Textile PCB Docking Assembly for Removable Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a method to seamlessly integrate electronic components into smart textiles, as existing technologies face challenges in reliably connecting electronic components to electrically conductive textiles due to vastly different manufacturing infrastructures and requirements for adaptability and reliability in electrical connections.
Innovation Solution
A docking station assembly is provided, which includes a module dock station with a body connected to a substrate assembly on the textile substrate, featuring electrical connectors and fasteners to securely attach an electronic module with a printed circuit board to the textile substrate, ensuring both mechanical and electrical reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electronic components are integrated into smart textiles using traditional manufacturing methods, then manufacturing precision and reliability of electrical connections improve, but device complexity and manufacturing infrastructure requirements worsen due to the need to combine vastly different manufacturing infrastructures for textiles and electronics
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the smart textile system into separate functional modules: a textile substrate with conductive pathways and a separate electronic controller device with its own substrate and components. These modules can be manufactured independently using their respective optimized manufacturing infrastructures, then connected through a docking station assembly. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing each component to be manufactured with high reliability using appropriate methods while avoiding the complexity of integrating manufacturing processes.
2Reliability
If electronic components are permanently attached to textile substrates, then manufacturing precision and connection reliability improve, but adaptability and ease of maintenance worsen due to inability to easily replace or recharge components
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a dynamic, reversible connection system through the docking station assembly that allows the electronic controller device to be repeatedly connected and disconnected from the textile substrate. The docking station provides electrical connectors that establish reliable electrical contact when mated, while allowing the controller device to be removed for recharging or replacement. This dynamic connection resolves the contradiction by maintaining connection reliability during use while enabling adaptability for maintenance and updates.
3Manufacturing precision
If electronic components are integrated directly into textiles, then manufacturing precision improves, but ease of operation and maintenance worsen due to difficulty in accessing components for recharging or replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the electronic controller device from direct integration into the textile substrate and positions it as a separate, removable component that docks with the textile. The controller device can be taken out for recharging or replacement by simply disconnecting from the docking station, while the textile substrate retains its integrated conductive pathways. This extraction resolves the contradiction by maintaining manufacturing precision for both components while dramatically improving ease of operation and maintenance.
4Reliability
If rigid connection methods are used to attach electronic components to textiles, then connection reliability improves, but textile flexibility and comfort worsen due to mechanical stress and rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs flexible substrates and thin-film conductive pathways in the textile assembly that can bend and flex with the textile without compromising electrical connections. The docking station assembly uses flexible connection mechanisms that maintain reliable electrical contact while accommodating the flexibility of the textile substrate. This resolves the contradiction by ensuring connection reliability through proper design of flexible components rather than rigid attachments.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method to reliably attach an electronic module to a textile. The overall mechanical assembly of the invention includes: (a) light pipe, (b) top enclosure, (b) magnet, (c) main electronics which contains (d) the main PCB, (e) battery and (f) other electronic components, (g) bottom enclosure, which holds (h) the connector PCB, (i) module dock, (j) top textile PCB which are located above the (j) textile band and under the (k) textile pocket and the (l) bottom textile PCB and (m) fabric and laminate padding, which are located below the textile band. The invention is physically embodied by an electronic module, comprising at least one printed circuit board (PCB), comprising at least one conductive circuit and at least one electronic component; a metallic rivet, grommet or eyelet to mechanically and electrically connect the; and a textile substrate with at least one electrically conductive circuit.