Textile substrate for measuring physical quantity

• US 9,782,096 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2012
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clothing Plus OY (Jabil Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Clothing Plus MBU Oy (Jabil Inc.)
• Inventors: Jaakkola, Heikki, Tuulenmki, Tommi, Reho, Akseli
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Application Number:
  US13/982,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20140024915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,079 Days
• Field of Search: 600388-390
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/256 Wearable electrodes, e.g. having straps or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5213 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A textile substrate with a measuring sensor for measuring a physiological signal. The textile substrate has integrated irremovably therewith a base structure component for electronics, such as for example a plastic base for a transmitter for attaching the transmitter and other electronics to the substrate irremovably by way of said base structure component. In addition, signal transfer elements from the measuring sensor are adapted to extend in a watertight manner to the electronics through said base structure component integrated irremovably with the textile substrate.

Claims

1. A device comprising a textile substrate, wherein the textile substrate comprises:

measuring sensors for measuring a physiological signal;

signal transfer conductors which are coupled with and extended from the measuring sensors along the textile substrate; and

a base structure component of physiological signal processing or transmitting electronics,

wherein the base structure component is more rigid than the textile substrate and is irremovably and permanently integrated into the textile substrate,

wherein said base structure component comprises signal transfer elements for connecting said electronics to the signal transfer conductors, and,

wherein the signal transferring from the measuring sensors to the electronics is implemented by electrically coupling the signal transfer conductors from the textile substrate to the signal transfer elements of the base structure component and thereby enabling signal transferring through said base structure component to said electronics in an irremovably, permanently integrated and watertight manner.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the measuring sensors are implemented with electrodes and said electrodes being coupled with said conductors, and wherein said irremovably attached electronics comprises at least a transmitter for the wireless transmission of measured signals.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the textile substrate comprises a second component structurally more rigid than the textile substrate, and wherein said second component structurally more rigid than the textile substrate is provided on top of the base structure component.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein between said substrate and the second component provided on top of the base structure component of the electronics is only a mechanical connection, but no electrical connections.

5. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said second component is designed to be removable.

6. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said second component is at least partially coated with textile.

7. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said textile substrate is a heart rate belt, a band, or a garment.

8. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein elements integrated irremovably with a region of the textile substrate comprising the electronics or the structure more rigid than the textile substrate, are attached by a process selected from the group chosen from injection molding, gluing, sewing, screws, upsetting, ultrasonic welding, high frequency lamination and heat lamination.

9. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the device is a wearable article.

10. The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the textile substrate comprises a second component structurally more rigid than the textile substrate, and wherein the second component is a protective cover and said protective cover is designed to be removable.

11. The device of claim 9, the wearable article chosen from a heart rate belt, a heart rate band and a garment.

12. The device of claim 9, the wearable article comprising a garment chosen from a shirt, a bra, a sports accessory, an undergarment, a sock and a pair of pants.

13. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said textile substrate is a garment chosen from a shirt, a bra, a sports accessory, an undergarment, a sock and a pair of pants.

14. A method for manufacturing a device comprising a textile substrate, said method comprising:

providing a textile substrate with measuring sensors for measuring a physiological signal,

providing signal transfer conductors which are coupled with and extended from the measuring sensors along the textile substrate; and

providing a base structure component of physiological signal processing or transmitting electronics,

wherein the base structure component is more rigid than the textile substrate and is irremovably and permanently integrated into the textile substrate,

wherein said base structure component comprises signal transfer elements for connecting said electronics to the signal transfer conductors, and

wherein the signal transferring from the measuring sensors to the electronics is implemented by electrically coupling the signal transfer conductors from the textile substrate to the signal transfer elements of said base structure component and thereby enabling signal transferring through said base structure component to the electronics in an irremovably, permanently integrated and watertight manner.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising integrating said base structure component of the electronics to the textile substrate by a process selected from the group chosen from injection molding, gluing, sewing, screws, upsetting, ultrasonic welding, high frequency lamination and heat lamination.