Fabric-based items with environmental control elements
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a fabric comprising intertwined strands of material, wherein the strands of material include electrically conductive strands and electrically insulating strands;
sensors in the fabric that gather biometric information about a user;
temperature control elements in the fabric, wherein the temperature control elements include a first temperature control element that controls a temperature of a first region of the fabric and a second temperature control element that controls a temperature of a second region of the fabric; and
control circuitry that receives the biometric information from the sensors via the electrically conductive strands and that operates the temperature control elements based on the biometric information, wherein the control circuitry operates the first and second temperature control elements independently of one another and determines whether to activate the first temperature control element or the second control element based on the biometric information gathered by the sensors.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fabric-based item may adapt to and adjust the biometric state of an individual that is wearing or touching the fabric-based item. The fabric-based item may be a cover for a seat in a vehicle, an article of clothing, a wrist band, or other suitable fabric-based item. The fabric-based item may include one or more sensors that gather biometric information about the individual and one or more environmental control devices that adjust or maintain the environment around the individual based on the biometric information. The sensors may include temperature sensors, humidity sensors, pressure sensors, heart rate sensors, or other sensors that gather biometric information about the user. The environmental control elements may be used to control the temperature, humidity, airflow or other aspect of the environment around the individual based on the biometric state of the individual.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a fabric comprising intertwined strands of material, wherein the strands of material include electrically conductive strands and electrically insulating strands; sensors in the fabric that gather biometric information about a user; temperature control elements in the fabric, wherein the temperature control elements include a first temperature control element that controls a temperature of a first region of the fabric and a second temperature control element that controls a temperature of a second region of the fabric; and control circuitry that receives the biometric information from the sensors via the electrically conductive strands and that operates the temperature control elements based on the biometric information, wherein the control circuitry operates the first and second temperature control elements independently of one another and determines whether to activate the first temperature control element or the second control element based on the biometric information gathered by the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An environmental control system that controls an environment for a passenger in a vehicle, comprising:
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a fabric on which the passenger sits, wherein the fabric comprises electrically conductive strands intertwined with electrically insulating strands; at least one temperature sensor in the fabric that measures a temperature of the passenger; at least one environmental control element in the fabric that provides different sensations to the passenger; and control circuitry that operates the at least one environmental control element based on the temperature of the passenger, wherein the control circuitry receives signals from the at least one temperature sensor via the electrically conductive strands. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for operating an adaptive fabric that adapts to an individual'"'"'s biometric state, wherein the adaptive fabric comprises electrically conductive strands intertwined with electrically insulating strands, the method comprising:
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with a sensor in the fabric, gathering biometric information from the individual; with control circuitry; receiving the biometric information from the sensor via the electrically conductive strands, and activating a thermal haptic device in the fabric in response to the biometric information from the sensor; and with the thermal haptic device, changing a thermal property of the fabric in response to being activated. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification