Powered Garment Wireless Charging Using Hanger-Integrated RF Radiator
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for garments that provide protection against extreme temperatures without inconveniencing the wearer and that can monitor physiological and environmental attributes, with a requirement for efficient electrical power management to support integrated heating, cooling, and sensor functions.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a hanger with a magnetic charging interface and a garment with a corresponding interface, allowing for inductive or mechanical coupling to recharge batteries and transfer data, along with a network of interconnected garments and devices for controlling and configuring smart garments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If insulation is added to protect against extreme temperatures, then protection against heat and cold is improved, but the dimensions and weight of the garment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heating function from traditional bulky insulation by integrating a rechargeable battery and heating element into the garment. This allows temperature protection without the excessive weight and volume of conventional thermal insulation layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from passive thermal insulation to active thermal regulation using electrical heating elements controlled by a processor. This allows dynamic adjustment of temperature based on sensor feedback, providing protection without excessive bulk.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If heating and cooling capabilities are integrated into the garment, then performance enhancement is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The garment integrates multiple functions including heating, cooling, biometric sensing, and wireless communication into a single system. The rechargeable battery serves both as a power source for heating/cooling and as a data storage device, while the processor coordinates all functions through a unified control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines heating elements, cooling elements, sensors, battery, and communication modules into an integrated garment system. The processor merges data from multiple sensors and controls multiple output devices, reducing overall system complexity through centralized management.
3Ease of operation
If rechargeable battery is integrated into the garment, then convenience of power supply is improved, but the weight and volume of the garment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The garment includes a rechargeable battery that can be recharged without removing the battery from the garment. The charging port allows direct connection to power sources, enabling the garment to service its own power needs autonomously without requiring external battery replacement or heavy external power packs.
4Measurement precision
If biometric sensors are integrated into the garment, then monitoring capability is improved, but the device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The garment integrates biometric sensors that continuously monitor physiological parameters and feed this data to the processor. The processor uses this feedback to automatically adjust heating/cooling levels and other garment functions, optimizing power consumption based on real-time wearer needs rather than operating at constant high power.
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 recharging and data communication for smart garments, enhancing wearer comfort and performance by providing temperature control and biometric monitoring without excessive bulk or weight, while simplifying power management and configuration.
Implementation Method 1
A system comprising a hanger with a magnetic charging interface and a garment with a corresponding interface, allowing for inductive or mechanical coupling to recharge batteries
Implementation Method 2
A system comprising a hanger with a magnetic charging interface and a garment with a corresponding interface, allowing for inductive or mechanical coupling
Data Source
AI summary
In selected examples, a clothes storage system includes a garment holder designed to receive and store at least one garment, an electromagnetic radiator attached to the garment holder, power circuitry configured to provide electrical drive to the electromagnetic radiator to cause the electromagnetic radiator to radiate radio frequency (RF) power, and a data interface configured to establish short range wireless communication links. The garment holder may be, e.g., a clothes hanger, a garment bag, a travel garment bag, or a walled enclosure such as a closet in a dwelling or an office. The data interface may be a short range RF transceiver, e.g., a Bluetooth® transceiver. The radiated RF power is received by the powered garments in/on the garment holder and converted into DC charging power used to recharge batteries of the powered garments. The data interface may allow the powered garments to communicate with external networks, e.g., the Internet.