VISIBILITY-ENHANCING DEVICE

• US 20180017248A1
• Filed: 12/30/2015
• Published: 01/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mas Innovation (Private) Limited
• Original Assignee: MAS Active Trading Pvt., Ltd.
• Inventors: ATHAUDA, Tharindu, GUNATHILAKE, Nadeeshani, MADIRAJU, Kireety
• Granted Patent: US 10,295,169 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 1/08 Details
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 11/00 Hosiery; Panti-hose elastic stockings for curative purposes A61F13/08
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/06 Trousers
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/01 with reflective or luminous safety means visible signalling arrangements G08B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2600/20 for working activities
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/085 Luminous ornaments
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 29/00 Uniforms; Parts or accessories of uniforms
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/242 Means for mounting detecting, signalling or lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 29/00 Sacks or like containers made of fabrics; Flexible containers of open-work, e.g. net-like construction
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/004 Information or decoration elements, e.g. level indicators, detachable tabs or coupons
• CPC Class Codes: D02G 3/441 Yarns or threads with antistatic, conductive or radiation-shielding properties electroconductive, anti-static or radiation-shielding filaments D01F1/09, D01F1/106; anti-static fabrics D03D15/533; conducting, insulating or anti-static layers for floor coverings D06N7/0042
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0015 Fastening arrangements intended to retain light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0464 the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0008 : Clothing or clothing accessories, e.g. scarfs, gloves or belts
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/04 : Optical design
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 : Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/15 : Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/20 : Electroluminescent [EL] light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 : by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/12 : by detecting audible sound
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a visibility-enhancing device that requires the presence of a textile or fabric having an internal surface and an external surface; and a flexible and conformable visible light source apparatus attached to the textile or fabric, wherein the visible light source apparatus comprises: at least one visible light source that is positioned towards the internal surface of the textile or fabric and/or is positioned to provide light at an angle that is substantially perpendicular to the internal surface of the textile or fabric; at least two conductive members having a first end and a second end.

Claims

1. A visibility-enhancing device comprising:

a textile or fabric having an internal surface and an external surface; and

a flexible and conformable visible light source apparatus attached to the textile or fabric, wherein the visible light source apparatus comprises;

at least one visible light source that is positioned towards the internal surface of the textile or fabric and/or is positioned to provide light at an angle that is substantially perpendicular to the internal surface of the textile or fabric;

at least two conductive members having a first end and a second end, where the first end is connected to the at least one visible light source and the second end is adapted to connect to a power source; and

at least one transparent polymer layer that encapsulates the entirety of the at least one visible light source and at least part of the at least two conductive members.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the visible light source is selected from one or more of the group consisting of a light emitting diode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) and an electroluminescent material, optionally wherein the visible light source further comprises an optical channelling device (e.g. an optical fibre).

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the visible light source is attached to the textile or fabric by the at least one transparent polymer layer.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible and conformable visible light source apparatus further comprises at least one flexible substrate with at least one electrical circuit thereon, where the at least one visible light source is attached to the at least one flexible substrate through the at least one electrical circuit and the at least one electrical circuit is connected to the at least two conductive members, optionally wherein:

(a) the at least one visible light source is attached to the at least one electrical circuit by an isotropic conductive adhesive; and

/or

(b) the at least one electrical circuit comprises silver and/or copper; and

/or

(c) the at least one electrical circuit is a printed electrical circuit or a lithographically etched electrical circuit.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive members may be one or more of the group selected from a wire, a conductive yarn, a screen-printed conductive path and combinations thereof.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a power supply unit and an electrical interconnect to connect the power supply unit to the visible light source apparatus.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the power supply unit comprises a battery and a DC-DC boost converter.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the power supply unit further comprises a switching module adapted to control a number of lighting modes of the visible light source.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein the power supply unit further comprises:

(a) an ambient light detector adapted to control the brightness of the visible light source based upon the ambient light conditions, optionally wherein one or more of the lighting modes of the switching module is controlled fully or in part by the ambient light detector; and

/or

(b) a proximity sensor to control the brightness depending on the closeness to an object; and

/or

(c) a sound detector to control the brightness depending on the ambient volume; and

/or

(d) a temperature sensor to control the brightness depending on the temperature.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the textile or fabric is formed into a garment or a bag, optionally wherein when the textile or fabric is formed into a garment, the garment is selected from shorts, socks, T-shirts, trousers, leggings, shirts, and caps.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible and conformable visible light source apparatus has a thickness that is from 350 μ

m to 600 μ

m.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the flexible and conformable visible light source apparatus has a thickness that is from 400 μ

m to 500 μ

m.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein:

(a) the flexible and conformable visible light source apparatus has a bending radius of from 5 mm to 10 mm; and

/or

(b) the flexible and conformable visible light source apparatus has more than one visible light source, the distance between the visible light sources is at least 1 cm.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transparent polymer layer is a material selected from one or more of the group consisting of TPU, a silicone-based polymer, a plasma-treated textile substrate and a water repellent textile substrate, optionally wherein the at least one transparent polymer layer is a material selected from one or more of the group consisting of TPU and a silicone-based polymer.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein when the at least one visible light source is positioned towards the inner surface of the textile or fabric, an opening in the fabric or textile aligns with the at least one visible light source.

16. The device according to claim 4, wherein the flexible substrate is made from one or more of the group selected from polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is capable of being washed at least up to 30 times (e.g. at least up to 50 times, such as at least up to 100 times) without affecting the function of the flexible and conformable visible light source apparatus attached to the textile or garment.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least two conductive members are electrically insulated across their entire length, except at a first portion adjacent to and including the first end and a second portion adjacent to and including the second end, both of which are uninsulated and the first portions of the at least two conductive members are fully encapsulated by the at least one transparent polymer layer.

19. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is part of a garment, then flexible and conformable visible light source apparatus is located at any position in a garment.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the flexible and conformable visible light source apparatus does not restrict the movement of a wearer of a garment and/or cause the wearer any discomfort.