Title:
FABRIC OR GARMENT WITH INTEGRATED FLEXIBLE INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO1999064657
Kind Code:
A9
Abstract:
A fabric, in the form of a woven or knitted fabric or garment, including a flexible information infrastructure integrated within the fabric for collecting, processing, transmitting and receiving information concerning - but not limited to - a wearer of the fabric. The fabric allows a new way to customize information processing devices to "fit" the wearer by selecting and plugging in (or removing) chips/sensors from the fabric thus creating a wearable, mobile information infrastructure that can operate in a stand-alone or networked mode. The fabric can be provided with sensors for monitoring physical aspects of the wearer, for example body vital signs, such as heart rate, EKG, pulse, respiration rate, temperature, voice, and allergic reactions, as well as penetration of the fabric. The fabric consists of a base fabric ("comfort component"), and an information infrastructure component which can consist of a penetration detection component, or an electrical conductive component, or both. The preferred penetration detection component is a sheathed optical fiber. The information infrastructure component can include, in addition to an electrically conductive textile yarn, a sensor or a connector for a sensor. A process is provided for making an electrical interconnection between intersecting electrically conductive yarns. Furthermore, a process is established for sheathing the plastic optical fiber and protecting it.
Inventors:
JAYARAMAN SUNDARESAN
PARK SUNGMEE
RAJAMANICKAM RANGASWAMY
GOPALSAMY CHANDRAMOHAN
PARK SUNGMEE
RAJAMANICKAM RANGASWAMY
GOPALSAMY CHANDRAMOHAN
Application Number:
PCT/US1999/010420
Publication Date:
April 27, 2000
Filing Date:
May 12, 1999
Export Citation:
Assignee:
GEORGIA TECH RES INST (US)
International Classes:
A61B5/0478; A41D1/00; A41D13/12; A61B5/0408; D02G3/04; D02G3/44; D04B1/14; D06M15/55; D06M23/16; D06Q1/00; H05K1/00; (IPC1-7): D06M/
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