SMART ACTIVE MEMBRANE

Abstract

An apparatus comprising: an active membrane, wherein the active membrane transports liquid through the active N membrane when a voltage is applied across the active membrane; and a controller for controlling the active membrane (i.e. controlling operation of the active membrane) are provided. The controller is configured to receive user data, membrane data and external data; and configured to control the active membrane based on one or more of the received user data, membrane data and external data. A system comprising: an apparatus comprising an active membrane, wherein the active membrane transports liquid across the membrane when a voltage is applied across the active membrane; and a server configured to communicate with the apparatus comprising the active membrane is provided. Methods of operating the apparatus and system are also provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: an active membrane, wherein the active membrane transports liquid through the active membrane when a voltage is applied across the active membrane; and a controller for controlling the active membrane, wherein the controller is configured to receive user data, membrane data and external data; and configured to control the active membrane based on one or more of the received user data, membrane data and external data.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein user data comprises one or more of age, gender, weight, height, fitness level, temperature preference and humidity preference, and/or an indication of an activity that the user will undertake.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the membrane data comprises one or more of humidity, temperature, conductivity and/or impedance of the membrane, detection of water, moisture and/or rain on the membrane, movement, acceleration, deceleration, speed, orientation of the membrane and/or pressure on the membrane.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the external data comprises one or more of weather data, time and date data, GPS data, data regarding previous use, and/or data from other apparatuses.

5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises a heating device and/or a cooling device.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to control the heating and/or the cooling device based on one or more of the received user data, membrane data and external data.

7. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises a communication device for communicating with an external server.

8. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises an external electronic device that provides one or more of the controller, a user interface, power source, communication device for use with the active membrane.

9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the active membrane is part of a garment.

10. A method of operating an active membrane, the method comprising: providing an apparatus comprising an active membrane, wherein the active membrane transports liquid through the active membrane when a voltage is applied across the active membrane; receiving user data, membrane data and external data; and controlling the active membrane based on one or more of the received user data, membrane data and external data.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus is an apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 9.

12. A system comprising: an apparatus comprising an active membrane, wherein the active membrane transports liquid across the membrane when a voltage is applied across the active membrane; and a server configured to communicate with the apparatus comprising the active membrane.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the system comprises a plurality of apparatuses comprising active membranes that are each in communication with the server.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the server is configured to centrally collect data about all of the apparatuses.

15. A system according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the server may permit central control of a plurality of the apparatuses.

16. A system according to claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein the system is configured so that one apparatus can be controlled based on data received from another apparatus.

17. A system according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the apparatus comprises a heating and/or a cooling device.

18. A system according to any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the active membrane is part of a garment.

19. A system according to any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein the apparatus is an apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 9.

20. A method, the method comprising: providing an apparatus comprising an active membrane, wherein the active membrane transports liquid across the membrane when a voltage is applied across the active membrane; and providing a server configured to receive data from and/or send data to the apparatus comprising the active membrane.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the apparatus and server together provide a system and wherein the system is a system according to any of claims 12 to 19.

Description

[0106] Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0107] FIG. 1 is a schematic showing a system comprising a plurality of apparatuses.

[0108] FIG. 1 shows schematically a system 1 comprising a plurality of (in this example, three) apparatuses 2.

[0109] Each apparatus 2 comprises an active membrane 4. The active membrane 4 comprises a porous layer 6. The porous layer 6 is located between two conductive layers 8. When an electric voltage is applied across the porous layer 6 via the conductive layers 8 water is transported through the active membrane 6.

[0110] The electric voltage is provided by a power source 10. Although it is shown in this schematic as being a power source separate from the electronic portable device 12 the power source may alternatively be provided by the electronic portable device.

[0111] The electric voltage is provided across the porous membrane 6 using the electric circuit 14.

[0112] A controller 16 is provided and is configured to control the operation of the active membrane 4. The controller 16 may comprise a processor to permit the processing of data and to control the active membrane 4 based on the data. Whilst the controller 16 is shown as a component separate from the portable electronic device 12, the controller may be part of the portable electronic device 12.

[0113] The controller 16 may be arranged such that it can communicate with the portable electronic device 12.

[0114] Each apparatus may comprise a temperature adjustment device 17. This may be a heating and/or cooling device 17. The temperature adjustment device 17 may also be controlled by the controller 16.

[0115] The portable electronic device 12 may comprise a user interface that permits the input and output of data to and from the controller 16.

[0116] The apparatus 2 may also comprise sensors. For example, the apparatus may comprise a measuring circuit 16 to detect one or more conditions of the membrane 6. The electronic device 12 may additionally and/or alternatively comprise one or more sensors.

[0117] Each apparatus 2 may be in communication with a central server 18. Each apparatus 2 may be arranged to send data to and receive data from the central server 18.

[0118] The central server 18 may receive information from remote sensors (not shown) and this information may be forwarded onto one or more of the apparatuses 2.

[0119] The sensor(s) may comprise one or more of a humidity sensor, temperature sensor, moisture sensor, accelerometer, magnetometer, proximity sensor, pressure sensor, altitude sensor, weather sensor, chemical sensor, and/or GPS sensor etc.

[0120] Thus the system 1 may comprise means to obtain data regarding the humidity, temperature, conductivity, impedance, detection of water, moisture and/or rain, weather, acceleration, deceleration, speed, orientation, location, and/or pressure etc.

[0121] Each apparatus 2 may be configured to receive user data, membrane data and/or external data.

[0122] The user data may be data that is input by and/or is about a user. This may for example comprise personal data such as age, gender, weight, height, fitness level. The user data may alternatively or additionally comprise user preference data such as temperature and humidity preferences. The user data may comprise an indication of an activity that the user is about to undertake and/or is undertaking.

[0123] The membrane data may be data concerning the condition of the membrane 6. The membrane data for example may comprise humidity, temperature, conductivity and/or impedance of the membrane, detection of water, moisture and/or rain on the membrane, movement, acceleration, deceleration, speed, orientation of the membrane and/or pressure on the membrane etc. Sensors to provide membrane data may be part of the apparatus 2.

[0124] The external data may be data that is not input by or about the user and/or is not data specifically concerning the membrane. For example, the external data may comprise weather data (such as sensed weather conditions or weather forecasts), time and date data, GPS data, data regarding previous use, and/or data from other apparatuses 2 (such as other functional elements worn by the user and/or functional elements worn by other users) etc. Sensors to provide external data may be external to the apparatuses 2.

[0125] The controller 16 may be configured to receive the user data, membrane data and/or external data; and may be configured to control the active membrane 6 and/or the temperature adjustment device 17 based on one or more, some or all of the received user data, membrane data and external data.

[0126] The server 18 may be arranged to receive date from one apparatus 2 and provide that data to another apparatus 2.

[0127] The server 18 may be used to centrally collect data about all of the apparatuses 2. This may be used for troubleshooting and support of one or more of the apparatuses 2. This may be used to provide feedback to the developers and/or manufacturers to aid the development and manufacture of future products.

[0128] The server 18 may permit central control of the all of the apparatuses 2. For example, certain data may be sent to some or all of the apparatuses 2 to cause them to be controlled in a certain way.