Conformal electronics integrated with apparel

• US 9,082,025 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medidata Solutions Incorporated (Dassault Systemes SA)
• Original Assignee: MC10, Inc.
• Inventors: Fastert, Steven, Dowling, Kevin J., Schlatka, Benjamin, Rafferty, Conor
• Primary Examiner(s): BEE, ANDREW W.
• Application Number:
  US13/844,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20140097944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 343/823, 343/806
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/022 for recording
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/02 characterised by the selection of materials, e.g. to avoid wear during transport through the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/025 the material being flexible or adapted for folding, e.g. paper or paper-like materials used in luggage labels, identification tags, forms or identification documents carrying RFIDs methods for testing the genuineness of valuable papers, e.g. banknotes or passports G07D7/00; constructional features of booklets and the like B42D
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/027 the material being suitable for use as a textile, e.g. woven-based RFID-like labels designed for attachment to laundry items markings attached to laundry items in general D06F93/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0708 the source being electromagnetic or magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07779 the inductive antenna being a coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0779 the antenna being foldable or folded
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves

Abstract

A system is provided for integrating conformal electronics devices into apparel. The system includes a flexible substrate onto which a flexible device is disposed. The flexible device can include a stretchable coil that can be used to receive and transmit near field communications. The flexible device also includes an integrated circuit component and a memory unit. In some examples, the device also includes a sensor that is configured to record measurement of the wearer of the apparel and/or the surrounding environment.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a flexible substrate;

a flexible device disposed on the flexible substrate, the flexible device comprising;

a stretchable coil formed from a conductive material and comprising at least one corrugated portion; and

an integrated circuit component disposed proximate to and in electrical communication with the stretchable coil, the integrated circuit component comprising at least one memory that is read and write-enabled; and

a flexible encapsulant encapsulating the flexible device;

wherein the apparatus is configured for remote data read- and write-operations to the at least one memory to store identifying information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit component comprises at least one of an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM) and an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM).

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate and flexible encapsulant are configured such that the apparatus remains functional after exposure to water.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the flexible substrate and flexible encapsulant are configured such that the apparatus remains functional after exposure to at least thirty wash cycles.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured for remote data read and write operations to the at least one memory.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform read or write operations to the at least one memory based on a radio-frequency signal detected by the stretchable coil or based on a radio-frequency signal transmitted using the stretchable coil.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one corrugated portion comprises a zig-zag structure, a serpentine structure, a grooved structure, or a rippled structure.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one coil structure is polygonal-shaped, circular-shaped, square-shaped, or rectangular-shaped.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate comprises at least one of a polymer, an elastomer, a fabric, a thermo-polyurethane, a thermo-polyester, or paper.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stretchable coil comprises a hollow central region, and wherein the flexible substrate and flexible encapsulant are configured such that the apparatus comprises a hollow core that coincides with the hollow central region of the stretchable coil.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identifying information comprises at least one of a user name, a unique identifier, a user identification, a player designation, a jersey number, a military identification, laundry instructions, a location.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate is a fabric material.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the fabric material is part of apparel configured to be worn by a human.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate is part of apparel configured to be worn by a human.

15. An apparatus for monitoring a temperature, the apparatus comprising:

a flexible substrate;

a flexible device disposed on the flexible substrate, the flexible device comprising;

a stretchable coil formed from a conductive material and comprising at least one corrugated portion; and

an integrated circuit component disposed proximate to and in electrical communication with the stretchable coil, the integrated circuit component comprising at least one memory that is read and write-enabled;

a flexible encapsulant encapsulating the flexible device; and

a temperature sensor in communication with the flexible device, to perform at least one temperature measurement;

wherein data indicative of the at least one temperature measurement is stored to the at least one memory.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the flexible device further comprises an energy supply in electrical communication with the integrated circuit.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the energy supply is a battery or a solar cell.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a microcapacitor in electrical communication with the energy supply and the integrated circuit.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the flexible device is configured to perform the at least one temperature measurement at regular time intervals, and wherein the data indicative of the at least one temperature measurement is stored to the at least one memory at the regular time intervals.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the integrated circuit component comprises at least one of an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM) and an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM).

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the flexible substrate and flexible encapsulant are configured such that the apparatus remains functional after exposure to water.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the flexible substrate and flexible encapsulant are configured such that the apparatus remains functional after exposure to at least thirty wash cycles.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is configured for remote data read and write operations to the at least one memory.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform read or write operations to the at least one memory based on a radio-frequency signal detected by the stretchable coil or based on a radio-frequency signal transmitted using the stretchable coil.

25. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one corrugated portion comprises a zig-zag structure, a serpentine structure, a grooved structure, or a rippled structure.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one coil structure is polygonal-shaped, circular-shaped, square-shaped, or rectangular-shaped.

27. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the flexible substrate comprises at least one of a polymer, an elastomer, a fabric, a thermo-polyurethane, a thermo-polyester, or paper.

28. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the stretchable coil comprises a hollow central region, and wherein the flexible substrate and flexible encapsulant are configured such that the apparatus comprises a hollow core that coincides with the hollow central region of the stretchable coil.

29. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the temperature sensor is disposed on the flexible substrate, and wherein the flexible encapsulant encapsulates the temperature sensor.

30. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the temperature sensor is external to the flexible device, and wherein the temperature sensor is configured to transmit data indicative of the at least one temperature measurement to the flexible device using a wireless transmission protocol.

31. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the temperature sensor is external to the flexible device, and wherein the temperature sensor is coupled to the flexible device by at least one flexible interconnect.

32. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a display coupled to the flexible device to display information based on the at least one temperature measurement.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the display displays at least one of a numerical value indicating the at least one temperature measurement, a graphic symbol representing the at least one temperature measurement, a graphic plot based on the at least one temperature measurement, or a range indicator that indicates the result of a comparison of the at least one temperature measurement to a predetermined threshold value.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the display displays a recommendation of clothing selection based on the at least one temperature measurement.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the display comprises an electrophoretic ink display, a liquid crystal display, or a flat-panel display.

36. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the flexible substrate is a fabric material that is part of apparel configured to be worn by a human.

37. An apparatus for monitoring an amount of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the apparatus comprising:

a flexible substrate;

a flexible device disposed on the flexible substrate, the flexible device comprising;

a stretchable coil formed from a conductive material and comprising at least one corrugated portion; and

an integrated circuit component disposed proximate to and in electrical communication with the stretchable coil, the integrated circuit component comprising at least one memory that is read and write-enabled;

a flexible encapsulant encapsulating the flexible device; and

an ultraviolet radiation sensor in communication with the flexible device, to perform at least one ultraviolet radiation measurement;

wherein the apparatus is configured for remote data read- and write-operations to the at least one memory to store data indicative of the at least one ultraviolet radiation measurement or an indication of an amount of the exposure of the ultraviolet radiation sensor to the ultraviolet radiation.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the flexible device further comprises an energy supply in electrical communication with the integrated circuit.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the energy supply is a battery or a solar cell.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising a microcapacitor in electrical communication with the energy supply and the integrated circuit.

41. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the flexible device is configured to perform the at least ultraviolet radiation measurement at regular time intervals, and wherein the data indicative of the at least one ultraviolet radiation measurement is stored to the read and write-enabled memory at the regular time intervals.

42. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the integrated circuit component comprises at least one of an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM) and an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM).

43. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the flexible substrate and flexible encapsulant are configured such that the apparatus remains functional after exposure to water.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the flexible substrate and flexible encapsulant are configured such that the apparatus remains functional after exposure to at least thirty wash cycles.

45. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the apparatus is configured for remote data read and write operations to the at least one memory.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform read or write operations to the at least one memory based on a radio-frequency signal detected by the stretchable coil or based on a radio-frequency signal transmitted using the stretchable coil.

47. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the at least one corrugated portion comprises a zig-zag structure, a serpentine structure, a grooved structure, or a rippled structure.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the at least one coil structure is polygonal-shaped, circular-shaped, square-shaped, or rectangular-shaped.

49. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the flexible substrate comprises at least one of a polymer, an elastomer, a fabric, a thermo-polyurethane, a thermo-polyester, or paper.

50. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the stretchable coil comprises a hollow central region, and wherein the flexible substrate and flexible encapsulant are configured such that the apparatus comprises a hollow core that coincides with the hollow central region of the stretchable coil.

51. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the ultraviolet radiation sensor is disposed on the flexible substrate, and wherein the flexible encapsulant encapsulates the ultraviolet radiation sensor.

52. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the ultraviolet radiation sensor is external to the flexible device, and wherein the ultraviolet radiation sensor is configured to transmit data indicative of the at least one ultraviolet radiation measurement to the flexible device using a wireless transmission protocol.

53. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the ultraviolet radiation sensor is external to the flexible device, and wherein the ultraviolet radiation sensor is coupled to the flexible device by at least one flexible interconnect.

54. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising a display coupled to the flexible device to display information based on the at least one ultraviolet radiation measurement.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the display displays at least one of a numerical value indicating the at least one ultraviolet radiation measurement, a graphic symbol representing the at least one ultraviolet radiation measurement, a graphic plot based on the at least one ultraviolet radiation measurement, or a range indicator that indicates the result of a comparison of the at least one ultraviolet radiation measurement to a predetermined threshold value.

56. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the display displays a recommendation of clothing selection based on the at least one ultraviolet radiation measurement.

57. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the display comprises an electrophoretic ink display, a liquid crystal display, or a flat-panel display.

58. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the flexible substrate is a fabric material that is part of apparel configured to be worn by a human.