Pressure-Sensing Apparel Interface for Reliable Motion Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparel with integrated electronics face challenges in providing a reliable user interface that is effective in various environmental conditions and easy to manipulate, particularly during physical activity, due to limitations of capacitive interfaces and discrete buttons.
Innovation Solution
An article of apparel with a pressure sensor array integrated within fabric layers, allowing large-scale movements to input commands, and includes a display, wireless communication, and environmental sensors, ensuring the interface is isolated from environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If capacitive sensors or discrete buttons are used for user interface, then the interface can be integrated into apparel, but the interface becomes difficult to manipulate during physical activity and ineffective in various environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional capacitive touch interfaces and discrete mechanical buttons with a pressure-sensitive fabric interface that detects mechanical pressure applied to the fabric surface. This substitution allows users to interact with the apparel by simply pressing or touching the fabric, which is naturally intuitive and easy to perform during physical activity, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and interface effectiveness in various environmental conditions.
2Ease of operation
If traditional user interfaces are used in apparel, then the structure remains simple, but the interface becomes difficult to manipulate during physical activity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the user interface functionality directly into the fabric structure itself, making the fabric both the structural component and the interactive interface. Pressure-sensitive sensors are integrated within the fabric layers, allowing the fabric to serve dual purposes as both wearable material and control interface. This merging eliminates the need for separate, complex interface components while maintaining ease of manipulation during physical activity.
3Ease of operation
If pressure sensor array is integrated within fabric layers, then the interface becomes easy to manipulate, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes flexible pressure-sensitive fabric layers that can be bent, stretched, and conform to body movements without compromising sensor functionality. The flexible nature of the fabric allows the pressure sensor array to be integrated seamlessly into the apparel structure, maintaining ease of manipulation while managing device complexity through the use of adaptable, form-fitting materials that naturally accommodate the wearable form factor.
4Adaptability or versatility
If electronics are incorporated into apparel for various functions, then the apparel gains functionality, but the user interface becomes less reliable in various environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the pressure-sensitive fabric as an intermediary layer between the user and the electronic components. This fabric interface acts as a mediator that translates physical pressure into electronic signals, providing a reliable connection that is insensitive to environmental conditions such as moisture, temperature, or sweat. The fabric intermediary protects the underlying electronics while maintaining reliable user input capability across various environmental conditions.
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 pressure sensor array enables reliable user input through large-scale movements, controlling both integral and secondary devices, regardless of environmental conditions, and facilitates communication with external devices.
Implementation Method 1
each pressure sensor being configured to output a signal indicative of an amount of pressure being applied to the pressure sensor by an external mechanical force
Data Source
AI summary
An article of apparel and method include a structure configured to enclose a human body part, a pressure sensor array including multiple pressure sensors separately positioned at locations within the structure, wherein each pressure sensor is configured to output a signal indicative of an amount of pressure being exerted on the pressure sensor by an external mechanical force, an electronic display, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive signals from the pressure sensors and, based on a sequence and a timing of the signals as received, determine a command related to a function of a device. The electronic display is configured to display information related to the function.