SEMI International Standards
Standards New Activity Report Form (SNARF)
Date Prepared: 09/01/2020Revised (if Applicable): 06/14/2022

Document Number: 6690
SNARF for: New Standard: Test Method of Line Impedance for Electronic Textiles

Originating Global Technical Committee: Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE)
Originating TC Chapter: Taiwan
Task Force (TF) in which work is to be carried out: FHE System for Wearable Task Force
Note: If a new task force is needed, also submit a task force organization form (TFOF)

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1. Rationale:
a. Describe the need or problem addressed by this activity.
(Indicate the customer, what benefits they will receive, and if possible, quantify the impact on the return on investment [ROI] if the Document is implemented.)
The conductive traces, paths or wires are important configurations for the circuit layout and signal processing, and that are applied in the flexible hybrid electronics. A new kind of textile transmission line that might be widely used, among others, in smart clothing. The line consists of a flexible substrate with conductive traces, paths or wires. The measurement of line impedance performance is critical for ensuring the line quality in incoming quality control and out-going quality control, and improving further the productivity and efficiency.

Nowadays there are standards for the electrical resistance measurement of textiles. It is defined the evaluation procedure for electrical resistance of textiles in AATCC EP13 [1]. The well-known standard presented the test method for electrical resistance of yarns in AATCC 84 [2]. And the document determined the linear electrical resistance of conductive tracks for textiles and textile products in EN 16812 [3]. However, physiological electrical signals such as Electromyography (EMG) and Electrocardiography (ECG) are signals with frequency. All of the existing standards of flexible hybrid electronics can only be applied in measuring the resistance instead of measuring the impedance. This SNARF integrates the past standards bases on the fundamental measurement, and specifies further the measurement method of line impedance for flexible hybrid electronics.

In the SNARF, the test method aims to implement four terminal measurement and elucidate the measurement of impedance for the specific fabric materials. The method of four terminal measurement is better than two terminal measurement for avoiding the contact and probe resistance, and the document will propose a test method of applying the four terminal measurement with operating frequency to measure the impedance.


b. Estimate effect on industry.
2: Major effect on an industry sector - identify the relevant sector
Sector or Company Information:

c. Estimate technical difficulty of the activity.
II: Some Difficulty - Disagreements on known requirements exist but developing consensus is possible

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2. Scope:
a: Describe the technical areas to be covered or addressed by this Document development activity. For Subordinate Standards, list common concepts or criteria that the Subordinate Standard inherits from the Primary Standard, as well as differences from the Primary Standard:
1. This document recommends the four terminal measurement method to measure the line impedance of flexible hybrid electronics. The document will focus on defining the measurement, procedure, materials, evaluation and report.
2. The document applies to the conductive traces, paths or wires of wearable products.
3. The document includes procedures for checking the electrically measured apparatus such as LCR meter, probes etc.
4. ASTM D1776 [4] standard has defined the conditioning and the testing textiles. The test method is designed for measurements at standard conditions of (232) °C and (505) % relative humidity.
5. The four terminal measurement covers the line impedance measurement, by using LCR meter connected to the specimen suitable probes or connections to measure the resistance and capacitance/inductance. The measurement range of resistance is from 0.01 mΩ to 99.9999 MΩ. The measurement range of capacitance is from 0.01 fF to 9.99999 F. The measurement range of inductance is from 0.01 nH to 99.9999 kH. The operating frequency range is from 10 Hz to 1 MHz.
6. This document does not purport to address safety issues, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health guides and determine the applicability of regulatory or other limitations prior to use.

References
[1] AATCC EP 13 2018. Evaluation Procedure for Electrical Resistance of Electronically-Integrated Textiles.
[2] AATCC 84 2005. Electrical Resistance of Yarns.
[3] EN 16812:2016. Textiles and textile products. Electrically conductive textiles. Determination of the linear electrical resistance of conductive tracks.
[4] ASTM D1776 2004. Standard Practice for Conditioning and Testing Textiles.

b: Expected result of activity
New Standard or Safety Guideline (including replacement of an existing Standard or Safety Guideline)

For a new Subordinate Standard, identify the Primary Standard here:




For Standards, identify the Standard Subtype below:
Test Method

Miscellaneous (describe below):

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3. Projected Timetable for Completion:

a: General Milestones
a. Activity Start: 10/06/2020b. 1st Draft by: 12/30/2020
c. (Optional) Informational Ballot by: d. Letter Ballot by: 03/31/2021
e. TC Chapter Approval By:03/31/2020

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4. Liaisons with other Global Technical Committees/TC Chapters/Subcommittees/TFs:
a. List SEMI global technical committees, TC Chapters, subcommittees, or task forces in your or other Regions/Locales that should be kept informed regarding the progress of this activity. (Refer to SEMI Standards organization charts and global technical committee charters and scopes as needed.)
Since this TC is the first of its kind under SEMI global standards organization, currently there is no TC in other region associated with this TC.


b. List any planned Type I Liaisons with external nonprofit organizations (e.g., SDO) that should receive Draft Documents from Standards staff for feedback during this activity and be notified when the Letter Ballot is issued (refer to Procedure Manual § 7):
There are several SDOs this TF may liaison with for potential collaboration in the future, such as JEDEC, ASTM, IEC, IPC, AATCC, TSTA…etc.

c. Intercommittee Ballots:
will not be issued

Identify the recipient global technical committee(s):

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5. Safety Considerations:
The resulting document is expected:
NOT to be a Safety Guideline

NOTE FOR "to be a Safety Guideline": When all safety-related information is removed from the Document, the Document is NOT technically sound and complete - Refer to Section 15.1 of the Regulations for special procedures to be followed.

NOTE FOR "NOT to be a Safety Guideline": When all safety-related information is removed from the Document, the Document is still technically sound and complete.

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6. Intellectual Property Considerations:
Note: Both a: and b: below should be checked for Revision of existing Standard(s) and Safety Guideline(s).

a. For a new Standard or Safety Guideline and for any part to be modified or added in a Revision of published Standards and Safety Guidelines:
the use of patented technology is NOT required.

If "patented technology is intended to be included in the proposed Standard(s) or Safety Guideline(s) " is selected above, then also check one:


b. For Revision, Reapproval, Reinstatement, or Withdrawal of existing Standard(s) and Safety Guideline(s):


c. The body of the Document and any Appendices, Complementary Files, Related Information sections, or Various Materials that may or may not be a part of the Document by reference:
the incorporation of Copyrighted Item will NOT be required



NOTE FOR ‘the use of patented technology or the incorporation of Copyrighted Item(s) is NOT required’: If in the course of developing the Document, it is determined that the use of patented technology or Copyrighted Item(s) is necessary for the Document, the provisions of Regulations § 16 must be followed.

NOTE FOR ’will incorporate Copyrighted Item’: A copyright release letter must be obtained from the copyright owner prior to publication.

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7. Comments, Special Circumstances:
None.

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8. TC Member Review:
took place between (put dates below) before approval by the GCS, or

Member Review Start Date; 09/15/2020
Member Review End Date: 10/30/2020.

NOTE FOR ‘TC Member Review’ is required by the Regulations for a period of at least two weeks
before approval of a new, or a major revision of an existing, Standard or Safety Guideline. (Refer to Regulations ¶ 8.2.1)
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9. SNARF Approval Dates:
TC Chapter or GCS11/02/2020
Recorded in TC Minutes

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10. SNARF Extension Dates:
TC Chapter Extension Granted on
Extension Expires on
SNARF_Test Method of Line Impedance for FHE.pdfSNARF_Test Method of Line Impedance for FHE.pdf