Patent classifications
D03D1/0088
Electronic devices with fabric actuators
A fabric item may have control circuitry and input-output devices. A fabric haptic output device may be formed in the fabric item. The fabric haptic output device may be based on an electromagnetic fabric actuator, a piezoelectric fabric actuator, or other actuator formed from fabric. The fabric actuator may have a permanent magnet portion and an electromagnet portion. During operation, signals supplied to a coil in the electromagnet portion may create a magnetic field that moves the permanent magnet portion. Fabric support structures may be used to support an electromagnet or permanent magnet. Fabric springs may be coupled between the fabric support structures and the electromagnet or permanent magnet. The fabric of the support structures, magnetic structures, and springs may be incorporated into a wearable fabric structure, part of a cover or case for a device, a housing structure such as a housing wall, or other fabric structure.
WEARABLE GLOVE WITH HYBRID RESISTIVE-PRESSURE SENSORS
A wearable article comprising a knitted fabric formed in the shape of a glove. A force sensing element coupled to the fabric, the force sensing element comprising a resistive sensing system and a fluidic sensing system comprising one or more soft tubes coupled to a surface of the wearable glove wherein the resistive and fluid sensing systems correspond to first and second different sensor modalities which are physically decoupled. Control circuitry is coupled to receive signals from both the resistive sensing system and the fluidic sensing system and to combine resistive and fluidic sensing system signals provided thereto to perform at least one of: pose estimation, environment sensing, human state sensing, and static and dynamic task identification.
ELECTRICAL STIMULATION FITNESS WEAR
In electrical stimulation fitness wear, multiple electrode parts 30 are provided in a clothing portion, at positions that respectively face multiple target body parts such as to be respectively in proximity to the multiple target body parts, so as to provide electrical stimulation to the multiple target body parts, and the multiple electrode parts 30 each have a surface formed of a conductive polymer fabric 31. Multiple electrical cables 36 respectively connect the multiple electrode parts 30 to a connection part of a control unit electrically. The multiple electrode parts 30 include a first electrode part 30 to which a first electrical cable 36 is connected and a second electrode part 30 to which a second electrical cable 36 is connected. The first electrode part 30 and the second electrode part 30 are provided at separate positions such that a current can be applied to a certain body part between the electrodes.
CONNECTORS FOR INTEGRATING CONDUCTIVE THREADS TO NON-COMPATIBLE ELECTROMECHANICAL DEVICES
An electrical circuit assembly comprising: a circuit component, a fabric-based component, and a fastener is disclosed along with methods for fabricating the electrical circuit assembly and for using the electrical circuit assembly. The circuit component may comprise: a substrate layer comprising an integrated circuit disposed on the substrate layer; and a first conductive linkage electrically coupled to the integrated circuit. The fabric-based component may comprise: a fabric layer comprising a first at least one conductive thread; and a second conductive linkage electrically coupled to the first at least one conductive thread. The fastener may be configured to couple the circuit component and the fabric-based component at the first conductive linkage and the second conductive linkage.
Capacitive Touch Sensor with Non-Crossing Conductive Line Pattern
Systems and methods for interactive objects including conductive lines are provided. An interactive object may comprise a capacitive touch sensor comprising two or more non-crossing conductive lines that form at least a first conductive line pattern. The first conductive line pattern may comprise a first, second, and third sequence of the two or more non-crossing conductive lines relative to a respective first, second, and third input direction. The interactive object may be configured to detect touch input to the capacitive touch sensor based on a change in capacitance associated with the two or more non-crossing conductive lines, identify at least one of the first, second, or third line sequence based on the touch input to the capacitive touch sensor, and determine a respective gesture corresponding to the first, second, or third sequence of two or more non-crossing conductive lines.
Wearable technology with sensors integrated into clothing fibers
Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are directed to articles of clothing that allow for monitoring of different analytes (e.g., electrolytes and molecules) in human sweat during fitness activity, while training, or simply in everyday life. The clothing includes a sensor system completely integrated in textile such that every sensing part is made of textile fibers. The clothing is able to control, collect, analyze, and expel the sweat over time. The textile sensor allows a spontaneous absorption of body sweat directly from the skin, while it is produced, using the hydrophilic natural properties of the textile. Then, once adsorbed, the flux of sweat is controlled and guided through the textile using a gradient of the textile's hydrophilic properties. The sweat guided through the textile is analyzed through an electrochemical sensor woven into the textile. Finally, the sweat is collected in a reservoir and expelled for evaporation.
FABRIC WITH WOVEN INTEGRATED LIGHTING
A woven textile has one or more weavable threads and at least one lighting filament in which the weavable threads and the at least one lighting filament are woven together to form a textile with integrally woven lighting.
Antibacterial yarn and antibacterial fabric
An antibacterial yarn that includes a core yarn including a functional polymer that generates a charge by external energy and a first sheath yarn higher in hygroscopicity than the core yarn, the first sheath yarn covering at least a part of a periphery of the core yarn across an axial direction of the core yarn.
Woven fabric substrate for prevention of structural damage to functional yarns contained therein
A fabric substrate material is provided. The fabric substrate includes at least a first layer and a second layer. The first layer includes a first plurality of non-functional fill yarns and at least one functional fill yarn, and the second layer includes a second plurality of fill yarns. The second plurality of fill yarns and the at least one functional fill yarn exhibit substantially the same compressive strength, compressive resistance, or flexural strength. As such, the functional fill yarn in the first layer is protected from shrinkage or expansion and remains undamaged and functional after the fabric substrate is woven and subsequently handled or processed. The aforementioned practice of reinforcement described in the fill direction of the second layer can also be applied in the warp yarn direction, using the same principles described herein.
Fabric Control Device
A fabric-based item may include a housing that is covered in fabric. Areas of the fabric may overlap input circuitry such as button switches, touch sensors, force sensors, proximity sensors, and other sensing circuitry and may overlap other components such as light-emitting components and haptic output devices. The fabric-based item may include control circuitry that gathers user input from the input circuitry and wireless communications circuitry that the control circuitry uses to transmit remote control commands and other wireless signals in response information from the input circuitry. The fabric-based item may have a weight that is located in the housing to orient the housing in a desired direction when the housing rests on a surface. A movable weight may tilt the housing in response to proximity sensor signals or other input. Portions of the fabric may overlap light-emitting components and optical fiber configured to emit light.