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US 12,514,304 B2Granted
Apparel with pressure sensor control
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsHamid Alipour, Holli Pheil, Mark VanWeerd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An article of apparel and method include a structure configured to enclose a human body part, a pressure sensor array including multiple pressure sensors separately positioned at locations within the structure, wherein each pressure sensor is configured to output a signal indicative of an amount of pressure being exerted on the pressure sensor by an external mechanical force, an electronic display, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive signals from the pressure sensors and, based on a sequence and a timing of the signals as received, determine a command related to a function of a device. The electronic display is configured to display information related to the function.
Claims19
A wearable article, comprising:
- a structure configured to at least partially enclose a human body part;
- and
- electronics comprising:
- an array of sensors positioned between layers of the structure and isolated against environmental conditions, the array of sensors being positioned along a common axis at one or more locations within the structure, the array of sensors being configured to be manipulated in sequence, wherein each respective sensor, of the array of sensors, is configured to output a respective signal associated with a mechanical force applied to the respective sensor;
- a controller communicatively coupled to the array of sensors, wherein the controller is configured to:
- receive a first signal via a first sensor of the array of sensors and a second signal via a second sensor of the array of sensors, and
- based on a sequence and timing that the first signal and the second signal are received and the first sensor and second sensor being manipulated in a first sequence, identify a command related to a function of a device;
- an electronic display communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the electronic display is configured to display information related to the function;
- an antenna operatively coupled to the controller, the antenna configured to communicate with an external device according to a wireless modality, the external device not being a part of the wearable article, wherein the controller is configured to cause the external device to perform a function based on the command, the sequence and timing that the first signal and the second signal are received, and the first sensor and second sensor being manipulated in the first sequence;
- and
- a holder attached to the structure, the holder configured to secure the external device and operatively couple the external device to the electronics, wherein the controller being configured to cause the external device to perform the function is based on the holder operatively coupling the external device to the electronics and further based on communication between a primary antenna of the external device and the antenna of the wearable article via the wireless modality.
8 more elements
A method comprising:
- outputting, for each of a plurality of sensors, a signal associated with detection of an external mechanical force, the plurality of sensors being positioned along a common axis and between layers of a structure, the plurality of sensors being isolated against environmental conditions, the plurality of sensors being configured to be manipulated in sequence, the structure being part of a wearable article that is configured to at least partially enclose a human body part;
- receiving, with a controller, each signal via the plurality of sensors;
- based on a sequence and timing that each signal is received and the plurality of sensors being manipulated in a first sequence, identify a command related to a function of a device;
- operatively coupling, via a holder, an external device to the electronics, the holder being attached to the structure, the holder being configured to secure the external device, the external device not being a part of the wearable article;
- based on the sequence and timing that each signal is received, the operatively coupling, via the holder, the external device to the electronics, and the plurality of sensors being manipulated in a first sequence, communicating, via an antenna and a wireless modality, with a primary antenna of the external device and causing the external device to perform function;
- and
- based on the causing the external device to perform the function, the sequence and timing that each signal is received and the plurality of sensors being manipulated in the first sequence, display, at an electronic display of the wearable article, information related to the function.
4 more elements
A wearable article, comprising:
- a structure configured to at least partially enclose a human body part;
- and
- electronics positioned between fabric layers of the structure, the electronics comprising:
- a plurality of sensors positioned between the fabric layers and along a common axis at one or more locations within the structure, wherein each sensor, of the plurality of sensors, is configured to output a signal associated with an external mechanical force, the plurality of sensors being configured to be manipulated in sequence;
- a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors, wherein the controller is configured to:
- receive a first signal via a first sensor of the plurality of sensors and a second signal via a second sensor of the plurality of sensors, and
- based on a sequence and time that the first signal and the second signal are received and the first sensor and second sensor being manipulated in a first sequence, receive a command related to a function of a device;
- a textile layer of the fabric layers;
- an electronic display configured to display information through the textile layer;
- wherein the electronic display is configured to display information related to the function;
- an antenna configured to communicate with an external device and cause the external device to perform a function according to a wireless modality based on the command, the sequence and time that the first signal and the second signal are received, and the first sensor and second sensor being manipulated in the first sequence, wherein the external device is not a part of the wearable article;
- and
- a holder attached to the structure, the holder configured to secure the external device and operatively couple the external device to the electronics, wherein the controller being configured to cause the external device to perform the function is based on the holder operatively coupling the external device to the electronics and further based on communication between a primary antenna of the external device and the antenna of the wearable article via the wireless modality.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.