Smart Garment Button With Conductive Traces for Reliable Signal Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smart garments face issues with unaesthetic and uncomfortable processing units for signal transmission, high maintenance costs, and the need for skilled labor to replace damaged components.
Innovation Solution
A button-based processing unit with integrated circuits and wireless modules for signal processing and transmission, using conductive traces on the garment surface for contact without piercing, allowing easy attachment and detachment, and featuring a rechargeable battery for aesthetic and reliable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If processing units are firmly fixed to the garment with electric contacts piercing the fabric, then reliable electrical connection is achieved, but aesthetic performance and wearer comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the electric contacts from the processing unit and places them directly on the garment surface as separate conductive traces. This separation allows the processing unit to be aesthetically designed without piercing contacts, while the contacts themselves are integrated into the fabric pattern, resolving the contradiction between reliable connection and aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces conductive yarns as an intermediary element that bridges the processing unit and the garment fabric. The conductive yarns are woven into the fabric to create conductive traces, providing reliable electrical connection without requiring piercing contacts, thus maintaining both aesthetic performance and connection reliability.
2Reliability
If processing units are firmly fixed to the garment, then stable signal processing is achieved, but ease of replacement and maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the processing unit from the garment structure by using a snap fastener connection instead of permanent fixation. The processing unit is divided into a replaceable component that can be easily detached and replaced by the user, while the conductive traces remain integrated in the fabric, maintaining signal processing stability while improving ease of repair.
3Reliability
If electric contacts pierce the fabric to contact conductive yarns, then reliable electrical connection is achieved, but garment comfort and aesthetic performance worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the piercing action from the contact mechanism by placing electric contacts directly on the fabric surface. The contacts are made of soft, flexible material that conforms to the fabric without piercing it, eliminating discomfort while maintaining reliable electrical connection through the conductive yarns woven into the fabric.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
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AI summary
A system (100) comprising a garment (2) and a button (1) of the type attachable to the garment (2) by means of a pin (3) passing through a hole (4) in said garment, said hole being arranged in a garment coupling portion (5) to be clamped between the head (3a) of said pin (3) and a button coupling surface (6), said button coupling surface (6) being provided with at least one electric contact (12) connected to at least one integrated circuit (7) and a wireless module (9) contained in the button wherein the garment coupling portion (5) is provided with said at least one conductive trace (11) arranged on the surface of the garment coupling portion (5) in order to be faced to the button coupling surface (6), said at least one electric contact (12) is arranged to contact said at least one conductive trace (11).