Cross-Regulated Textile Heating Assembly for Thermal Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric heating systems in clothing are bulky, heavy, require manual operation, and lack efficient cross-regulation between different parts of the body or between multiple garments, leading to inefficiencies and the need for separate adjustments.
Innovation Solution
An electrical active assembly with two independent textile supports, each equipped with active elements, sensors, and controlling units, allowing for cross-regulation between the two systems to optimize temperature or humidity control on different or the same parts of the body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional electric heating systems are used in clothing, then heating function is provided, but the system becomes bulky and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into multiple independent heating zones, each with its own control. This segmentation allows the system to provide targeted heating only where needed, reducing the overall power consumption and enabling a lighter system design while maintaining effective heating function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic control where heating zones can be independently activated or deactivated based on real-time temperature sensor feedback. This dynamic operation allows the system to provide heating function efficiently while reducing average power consumption, enabling lighter battery and heating element design.
2Ease of operation
If manual adjustment of heating pads is implemented, then user control is provided, but the system requires manual operation and lacks automation
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature sensors are integrated into each heating zone to continuously monitor the temperature. The control unit receives this feedback and automatically adjusts the heating power or activates/deactivates zones accordingly, providing automatic temperature regulation without requiring manual user intervention while maintaining ease of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-regulation by automatically sensing temperature conditions and adjusting heating output accordingly. Each heating zone independently manages its own temperature based on sensor feedback, eliminating the need for manual adjustment while maintaining user-friendly operation.
3Power
If all heating pads are activated simultaneously, then maximum heat output is provided, but energy efficiency is reduced and the system lacks selective control
Solution Approach 1:
Different heating zones can be independently controlled based on local temperature requirements. The system activates only the specific zones that need heating rather than all zones simultaneously, providing targeted heat output where needed while significantly improving overall energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies heating partially and selectively to only the zones that require it, rather than activating all zones excessively. This partial action approach maintains effective heat output in needed areas while reducing total energy consumption.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple independent heating systems are used on different body parts, then localized temperature control is provided, but the systems cannot cross-regulate and require separate adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed to manage multiple heating zones through a unified control architecture. While each zone can be controlled independently for localized temperature control, the control unit can also coordinate between zones and even take over control of other zones if another control unit fails, providing both localized adaptability and system-wide coordination without requiring separate independent control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates redundancy where control units can monitor and support each other. If one control unit or heating zone fails, another control unit can take over its functions, preventing system failure and eliminating the need for complete system replacement while maintaining localized control capabilities.
5Ease of operation
If separate control systems are used for each garment piece, then independent operation is provided, but the systems lack coordination and efficiency optimization across garments
Solution Approach 1:
The control units serve as intermediaries that can communicate and coordinate between different heating zones and garments. They enable independent operation of each zone while also facilitating coordination and efficiency optimization across the entire system, allowing the user to wear one or multiple garments with integrated temperature management.
6Power
If conventional heating systems are used, then heating function is provided, but the systems are bulky requiring larger components
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into multiple thin heating zones that can be distributed across the garment fabric. This segmentation allows the use of thinner, more compact heating elements and enables integration into slim-fitting garments without requiring bulky heating components, while still providing effective heating function.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic control capability allows the system to provide high heating power when needed by activating multiple zones simultaneously, while maintaining a compact design by using efficient power management. The system can deliver maximum heating function on demand without requiring permanently activated high-power components that would increase volume.
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
Enables efficient and fine-tuned physical effect active regulation across multiple textile elements, improving thermal comfort by allowing for coordinated temperature control between different garments or body parts, and providing redundancy in case of system failure.
Implementation Method 1
a first active element adapted for generating said physical effect... such as heat
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an electrical active assembly for generating a physical effect such as heat, cold or humidity, and a textile assembly, such as a clothing assembly, including said electrical active assembly, with an application to a system for regulating the temperature or humidity of a user's body.The electrical assembly comprises a first textile support, a first active element 1 for generating the physical effect, connected to a power source, and located on or in the first textile support, a first sensor 2 for sensing data relative to a physical information, such as temperature or humidity, connected to a power source, and located on or in the first textile support, and a first controlling unit 3 connected to the first active element and sensor, and located on or in the first textile support, such as to allow the activation/deactivation by the first controlling unit of the first active element depending on data sensed by the first sensor.The electrical assembly also comprises a second textile support distinct from the first textile support, a second active element 4 for generating said physical effect, connected to a power source, and located on or in the second textile support, a second sensor 5 for sensing data relative to the physical information, connected to a power source, and located on or in the second textile support, and a second controlling unit 6 connected to the second active element and sensor, and located on or in said second textile support, such as to allow the activation/deactivation by the second controlling unit of the second active element depending on data sensed by the second sensor.The first controlling unit is connected to the second active element and sensor, such as to allow the activation/deactivation by the first controlling unit of the second active element depending on data sensed by the second sensor and/or by the first sensor, and/or the second controlling unit is connected to the first active element and sensor, such as to allow the activation/deactivation by the second controlling unit of the first active element depending on data sensed by the first sensor and/or by the second sensor.