Powering Peripheral Devices

• US 20180075734A1
• Filed: 09/06/2017
• Published: 03/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wearable Technologies Ltd. (Blackline Safety Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Wearable Technologies Ltd. (Blackline Safety Corp.)
• Inventors: Jurkuvenas, Mantas, Lynch, Michael John
• Granted Patent: US 10,311,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/005 with embedded cable or connector
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/205 Pockets adapted to receive a mobile phone or other electronic equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 3/00 Overgarments fur garments A41D5/00; for children A41D11/00; professional or sporting protective garments A41D13/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0008 Clothing or clothing accessories, e.g. scarfs, gloves or belts
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0476 Cameras to detect unsafe condition, e.g. video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/88 Providing power supply at the sub-station
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

An item of clothing (105) operates with a peripheral device (107). The item of clothing includes a first power source and is configured to supply power to the peripheral device, via a connector (305). The peripheral device includes a second power source and is configured to selectively use power from the first power source or the second power source.

Claims

1. An apparatus for enhancing portable functionality, comprising an item of clothing and a peripheral device attachable to said item of clothing, wherein said item of clothing comprises:

electrical conductors connected to a peripheral device connector; and

said peripheral device comprises;

a clothing connector configured to connect to said peripheral device connector, so as to electrically connect to said electrical conductors;

wherein;

said peripheral device is configured to provide a first functionality when attached to said item of clothing; and

said peripheral device is configured to provide a second functionality when detached from said item of clothing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said peripheral device is configured to communicate wirelessly with an external device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said peripheral device connector on the item of clothing and the clothing connector on the peripheral device include a physical data connection for providing data communication between said item of clothing and said peripheral device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3:

wherein said item of clothing includes a control unit;

further comprising a data communication cable connecting said control unit to said peripheral connector; and

wherein said control unit is configured to relay configuration data between said peripheral device and an external communication device, to configure said external communication device to communicate wirelessly with said peripheral device.

5. The apparatus claim 1, wherein said peripheral device is configured to activate said second functionality upon detecting detachment from said item of clothing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said peripheral device is a light emitting apparatus;

said light emitting apparatus provides a first functionality of generating a warning light at a first intensity; and

said light emitting apparatus provides a second functionality of generating an illuminating light at a second intensity, wherein said second intensity is higher than said first intensity.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

said light emitting apparatus includes a plurality of light emitting devices;

a first set of said light emitting devices are activated to provide said first intensity; and

a second set of said light emitting devices are activated to provide said second intensity.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said second set of light emitting devices includes lenses that collectively provide a focussed beam of said second intensity.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said peripheral device is an image capturing device;

said image capturing device provides a first functionality of generating still image data; and

said image capturing device provides a second functionality of generating video data.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said peripheral device is a detector for producing output data in response to detecting the presence of a substance or a type of substance;

said detector provides a first functionality of detecting the substance at a first level of sensitivity; and

said detector provides a second functionality of detecting the substance at a second level of sensitivity.

11. An apparatus comprising an item of clothing and a peripheral device, wherein:

said item of clothing includes a first power source and is configured to supply power to said peripheral device;

said peripheral device includes a second power source; and

said peripheral device is configured to selectively use power from power sources comprising said first power source and said second power source.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

said peripheral device uses power from said first power source when attached to said item of clothing; and

said peripheral device uses power from said second source when detached from said item of clothing.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a switching device for switching to said second power source upon detection of the removal of said first power source.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein functionality of said peripheral device changes after a detection of a removal of said peripheral device from said item of clothing.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

said peripheral device uses power from said first power source when operating at a first power level;

said peripheral device uses power from said second power source when operating at a second power level; and

said second power level is higher than said first power level.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said peripheral device remains attached to the item of clothing when operated at said second power level.

17. A method of providing electrical power for operating a peripheral device, comprising the steps of:

attaching said peripheral device to an item of clothing, wherein said item of clothing includes a first power source;

operating said peripheral device while attached to said item of clothing; and

selectively providing power from power sources that comprise said first power source and a second power source included with said peripheral device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

providing power from a control unit to the peripheral device, via conductors constrained within the item of clothing;

wherein said conductors are connected to the control unit; and

wherein said control unit includes said first power source.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

a wired data connection is provided between the peripheral device and said control unit;

a first wireless connection is established between said control unit and an external communications device;

further comprising the step of relaying configuration data between said external communication device and said peripheral device via said first wireless connection, said control unit and said wired data connection; and

a second wireless connection is provided directly between said external communication device and the peripheral device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

when said peripheral device is attached to an item of clothing, said peripheral device is arranged to;

receive power from said first power source;

provide a first functionality; and

output first operational data to said wired data connection, and whereafter,

upon detachment of said peripheral device from said item of clothing, said peripheral device is configured to;

detect said detachment;

receive power from said second power source;

provide a second functionality; and

output second operational data to said external communication device via said second wireless connection.