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US 8,577,650 B2Granted
User interface for modeling thermal comfort
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsAndrew Thomas Baker, Linda Connor Sledge, Ralph Solarski, Kenneth John Zwick, Audra Wright
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Predicting thermal strain and providing a visual representation of the predicted thermal strain on a subject. A computerized model combines subject data, fabric data, and environmental conditions to simulate the thermal comfort of the subject wearing a plurality of fabric layers over time. The visual representation indicates the simulated thermal comfort on an image of the subject with the plurality of fabric layers. A user interface enables a user to modify or define the input data to compare the predicted thermal comfort of the subject wearing different garments under the same working conditions.
Claims19
A method for modeling thermal comfort, said method comprising:
- providing a first visual representation of a subject to a user for display on a user interface, said first visual representation including a first fabric layer and a second fabric layer on the subject, said first fabric layer and said second fabric layer having at least one air gap layer therebetween;
- accessing a first computerized model corresponding to the provided first visual representation, said first model simulating thermal comfort of the subject wearing said first fabric layer and said second fabric layer;
- accessing heat and moisture distribution data of said first fabric layer and said second fabric layer;
- receiving, from the user via a user interface selection device, input data for the accessed first model;
- executing the accessed first model as a function of the received input data to generate output data, the output data including data corresponding to a movement of heat and moisture to and from said first fabric layer, said at least one air gap, and said second fabric layer;
- modifying the first visual representation of the subject based on the generated output data to indicate the thermal comfort of the subject;
- providing the modified first visual representation for display to the user on the user interface;
- providing a second visual representation of the subject for display to the user on the user interface, the second visual representation including two or more additional fabric layers on the subject, the two or more additional fabric layers having at least one gap therebetween;
- determining a thermal comfort of the subject based on the second visual representation of the subject;
- presenting the first visual representation of the subject and the thermal comfort of the subject associated with the first visual representation of the subject side by side with the second visual representation of the subject and the thermal comfort of the subject associated with the second visual representation of the subject;
- and
- providing a comparison of the first visual representation of the subject with the second visual representation of the subject and the thermal comfort of the subject associated with the first visual representation of the subject with the thermal comfort of the subject associated with the second visual representation of the subject.
9 more elements
A system comprising:
- a computerized model of a first fabric layer and an second fabric layer on a subject, said first fabric layer and said second fabric layer having at least one gap therebetween;
- a memory area for storing the computerized model, said memory area further storing model data including subject data, heat and moisture distribution data of said first fabric layer and said second fabric layer, and environmental condition data;
- and
- a processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions for simulating thermal comfort of the subject by:
- providing a first visual representation of the subject for display to a user on a user interface, the first representation of the subject including at least a portion of the model data stored in the memory area;
- receiving a selection from the user via a user interface selection device of the displayed model data;
- executing the computerized model stored in the memory area based on the received selection of model data to generate output data, the output data including data corresponding to a movement of heat and moisture to and from said first fabric layer, said at least one gap, and said second fabric layer;
- providing the generated output data for display to the user on the user interface, said generated output data providing an indication of thermal strain on the subject
- providing a second visual representation of the subject for display to the user on the user interface, the second visual representation including two or more additional fabric layers on the subject, the two or more additional fabric layers having at least one gap therebetween;
- determining a thermal strain on the subject based on the second visual representation of the subject;
- presenting the first visual representation of the subject and the thermal strain on the subject associated with the first visual representation of the subject side by side with the second visual representation of the subject and the thermal strain on the subject associated with the second visual representation of the subject;
- and
- providing a comparison of the first visual representation of the subject with the second visual representation of the subject and the thermal strain on the subject associated with the first visual representation of the subject with the thermal strain on the subject associated with the second visual representation of the subject.
10 more elements
One or more non-transitory computer storage media having computer-executable components for predicting thermal comfort, said components comprising:
- a memory component for storing subject data, heat and moisture distribution data of a first fabric layer and a second fabric layer, and environmental condition data;
- a simulation component for modeling said first fabric layer and said second fabric layer on a subject to determine a thermal strain on the subject, said first fabric layer and said second fabric layer having at least one gap therebetween;
- and
- simulation component, said input data corresponding to one or more of the data stored in the memory component, wherein the simulation component executes based on the input data received by the user interface component to generate output data, and wherein the user interface component provides the output data from the simulation component to a user interface for display to the user as an indication of the thermal strain, the output data including data corresponding to a movement of heat and moisture to and from said first fabric layer, said at least one gap, and said second fabric layer, the user interface component providing additional output data to the user interface for display to the user, the additional output data including data corresponding to two or more additional fabric layers on the subject, the two or more additional fabric layers having at least one gap therebetween
- wherein the simulation component determines a thermal strain on the subject based on the additional output data;
- wherein the user interface component provides, to the user interface for display, the output data and the thermal strain on the subject associated with the output data side by side with the additional output data and the thermal strain on the subject associated with the additional output data;
- and
- wherein the user interface component provides, to the user interface for display, a comparison of the output data with the additional output data and the thermal strain on the subject associated with the output data with the thermal strain on the subject associated with the additional output data.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.