An electrical connector for use with fabric

Abstract

An electrical connector for use with tissue An electrical connector (104) configured to connect an electrical device (114) to tissue (106), the electrical connector (104) comprising: a first portion (200) having a first conductive portion; a second portion having a second conductive portion; wherein one of the first or second portions (200, 202) is attached to the tissue (106) and the other of the first or second portions (200, 202) is associated with the electrical device (114); wherein the first and second portions (200, 202) are configured to cooperate with each other to attach the electrical device (114) to the tissue (106); and to cause the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion to form an electrical connection. Figure 1

Description

Title of invention: An electrical connector for use with fabric Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connector for use with a fabric or an article of clothing comprising a fabric. Technical background

[0002] Electronic devices are used in many different situations, every day, by most individuals. One of the prerequisites for using electronic devices is the ability to connect to other resources, either locally or via a network, such as the Internet. The ability of an electronic device to communicate locally or via a network relies on the connection between the device and other resources.

[0003] In the field of smart textiles, the Internet of Textile Things or antennas, connecting electronic devices to (or through) a fabric poses several problems. It is necessary to provide connections for data transmission and sometimes a power supply for a device through the fabric or part of a garment. The use of conventional cable links and standard connectors does not provide sufficient mechanical reliability and durability, and the fabric often has a limited lifespan.

[0004] The use of conductive textiles is one solution, but it remains subject to problems related to the durability and reliability of the connection signal and the fabric, particularly when the fabric is folded or creased.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need to find a better way to connect electrical devices to fabrics that is durable, flexible, and reliable. Summary of the invention

[0006] The invention according to at least one of its embodiments relates to an electrical connector configured to connect an electrical device to a tissue, the electrical connector characterized in that it comprises:

[0007] a first part comprising a first conductive portion;

[0008] a second part comprising a second conductive portion;

[0009] wherein one of the first or second portions is attached to the tissue and the other of the first and second portions is associated with the electrical device;

[0010] the first and second portions being configured to cooperate with each other to secure the electrical device to the tissue and to join the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion to form an electrical connection.

[0011] According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the first and second parts form a snap fastener.

[0012] According to at least one embodiment of the invention, one of the first and second parts is attached to the fabric by sewing this part to the fabric.

[0013] According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the other part, among the first and the second parts, is fixed to the electrical device.

[0014] According to at least one embodiment of the invention, a fabric pocket is adapted to contain the electrical device.

[0015] According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the other part among the first and second parts is sewn to the pocket and is configured to establish electrical contact between the electrical device and the pocket.

[0016] According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the first and second parts are part of a closing device for garments made with the fabric.

[0017] According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the electrical connector forms an antenna for use with the electrical device.

[0018] The invention according to at least one of its embodiments also relates to a system comprising an electrical connector as previously described.

[0019] The invention according to at least one of its embodiments also relates to a fabric comprising one or more electrical connectors or parts thereof as previously described.

[0020] The invention according to at least one of its embodiments also relates to a pocket comprising a first part of the electrical connector as previously described and configured to engage with a second part of said electrical connector located on the fabric as previously described. Brief description of the figures

[0021] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the reading of the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

[0022] [Fig.l] is a simplified diagram of a system using a connector according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0023] [Fig.2] is a simplified diagram of the connector in two views, according to one aspect of the invention;

[0024] [Fig.3] is a sectional view of the connector of [Fig.2] attached to a fabric;

[0025] [Fig.4] is a simplified diagram showing an example of the use of the connector figures 2 or 3;

[0026] [Fig.5a], [Fig.5b] and [Fig.5c] illustrate an example of connection to a dipole antenna according to an embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0027] Various aspects of various embodiments of electrical connectors for use with fabric according to the invention are described in more detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] [Fig.l] shows a user 100 using an electrical connection system 102 for providing a connector 104 for transmitting data and supplying power through (or to) a fabric 106. In the present invention, fabric means a surface consisting of a regular or irregular assembly of interlaced, woven, or meshed threads. Of course, the threads can be made of any material such as cotton, synthetic materials, plastics, metals, thermoplastic materials, shape memory materials, and many other materials. Within the scope of the present invention, the fabric can be used to make a garment or any other application such as textile or fabric-based sensors, textile or fabric-based antennas, or any other device or object that may comprise a piece of fabric.

[0029] The connector 104 is not shown as such because it is located under a pocket 108 which is described in more detail below. The location of the connector 104 in [Fig.l] is an example of where the connector can be attached to the fabric. Regardless of where it is attached, it serves to establish an electrical connection with a device or between several devices in use in the closed position.

[0030] The fabric can take any shape and, in the illustrated example, it is a garment 110. The user 100 wears the garment 110. The article of clothing 110 includes a number of closure mechanisms 112.

[0031] The user 100 may use one or more electronic or electrical devices 114 connected to the fabric 106 of the article of clothing 110. In the illustrated example, the electrical device is located in the pocket 108 and is not shown as such. The electrical device(s) 114 may include one or more of the following: a control module (not shown), a charger or power module (not shown), a mobile device 116 such as a telephone or other computing device, one or more accessories 118 such as headphones and / or an antenna (not shown). One or all of these may be connected to the connector 104.

[0032] The connector 104 may be used to form the connection of an electrical device 114, between one device and another, or to secure the electrical device to the fabric 106. For example, the connector 104 may be used to connect a mobile device 116 and a charger via a direct connection of the connector 104 or by an inductive connection between the mobile device and the charger. The charger may be placed in the pocket or elsewhere, depending on the system layout.

[0033] According to another aspect of the invention, the connector 104 is configured to provide the connection between an antenna and another device. In this case, the connector 104 may also be adapted to act as an antenna, as described in more detail below.

[0034] The connector 104 is configured to establish an electrical connection required by the user through or to the fabric 106. The connector 104 comprises two parts which cooperate with each other to form the electrical connection and, if applicable, a closure for the article of clothing 110.

[0035] In some embodiments, the connector 104 is in the form of a snap fastener, as illustrated and described in Figures 2 and 3 below, and comprises two portions 200 and 202 of a snap fastener or snap fastener. Each portion 200, 202 of the snap fastener is configured to make the aforementioned electrical connection with one or more electrical devices. A first portion 200 includes an upwardly extending portion 204 having a cross-sectional profile equal to and opposite a corresponding hole 206 on a second portion 202.

[0036] The two parts 200 and 202 are brought into contact and cooperate by applying pressure or a closing force to one or both parts to releasably engage the extending part 204 in the hole 206 such that it will not disengage without the application of another force in the direction opposite to the closing force. By closing the two parts, an electrical connection is established between at least a portion of the first and second parts 200 and 202, thereby completing the electrical connection through the fabric. The final position of the parts relative to the fabric is illustrated in [Fig. 3]. Other ways of sewing or connecting the joining parts to the fabric may also be used.

[0037] [Fig. 3] shows a closed connector 104 fixed through the fabric 106. The different sides of the connector 104 are connected in a known manner to the electrical device(s) 114. In the illustrated example, these may be wires 300 or the fabric itself if it is conductive.

[0038] The connector 104 may comprise a single snap fastener or multiple snap fasteners arranged in an array, acting as a multi-point connector for a single electrical device 114 through the fabric 106. The connector 104 may be sewn to the article of clothing 110 using a conductive thread (not shown) through the holes 208 and 210 around the edge of the first and second portions 200 and 202 respectively. The fabric 106 may be conductive or insulating depending on the use case.

[0039] Each part 200 and 202 of the connector 104 can be connected between two electronic devices via the conductive wire, the fabric (if it is conductive) or the like. When two parts 200 and 202 of the connector 104 are engaged, the connection electrical connection occurs and when the portions 200 and 202 are disengaged, the electrical device is disconnected from the fabric 106 and / or any other connected electrical device. Therefore, the electrical device 114 can effectively interface or connect to the fabric 106 by engaging the connector 104.

[0040] The invention can be extended to textile antennas, which can then be connected to a radio or microwave electronic card by the connector 104. As shown in [Fig. 4], an antenna 400 operating in a given frequency band can be connected by two connectors 104 to a card 402 transmitting and / or receiving signals. It is thus possible to realize a complete electronic textile device having a predetermined connection frequency by means of a textile pouch 404 which is clipped onto the fabric by the connectors 104. This is essentially a "clip-on" pouch 404 which can be connected to the fabric or to a garment at any location and ensure the functionality of the antenna. Different electrical devices can be used in conjunction with the pouch by placing them in the pocket or by connecting them to the antenna 400 in a different way and at a different location.

[0041] According to one embodiment of the invention, the pocket is made of electrically non-conductive fabric. The pocket can also be made of conductive or partially conductive fabric, for example, in order to form components of an antenna (radiating element, ground plane, etc.). For example, conductive fibers 406 integrated into the weft of the fabric of the pocket are used for this purpose. The antenna can then be connected to a device requiring access to the antenna using a connector which is a snap button according to the invention.

[0042] It should be noted that the pocket may not have an antenna and may be used as a support for the electrical device, whatever it may be. In these examples, the pocket may be made of a non-conductive material such as cotton and a snap button according to the invention may serve as a connector for passing power supplies or communication signals for example.

[0043] The connector 104 may be made of any electrically conductive material for at least one of its portions that forms an electrically conductive portion. For example, such a connector 104 may include at least one electrically non-conductive portion. Examples of suitable conductive materials include stainless steel-based materials, for example, stainless steels, bronze or alloys comprising bronze, or any other metal such as, for example, copper, silver, platinum, nickel, and gold. It should be noted that different materials have different electrical characteristics and frequency responses. By choosing a certain shape and material, the connector may also be able to power an antenna. For example, in the case of a dipole-type antenna, the electromagnetic signal may be supplied by connecting each strand of the dipole respectively to a ground and to a core of a coaxial cable (each being at a distinct electrical potential). Snap fasteners according to the invention can be implemented to connect the ground and the core of the coaxial cable (or of a radiofrequency track of an electronic card) to each of the two strands of the dipole. Thus a snap fastener or connector 104 according to the invention can make it possible to transmit electrical power signals, electromagnetic information signals or even electromagnetic signals for radiocommunication applications and any wireless connection system.

[0044] Figures 5a to 5c illustrate an example of connection to a dipole antenna according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0045] In another use case, the fabric may form a radio frequency (RF) ribbon track having connectors 104 between the different devices connected thereto. For example, connecting different layers of a board-to-board integrated circuit. In such examples, the overall resistance of the connector may be minimized to be as close to 0 ohms as possible. This objective may be achieved by selecting the material from which the connector is made. For example, copper may be chosen. In another example, stainless steel may be chosen.

[0046] The connector 104 according to the present invention can be used not only as an electrical connector, but also as a closure device 112 for the garment 110. For example, as shown in [Fig. 1], the closure mechanism 112 can comprise at least one connector 104.

[0047] Since the electrical device can be removed from the fabric by simply undoing the connector or snap 104, the fabric can be washed without compromising the electrical device secured by the connector 104.

[0048] The connector is shown in the form of a snap fastener, but it will be appreciated that a similar technical advantage can be provided by different forms of connector. The connector is ideally a two-part fastener, each of which includes at least one electrically conductive portion and where the conductive portions are configured to form a removable conductive connection when in contact with each other. Examples include hooks and eyes or buttons having conductive portions and reciprocating conductive buttonholes. The latter may be made by sewing the buttonhole with conductive thread. Another connection could be made using a Velcro (registered trademark) type fastener which includes conductive threads interwoven with the hook and loop structure thereof.

[0049] The manner in which the connector closes may be different from the examples described above and is made such that the conductive parts of each part are in contact with each other in one state (e.g., closed) and separated from each other. in a second state (e.g., open).

[0050] The above description includes various use cases, which are given only as examples, and many other uses can be envisaged.

[0051] The fabric for which the connector is used may also vary and include both conductive and non-conductive materials. The fabric may be woven, non-woven, knitted, or otherwise formed. If the fabric is conductive, at least some of the wires will be made from an electrically conductive material.

[0052] It is obvious that there are many variations of the features described above, which fall within the scope of the present invention. List of reference signs

[0053] 100 user

[0054] 102 electrical connection system

[0055] 104 connector

[0056] 106 fabric

[0057] 108 pocket

[0058] 110 clothing

[0059] 112 closing

[0060] 114 electronic or electrical device

[0061] 116 mobile device

[0062] 118 accessory

[0063] 200 part of a snap button or snap fastener

[0064] 202 part of a snap button or snap fastener

[0065] 204 high

[0066] 206 hole

[0067] 208 hole

[0068] 210 hole

[0069] 400 antenna

[0070] 402 card

[0071] 404 textile pouch

Claims

Claims

1. An electrical connector (104) configured to connect an electrical device (114) to a tissue (106), the electrical connector (104) characterized in that it comprises: a first part (200) having a first conductive portion; a second part (202) having a second conductive portion; wherein one of the first or second parts is attached to the tissue (106) and the other of the first and second parts (200, 202) is associated with the electrical device (114); the first and second parts (200, 202) being configured to cooperate with each other to attach the electrical device (114) to the tissue (106) and to join the first conductive part and the second conductive part to form an electrical connection.

2. Electrical connector (104) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second parts (200, 202) form a snap button.

3. An electrical connector (104) according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that one of the first and second portions (200, 202) is attached to the fabric by sewing that portion to the fabric (106).

4. Electrical connector (104) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the other part, among the first and second parts (200, 202), is fixed to the electrical device (114).

5. Electrical connector (104) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that a fabric pocket (108) is adapted to contain the electrical device (114).

6. The electrical connector (104) of claim 4 and claim 5, characterized in that the other of the first and second portions (200, 202) is sewn to the pocket (108) and is configured to establish electrical contact between the electrical device (114) and the pocket (108).

7. An electrical connector (104) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the first and second portions (200, 202) are part of a closure device for garments made from the fabric (106).

8. An electrical connector (104) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the electrical connector (104) forms an antenna (400) for use with the electrical device (114).

9. A system (102) comprising an electrical connector (104) according to any preceding claim.

10. A fabric (106) comprising one or more electrical connectors (104) or portions thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

11. A pocket (108) comprising a first portion (200) of the electrical connector (104) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and configured to engage with a second portion (202) of said electrical connector (104) located on the fabric (106) according to claim 10.

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