US 10,503,339 B2Granted

Connector integration for smart clothing

AssigneeGoogle Inc.

InventorMustafa Emre Karagozler

Life of this patent

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Abstract

This document describes an interactive object with multiple electronics modules. An interactive object (e.g., a garment) includes a plurality of conductive threads woven into the interactive object, and an internal electronics module coupled to the array of conductive thread. The internal electronics module includes a first subset of electronic components, such as sensing circuitry configured to detect touch-input to the grid of conductive thread. An external electronics module that includes a second subset of electronic components (e.g., a microprocessor, power source, or network interface) is removably coupled to the interactive object via a communication interface. The communication interface enables communication between the internal electronics module and the external electronics module when the external electronics module is coupled to the interactive object.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An interactive object comprising:

a plurality of conductive threads, the conductive threads having a first end and a second and opposite end, the conductive threads being substantially linear and parallel from the first end to the second end, the conductive threads being integrated into the interactive object;
an internal electronics module physically coupled to the interactive object, the internal electronics module comprising a flexible substrate having a width and a length and a plurality of electrical contact pads positioned sequentially along the width of the flexible substrate, each electrical contact pad being connected to a respective conductive thread of the plurality of conductive threads;
and
a controller in electrical communication with each of the electrical contact pads, the controller being configured to detect a touch-input when user pressure is applied to the conductive threads, the controller being configured to communicate touch-input data to a computing device;
and
an external electronics module that is removably coupled to the interactive object for communicating with the internal electronics module.

3 more elements

An interactive object comprising:

a plurality of conductive threads, the conductive threads having a first end and a second and opposite end, the conductive threads being substantially linear and parallel from the first end to the second end, the conductive threads being integrated into the interactive object;
an internal electronics module coupled to the plurality of conductive threads, the internal electronics module comprising a flexible substrate having a width and a length and a plurality of electrical contact pads positioned sequentially along the width of the flexible substrate, each electrical contact pad being connected to a respective conductive thread, the internal electronics module comprising sensing circuitry in electrical communication with each of the electrical contact pads, the sensing circuitry being configured to detect a touch-input when a user touch is applied to the conductive threads;
and
an external electronics module removably coupled to the interactive object for communicating with the internal electronics module, the external electronics module configured to communicate data to a remote computing device based at least in part on the touch-input detected by the sensing circuitry.

1 more element

An interactive object comprising:

a plurality of conductive threads, the conductive threads having a first end and a second and opposite end, the conductive threads being substantially linear and parallel from the first end to the second end, the conductive threads being integrated into the interactive object;
an internal electronics module coupled to the plurality of conductive threads, the internal electronics module comprising a flexible substrate having a width and a length and a plurality of electrical contact pads positioned sequentially along the width of the flexible substrate, each electrical contact pad being connected to a respective conductive thread;
and
a controller in electrical communication with each of the electrical contact pads, the controller being configured to detect a touch-input when a user touch is applied to one or more of the plurality of conductive threads, the controller also being configured to communicate touch-input data to a computing device;
and
an external electronics module that is removably coupled to the interactive object for communicating with the internal electronics module.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/445,949Filed 19 Jun 2019 · continuation
Priority: 9 Mar 2017
Published: US 2019/0302931 A13 Oct 2019
Granted: 10 Dec 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification23 codes

D03D 1/0088
Woven fabrics designed to make specified articles: fabrics having an electronic function
A41B 1/08
Shirts: details
A41D 1/002
Garments: adapted to accommodate electronic equipment
A41D 3/00
Overgarments

Family

Application62/469,216Us provisional application · filed 9 Mar 2017
Application15/799,154Parent of this continuation · filed 31 Oct 2017
US 2019/0302931 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 Oct 2019
US 10,338,757 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2018/0260052 A1Published application
US 10,503,339 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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