Electrically Active Assembly and Garment Assembly Containing the Same

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrically active assembly for generating a physical effect such as heat, cold, or relative humidity, and to a textile assembly, such as a clothing assembly, including the electrically active assembly, which is applicable to a system for regulating the temperature or humidity of a user's body. The electrical assembly includes a first textile support; a first active element (1) located on or within the first textile support, which generates the physical effect and is adapted to be connected to a power source; a first sensor (2) located on or within the first textile support, which senses data related to physical information such as temperature or humidity and is adapted to be connected to a power source; and a first control unit (3) connected to the first active element and the first sensor and located on or within the first textile support, such that the first control unit can activate / deactivate the first active element in response to data sensed by the first sensor. The electrical assembly also includes a second textile support separate from the first textile support; a second active element 4 that generates the physical effect and is adapted to be connected to a power source and is located on or within the second textile support; a second sensor 5 that senses data regarding physical information and is adapted to be connected to a power source and is located on or within the second textile support; and a second control unit 6 that is connected to the second active element and the second sensor and is located on or within the second textile support, and the second control unit can activate / deactivate the second active element in response to the data sensed by the second sensor.The first control unit is connected to a second active element and a second sensor and enables the first control unit to activate / deactivate the second active element in response to data sensed by the second sensor and / or the first sensor, and / or the second control unit is connected to the first active element and the first sensor and enables the second control unit to activate / deactivate the first active element in response to data sensed by the first sensor and / or the second sensor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical active assembly for generating physical effects such as heat, cold or humidity, and is particularly used for a temperature control system for adjusting the temperature or humidity of a part of the body, particularly a part of the user's body.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a textile assembly such as a clothing assembly, including the above electrical active assembly.

Background Art

[0003] Thermal comfort is determined by the temperature inside the human body and the temperature on the surface of the body. The deep body temperature of a person is generally 37°C, and the average skin temperature of a person is generally 33°C. For example, when the environment changes, such as when the wind becomes strong or on a particularly sunny day, or when a person moves to a cooler place, the person will feel uncomfortable in terms of temperature sensation. In general situations, the discomfort in terms of temperature sensation is felt by the user when the skin temperature of the user changes, rather than the change in the core temperature.

[0004] Conventional chemical or electrical heating systems used in clothing can supply heat relatively easily at a relatively high level. Most of the currently available devices consist of wearable garments with heating pads that can be manually adjusted by the user. In at least some devices, the heating pads generate equal heat output, and all the heating pads operate to provide heat. Existing products are often bulky, heavy, require manual operation, and have a limited operating range.

[0005] Whether for overlapping two items like a shirt and a jacket on the same part of the body or wearing two items like gloves and a shirt on different parts of the body, if each of the two includes its own electrothermal system, when the user attempts to wear the two pieces of clothing, the user has to adjust both settings separately, and the operations of both are independent of each other. As a result, it is impossible to consider what is happening around one part of the user's body in correspondence with other parts of the user's body for the efficiency of the system. Also as a result, it is impossible to consider what is happening around one piece of clothing in correspondence with the other piece of clothing for the efficiency of the system.

[0006] In addition to this, if one of the electrical systems in one of the two pieces of clothing malfunctions, the user has to repair the electrical system or purchase new clothing.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, among other problems.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] For this purpose, the present invention proposes an electrical assembly comprising two independent textile supports implementing components for the active regulation of local physical effects and enabling cross-regulation.

[0009] According to a first aspect, the subject of the present invention is an electrical active assembly for generating at least one physical effect such as heat, cold or relative humidity, - a first textile support; - a first active element that generates the above physical effect, is adapted to be connected to a power source, and is located on or inside the above first textile support; - A first sensor that senses data related to physical information such as temperature or humidity, is adapted to be connected to a power source, and is located on or within the above-mentioned first textile support; and - A first control unit connected to the first active element and the first sensor and located on or within the above-mentioned first textile support Comprising According to the data sensed by the above-mentioned first sensor, activation / deactivation by the first control unit of the first active element is possible.

[0010] The electrical assembly further comprises - A second textile support separate from the above-mentioned first textile support; - A second active element that generates the above-mentioned physical effect, is adapted to be connected to a power source, and is located on or within the above-mentioned second textile support; - A second sensor that senses data related to physical information, is adapted to be connected to a power source, and is located on or within the above-mentioned second textile support; and - A second control unit connected to the second active element and the second sensor and located on or within the above-mentioned second textile support Comprising According to the data sensed by the above-mentioned second sensor, activation / deactivation by the second control unit of the second active element is possible.

[0011] The first control unit is connected to the second active element and the second sensor, and enables activation / deactivation of the second active element by the first control unit according to the data sensed by the second sensor and / or the first sensor, and / or the second control unit is connected to the first active element and the first sensor, and enables activation / deactivation of the first active element by the second control unit according to the data sensed by the first sensor and / or the second sensor.

[0012] In some embodiments, the electrical active assembly further comprises one or more of the following features, either alone or in any technically possible combination: - The second active element and the second sensor are directly connected to the first control unit via their respective direct connection points, and the first control unit can directly activate / deactivate the second active element via the corresponding connection point according to the data sensed by the second sensor and received by the first control unit via the corresponding connection point, and / or the data sensed by the first sensor and received by the first or second control unit; - The first active element and the first sensor are directly connected to the second control unit via their respective direct connection points, and the second control unit can directly activate / deactivate the first active element via the corresponding connection point according to the data sensed by the first sensor and received by the second control unit via the corresponding connection point, and / or the data sensed by the second sensor and received by the first or second control unit; - The second control unit can be connected to the first control unit, and the second control unit can activate / deactivate the first active element via the first control unit according to the data sensed by the first sensor and received by the second control unit via the first control unit, and / or the data sensed by the second sensor and received by the second control unit; - The first control unit can be connected to the second control unit, and can activate / deactivate the second active element by the first control unit via the second control unit according to the data sensed by the second sensor and received by the first control unit via the second control unit, and / or the data sensed by the first sensor and received by the first control unit.

[0013] According to a second aspect, the subject of the present invention is also a textile assembly, such as a clothing assembly worn by a human or animal user, including an electrical active assembly as presented above.

[0014] In some embodiments, the textile assembly further comprises one or more of the following features, either alone or in any technically possible combination: - The textile assembly includes a first textile element and a second textile element separate from the first textile element, the first textile support being part of the first textile element, and the second textile support being part of the second textile element; - One of the first and second textile elements is a textile element worn on a first part of the body, and the other of the first and second textile elements is a textile element worn on a second part of the body different from the first part; - The body is the user's body, the first and second textile elements are the first and second items of clothing, one of the first and second items of clothing being an item of clothing worn on a first part of the user's body, such as the chest, and the other of the first and second items of clothing being an item of clothing worn on a second part of the user's body different from the first part, such as the head, feet, hands, legs; - The first and second textile elements are textile elements worn on the same part of the body; - The body is the user's body, the first and second textile elements are the first and second pieces of clothing, and the first and second pieces of clothing are pieces of clothing worn on the same part of the user's body such as the chest.

[0015] Such an electrically active assembly, and the corresponding textile assembly, enable cross-regulation between two local active correlation systems, among other advantages. Thereby, when the user wears the corresponding two pieces of clothing, the user can wear a textile assembly with an active adjustment function of efficient and fine physical effects at two different parts of the body or at the same part of the body.

[0016] The present invention and its advantages can be better understood by referring to the following description given by way of example and for illustrative purposes only, and by referring to the accompanying drawings listed below.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] In the two embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, the electrically active assembly of the present invention is intended to generate heat.

[0019] However, it should be understood that the present invention extends to electrically active assemblies for generating other physical effects other than heat, such as cold air or relative humidity.

[0020] The electrical active assembly can be incorporated into a textile assembly. Such a textile assembly preferably includes a first textile element and a second textile element separate from the first textile element.

[0021] The electrical active assembly includes first and second textile supports, each including a plurality of components as further described herein. The first textile support is part of the first textile element, and the second textile support is part of the second textile element.

[0022] In FIGS. 1 and 2, a part of the components incorporated within or on the first textile support is shown in the leftmost part, and a part of the components incorporated within or on the second textile support is shown in the rightmost part, separated by interface 12.

[0023] In certain embodiments, one of the first and second textile elements is a textile element worn on a first part of the body, and the other of the first and second textile elements is a textile element worn on a second part of the body separate from the first part.

[0024] The body may be any kind of body, whether living or not. When dealing with a living body, it may be a human or animal body. In the case of a human body, or a specific case of the user's body, the first and second textile elements are the first and second pieces of clothing, respectively.

[0025] One of the first and second pieces of clothing is a piece of clothing worn on a first part of the user's body. This may be, for example, the chest. And the clothing may be a T-shirt or a jacket.

[0026] The other of the first and second items of clothing is clothing that is worn on a second part of the user's body that is distinct from the first part. This may be, for example, the head, feet, hands, or legs. And the clothing may be a hat, cap or beanie, socks or shoes, gloves, trousers or trouser legs.

[0027] As an alternative to the above-described embodiment in which the first and second textile elements are textile elements worn on two separate parts of the body, the first and second textile elements can be textile elements worn on the same part of the body.

[0028] Here too, the body can be any kind of body, whether living or not. When dealing with a living body, it can be a human or animal body. In the case of a human body, or the specific case of the user's body, the first and second textile elements are the first and second items of clothing respectively.

[0029] The first and second textile elements are both the first and second items of clothing worn on the same part of the user's body, for example the chest. For example, the first item of clothing may be a T-shirt and the second item of clothing may be a jacket.

[0030] The first and second supports each include first and second active elements 1, 4 adapted to generate a physical effect, that is, in the described example, the first and second active heating elements 1, 4 adapted to generate heat.

[0031] Each of these first and second active heating elements 1, 4 is connected to a power source and is configured to be disposed on or within the first and second textile supports respectively.

[0032] The power source may be an external power source or an internal power source built into the electrical active assembly. The connection to the power source may be a wired or wireless connection.

[0033] The first and second supports also each include first and second sensors 2, 5 adapted to detect data related to physical information, which are temperature sensors in the illustrated embodiment.

[0034] These first and second sensors 2, 5 are each configured to be connected to a power supply and are disposed on or within the first and second textile supports, respectively.

[0035] The first and second supports also each include first and second control units 3, 6 disposed on or within the first and second textile supports, respectively.

[0036] The first control unit 3 is connected to the first heating element 1 and the first temperature sensor 2, and the second control unit 6 is connected to the second heating element 4 and the second temperature sensor 5.

[0037] The first control unit 3 is configured to activate / deactivate the first heating element 1 in response to data sensed by the first temperature sensor 2, and the second control unit 6 is configured to activate / deactivate the second heating element 4 in response to data sensed by the second temperature sensor 5.

[0038] The first control unit 3 is also connected to the second heating element 4 and the second temperature sensor 5, and is configured to activate / deactivate the second heating element 4 in response to data sensed by the second temperature sensor 5 and / or the first temperature sensor 2.

[0039] Alternatively, or in combination, the second control unit 6 is also connected to the first heating element 1 and the first temperature sensor 2, and is configured to activate / deactivate the first heating element 1 in response to data sensed by the first temperature sensor 2 and / or the second temperature sensor 5.

[0040] Thus, one sensor and the active element of the textile support can be controlled by the control unit of the other textile support accordingly.

[0041] The control may be indirect as shown in FIG. 1, direct as shown in FIG. 2, or a combination of both.

[0042] As can be seen in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the second control unit 6 is connected to the first control unit 1 via a connection point on the interface 12. The second control unit 6 is configured to activate / deactivate the first heating element 1 via the first control unit 3 according to the data sensed by the first temperature sensor 2 and received by the second control unit 6 via the first control unit 3, and / or the data sensed by the second sensor 5 and received by the second control unit 6.

[0043] Considering the application to the electrical assembly as described above, the leftmost part corresponds to the part of the electrical assembly incorporated in or on the first textile support which is part of the T-shirt, and the rightmost part corresponds to the part of the electrical assembly incorporated in or on the second textile support which is part of the glove.

[0044] Each part of these electrical assemblies can operate independently of each other as two separate and independent temperature control systems. Thus, the glove can be worn without wearing the T-shirt, and the corresponding temperature control system operates to supply heat to the user's hand.

[0045] Also, the T-shirt can be worn without the gloves, and the corresponding temperature control system operates to supply heat to the user's chest. However, when the T-shirt and the gloves are worn together by the user, it is also possible for the two corresponding temperature control systems to interact with each other.

[0046] The first control unit 3 and the second control unit 6 can communicate with each other wirelessly (e.g., via Bluetooth (registered trademark) or infrared type communication), or via a wired connection, at the level of the interface 12, or directly on one or the other of the control units 3, 6 using any type of connector (e.g., snap button connector).

[0047] Alternatively, or in combination as shown in FIG. 1, the first control unit 3 is connected to the second control unit 6 and, depending on the data sensed by the second temperature sensor 5 and received by the first control unit 3 via the second control unit 6, and / or the data sensed by the first temperature sensor 2 and received by the first control unit 3, activates / deactivates the second heating element 4 via the second control unit 6.

[0048] In a second alternative or combined embodiment, as seen in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the second heating element 4 and the second temperature sensor 5 are directly connected to the first control unit 3 via their respective direct connection points 10, 11 on the interface 12. The first control unit is configured to directly activate / deactivate the second heating element 4 via the corresponding connection point 11, depending on the data sensed by the second temperature sensor 5 and received by the first control unit 3 via the corresponding connection point 10, and / or the data sensed by the first temperature sensor 2 and received by the first or second control units 3, 6.

[0049] Alternatively, or in combination as shown in FIG. 2, the first heating element 1 and the first temperature sensor 2 are directly connected to the second control unit 6 via their respective direct connection points 14, 13 on the interface 12. The second control unit 6 is configured to directly activate / deactivate the first heating element 1 via the corresponding connection point 14 in response to data sensed by the first temperature sensor 2 and received by the second control unit 6 via the corresponding connection point 13, and / or data sensed by the second temperature sensor 5 and received by the first or second control units 3, 6.

[0050] Considering again the application to the electrical assembly as described above, the leftmost part corresponds to the part of the electrical assembly incorporated within or on the first textile support which is part of the T-shirt, and the rightmost part corresponds to the part of the electrical assembly incorporated within or on the second textile support which is part of the glove.

[0051] In this embodiment, at the level of the interface 12, any type of connector 10, 11, 13, 14, such as snap button connectors, can be used to physically connect the glove to the T-shirt. Each of the two parts of the electrical assembly holds its own control unit 3, 6, and the control unit 3 corresponding to the T-shirt can take over the control unit 6 corresponding to the glove, and / or the control unit 6 corresponding to the glove can take over the control unit 3 corresponding to the T-shirt. This is particularly useful when one of the control units 3, 6 fails and / or when the energy of one of these control units 3, 6 is low.

[0052] The user devices 7, 8 can be used by the user as input / output interfaces. Preferably, the same user device is used for both parts of the system, but two separate user devices 7, 8 can also be used for each part.

[0053] The user devices 7, 8 are portable devices such as smartphones and tablets, and include at least a processor, a memory, and a user interface. Preferably, it is a low-energy wireless device that communicates for reception and transmission using, for example, Bluetooth or infrared rays as a wireless communication protocol.

[0054] Presumably, the above power source may be the power source of the user devices 7, 8.

[0055] Each of the control units 3, 6 includes at least a logical unit such as a processor or a microprocessor that can process electronic commands, a memory unit, and a power unit. The power unit generates power, and the power unit preferably includes a rechargeable battery. The processor, the memory unit, and the power unit are preferably arranged within a casing.

[0056] These control units 3, 6 may be microcontrollers, that is, all components are included on a single chip or integrated circuit. Their logical units can execute commands stored in a corresponding memory unit such as a non-transitory computer-readable memory unit.

[0057] The processor is preferably in the form of an integrated circuit. The memory unit includes a ROM and a RAM. The power supply unit is arranged within the casing and includes one or more rechargeable batteries that communicate with the processor. The control units 3, 6 also include other essential electronic components for connecting the various described components and appropriate interface circuits.

[0058] The control units 3, 6 further include a communication module. The communication module is a low-energy wireless system such as a Bluetooth module. The communication module communicates with the processor, either wired or wirelessly, enabling the control units 3, 6 to communicate with the user devices 7, 8.

[0059] Local applications executable on user devices 7, 8 enable communication between user devices 7, 8 and control units 3, 6. This application also enables the user to access the interface, through which the user can, for example, input user profile information and further change the operating modes of control units 3, 6.

[0060] User devices 7, 8 can be connected to remote storage means 9 named cloud 9. Communication between control units 3, 6 and user devices 7, 8 is only required at the first power-on of the system to input user parameters. These parameters are transmitted to and stored in cloud 9 by user devices 7, 8.

[0061] When not using user devices 7, 8, control units 3, 6 are configured to directly input such user parameters via an appropriate interface or remote control and proceed to calibration.

[0062] Furthermore, all or part of the control logic for controlling active elements 1, 4 according to the information sensed by sensors 2, 5 may be arranged in user devices 7, 8 or cloud 9. In such cases, the proper operation of the system also depends on the batteries of user devices 7, 8 and the network coverage for communication with cloud 9.

[0063] Control units 3, 6 are configured to supply an activation signal to heating elements 1, 4 along the power supply line. The activation signal is preferably a pulse-width modulation (PWM) power signal. Control units 3, 6 include a PWM module. This PWM module may be incorporated into the processor or connected to the processor and the power supply unit. The PWM module generates a PWM signal and transmits the signal along the power supply line to the appropriate heating element. The PWM signal saves power from the power supply unit.

[0064] Furthermore, all or part of the control logic for controlling the active elements 1 and 4 according to the information sensed by the sensors 2 and 5 may be arranged in the user devices 7 and 8 and / or the cloud 9. In this case, the corresponding parts of the user devices 7 and 8 and / or the cloud 9 are functionally part of the control units 3 and 6. Also, in such a case, the proper operation of the system also depends on the batteries of the user devices 7 and 8 and the network coverage for communication with the cloud 9.

[0065] The above description has been made with respect to specific embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments described for illustrative purposes only.

Claims

1. An electrical active assembly for generating at least one physical effect, comprising: - a first textile support; - a first active element (1) that generates the physical effect and is adapted to be connected to a power supply and is located on or within the first textile support; - a first sensor (2) that senses data regarding physical information such as temperature or humidity, is adapted to be connected to a power supply, and is located on or within the first textile support; and - a first control unit (3) connected to the first active element (1) and the first sensor (2) and located on or within the first textile support wherein activation / deactivation of the first active element (1) by the first control unit (3) is possible in response to data sensed by the first sensor (2), the electrical active assembly further comprises - a second textile support separate from the first textile support; - a second active element (4) that generates the physical effect, is adapted to be connected to a power supply, and is located on or within the second textile support; - a second sensor (5) that senses data regarding physical information, is adapted to be connected to a power supply, and is located on or within the second textile support; and - a second control unit (6) connected to the second active element (4) and the second sensor (5) and located on or within the second textile support wherein activation / deactivation of the second active element (4) by the second control unit (6) is possible in response to data sensed by the second sensor (5), The first control unit (3) is connected to the second active element (4) and the second sensor (5), and enables activation / deactivation of the second active element (4) by the first control unit (3) according to data sensed by the second sensor (5) and / or the first sensor (2), and / or the second control unit (6) is connected to the first active element (1) and the first sensor (2), and enables activation / deactivation of the first active element (1) by the second control unit (6) according to data sensed by the first sensor (2) and / or the second sensor (5). The second active element (4) and the second sensor (5) are directly connected to the first control unit (3) via respective direct connection points (10, 11), and direct activation / deactivation of the second active element (4) by the first control unit (3) is possible via the corresponding connection point (11) according to data sensed by the second sensor (5) and received by the first control unit (3) via the corresponding connection point (10), and / or data sensed by the first sensor (2) and received by the first or second control unit (3, 6). An electrically active assembly, characterized in that. Claim 2 The first active element (1) and the first sensor (2) are directly connected to the second control unit (6) via respective direct connection points (14, 13), and direct activation / deactivation of the first active element (1) by the second control unit (6) is possible via the corresponding connection point (14) according to data sensed by the first sensor (2) and received by the second control unit (6) via the corresponding connection point (13), and / or data sensed by the second sensor (5) and received by the first or second control unit (3, 6). The electrically active assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that. Claim 3 The second control unit (6) can be connected to the first control unit (1), and the data sensed by the first sensor (2) and received by the second control unit (6) via the first control unit (3), and / or the data sensed by the second sensor (5) and received by the second control unit (6), the electrical active assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that activation / deactivation of the first active element (1) by the second control unit (6) via the first control unit (3) is possible.

4. The first control unit (3) can be connected to the second control unit (6), and the data sensed by the second sensor (5) and received by the first control unit (3) via the second control unit (6), and / or the data sensed by the first sensor (2) and received by the first control unit (3), the electrical active assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that activation / deactivation of the second active element (4) by the first control unit (3) via the second control unit (6) is possible.

5. A textile assembly comprising the electrical active assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A textile assembly according to claim 5, comprising a first textile element and a second textile element separate from the first textile element, wherein the first textile support is part of the first textile element and the second textile support is part of the second textile element.

7. A textile assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that one of the first and second textile elements is a textile element worn on a first part of the body, and the other of the first and second textile elements is a textile element worn on a second part of the body different from the first part.

8. The body is the user's body, the first and second textile elements are the first and second items of clothing, one of the first and second items of clothing is an item of clothing worn on a first part of the user's body, and the other of the first and second items of clothing is an item of clothing worn on a second part of the user's body different from the first part. The textile assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that.

9. The textile assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the first and second textile elements are textile elements worn on the same part of the body.

10. The body is the user's body, the first and second textile elements are the first and second items of clothing, and the first and second items of clothing are items of clothing worn on the same part of the user's body. The textile assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that.

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