Material, system, and method that provide indication of a breach

• US 20120133507A1
• Filed: 11/29/2010
• Published: 05/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Science Fund, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Bangera, Mahalaxmi Gita, Diaz, Roy P., Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Jung, Edward K.Y., Kare, Jordin T., Lieberman, Erez, Myhrvold, Nathan P., Rivet, Dennis J., Smith, Michael A., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,715,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/00 Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/283 synthetic polymer-based, e.g. polyamide or polyester fibres cellulose-based artificial fibres D03D15/225
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/547 with optical functions other than colour, e.g. comprising light-emitting fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/20 optical
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/223 for investigating presence of specific gases or aerosols G01N31/221, G01N31/222 take precedence; actuation of fire alarm by presence of smoke or gases G08B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/239 Complete cover or casing

Abstract

A multilayer material is described herein that includes at least one signaling layer configured to propagate at least one electromagnetic signal; and a flexible layer configured to enclose the at least one signaling layer, wherein the flexible layer is substantially impermeable to an environment and to the at least one electromagnetic signal. The multilayer material including the at least one signaling layer is configured to transmit a change in the at least one electromagnetic signal upon exposure of the signaling layer to the environment. A system, an article of clothing, or a method is described herein.

Claims

1. An article of clothing comprising:

a multilayer material including;

at least one first signaling layer configured to propagate at least one electromagnetic signal; and

a flexible layer configured to enclose the at least one signaling layer, wherein the flexible layer is substantially impermeable to an environment and to the at least one electromagnetic signal,

wherein the at least one signaling layer is configured to transmit a change in the at least one electromagnetic signal upon exposure of the signaling layer to the environment.

2. The article of clothing of claim 1, further including a flexible outer layer configured adjacent to the signaling layer, wherein the flexible outer layer is substantially impermeable to an environment and to the at least one electromagnetic signal.

3. The article of clothing of claim 2, further including a flexible inner layer configured adjacent to the signaling layer, wherein the flexible inner layer and the flexible outer layer are configured to enclose the signaling layer, and the flexible inner layer is substantially impermeable to an environment and to the at least one electromagnetic signal.

4. The article of clothing of claim 1, further including a detector, configured to detect a change in the at least one electromagnetic signal from the signaling layer indicating a breach of the multilayer material.

5. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the detector is configured to contact the multilayer material, and the detector is configured to directly detect the change in the at least one electromagnetic signal from the signaling layer.

6. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the detector is configured to operate at a distance from the multilayer material, and the detector is configured to remotely detect the change in the at least one electromagnetic signal from the signaling layer.

7. The article of clothing of claim 6, wherein the detector is configured to operate as a portable unit, a handheld unit, or a unit embedded into walls, furniture, or instruments.

8. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the at least one electromagnetic signal includes one or more of an ultraviolet signal, a visible light signal and an infrared signal.

9. The article of clothing of claim 1, further including a source of the at least one electromagnetic signal.

10. The article of clothing of claim 9, further including a power source operably coupled to the source of the at least one electromagnetic signal.

11. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the signaling layer includes one or more optical threads or optical fibers.

12. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the signaling layer includes one or more electromagnetic energy waveguides.

13. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the at least one electromagnetic signal includes one or more of a radiofrequency signal, a microwave signal, or a terahertz signal.

14. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the detector is configured to measure one or more absolute level of the at least one electromagnetic signal.

15. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the detector is configured to measure a comparison between one or more absolute levels and one or more baseline levels of the at least one electromagnetic signal.

16. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the detector is configured to measure one or more changes of wavelength of the at least one electromagnetic signal.

17. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the one or more changes in the at least one electromagnetic signal include a change in intensity, a change in phase, difference in polarization state, a change in peak power, or a change in direction of the at least one electromagnetic signal.

18. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the detector is configured to measure one or more wavelength spectra of the at least one electromagnetic signal.

19. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the detector is configured to measure one or more time profiles of the at least one electromagnetic signal.

20. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the detector is configured to store signaling data or metadata on board the detector for future readout.

21. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the detector is configured to transmit one or more signals to a remote receiver.

22. The article of clothing of claim 21, wherein the one or more signals operably coupled to the remote receiver is wireless.

23. The article of clothing of claim 21, wherein the one or more signals is delivered by wire or by a physical storage media.

24. The article of clothing of claim 21, wherein the one or more signals to the remote receiver contains information on one or more of wavelength spectrum of the electromagnetic signal, time profile of the electromagnetic signal, electromagnetic signal magnitude, or electromagnetic signal magnitude compared to baseline.

25. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the detector includes at least one of a radio frequency identification sensor and a radio frequency identification reader.

26. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the multilayer material includes at least one of a radio frequency identification sensor and a radio frequency identification reader.

27. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the detector is configured to form a component of the multilayer material.

28. The article of clothing of claim 27, wherein the detector is configured to be electromagnetically coupled to the signaling layer.

29. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the detector is configured to operate in contact with the multilayer material.

30. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the detector is configured to operate at a distance from the multilayer material.

31. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the signaling layer includes two or more electromagnetic signals that differ in one or more of wavelength spectrum, time profile, intensity, phase, polarization state, peak power, direction, or duty cycle.

32. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the signaling layer includes two or more electromagnetic signals that occupy substantially a same location in the signaling layer.

33. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the signaling layer includes two or more electromagnetic signals that occupy substantially different locations in the signaling layer.

34. The article of clothing of claim 33, wherein the two or more electromagnetic signals occupy substantially different locations laterally or vertically in the signaling layer.

35. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the detector further provides metadata to a computing device.

36. The article of clothing of claim 35, wherein the metadata includes multilayer material identification, user identification, location of a breach in the multilayer material, detection event time, or multilayer material location.

37. The article of clothing of claim 21, wherein the detector or the remote receiver is configured to communicate with a computing device.

38. The article of clothing of claim 37, wherein the computing device is configured to activate a user interface configured to inform a wearer of the multilayer material, a co-worker, an individual, a supervisor, a safety official, a manufacturer of the multilayer material, a seller of the multilayer material, or an insurance official.

39. The article of clothing of claim 1, further including a second signaling layer including at least one chemical compound.

40. The article of clothing of claim 39, wherein the second signaling layer includes the at least one chemical compound configured to produce at least one gas-phase chemical compound configured to be released into the environment upon exposure of the at least one chemical compound to the environment.

41. The article of clothing of claim 39, wherein the at least one chemical compound includes a gas-phase chemical compound, a liquid chemical compound, or a solid chemical compound.

42. The article of clothing of claim 40, further including a second detector configured to detect the at least one gas-phase chemical compound or a reaction product thereof in the environment indicating a breach of the multilayer material.

43. The article of clothing of claim 42, further including a second remote receiver, wherein the second detector is configured to deliver a second signal to the second remote receiver.

44. The article of clothing of claim 40, wherein the at least one gas-phase chemical compound in the second signaling layer is configured to diffuse to a second detector.

45. The article of clothing of claim 40, wherein the gas-phase chemical compound is substantially removed from the environment within a specified time.

46. The article of clothing of claim 43, wherein the second signal to the second remote receiver includes data associated with the identity of the at least one gas-phase chemical compound, concentration of the at least one gas-phase chemical compound, comparison of concentration of the at least one gas-phase chemical compound to baseline, or ratio of concentrations of two or more gas-phase chemical compounds.

47. The article of clothing of claim 40, wherein the gas-phase chemical compound includes mercaptan, carbon dioxide, 1-hexanol, sulfur hexafluoride, ethanethiol, or furaneol.

48. The article of clothing of claim 39, wherein the at least one chemical compound is microencapsulated in the signaling layer.

49. The article of clothing of claim 40, further including a remote receiver, wherein the remote receiver is configured to receive a signal from a first detector configured to detect a change in the at least one electromagnetic signal from the signaling layer indicating a breach of the multilayer material, and wherein the remote receiver is configured to receive a signal from a second detector configured to detect the at least one gas-phase chemical compound or a reaction product thereof released from the second signaling layer into the environment indicating a breach of the multilayer material.

50. The article of clothing of claim 1, further including an indicator showing presence of the at least one electromagnetic signal within the signaling layer.

51. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the article of clothing includes a glove, shirt, pant, coverall, apron, shoe covering, or head covering.

52. A system comprising:

a multilayer material including at least one signaling layer configured to propagate at least one electromagnetic signal; and

a flexible layer configured to enclose the at least one signaling layer, wherein the flexible layer is substantially impermeable to an environment and to the at least one electromagnetic signal,

wherein the at least one signaling layer is configured to transmit a change in the at least one electromagnetic signal upon exposure of the signaling layer to the environment.

53. The system of claim 52, further including a flexible outer layer configured adjacent to the signaling layer, wherein the flexible outer layer is substantially impermeable to an environment and to the at least one electromagnetic signal.

54. The system of claim 53, further including a flexible inner layer configured adjacent to the signaling layer, wherein the flexible inner layer and the flexible outer layer are configured to enclose the signaling layer, and the flexible inner layer is substantially impermeable to an environment and to the at least one electromagnetic signal.

55-241. -241. (canceled)