ARTICLE OF CLOTHING INCLUDING BIO-MEDICAL UNITS

• US 20130289382A1
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza), Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Vorenkamp, Pieter
• Application Number:
  US13/931,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20130289382A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport

Abstract

An article of clothing includes a clothing fabric and a plurality of bio-medical units integrated into the clothing fabric. A bio-medical includes a power harvesting module, a communication module, a processing module, a functional module, a die, and an IC package. The die supports the power harvesting module, the processing module, the communication module, and the functional module. The IC package houses the die and includes a mechanism for adhering to the clothing fabric.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. An integrated circuit (IC) for incorporation in a clothing fabric, the IC comprises:

a power harvesting module configured to convert a radio frequency (RF) signal into a supply voltage;

a communication module configured, when powered by the supply voltage, to;

convert an inbound wireless signal into an inbound symbol stream;

convert an outbound symbol stream into an outbound wireless signal;

a processing module configured, when powered by the supply voltage, to;

convert the inbound symbol stream into a bio-medical function;

convert a bio-medical response into the outbound symbol stream;

a functional module configured, when powered by the supply voltage, to;

perform the bio-medical function; and

when the bio-medical function is a monitoring function, generate the bio-medical response.

22. The IC of claim 21, further comprising:

an IC package housing the IC, wherein the IC package includes a fabric adhering mechanism

23. The IC of claim 22 wherein the fabric adhering mechanism comprises at least of:

an eyelet for facilitating sewing the IC into the clothing fabric;

a hook for facilitating sewing the IC into the clothing fabric;

a notch for facilitating sewing the IC into the clothing fabric; and

a fabric adhesive for facilitating gluing the IC into the clothing fabric.

24. The IC of claim 21 further comprises:

an encapsulant for encapsulating the IC package.

25. The IC of claim 21, wherein the bio-medical function further comprises at least one of:

an image capture function;

a movement capture function;

a sound capture function;

a topical treatment function; and

an electronic stimulation function.

26. The IC of claim 21, wherein the power harvesting module comprises at least one of:

an electromagnetic signal to voltage conversion module;

an RF signal to voltage conversion module;

a motion to voltage conversion module;

a light to voltage conversion module; and

a heat to voltage conversion module.

27. The IC of claim 26, wherein the electromagnetic signal to voltage conversion module comprises at least one of:

an array of inductors and a rectifying circuit module to produce the supply voltage from the electromagnetic signal; and

an array of Hall-effect devices and the rectifying circuit module to produce the supply voltage from the electromagnetic signal.

28. An article of clothing comprises:

a clothing fabric; and

a plurality of bio-medical units integrated with the clothing fabric, wherein a bio-medical unit of the plurality of bio-medical units includes;

a power harvesting module operable to convert radio frequency (RF) signals into a supply voltage;

a communication module operable, when powered by the supply voltage, to;

convert an inbound wireless signal into an inbound symbol stream; and

convert an outbound symbol stream into an outbound wireless signal;

a processing module operable, when powered by the supply voltage, to;

convert the inbound symbol stream into a bio-medical function; and

convert a bio-medical response into the outbound symbol stream;

a functional module operable, when powered by the supply voltage, to;

perform the bio-medical function; and

when the bio-medical function is a monitoring function, generate the bio-medical response.

29. The article of clothing of claim 28 wherein the plurality of bio-medical units are integrated into the clothing fabric by adhering the plurality of bio-medical units into seams of the clothing fabric.

30. The article of clothing of claim 28, wherein the clothing fabric comprises:

a plurality of pouches for housing at least some of the bio-medical units.

31. The article of clothing of claim 28, further comprising:

a die supporting at least one of the power harvesting module, the processing module, the communication module, and the functional module; and

an IC package housing the IC.

32. The article of clothing of claim 31, wherein the IC package further comprises:

a fabric adhering mechanism that includes at least of;

an eyelet for facilitating sewing the IC into the clothing fabric;

a hook for facilitating sewing the IC into the clothing fabric;

a notch for facilitating sewing the IC into the clothing fabric; and

a fabric adhesive for facilitating gluing the IC into the clothing fabric.

33. The article of clothing of claim 28, wherein the bio-medical unit further comprises:

an encapsulant for encapsulating the IC package.

34. The article of clothing of claim 28, wherein the bio-medical function further comprises at least one of:

an image capture function;

a movement capture function;

a sound capture function;

a topical treatment function; and

an electronic stimulation function.

35. The article of clothing of claim 28, wherein the power harvesting module comprises at least one of:

an electromagnetic signal to voltage conversion module;

an RF signal to voltage conversion module;

a motion to voltage conversion module;

a light to voltage conversion module; and

a heat to voltage conversion module.

36. The article of clothing of claim 35, wherein the electromagnetic signal to voltage conversion module comprises at least one of:

an array of inductors and a rectifying circuit module to produce the supply voltage from the electromagnetic signal; and

an array of Hall-effect devices and the rectifying circuit module to produce the supply voltage from the electromagnetic signal.

37. A method for a executing a bio-medical application by a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

transmitting a continuous wave (CW) signal for a predetermined period of time, wherein a power harvesting module of a bio-medical unit of a plurality of bio-medical units integrated into a clothing fabric converts the CW signal into a supply voltage;

after expiration of the predetermined period of time, transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal for executing the bio-medical application, including;

converting the RF signal into an inbound symbol stream;

converting the inbound symbol stream into a bio-medical command;

performing the bio-medical command and, when commanded, generating a bio-medical response;

converting the bio-medical response into an outbound symbol stream; and

converting the outbound symbol stream into an outbound RF response signal; and

receiving the RF response signal.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

receiving a request for re-transmission of the CW signal as the RF response signal.

39. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

instructing the power harvesting module to also convert the RF signal into the supply voltage.

40. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

after sending the RF signal, resume transmitting the CW signal;

indicating a time window for when the bio-medical unit is to transmit the RF response signal; and

during the time window, stop transmitting the CW signal.