ACTIVELY CONTROLLED PERFORMANCE CLOTHING

• US 20170164664A1
• Filed: 12/11/2015
• Published: 06/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Edelsohn, David Joel, Nagpurkar, Priya A., Maghraoui, Kaoutar El, Moreira, Jose Eduardo, Tseng, Jessica Hui-Chun, Daly, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,219,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0015 Sports garments other than provided for in groups A41D13/0007 - A41D13/088
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/002 with controlled internal environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0271 Thermal or temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/029 Humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/12 Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes

Abstract

A method includes embedding clothing with at least one sensor and at least one control unit; a power unit powering on the at least one sensor and the at least one control unit; the at least one sensor monitoring a sensed condition; the at least one control unit conducting a heat prediction based on the sensed condition; and the at least one control unit controlling threads within the clothing based on the heat prediction to actively adjust properties of the clothing.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

embedding clothing with at least one sensor and at least one control unit;

a power unit powering on the at least one sensor and the at least one control unit;

the at least one sensor monitoring a sensed condition;

the at least one control unit conducting a heat prediction based on the sensed condition; and

the at least one control unit controlling threads within the clothing based on the heat prediction to actively adjust properties of the clothing.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the actively adjusted properties include changing breathability of the clothing.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the actively adjusted properties include changing insulation ability of the clothing.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the actively adjusted properties include changing fabric deformation of the clothing.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the changing of the fabric deformation increases loft.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the changing of the fabric deformation is achieved by adjusting the tension of the threads of the clothing.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the changing of the fabric deformation creates a series of offset openings through which air can flow through.

8. A system comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories and one or more computer-readable, tangible storage devices;

a power module operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, configured to power embedded elements in clothing;

the embedded elements operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, configured to monitor a sensed condition;

the embedded elements operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, further configured to conduct a heat prediction based on the sensed condition; and

the embedded elements operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, still further configured to control threads within the clothing based on the heat prediction to actively adjust properties of the clothing.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the embedded elements include at least one sensor to monitor the sensed condition.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the embedded elements include at least one control unit to conduct the heat prediction based on the sensed condition.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein the actively adjusted properties include changing breathability of the clothing.

12. The system according to claim 8, wherein the actively adjusted properties include changing insulation ability of the clothing.

13. The system according to claim 8, wherein the actively adjusted properties include changing fabric deformation of the clothing.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the changing of the fabric deformation is achieved by adjusting the tension of the threads of the clothing.

15. A computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage medium, to power embedded elements in clothing;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage medium, to monitor a sensed condition;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage medium, to conduct a heat prediction based on the sensed condition; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage medium, to control threads within the clothing based on the heat prediction to actively adjust properties of the clothing.

16. The computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the embedded elements include at least one sensor to monitor the sensed condition.

17. The computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the embedded elements include at least one control unit to conduct the heat prediction based on the sensed condition.

18. The computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the actively adjusted properties include changing breathability of the clothing.

19. The computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the actively adjusted properties include changing insulation ability of the clothing.

20. The computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the actively adjusted properties include changing fabric deformation of the clothing.