Connectors for Connecting Electronics Embedded in Garments to External Devices

• US 20170125940A1
• Filed: 11/03/2016
• Published: 05/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Karagozler, Mustafa Emre, Poupyrev, Ivan, Colin, Youenn, Yurchenco, James R., Raja, Hakim, Chion, Jimmy
• Granted Patent: US 9,837,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 1/08 Details
• 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 1/005 with embedded cable or connector
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/24 with means for attaching articles thereto, e.g. memorandum tablets or mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/592 connections to contact elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/24 resilient; resiliently-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/627 Snap or like fastening
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6277 comprising annular latching means, e.g. ring snapping in an annular groove
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/64 Devices for uninterrupted current collection

Abstract

This document describes connectors for connecting electronics embedded in garments to external devices. The connector is configured to connect an external device to a garment to enable communication between electronics embedded in the garment and electronic components of the external device. The connector may include a connector plug and a connector receptacle. The connector plug may be implemented at the external device and is configured to connect to the connector receptacle, which may be implemented at the garment. In one or more implementations, the connector plug includes an anisotropic material that is configured to connect to a printed circuit board (PCB) implemented at the connector receptacle.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting electronics embedded in a garment to an external device, the connector comprising:

a connector plug implemented at the external device, the connector plug comprising a first printed circuit board coupled to a strip of an anisotropic conducting polymer;

a connector receptacle implemented at the garment, the connector receptacle comprising a second printed circuit board comprising circular pads; and

the strip of anisotropic conducting polymer configured to form a connection with the circular pads of the second printed circuit board to enable a connection between one or more electronic components of the external device and the electronics embedded in the garment.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector plug further comprises a magnet configured to form a magnetic connection with the connector receptacle.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector plug is configured to form a snap connection with the connector receptacle.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the one or more electronic components of the external device comprises one or more sensors, output devices, batteries, or wireless units.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector plug resembles a snap or a button.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector plug further comprises one or more light sources, and wherein a top side of the connector plug includes one or more openings to enable light from the one or more light sources to shine through the openings.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the strip of anisotropic conducting polymer provides rotational tolerance such that the strip of anisotropic conducting polymer can be rotated 360 degrees while maintaining the connection to the circular pads of the connector receptacle.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the anisotropic conducting polymer is waterproof.

9. The connector of claim 1, wherein the anisotropic conducting polymer provides multi-pin electrical transmissions and power transfer transmissions simultaneously.

10. An external device, comprising:

a strap containing one or more electronic components; and

a connector plug configured to connect to a connector receptacle implemented at a garment to enable communication between the electronic components of the external device and electronics embedded in the garment.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the connector plug further comprises a first printed circuit board coupled to a strip of an anisotropic conducting polymer, the strip of anisotropic conducting polymer configured to form a connection with circular pads of a second printed circuit board implemented at the garment to enable a connection between the one or more electronic components of the external device and the electronics embedded in the garment.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the connector plug further comprises a magnet configured to form a magnetic connection with the connector receptacle.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the connector plug is configured to form a snap connection with the connector receptacle.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the one or more electronic components of the external device comprises one or more sensors, output devices, batteries, or wireless units.

15. A garment, comprising:

one or more electronics embedded within the garment; and

a connector receptacle configured to connect the one or more electronics embedded within the garment to a connector plug implemented at an external device.

16. The garment of claim 15, wherein the connector plug comprises a first printed circuit board coupled to a strip of an anisotropic conducting polymer and the connector receptacle comprises a second printed circuit board comprising circular pads, the circular pads of the second printed circuit board configured to form a connection with the strip of anisotropic conducting polymer to enable a connection between the external device and the electronics embedded in the garment.

17. The garment of claim 15, wherein the connector comprises compliant polyurethane polymers to provide compliance to metal pads implemented at the connector receptacle to enable an electromagnetic connection.

18. The garment of claim 15, wherein the connector plug and the connector receptacle each include magnetically coupled coils which can be aligned to provide power and data transmission between the garment and the external device.

19. The garment of claim 15, wherein the connector receptacle is configured to form a magnetic connection or a snap connection with the connector plug.

20. The garment of claim 15, wherein the one or more electronics embedded within the garment comprises one or more capacitive touch sensors, microphones, accelerometers, light sources, speakers, or micro-displays.