BODY CONFORMABLE ELECTRICAL NETWORK

• US 20090117753A1
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellisense Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Physical Optics Corporation
• Inventors: Forrester, Thomas, Jannson, Tomasz, Lee, Kang, Kostrzewski, Andrew, Levin, Eugene, Savant, Gajendra
• Granted Patent: US 7,658,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/37
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/592 connections to contact elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/24 resilient; resiliently-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/625 Casing or ring with bayonet engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6277 comprising annular latching means, e.g. ring snapping in an annular groove
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/64 Devices for uninterrupted current collection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/04 using electrically conductive adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/06 Riveted connections by explosion H01R4/08

Abstract

An entirely wearable electrical connector for power/data connectivity. The principal element of a modular network is the wearable electrical connector, which is integrated into a personal area network with USB compatibility.

Claims

1. A body conformable network, comprising:

a wearable article having;

a plurality of sections;

a plurality of electrical conducting network paths disposed on the sections; and

a plurality of electrical connectors for mechanically joining the sections and for electrically joining the network paths, wherein the electrical connectors comprise;

a first mating element;

a printed circuit board disposed at least partially within the first mating element, the printed circuit board having a plurality of electrically conductive paths configured to be electrically coupled to the electrical conducting network paths at a coupling location; and

a second mating element configured to be mechanically coupled to the first mating element, such that the second mating element maintains a rotational degree of freedom with respect to the first mating element when mechanically coupled; and

the second mating having a plurality of electrical contacts configured to be electrically coupled to respective electrical paths on the printed circuit board when the mating elements are mechanically coupled.

2. The body conformable network of claim 1, wherein the electrical conducting network paths comprise e-textiles.

3. The body conformable network of claim 1, wherein an electrical connector of the plurality has only one coupling location.

4. The body conformable network of claim 1, wherein an electrical connector of the plurality has two coupling locations.

5. The body conformable network of claim 1, wherein a connector of the plurality has three coupling locations.

6. The body conformable network of claim 1, wherein a connector of the plurality has four coupling locations.

7. A garment, comprising:

a garment portion; and

a body conformable network coupled to the garment portion, the network comprising;

a plurality of electrical conducting network paths;

a plurality of electrical connectors, each connector comprising;

a first mating element configured to mechanically receive a second mating element configured to maintain a rotational degree of freedom with respect to the mating element; and

a printed circuit board disposed at least partially within the first mating element, the printed circuit board having a plurality of electrically conductive paths configured to be electrically coupled to the electrical conducting network paths at a coupling location and further configured to be electrically coupled to electrical contacts disposed on the second mating element.

8. The garment of claim 7, wherein the electrical conducting network paths comprise e-textiles.

9. The garment of claim 7, wherein the network paths are disposed on the garment portion.

10. The garment of claim 7, further comprising fastening elements for coupling the body conformable network to the garment portion.

11. The garment of claim 7, wherein a connector of the plurality has only one coupling location.

12. The garment of claim 7, wherein a connector of the plurality has two coupling locations.

13. The garment of claim 7, wherein a connector of the plurality has three coupling locations.

14. The garment of claim 7, wherein a connector of the plurality has four coupling locations.

15. A method of network communication, comprising:

sending an electrical signal along an electrical network coupled to a garment, the network comprising;

a plurality of electrical conducting network paths disposed on a plurality of sections; and

a plurality of electrical connectors for mechanically joining the sections and for electrically joining the network paths, wherein the electrical connectors comprise;

a first mating element;

a printed circuit board disposed at least partially within the first mating element, the printed circuit board having a plurality of electrically conductive paths configured to be electrically coupled to the electrical conducting network paths at a coupling location; and

a second mating element configured to be mechanically coupled to the first mating element, such that the second mating element maintains a rotational degree of freedom with respect to the first mating element when mechanically coupled; and

the second mating having a plurality of electrical contacts configured to be electrically coupled to respective electrical paths on the printed circuit board when the mating elements are mechanically coupled.

16. The method of network communication of claim 15, wherein the electrical conducting network paths comprise e-textiles.

17. The method of network communication of claim 15, wherein the network paths are disposed on a garment.

18. The method of network communication of claim 15, further comprising fastening elements for coupling the body conformable to a garment.

19. The method of network communication of claim 15, wherein a connector of the plurality has only one coupling location.

20. The method of network communication of claim 15, wherein a connector of the plurality has two coupling locations.

21. The method of network communication of claim 15, wherein a connector of the plurality has three coupling locations.

22. The method of network communication of claim 15, wherein a connector of the plurality has four coupling locations.