Body conformable electrical network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A body conformable network, comprising:
- a wearable article having;
a plurality of sections;
a plurality of electrical conducting network paths disposed on the sections; and
a plurality of electrical connectors for mechanically joining the sections and for electrically joining the network paths, wherein the electrical connectors comprise;
a first mating element;
a printed circuit board disposed at least partially within the first mating element, the printed circuit board having a plurality of electrically conductive paths configured to be electrically coupled to the electrical conducting network paths at a coupling location; and
a second mating element configured to be mechanically coupled to the first mating element, such that the second mating element maintains a rotational degree of freedom with respect to the first mating element when mechanically coupled; and
the second mating element having a plurality of electrical contacts configured to be electrically coupled to respective electrical paths on the printed circuit board when the mating elements are mechanically coupled.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An entirely wearable electrical connector for power/data connectivity. The principal element of a modular network is the wearable electrical connector, which is integrated into a personal area network with USB compatibility.
104 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A body conformable network, comprising:
a wearable article having; a plurality of sections; a plurality of electrical conducting network paths disposed on the sections; and a plurality of electrical connectors for mechanically joining the sections and for electrically joining the network paths, wherein the electrical connectors comprise; a first mating element; a printed circuit board disposed at least partially within the first mating element, the printed circuit board having a plurality of electrically conductive paths configured to be electrically coupled to the electrical conducting network paths at a coupling location; and a second mating element configured to be mechanically coupled to the first mating element, such that the second mating element maintains a rotational degree of freedom with respect to the first mating element when mechanically coupled; and the second mating element having a plurality of electrical contacts configured to be electrically coupled to respective electrical paths on the printed circuit board when the mating elements are mechanically coupled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A garment, comprising:
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a garment portion; and a body conformable network coupled to the garment portion, the network comprising; a plurality of electrical conducting network paths; a plurality of electrical connectors, each connector comprising; a first mating element configured to mechanically receive a second mating element that is configured to maintain a rotational degree of freedom with respect to the first mating element; and a printed circuit board disposed at least partially within the first mating element, the printed circuit board having a plurality of electrically conductive paths configured to be electrically coupled to the electrical conducting network paths at a coupling location and further configured to be electrically coupled to electrical contacts disposed on the second mating element. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of network communication, comprising:
sending an electrical signal along an electrical network coupled to a garment, the network comprising; a plurality of electrical conducting network paths disposed on a plurality of sections; and a plurality of electrical connectors for mechanically joining the sections and for electrically joining the network paths, wherein the electrical connectors comprise; a first mating element; a printed circuit board disposed at least partially within the first mating element, the printed circuit board having a plurality of electrically conductive paths configured to be electrically coupled to the electrical conducting network paths at a coupling location; and a second mating element configured to be mechanically coupled to the first mating element, such that the second mating element maintains a rotational degree of freedom with respect to the first mating element when mechanically coupled; and the second mating element having a plurality of electrical contacts configured to be electrically coupled to respective electrical paths on the printed circuit board when the mating elements are mechanically coupled. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
Specification