# US 10,503,339 B2 · Connector integration for smart clothing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,503,339 B2 - Document ID: US10503339B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/445,949 - Filed: 2019-06-19 - Published: 2019-10-03 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-09 - Assignees: Google Inc. - Applicants: Google LLC - Inventors: Mustafa Emre Karagozler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10503339B2 ## CPC - D03D 1/0088: {Fabrics having an electronic function} - A41B 1/08: Details - A41D 1/002: {adapted to accommodate electronic equipment (patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085)} - A41D 3/00: Overgarments (fur garments A41D5/00; for children A41D11/00; professional or sporting protective garments A41D13/00) - A43B 3/34: with electrical or electronic arrangements - D02G 3/441: {Yarns or threads with antistatic, conductive or radiation-shielding properties (electroconductive, anti-static or radiation-shielding filaments D01F1/09, D01F1/106; anti-static fabrics D03D15/533; conducting, insulating or anti-static layers for floor coverings D06N7/0042)} - G06F 3/0446: {using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes} - H05K 1/038: {Textiles (used as reinforcing materials for organic insulating substrates H05K1/0366)} - A41B 7/00: Cuffs (A41B1/00, A41B3/00 take precedence; cuff links A44B5/00) - A41D 1/005: {with embedded cable or connector} - D10B 2401/18: including electronic components - G06F 2203/04102: Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper - H01H 2203/0085: Layered switches integrated into garment, clothes or textile - H05K 2201/0278: Polymeric fibers - D03D: WOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS - A41B: SHIRTS; UNDERWEAR; BABY LINEN; HANDKERCHIEFS - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - D02G: CRIMPING OR CURLING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, OR YARNS; YARNS OR THREADS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - D10B: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The interactive object of claim 1, wherein: the interactive object is an interactive wearable garment configured to be worn by a user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The interactive object of claim 2, wherein: the interactive wearable garment comprises a sleeve; the plurality of conductive threads are integrated into the sleeve; and the internal electronics module is located on the sleeve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The interactive object of claim 3, further comprising: a receptacle communicatively coupled to the internal electronics module; and an external electronics module that is removably coupled to the interactive wearable garment via the receptacle for communicating with the internal electronics module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The interactive object of claim 1, wherein: the interactive object is an interactive handbag; and the plurality of conductive threads are integrated into a surface of the handbag. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The interactive object of claim 1, wherein: the interactive object is a rigid object comprising at least one of a non-flexible material or a semi-flexible material; the plurality of conductive threads are combined with a plurality of non-conductive threads to form an interactive textile; and the interactive textile is integrated with the rigid object. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The interactive object of claim 6, wherein: the rigid object comprises at least one of a chair, a bottle, a ball, or a car part. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The interactive object of claim 1, wherein: the external electronics module comprises a power source; and the external electronics module is configured to power the internal electronics module via the power source of the external electronics module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The interactive object of claim 8, wherein: the internal electronics module is integrated within the interactive object; and the internal electronics module comprises the controller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The interactive object of claim 9, wherein: the controller comprises sensing circuitry configured to detect the touch-input and generate the touch-input data. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The interactive object of claim 8, wherein: the external electronics module comprises the computing device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The interactive object of claim 11, wherein: the computing device is a first computing device; the external electronics module is configured to communicate one or more control signals to a second computing device remote from the interactive object; and the one or more control signals are based at least in part on the touch-input data. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The interactive object of claim 1, wherein: the computing device is remote from the interactive object. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The interactive object of claim 13, wherein: the computing device is integrated with an appliance. ### Claim 15 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The interactive object of claim 15, wherein: the interactive object is an interactive wearable garment configured to be worn by a user; the interactive wearable garment comprises a sleeve; the plurality of conductive threads are integrated into the sleeve; the internal electronics module is located on the sleeve; and the interactive object further comprises: a receptacle communicatively coupled to the internal electronics module; and an external electronics module that is removably coupled to the interactive wearable garment via the receptacle for communicating with the internal electronics module. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The interactive object of claim 15, wherein: the interactive object further comprises an external electronics module that is removably coupled to the interactive object for communicating with the internal electronics module; the external electronics module comprises a power source; the external electronics module is configured to power the internal electronics module via the power source of the external electronics module; the internal electronics module is integrated within the interactive object; and the internal electronics module comprises sensing circuitry configured to detect the touch-input and generate the touch-input data. ### Claim 18 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. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The interactive object of claim 18, wherein: the interactive object is an interactive wearable garment configured to be worn by a user; the interactive wearable garment comprises a sleeve; the plurality of conductive threads are integrated into the sleeve; the internal electronics module is located on the sleeve; and the interactive object further comprises: a receptacle communicatively coupled to the internal electronics module; and an external electronics module that is removably coupled to the interactive wearable garment via the receptacle for communicating with the internal electronics module. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The interactive object of claim 18, wherein: the external electronics module comprises a power source; the external electronics module is configured to power the internal electronics module via the power source of the external electronics module; the internal electronics module is integrated within the interactive object; the internal electronics module comprises the controller; and the controller comprises sensing circuitry configured to detect the touch-input and generate the touch-input data.