Abstract:
Apparel articles including flexible personal device and information displays provide a system and method for displaying text and graphical output of personal devices to the wearer of the apparel article or another person interacting with a personal device of the wearer. The apparel includes a display having enhanced flexibility that is visible in low ambient light conditions without requiring the use of a back-light. Hats, shirts and other apparel articles provide displays for programming by other persons via a wireless network interface and for displaying information such as Internet messages and pages, temperature, exercise data, stock quotes, computer monitor displays and other information to the wearer of the apparel. Control inputs of personal devices are also incorporated in the apparel via a touch-screen aligned with the display or other discrete controls integrated within the apparel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to articles of clothing or accessories and more specifically to apparel including one or more flexible electronic displays.  
           [0003]    2. Background of the Invention  
           [0004]    Clothing articles on which distinctive graphics and text appear are for sale by clothing retailers as well as organizations having a promotional or advertising interest in the graphics or text being displayed. Static printed apparel is well known (e.g., printed t-shirts) and are found highly desirable by both consumers and promoters.  
           [0005]    In the recent past, electronic display technology has improved to yield increasingly low-cost, low power and small graphical and textual displays, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays. While such displays may be used to provide changeable graphical and textual matter to an apparel article via attachment of an LCD, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,912,653, in actuality, an LCD cannot be packaged to yield a degree of flexibility that would prevent damage to the display while providing comfort and flexibility of movement to the wearer. Further, LCD technology typically requires back-lighting to be visible under a wide variation of lighting conditions.  
           [0006]    U.S. patent application US2002/0167483A1 describes OLED apparel articles generally as an improvement over the above-referenced patent. However, the above-referenced patent (as well as other existing patents and publications) is directed toward a display for promoting or otherwise presenting graphics and animations to persons other than the wearer. Typically this type of apparel display serves as a“substitute” or improvement over the printed designs described above. While such displays are useful for providing eye-catching and visible displays for advertising or for calling attention to the wearer, it would be desirable to provide further functionality within such apparel. It would further be desirable to provide functionality that serves the wearer of the apparel other than the functionality described above, which only serves the wearer in relation to other persons viewing the displays. It would also be desirable to provide functional interaction between apparel and other persons.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The above objectives of providing an article of apparel having an electronic display providing functionality that serves the wearer and/or wearer interactivity with other persons is provided in apparel articles incorporating a flexible display comprising a personal device display. The display may be an output of a personal device such as a wristwatch, Internet or other network appliance, cellular telephone, exercise and environmental monitors, personal computers, video games, music players and other personal devices. The display is generally oriented for convenient viewing by the wearer, but may also include displays oriented for viewing by other persons while programmed with the graphical and/or textual output of a personal device where the input to the personal device is provided by one or more other persons.  
           [0008]    The apparel articles incorporate a flexible light-emitting diode display forming a graphical pixel matrix for display of graphics and/or text. The light-emitting diode display radiates light, eliminating any need for back-lighting and providing a flexible display enhancing flexibility of movement and comfort to the wearer.  
           [0009]    The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIGS. 1A and 1B are pictorial diagrams depicting apparel articles in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a pictorial diagram depicting an apparel article in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is an electronic block diagram depicting circuits of an apparel article in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]    The present invention provides various interactive and display improvements to articles of apparel including flexible displays. The improvements include personal device information displays integrated within the article of apparel. Such displays may include cellular telephone and other personal communication device displays such as pager, e-mail, personal digital assistant (PDA) displays, personal computer displays and the like. Generally, the display differs from prior art displays not necessarily in format or structure, but in programming, in that the display is programmed in an orientation for convenient viewing by the wearer of the article of apparel, rather than for viewing by others. Personal devices as defined in the context of the present application include all of the above-listed devices and other devices that present information to a person (the wearer) on a multi-pixel display. One embodiment of the invention in exception to the wearer orientation of the present invention is a novel use of a flexible display integrated in an article of apparel and a novel method and system for operating an article of apparel, whereby another person may view a response to a communication received from the other person on the flexible display of the wearer.  
         [0014]    The present invention provides a display of information provided from the personal communication devices mentioned above, but also contemplates personal devices that are sensor devices such as exercise monitors and temperature sensors as well as completely contained devices such as timers, stopwatches and wristwatches and personal computing devices. Apparel as contemplated by the embodiments of the present invention include accessories such as wallets, purses, gym bags, luggage, belts as well as general clothing-type apparel such as shirts, shoes, jackets, pants, skirts, dresses and the like. The flexible display and associated control circuits may be made detachable so that transfer between various articles of clothing may be accomplished. An adhesive-backed display or VELCRO-attached display may be provided.  
         [0015]    Referring now to FIG. 1A, a wallet  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is depicted. Wallet body  11  forms an“apparel body” on which a flexible light-emitting diode (LED) multi-pixel matrix display  13  is mounted. A visual display  15  is presented that can display video, text, static graphics, flashing lights, as well as any other lighted form that may be programmed to turn on pixels in LED display  13  in response to personal device information. For example, a cellular telephone display or e-mail content display may be provided on LED display  13  in response to a received network communication.  
         [0016]    LED display  13  is generally an organic LED display forming a transparent plastic flexible membrane with the organic diode elements embedded therein. No back-lighting is required, as the LED elements generate radiated light as opposed to LCD elements that have been used in prior clothing article displays. Apparel in accordance with embodiments of the present invention are generally for wear by persons, but the techniques of the present invention may be applied to other clothing articles such as dog sweaters, horse cowls, and so forth generally in embodiments where the personal device information is provided by a person other than the animal wearer for view by the person.  
         [0017]    Referring now to FIG. 1B, a shirt  10 A in accordance with another embodiment of the invention is depicted. An apparel body  11 A provides the bulk of the apparel item (shirt  10 A) on which flexible multipixel LED display  13 A is mounted for generating a visual display  15 A, but in one embodiment, display  13 A forms all of the exterior of the entire apparel item, so that an apparel body may not be required at all. Such apparel is suitable for use in full camouflage or partial camouflage clothing that may be programmed for various environments. A second display  13 B is shown incorporated on a sleeve of shirt  10 A, and the generated visual display is generated in an orientation easily readable to the wearer, as opposed to display  13 A which is more likely visible to and generally oriented for display to another person. In the illustrative depiction, display  13 B is implementing the function of a watch showing time 3:00.  
         [0018]    Buttons  16 , provided for controlling displays  13 A and  13 B, may be incorporated as graphics and/or text on  13 B with sensors located at corresponding locations under the display or with a programmed response to a touch-screen matrix set to areas corresponding to button icons  16  or may be provided as discrete buttons such as membrane switches as shown.  
         [0019]    Display  13 A is illustrated as a display responsive to a wireless network interface. The present invention contemplates the use of a wireless network interface for providing weather information, stock quote information, video and animated data, and so forth for viewing by the wearer of the article of apparel. However, in the illustration, a graphical text display responsive to incoming e-mails is shown where the display text of a person&#39;s name (or other text) may be inserted in response to a received Internet e-mail transmission to an address associated with display  13 A. Thus the present invention provides a personal device-responsive communication for viewing by the sender of a communication, as well as others.  
         [0020]    Electronic displays  13 A and  13 B may share common driver circuits and a processor programming displays  13 A and  13 B may select a particular one of the displays for activation, or displays  13 A and  13 B may be multiplexed to reduce the amount of driver circuitry required. Driver circuit including internal personal devices  14 A is shown incorporated in the lining of shirt  10 A and may include a battery power source. Alternatively, or for providing a battery power source ancillary to driver circuit  14 A, a belt or waistband clipped electronics pack  14 B including internal personal devices may be connected to shirt  10 A. Controls may be further incorporated on pack  14 B for controlling programming of visual display  15 A and programming of display  13 B and an external connector may be provided on electronics pack  14 B and/or driver circuit  14 A for interface to a personal device (including sensors) providing input for controlling displays  13 A and  13 B.  
         [0021]    Referring now to FIG. 2, a shoe  20  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention is depicted. The body of shoe  21  provides a structure for attaching a flexible multi-pixel LED display  23 . Display  23  is shown oriented for viewing by a wearer of shoe  20  and visual display  25  provided thereon is displaying the current temperature (+70) in response to a sensor coupled to driver electronics  24 .  
         [0022]    In addition to the locations described above as examples, a visual display in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention may be provided in other locations on an apparel body. For example; the top of the leg or knee of a pair of pants, dress, skirt or other leg-covering article of apparel may have a display mounted thereon for providing a convenient location for viewing by the wearer. Additionally, the display may be mounted on a front shirt tail, providing a means for hiding the visual display when the shirt tail is tucked in and wherein the visual display may be oriented upside-down for viewing then the shirt tail is flipped up toward the viewer. Other“flap” type articles of apparel or additions to articles of apparel may be provided, for example on the front of a shirt or blouse, so that the user may“flip-up” a visual display that is oriented for viewing by the wearer when such“flap” is flipped so as to face the user.  
         [0023]    Referring now to FIG. 3, driver circuits  30  suitable for use within apparel articles  10 ,  10 A and  20  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention are shown in a block diagram. Displays  31  and  31 A which are affixed to an apparel article, are coupled to a set of matrix drivers  32 . Displays  31  and  31 A may each comprise a further plurality of electronic displays all connected to matrix driver  32  and may be individually selectable via matrix drivers  32 . Matrix drivers  32  are coupled to processor  33  for receiving information corresponding to text, graphics and colors displayed on display  31  and processor is coupled to a memory  34  for storing program instructions for execution by processor  33  and data corresponding to graphical images, text and colors for display on display  31 .  
         [0024]    A wireless network node  39 A, which may be an Internet node, is coupled to processor  33  to provide receipt of wireless communications and information such as web page viewing, time, weather and stock information as well as interactivity via e-mail, pager and the like as described above. Other information types receivable and displayable include maps and navigation direction information, movie theatre times, traffic information, newswire information and home appliance status and control information. In general, any type of broadcast information (unsolicited transmissions) or polled information (solicited transmissions) that are suitable for visual display output may be decoded and displayed. The information may be provided by any wireless mechanism compatible with the broadcasting or poll-response mechanism employed in the broadcasting or responding system, such as radio-frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) transmission/reception.  
         [0025]    Sensor/switch input interface  36  is coupled to processor  33  and may be coupled to exercise data sensors (such as heart rate monitors), switches or buttons mounted on the apparel (such as buttons  16 ) or electronics housing for control of display  31  or connected to temperature sensors, etc. Sensor/switch input interface  36  also couples any provided touch-screens integrated with displays  31  and  31 A. Internal personal devices and sensors  37  are coupled to processor  33  for providing information for programming displays  31  and  31 A. External devices and sensors  40  may be coupled to processor  33  via an interface connector  35 A. Power for displays  31  and driver circuit  30  may be provided by a battery, and solar cells or kinetic electrical devices may be used to either re-charge the battery, or may be used in some embodiments for providing all of the power source.  
         [0026]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form, and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.