Athletic Garment Breath Sensor with Haptic Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing athletic/fitness activity monitoring systems are limited in feedback, bulky, and require separate equipment or high user input, making them unsuitable for real-world athletic sessions and lacking in auto-detection and unobtrusive feedback.

Innovation Solution

A garment with a breath sensor module that includes a stretchable capacitive sensor and an electronics module with a haptic feedback device, which provides reminders to breathe through vibration patterns without the need for external devices or complex signal transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing athletic monitoring systems use separate equipment (smartphones, smartwatches), then they can provide comprehensive monitoring capabilities, but they increase device complexity and require high user input

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring capabilitiesVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the sensor system, processor, and haptic feedback device directly into the athletic garment itself, eliminating the need for separate monitoring equipment. The breath sensor module is embedded in the garment to detect respiratory activity, and the haptic feedback device is integrated to provide reminders, creating a unified system that reduces overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Loss of information

If existing monitoring systems provide extensive feedback, then they improve coaching effectiveness, but they increase distraction to the athlete

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeedback informationVSAvoiddistraction

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses haptic feedback in the form of vibrations to provide feedback to the athlete. The haptic feedback device generates subtle vibrations that can be felt through the garment, allowing feedback communication without visual or auditory distractions. This mechanical vibration approach delivers necessary feedback information while minimizing interference with the athlete's focus and performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

3Measurement precision

If stretchable sensors are used in garments, then they can accurately measure body movement, but cracks or fissures develop in the sensor layers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor accuracyVSAvoidsignal reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible substrate that can stretch and contract with the garment to maintain sensor accuracy during body movement. This flexible substrate prevents cracks and fissures from developing in the sensor layers by accommodating strain through its elastic properties. The substrate acts as a protective medium that maintains the integrity of the conductive ink patterns while allowing the garment to move with the athlete's body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system provides accurate and precise data on respiratory activity with minimal distraction, allowing users to focus on their activity while receiving timely and unobtrusive feedback on their breathing patterns.

Implementation Method 1

a capacitive sensor configured to detect a change in capacitance in response to at least one of expansion and contraction of a torso of an individual

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

the haptic feedback device produces haptic feedback such that the individual is reminded to breathe

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS20250161781A1Athletic monitoring garment with non-transmitting, non-receiving sensor systems and methods

Publication Date: 2025.05.22 ADIDAS AG

AI summary

A garment including a breath sensor module. The breath sensor module includes a stretchable sensor configured to respond to at least one of expansion and contraction of a torso of an individual wearing the garment. The breath sensor module also may include an electronics module. The electronics module includes, for example, a processor and a haptic feedback device. In response to the processor determining that the individual's breathing meets predetermined criteria based on the response of the stretchable sensor, the haptic feedback device produces haptic feedback such that the individual is reminded to breathe. Further, the breath sensor module does not include a transmitter or a receiver configured to transmit or receive data outside of the breath sensor module. Advantageously, this allows for streamlined use, and less-intrusive reminders to the individual wearing the garment, without the complexities of signal transmission or receiving.