Apparatus and methods for controlling functionality and supplying power to a peripheral device attached to an item of clothing

• US 10,311,712 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2017
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Quan-Zhen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burgdorf, Stephen R
• Application Number:
  US15/697,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20180075734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 430509
• 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 comprising an item of clothing and a peripheral device wherein:

said item of clothing comprises;

a peripheral device connector,

a first power source and

conductors for supplying electrical power from said first power source to said peripheral device connector; and

said peripheral device comprises;

a clothing connector and

a second power source, such that said clothing connector is connectable to said peripheral device connector;

wherein;

when said clothing connector is connected to said peripheral device connector, said peripheral device is configured to provide a first functionality and charge said second power source from said first power source; and

upon detecting detachment of said clothing connector from said peripheral device connector, said peripheral device is configured to provide a second functionality by receiving power from said second power source;

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.

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

3. The apparatus of claim 1, 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.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said second set of light emitting devices includes lenses that collectively provide a focused beam of said second intensity.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a switching device for switching to said second power source upon detection of the removal of said first power source.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein functionality of said peripheral device changes after a detection of a removal of said peripheral device from said item of clothing.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, 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.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said peripheral device remains attached to the item of clothing when operated at said second power level.

9. A method of providing electrical power for operating a peripheral device which is a light emitting apparatus, comprising the steps of:

attaching said peripheral device to an item of clothing, wherein

said item of clothing includes;

a peripheral device connector,

a first power source and

conductors for supplying electrical power from said first power source to said peripheral device connector; and

said peripheral device comprises;

a clothing connector and

a second power source, such that said clothing connector is connectable to said peripheral device connector;

operating said light emitting apparatus to provide a first functionality of generating a warning light at a first intensity when said clothing connector is attached to said peripheral device connector of said item of clothing;

charging said second power source from said first power source when said clothing connector is attached to said peripheral device connector of said item of clothing; and

configuring said light emitting apparatus to provide a second functionality of generating an illuminating light at a second intensity, wherein said second intensity is higher than said first intensity, by receiving power from said second power source upon detecting detachment of said clothing connector from said peripheral device connector.

10. The method of claim 9, 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.