picture of how someone is handling the product it is attached to.

The 4 critical components to make the LEL possible:

1. Soft Circuit: A soft circuit layer can be draped around and is fully insulated with heating and capacitive touch functionalities made of the soft layer and all flexible components are attached to this element.
2. Flexible Components: Lighting, SMD sensor and feedback applications. These components can be customized to integrate your sensors.
3. LOOMIA Interconnect: Hard to soft connection area that houses the microcontroller, other circuit elements and battery connector of the LEL.
4. Power Adapter: LEL can work with off the shelf power banks with our custom adaptor cable design with customized battery pack.

Loomia thin, almost weightless fabric that has electrical components built in. It can be touch-sensitive or emit heat or light.

Circuit boards power the world but are built for hard goods. LOOMIA makes a new form-factor of circuit -a soft circuit system- that can be used to power soft goods. From automotive to apparel, their soft circuit systems can be used when standard PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards) aren’t up to the task- bringing heating, lighting and sensing to car seats, medical apparel, outdoor gear, and more.

The LOOMIA Electronic Layer can be integrated into any textile surface in automotive interiors to add seamless soft user experiences. The modular design of the LEL technology allows it to connect to a cars electrical system or household appliances. Technology can be customized for connectivity needs such as home IOT.

Potential applications include:

• Soft Seat heating
• Soft Wiring, Lighting and sensors in Roof Liners
• Headrest Graphic Lighting
• Seamless user interfaces / soft control surfaces
• Automotive seat sensing for safety and comfort
• Steering Wheel Sensing

The LEL Heating System is soft, droppable, bendable, fully customizable and thin. The LEL Heating panel can be integrated under any textile while maintaining the comfortable soft form factor. It’s easy to integrate into any textile product with easy sewing or bonding methods. Customization options include size, shape, power requirements, temperature reached, designated heated areas and electrical connection to fit your product needs. The LEL Heating System has been FCC certified for a back-heating application and certification services are available based on customer needs.

Heating Technical Specifications:

The LEL soft layer can be patterned to act as power and data buses that can replace wiring between the front and back of the vehicle. With its thin, flexible and easy to integrate profile, it can provide design and functionality flexibility for automotive and mobility. The LEL is customized for your product and process specifications so any given module will come with its own tech pack, ready to fit into supply chain and manufacturing methods. The LEL soft wires can also integrate any sensor or output functionality to a roof liner, including a variety of lighting solutions. LOOMIA offers 3 types of LEDs integrated into the LEL:

• Flat, white ambient lighting
• Low profile, individually addressable RGB lighting
• Low-profile single-color lighting

LED Technical Specifications:

The LEL Flat LEDs can be customized to be shaped as a logo or any other graphic you would like to light up. With the LOOMIA Electronic Layer soft wiring, the flat LED graphics can be integrated into any part of a car interior from headrests to the ceiling.

Combining the capacitive touch sensing LEL and our custom LED options, we can make soft and flexible control panels that could be used for automotive applications. These interfaces are a seamless part of the base textile, giving the user a water-tight and beautiful surface that can control another function in a car, or other vehicle. All you need is a quick tap to trigger a function, so no clicking and clacking like traditional buttons. Because the LEL has no bend radius limitation, these interfaces can live on steering wheels, on the sides of car seats, or on the handle of a car door.



For more information go to https://loomia.com/.