Fabric or garment with integrated flexible information infrastructure

• US 6,381,482 B1
• Filed: 03/19/1999
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Jayaraman, Sundaresan, Gopalsamy, Chandramohan, Park, Sungmee, Rajamanickam, Rangaswamy
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ruddy, David M.
• Application Number:
  US09/273,175
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 600/372, 600/384, 600/386, 600/388-390, 600/395-397, 607/115, 607/148, 607/149, 607/152, 2/25, 428/911, 73/542.3, 73/543.8
• US Class Current: 600/388
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1281 with incorporated means for medical monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• 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: D04B 1/123 with laid-in unlooped yarn, e.g. fleece fabrics with elastic weft yarn D04B1/18
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/14 Other fabrics or articles characterised primarily by the use of particular thread materials
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/55 Epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/16 Processes for the non-uniform application of treating agents, e.g. one-sided treatment; Differential treatment
• CPC Class Codes: D06Q 1/00 Decorating textiles
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/16 antistatic; conductive
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/02431 with electronic components, e.g. sensors or switches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0289 having a matrix lay-out, i.e. having selectively interconnectable sets of X-conductors and Y-conductors in different planes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/038 Textiles used as reinforcing materials for organic insulating substrates H05K1/0366
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/029 Woven fibrous reinforcement or textile textile substrates H05K1/038
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/62 related technologies for production or treatment of textile or flexible materials or products thereof, including footwear

Abstract

A fabric, in the form of a woven or knitted fabric or garment, including a flexible information infrastructure integrated within the fabric for collecting, processing, transmitting and receiving information concerning—but not limited to—a wearer of the fabric. The fabric allows a new way to customize information processing devices to “fit” the wearer by selecting and plugging in (or removing) chips/sensors from the fabric thus creating a wearable, mobile information infrastructure that can operate in a stand-alone or networked mode. The fabric can be provided with sensors for monitoring physical aspects of the wearer, for example body vital signs, such as heart rate, EKG, pulse, respiration rate, temperature, voice, and allergic reaction, as well as penetration of the fabric. The fabric consists of a base fabric (“comfort component”), and an information infrastructure component which can consist of a penetration detection component, or an electrical conductive component, or both. The preferred penetration detection component is a sheathed optical fiber. The information infrastructure component can include, in addition to an electrically conductive textile yarn, a sensor or a connector for a sensor. A process is provided for making an electrical interconnection between intersecting electrically conductive yarns. Furthermore, a process is established for sheathing the plastic optical fiber and protecting it.

Claims

1. A fabric comprising:

a comfort component serving as the base of the fabric; and

an information infrastructure component integrated within said comfort component to form the fabric, the information infrastructure component being selected from the group consisting of, individually or in any combination, a penetration detection component and an electrical conductive component, said electrical conductive component comprising one or more individually insulated conductive fibers.

2. A fabric as defined in claim 1, wherein the comfort component includes a yarn selected from the group consisting of fibers of cotton, cotton/polyester blends, microdenier polyester/cotton blends, and polypropylene, and combinations thereof.

3. A fabric as defined in claim 1, wherein the information infrastructure component has attached to it a sensor, a processor or a wireless transmission device, either individually or in combination.

4. A fabric as defined in claim 1, wherein the penetration detection component is selected from the group consisting of silica-based optical fibers, plastic optical fibers, and silicone rubber optical fibers, and combinations thereof.

5. A fabric as defined in claim 1, wherein the electrical conductive component is selected from the group consisting of intrinsically conducting polymers, doped fibers, and metallic fibers, and combinations thereof.

6. A fabric as defined in claim 1, wherein the comfort component is selected from the group consisting of tubular woven and knitted fabric and two-dimensional woven and knitted fabrics.

7. A fabric as defined in claim 1, further comprising a form-fitting component.

8. A fabric as defined in claim 7, wherein the form fitting component is SPANDEX yarn.

9. A fabric as defined in claim 4, wherein the penetration detection component is a sheathed optical fiber having a core diameter of from 225 to 255 microns and a sheath diameter equal to the core diameter plus 0.5 to 1.0 mm.

10. A fabric as defined in claim 9, wherein the penetration sensing component has a bending radius of at least 9 mm.

11. A fabric as defined in claim 1, wherein said information infrastructure component further comprises means for monitoring a physical aspect of a wearer of the fabric selected from the group consisting of heart rate, EKG, pulse rate, temperature, respiration rate, allergic reactions, and voice, and combinations thereof.

12. A fabric as defined in claim 1, wherein said fabric is fashioned into a garment.

30. A fabric as defined in claim 1, wherein the information infrastructure component has attached to it a sensor, processor or a wireless transmission device, either individually or in combination, and is selected from the group consisting of, either alone or in combination,

a. a penetration detection component selected from the group consisting of silica-based optical fibers, plastic optical fibers, and silicone rubber optical fibers, and combinations thereof; and

b. an electrical conductive component selected from the group consisting of intrinsically conducting polymers, doped fibers, and metallic fibers, and combinations thereof.

13. A fabric comprising:

a comfort component serving as a base of the fabric; and

plurality of signal transmission paths integrated within said comfort component to form the fabric, wherein the plurality of signal transmission paths include either a penetration detection component or an electrical conductive component or both, said electrical conductive component comprising one or more individually insulated conductive fibers.

14. A fabric as defined in claim 13 wherein said plurality of signal transmission paths are woven into said comfort component.

15. A fabric as defined in claim 13, wherein said plurality of signal transmission paths are knitted into said comfort component.

16. A fabric as defined in claim 13 further comprising at least one sensor coupled with the at least one signal transmission path.

17. A fabric as defined in claim 16 wherein said at least one sensor comprises a fabric penetration sensor.

18. A fabric as defined in claim 16 wherein said at least one sensor comprises a sensor that monitors a physical condition of a wearer of the fabric.

19. A fabric as defined in claim 13 further comprising a form fitting component.

20. A fabric as defined in claim 19, wherein the form fitting component is SPANDEX yarn.

21. A fabric as defined in claim 13 which can be used as a wearable, mobile and flexible information infrastructure and personal information processor operating in a stand-alone or networked mode.

22. A fabric as defined in claim 13, wherein the comfort component includes a yarn selected from the group consisting of fibers of cotton, cotton/polyester blends, microdenier polyester/cotton blends, and polypropylene, and combinations thereof.

23. A fabric as defined in claim 13, wherein the plurality of signal transmission paths have attached to at least one of said paths a sensor, a processor or a wireless transmission device, either individually or in combination.

24. A fabric as defined in claim 13, wherein the penetration detection component is selected from the group consisting of silica-based optical fibers, plastic optical fibers, and silicone rubber optical fibers, and combinations thereof.

25. A fabric as defined in claim 13, wherein the electrical conductive component is selected from the group consisting of intrinsically conducting polymers, doped fibers, and metallic fibers, and combinations thereof.

26. A fabric as defined in claim 13, wherein the comfort component is selected from the group consisting of tubular woven and knitted fabrics and two dimensional woven and knitted fabrics.

27. A fabric as defined in claim 24, wherein the penetration detection component is a sheathed optical fiber having a core diameter of from 225 to 255 microns and a sheath diameter equal to the core diameter plus 0.5 to 1.0 mm.

28. A fabric as defined in claim 27, wherein the penetration detection component has a bending radious of at least 9 mm.

29. A fabric as defined in claim 13, wherein said fabric is fashioned into a garment.

31. A fabric as defined in claim 13, wherein the plurality of signal transmission paths have attached to at least one of said paths a sensor, a processor or a wireless transmission device, either individually or in combination, and wherein the signal transmission paths are selected from the group consisting of, either alone or in combination,

a. a penetration detection component selected from the group consisting of silica-based optical fibers, plastic optical fibers, and silicone rubber optical fibers, and combinations thereof; and

b. an electrical component selected from the group consisting of intrinsically conducting polymers, doped fibers, and metallic fibers, and combinations thereof.