Patent attributes
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.
