Multifunctional smart garment textile

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electrical heating clothing for outdoor activities has limited heating effectiveness, relies solely on batteries or external power, and lacks the ability to self-charge or convert kinetic energy into electricity, making it inconvenient for prolonged use.

Innovation Solution

A multifunctional smart garment textile composed of conductive yarns with cotton threads, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, and iodine-modified polypyrrole, integrated with a piezoelectric material like poly (vinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) to enhance electrical heating, thermal conductivity, and convert kinetic energy into electricity for self-charging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If conventional electrical heating clothing uses batteries or external power sources, then heating function is provided, but the device complexity and user burden increase due to carrying multiple power sources

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating effectVSAvoidpower source requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the heating garment to generate its own power through body motion. The kinetic energy harvesting system converts the wearer's movements into electrical energy, eliminating the need for external batteries or power sources. This resolves the contradiction by making the system self-sufficient while maintaining the heating function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials including piezoelectric materials and conductive fabrics integrated into the garment structure. These composite materials enable both power generation through body motion and efficient heat distribution, resolving the contradiction by combining multiple functions in a unified material system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Temperature

If conventional heating clothing relies on external power sources, then heating is achieved, but the duration of action is limited by battery capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating functionVSAvoidheating duration
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves continuity of useful action by continuously converting the wearer's body motion into electrical energy during outdoor activities. As long as the user remains active, the system continuously generates power to sustain heating, eliminating the interruption caused by battery depletion and extending heating duration indefinitely.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The self-charging mechanism through kinetic energy harvesting allows the garment to continuously replenish its own power supply during use. This resolves the duration limitation by making the system self-sustaining rather than dependent on finite battery capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If heating clothing uses simple battery power, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability is reduced as it cannot convert kinetic energy or provide multiple functions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidenergy conversion capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements multi-functionality by integrating kinetic energy harvesting, heating, and potential lighting functions into a single garment system. The same piezoelectric materials and conductive fabric structure serve multiple purposes: generating power from motion, distributing heat, and potentially providing light emission. This resolves the contradiction by adding versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 smart garment textile provides improved flexibility, temperature control, and extended heating duration by converting kinetic energy into electricity, reducing the need for external power sources and enhancing user convenience during outdoor activities.

Implementation Method 1

integrated with a piezoelectric material like poly (vinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) to enhance electrical heating, thermal conductivity, and convert kinetic energy into electricity for self-charging

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

A multifunctional smart garment textile composed of conductive yarns with cotton threads, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, and iodine-modified polypyrrole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 3

the cotton threads, the multiwalled carbon nanotubes and the iodine-modified polypyrrole are intermingled with each other in a weight ratio ranging from 1:1:1 to 3:1:1

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11661681B2Multifunctional smart garment textile
Publication Date: 2023.05.30 TSAI STEPHEN

AI summary

A multifunctional smart garment textile is disclosed herein. It comprises plural conductive yarns, wherein each of the plural conductive yarns includes cotton threads, multiwalled carbon nanotubes and iodine-modified polypyrrole, and wherein the cotton threads, the multiwalled carbon nanotubes and the iodine-modified polypyrrole are intermingled with each other in a weight ratio ranging from 1:1:1 to 3:1:1.