Patent Publication Number: US-2022214234-A1

Title: Apparel Having Sensor System

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/919,347, filed Jul. 2, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/195,109, filed Nov. 19, 2018, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,704,966 on Jul. 7, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/824,593, filed Nov. 28, 2017, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,139,293 on Nov. 27, 2018, which a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/702,299, filed May 1, 2015, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,841,330 on Dec. 12, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/713,967, filed Dec. 13, 2012, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,043,004 on May 26, 2015, all of which prior applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention generally relates to apparel having a sensor system and, more particularly, to an article of apparel having an extruded sensor system having a sensor member and a conductor connected to a communication port operably associated with the apparel. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Articles of apparel having sensor systems incorporated therein are known. Sensor systems track movement and collect performance data wherein the movements and performance data can be accessed for later use such as for analysis purposes. In certain systems, the sensor systems are complex or unreliable at times due to bending of the apparel at a wearer&#39;s joints. In addition, data can only be accessed or used with certain operating systems. Thus, uses for the collected data can be unnecessarily limited. Accordingly, while certain articles of apparel having sensor systems provide a number of advantageous features, they nevertheless have certain limitations. The present invention seeks to overcome certain of these limitations and other drawbacks of the prior art, and to provide new features not heretofore available. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present invention relates generally to an article of apparel having a sensor system. Aspects of the invention relate to a sensor system that includes one or a plurality of sensors formed of a polymeric material having a conductive particulate material dispersed therein and conductive leads connected to the sensors. The leads may also be formed of a polymeric material having a conductive particulate material dispersed therein. The sensors and the leads may have the same or different polymeric materials and/or conductive particulate materials. In one embodiment, the conductive material is dispersed in the sensor(s) at a first dispersion density and the conductive material is dispersed in the leads at a second dispersion density that is higher than the first dispersion density. Each of the sensors is configured to increase in resistance when deformed under pressure, or in other words, the sensor has a first resistance in a non-deformed condition and a second resistance in a deformed condition, where the second resistance is higher than the first resistance. In a configuration where the leads include the dispersed conductive material, the second dispersion density is such that each of the leads has sufficient conductivity that the leads are configured to conduct an electronic signal between each sensor and the port in any state of deformation. 
     According to one aspect, the article of apparel further contains a communication port operably connected with the sensors, such that the leads connect the sensors to the port. In one embodiment, the communication port is configured for transmitting data regarding forces detected by each sensor in a universally readable format. The port may also be configured for connection to an electronic module to allow communication between the sensors and the module. 
     According to another aspect, the article of apparel contains an electronic module in communication with the sensors, which is configured for collecting data from the sensors. The module may be connected with the sensors through the communication port, and may be positioned within a cavity associated with the article of apparel. In one embodiment, the module is further configured for transmitting the data to an external device for further processing. 
     According to another aspect, the article of apparel may contain a housing that is configured for removably receiving the electronic module. The housing may include a well for receiving the module therein, and may have a communication port connected with the sensors and configured for communication with the module. The housing may further have retaining structure configured for retaining the module within the housing. 
     According to a further aspect, the polymeric material and the conductive particulate material of each sensor and each conductive lead are co-extruded. 
     According to an additional aspect, each lead includes an insulating coating disposed around a conductive core, with both the insulating coating and the conductive core being formed of the polymeric material. The insulating coating is substantially free of the conductive particulate material and the conductive core includes the conductive particulate material dispersed therein at the second dispersion density. Each sensor may additionally or alternately include an insulating coating disposed around a core, with both the insulating coating and the conductive core being formed of the polymeric material. The insulating coating is substantially free of the conductive particulate material and the core includes the conductive particulate material dispersed therein at the first dispersion density. 
     According to an additional aspect, at least one of the sensors includes a plurality of generally parallel branches having one or more bridges extending transverse to the branches to connect the branches together. Such sensor(s) may have three or more branches arranged in a zigzag pattern. 
     According to an additional aspect, the sensors may be formed by a first polymeric paint having the conductive particulate material dispersed therein at the first dispersion density, and the leads may be formed by a second polymeric paint having the conductive particulate material dispersed therein at the second dispersion density. The first polymeric paint and the second polymeric paint both may be silicone-based paints. 
     According to an additional aspect, the conductive particulate material includes at least one particulate material selected from a group consisting of: nickel, silver, carbon, and aluminum. 
     According to an additional aspect, at least one of the sensors includes a thinned segment having a width that is reduced relative to other portions of the sensor. 
     According to an additional aspect, each sensor has two leads connecting the sensor to the port, and each sensor and the two leads connected thereto are integrally formed as a single extruded member having a sensor segment forming the sensor and conductor segments forming the leads. The sensor segment may be formed of the polymeric material having the conductive particulate material dispersed therein at the first dispersion density, and the conductor segments may be formed of the polymeric material having the conductive particulate material dispersed therein at the second dispersion density. 
     Additional aspects of the invention relate to an article of apparel that includes a sensor system as described above. The article of apparel may be a shirt, which may have sensors located at least in elbow regions, shoulder regions, and/or underarm regions of the shirt, and which may have the port located in the upper back region or the chest region. The article of apparel may be a pair of pants (including shorts), which may have sensors located at least in knee regions and the back region of the pants, and which may have the port located on the front or back region of the waist region of the pants. The article of apparel may further be a full bodysuit, having one or more sensors and a port located in one of the locations described above with respect to the shirt and pants. The article of apparel may further be a tracksuit or similar outfit having separate shirt and pants members. The sensor systems of the shirt and pants may share a single port, or may have separate ports that may communicate with each other and/or with a common external device. Other articles of apparel may be utilized as well. 
     Additional aspects of the invention relate to an article of apparel that includes a clothing member having a sensor system disposed thereon. The sensor system includes an extruded silicone member having a sensor segment and a conductor segment connected to the sensor segment and continuous with the sensor segment. The sensor segment has a conductive particulate material contained therein at a first concentration and the conductor segment having the conductive particulate material contained therein at a second concentration, the second concentration being greater than the first concentration. The sensor segments and conductor segments may form one or more sensors and leads, respectively, as described above. 
     Further aspects of the invention relate to a system that includes an article of apparel and/or a sensor system as described above, with an electronic module connected to the sensor system. The system may further have an external device configured for communication with the electronic module. The module is configured to receive data from the sensors and to transmit the data to the external device, and the external device is configured for further processing the data. 
     According to one aspect, the system also includes an accessory device connected to the external device, configured to enable communication between the electronic module and the external device. The accessory device may also be configured for connection to a second external device to enable communication between the electronic module and the second external device. 
     According to another aspect, the data communicated to the external device can be used in one or more different applications. Such applications can include using the data as control input for a program executed by the external device, such as a game program, or for athletic performance monitoring, among other applications. Athletic performance monitoring can include monitoring one or more performance metrics such as speed, distance, lateral movement, acceleration, jump height, weight transfer, foot strike pattern, balance, foot pronation or supination, loft time measurement during running, lateral cutting force, contact time, center of pressure, throwing arm speed/force, kicking leg speed/force, weight distribution, and/or impact force, among others. 
     Still further aspects of the invention relate to methods utilizing an article of apparel containing a sensor system as described above. Such methods can include receiving data from the sensors at the electronic module and transmitting the data from the module to a remote external device for further processing, which may include use in one or more applications. Such methods can also include removing or disconnecting a first electronic module from the sensor system and connecting a second module in its place, where the second module is configured for a different operation. Such methods can further include processing the data for use in one or more applications and/or using the data as control input for an external device. Still further, such methods can include an external device receiving the data and utilizing and/or further processing the data in a variety of manners, including as control input, for athletic monitoring or modeling, and other such uses. Aspects of the invention may also include computer-readable media containing instructions for use in performing one or more features of these methods and/or utilizing the footwear and systems described above. 
     Other aspects of the invention relate to a system that includes at least one article of apparel having a sensor system as described above, as well as at least one article of footwear having a sensor system that includes one or more sensors in communication with a port. Electronic modules can be connected to the sensor systems, and each electronic module is configured for communicating data received from the sensors to an external device. The data from the different sensor systems may be integrated and processed together, such as by the modules and/or the external device, and may be used in any of the applications described above. The system may use one of several different communication modes. 
     Still other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a rear view of one embodiment of an article of apparel in the form of a shirt having a sensor system; 
         FIG. 2  is a magnified view of a portion of the shirt of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a housing of the shirt of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a magnified view as shown in  FIG. 2 , having the housing removed to show detail; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view as shown in  FIG. 1 , with an alternate housing attached to the shirt; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the shirt of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of another embodiment of an article of apparel in the form of pants having a sensor system; 
         FIG. 8  is a magnified view of a portion of the pants of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a magnified view as shown in  FIG. 8 , with an alternate housing attached to the pants; 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of the pants of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a rear view of another embodiment of an article of apparel in the form of a bodysuit having a sensor system; 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of the bodysuit of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a rear view of another embodiment of an article of apparel in the form of a track suit including a shirt as shown in  FIG. 1  and pants as shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an electronic module capable of use with a sensor system, in communication with an external electronic device; 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic diagram of the electronic module of  FIG. 14 , in communication with an external gaming device; 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a sensor of one embodiment of a sensor system according to aspects of the present invention, with leads connected to the sensor; 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sensor of  FIG. 16  in a state of tensile deformation; 
         FIG. 18  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a sensor of another embodiment of a sensor system according to aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sensor of  FIG. 18  in a state of tensile deformation; and 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of an article of footwear including a sensor system in communication with the sensor system of the article of  FIG. 1 , according to aspects of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated and described. 
     Aspects of the present invention may be used in connection with an article of apparel  100  that includes a clothing member, for example, an clothing member  10  in the form of a shirt, as shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , a pair of pants  50 , as shown in  FIGS. 7-10 , a bodysuit  60  as shown in  FIGS. 11-12 , or other article of apparel, such as gloves, footwear (including socks, shoes, etc.), other types of shirts (including short sleeve or sleeveless shirts), other types of pants (including shorts), hats or other headgear, coats or other outerwear, arm or leg bands, belts, or any other type of apparel that is configured to cover and/or be worn on any part of a user&#39;s body. In general, the article of apparel has a sensor system  12  connected thereto and/or disposed thereon, which includes a port  14  adapted for connection to an electronic module  16  or other device, one or more sensors  20 , and one or more sensor leads  22  connecting the sensors  20  to the port  14 . 
     The clothing member  10  is configured as a shirt to be worn on a user&#39;s upper body, and as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , includes a trunk portion  30  with sleeves  31  extending from the sides of the trunk portion  30  and configured to at least partially cover the user&#39;s arms. The trunk portion  30  has a back region  32  configured to at least partially cover the user&#39;s back, a chest region  33  configured to at least partially cover the user&#39;s chest. The sleeves  31  have elbow regions  34  configured to at least partially cover the user&#39;s elbows. Shoulder regions  35  and underarm regions  36  connect the sleeves  31  to the trunk portion  30  and are configured to at least partially cover the user&#39;s shoulders and underarms, respectively. While the port  14  may be located in a variety of positions without departing from the invention, in one embodiment, the port  14  is provided at a position and orientation and/or is otherwise structured so as to avoid or minimize contact with and/or irritation of the user&#39;s body, such as during an athletic activity. The positioning of the port  14  in  FIGS. 1-6  illustrates one such example. In this embodiment, the port  14  is located in the upper part of the back region  32  of the clothing member  10 , but may be located elsewhere in other embodiments, for example, the chest region  33 , other areas of the trunk portion  30 , or on one of the sleeves  31 . The port  14  and/or the clothing member  10  may include additional structure to increase comfort for the user. 
     One example embodiment of the sensor system  12  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 . In general, the sensor system  12  includes one or more sensors  20  that are connected to the clothing member  10 . The sensors  20  are formed of a flexible, insulative matrix material with a conductive particulate material dispersed therein. The flexible material may be an insulative polymer material, such as silicone in one embodiment, and may alternately be another polymeric material such as polyurethane, or other flexible material. The conductive particulate material may be a metallic material, such as nickel, silver, gold, copper, aluminum, or other conductive metallic material (including alloys thereof), as well as carbon or other conductive material, and may further include a combination of conductive materials. The conductive particulate material may be in any particulate form, including powder, flakes, needles, etc., or a combination of such forms.  FIGS. 16-17  illustrate example embodiments of a sensor  20 , showing the flexible polymer matrix material  23  with the conductive material  24  dispersed within the polymer material  23 . 
     The sensors  20  have a conductivity (and resistivity) that varies based on deformation and applied force, and may be considered to be a force-sensitive resistive material. The mechanism by which this occurs is that the deformation of the matrix material  23  causes the distance between the particles of the conductive material  24  to increase or decrease, which changes the resistance or conductivity of the material. For example, as shown in  FIG. 17 , when the matrix material  23  is stretched (e.g. tensile deformation), the distance between the particles of the conductive material  24  increases, which increases the resistance and decreases the conductivity of the sensor  20  relative to the sensor  20  as shown in  FIG. 16 . The concentration or dispersion density of the conductive material in the sensors  20  may be such that the change in resistance due to typical deformation of the sensor  20  is significant enough to be accurately measurable. This density may be dependent on the identity of the conductive material  24  and/or the matrix material  23 . 
     In one embodiment, the sensors  20  may have multiple connected branches  46  that extend across a common pressure point (e.g. a flex point as described below). As shown in  FIG. 1 , at the elbow regions  34 , the branches  46  may be oriented parallel or generally parallel to each other, and may be arranged in an alternating or “zig-zag” configuration in one embodiment, having one or more bridges  47  extending transversely between the branches to connect adjacent branches  46  together. Other configurations and orientations may be utilize in other embodiments. In this configuration, all of the multiple branches  46  share a single pair of leads  22  and operate as a single sensor  20 . If any of the branches  46  is sufficiently deformed the module  16  will register deformation by the sensor. As a result, the detection of the sensors  20  can be more consistent, as different movements may deform different branches  46  of the sensor  20 . Additionally, the sensors  20  may be positioned differently with respect to the user&#39;s joints due to the user wearing the clothing member  10  in a slightly different configuration, slippage of the clothing member  10  during use, differences in size/anatomy between different people, etc. The multiple branches  46  of the sensors  20  allow for detection of movement in any of these situations. Further, this consistency permits the article  100  to be sold commercially in a single configuration that is effective for a large number of users, avoiding the need for costly customization. 
     The sensors  20  may also contain one or more thinned portions or segments that have a width that is smaller than the widths of other portions of the sensors  20  and/or the widths of the leads  22 . The reduced thickness of the thinned segments ensures that the sensor  20  is deformed across its entire width, in order to produce consistent resistivity change across the width of the sensor  20  and thereby produce greater consistency in detection of movement. In another embodiment, the entire sensor  20  may have reduced width for this purpose, including a width that is reduced with respect to the widths of the leads  22 . 
     The sensor system  12  also includes sensor leads  22  connecting the sensors  20  to the port  14 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 , the leads  22  are also formed of a flexible, insulative matrix material  25  with a conductive particulate material  26  dispersed therein. Any materials listed above with respect to the sensors  20  may be used for the leads  22  as well. In one embodiment, the matrix material  23  and the conductive material  24  of the sensors  20  are the same as the materials  25 ,  26  of the leads  22 . In another embodiment, one or both of the conductive material  26  and the matrix material  25  of the leads  22  may be different from the materials  23 ,  24  of the sensors  20 . It is understood that the sensor system  12  may include a combination of different sensors  20  and/or leads  22  that include different matrix and/or conductive materials, which can be used to achieve different functionalities. The leads  22  may be formed of a different configuration in another embodiment, such as a conductive wire with an insulating coating or a thread with a conductive plating (e.g. silver). Such wires or threads could be woven into the fabric of the clothing member  10  in one embodiment. 
     In general, the leads  22  have greater conductivity than the sensors  20 , and have sufficient conductivity to conduct an electronic signal between the sensor  20  and the port  14  in substantially any state of deformation (excluding extreme deformation, such as fracture). In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-6 , the concentration or dispersion density of the conductive material  26  in the leads  22  is greater than the dispersion density in the sensors  20 , as shown in  FIGS. 16-17 , to create the increased conductivity. The dispersion density of the conductive material  26  in the leads  22  may be such that normal or typical deformation of the leads  22  does not cause a significant or measurable decrease in conductivity. This density may be dependent on the identity of the conductive material  26  and/or the matrix material  25 . 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , each sensor  20  has two leads  22  connecting the sensor  20  to the port  14 , one of which serves as a power lead and one of which serves as a return or ground. In another embodiment, the sensor system may include a single ground lead  22  (or alternately, a single power lead) connected to a plurality of different sensors  20 , with the sensors  20  having separate power leads  22  (or alternately, separate ground leads). In a further embodiment, two or more of the sensors  20  may share a pair of leads  22 , and may be arranged in a single “loop” with a pair of leads connecting the sensors  20  to the port  14 . These sensors  20  may be considered to be a “set” of sensors  20 . For example, in one embodiment, each of the branches  46  in the alternating sensor  20  configuration as shown in  FIG. 1  may be configured as separate sensors  20 , with the bridges  47  in the form of auxiliary leads having higher conductivity connecting the separate sensors  20 , such that the sensors  20  share a pair of main leads  22  and are arranged in a set. In this configuration, the sensors  20  of the set would be arranged in series, but in another embodiment, two or more sensors  20  may be arranged in parallel. Further configurations of sensors  20  and leads  22  are contemplated. 
     In one embodiment, the sensors  20  and the leads  22  may be formed and connected to the clothing member  10  by applying as a paint or similar substance that can be applied in a flowable form which then solidifies (such as through drying, curing, etc.). The sensors  20  and the leads  22  can be applied as different types of paints, such as a first paint with the conductive material at lower dispersion density to form the sensors  20  and a second paint with the conductive material at a higher dispersion density to form the leads  22 . A primer, adhesive, or other bonding material may be used to enhance the connection between the paint and the clothing member in one embodiment. Additionally, the use of paint or a similar technique to apply the sensors  20  and leads  22  may facilitate customization of the article  100  for a particular user, enabling the sensors  20  and leads  22  to be quickly formed in a desired pattern or configuration. 
     In another embodiment, the sensors  20  and the leads  22  may be formed by extrusion. The sensor matrix material  23  may be doped with the sensor conductive material  24  at the appropriate distribution density, loaded into an extrusion device, and extruded to form the sensors  20 . Similarly, the lead matrix material  25  may be doped with the lead conductive material  26  at the appropriate distribution density, loaded into an extrusion device, and extruded to form the leads  22 . The extruded sensors  20  and leads  22  may be connected to the clothing member  10  by extruding the sensors  20  and the leads  22  directly onto the clothing member  10  in a desired pattern, in one embodiment. As similarly mentioned above, a primer, adhesive, or other bonding material may be used to enhance the connection between the extruded material and the clothing member in one embodiment. Other forming methods may be used in other embodiments. 
     In one embodiment, the sensors  20  and the leads  22  can be formed together in one embodiment as a continuous member formed of the matrix material  23 ,  25 , with different segments having different concentrations of the conductive material to form the sensors  20  and leads  22 . Co-extrusion, other extrusion techniques, or another effective method may be utilized to produce the continuous member. In one example embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , each sensor  20  or set of sensors  20  and the lead or leads  22  connecting the sensor(s)  20  to the port  14  may be a single continuous member formed of a single matrix material (e.g. silicone), having one or more sensor segments  27  and one or more conductor segments  28  that are continuous with each other. The sensor segments  27  have the conductive material  24  dispersed therein at the appropriate concentration to form the sensors  20 , and the conductor segments  28  have the conductive material  26  dispersed therein at the appropriate concentration to form the leads  22 . It is understood that in this embodiment, the conductive materials  24 ,  26  of the sensors  20  and the leads  22  may be the same or different materials. In another embodiment, different matrix materials  23 ,  25  may be used for the sensor segments  27  and the conductor segments  28 , if such materials  23 ,  25  can be sufficiently bonded to form the single continuous member. 
     In another embodiment, sensors  20  and/or leads  22  as described above may have an insulative coating  21 , such as illustrated in  FIGS. 18-19 . The insulative coating  21  may be formed of the same material as the matrix material(s)  23 ,  25  of the sensors  20  and/or leads  22  in one embodiment, and may further be co-extruded along with the sensors  20  and/or leads  22  or otherwise continuously and integrally formed with the sensors  20  and/or leads  22  in an additional embodiment. Alternately, the insulative coating  21  may be made from one or more different materials, or may be made from the same material as the matrix material(s)  23 ,  25  while being separately formed.  FIG. 19  illustrates tensile deformation of the sensor  20 , which increases the resistivity of the sensor  20  according to the same mechanism described above. 
       FIGS. 1-6  illustrate one example embodiment of the article  100 , showing the positioning of the sensors  20 . The sensors  20  may be positioned at or near flex points on the article  100 , which are configured to be positioned on portions of the user&#39;s body where movement is focused (e.g. joints). As seen in  FIG. 1 , sensors  20  are positioned on each of the elbow regions  34 , with leads  22  that extend from the sensors  20  to the port  14  located in the back region  32  of the clothing member  10 . These sensors  20  deform when the user&#39;s elbows are bent. Additional sensors  20  are positioned on the back sides of each of the shoulder regions  35  and in each underarm region  36  of the clothing member  10 , with leads  22  connecting each sensor  20  to the port  14 . These sensors  20  deform when the user&#39;s arms are raised and lowered or moved forward and backward. As described above, the deformation of these sensors  20  causes the resistance of the sensors  20  to change, which is detected by the module  16  through communication through the leads  22  and the port  14 . As shown, all the sensors  20  and the leads  22  are connected to the outer surface of the clothing member  10 . In another embodiment, at least some of the sensors  20  and/or leads  22  may be connected to the inner surface of the clothing member  10  or embedded within the clothing member  10 , or a combination of such configurations. It is understood that the article  100  may include additional sensors  20  and/or sensors  20  in other positions in other embodiments. 
     The port  14  is configured for connection to the leads  22  using a plurality of connectors or connection pins  13 , which may be or include metallic (e.g. silver) threads or other conductors. The port  14  also includes an interface  18  configured for communication with an interface  17  of the module  16 . Each of the interfaces  17 ,  18  may include a plurality of electrical contacts (not shown) or other connections. In one embodiment, the interfaces  17 ,  18  include separate electrical contacts corresponding to each of the leads  22 . A harness member  11  supports the connection pins  13  in connection with the leads  22  and consolidates the pins  13  together to connect to the interface  18 . The harness member  11  may be made from a sheet-like polymer material, with the pins  13  at least partially embedded therein. A frame member  19  may be positioned around the harness member  11 , to support the harness member  11 , provide a point for connection to the clothing member  10 , and cover the connections between the leads  22  and the pins  13 , among other functions. The frame member  19  may be formed of a polymer foam or other suitable material. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 , a housing  40  is connected to the clothing member  10  adjacent the port  14 , and is positioned and configured to hold the module  16  in connection with the port  14 . In one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , the housing  40  is formed of a rigid shell, such as a rigid polymeric or metallic shell, that defines a well  41 . In this embodiment, the housing  40  is formed of inner and outer members  45 A,  45 B that fit together by snapping, interference fit, or other mechanical connection, and are connected to the clothing member  10  by clamping a portion of the clothing member  10  between the inner and outer members  45 A,  45 B, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the inner member  45 A includes a bottom wall supporting the module  16 , however in another embodiment, the housing  40  may include an inner member  45 A that is annular or partially annular and connects to the outer member  45 B around the outer edges, with a center space allowing the portion of the clothing member  10  to form the bottom wall of the housing  40 . In another embodiment, the housing  40  may be formed of leather or similar material (including synthetics) and is connected to the clothing member  10  by stitching around the periphery, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The housing  40  may alternately be formed of another material with some degree of structural stability, such as a metallic material or a polymeric material (including polymer-matrix composites). Additionally, the housing  40  may be connected to the clothing member  10  in another manner, including adhesives or other bonding materials, mechanical fastening, etc. In other embodiments, the housing  40  may have a different shape, size, structure, or positioning on the clothing member  10 , or the port  14  may not have a housing associated with it, such as if the port  14  is configured to use a wireless interface. 
     The housing  40  may have a well  41  that is configured to receive at least a portion of the module  16  therein, and may further include a retaining structure to retain the module  16 . This retaining structure may be complementary with retaining structure on the module  16 . For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-2  and the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the housing  40  has retaining structure in the form of a flange  42  around the well  41 , and the module  16  has a peripheral groove  43  that receives the flange  42  to retain the module  16  in the housing. The housing  40  in  FIGS. 3 and 5  further includes a receiver  44  at one end of the well  41  that receives the end of the module  16  that includes the module interface  17  and acts as further retaining structure for the module  16 . The port interface  18  is at least partially exposed within the receiver  44 , such that when the module  16  is received in the receiver  44 , the interfaces  17 ,  18  are in contact with each other to enable communication between the port  14  and the module  16 . In other embodiments, the housing  40  and/or the module  16  may include different types of retaining structures, including retaining tabs or other releasable retaining structures. For example, the port  14  and/or the module  16  may include interfaces  17 ,  18  and/or retaining structure that is similar to the embodiments described and shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/416,458, published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0260421; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/401,918; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/483,824, published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0063778; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/483,828, published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0063779; and U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 13/399,778 and 13/399,935, all of which applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties and made part hereof. 
       FIGS. 7-10  illustrate another embodiment of an article of apparel  500  that includes a clothing member  50  in the form of pants, having a sensor system  12  connected thereto. The clothing member  50  is configured as pants to be worn on a user&#39;s lower body, and as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , includes a waist portion  51  with legs  52  extending downward from the waist portion  51  and configured to at least partially cover the user&#39;s legs. The waist portion  51  has a back region  53  configured to at least partially cover the user&#39;s back side, and the legs  52  have knee regions  54  configured to at least partially cover the user&#39;s knees. The sensor system  12  includes the same general features as described above with respect to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-6 , including sensors  20  and leads  22  connecting the sensors  20  to a port  14 , as well as any variations or alternate embodiments. The port  14  may include a housing  40  as described above and shown in  FIGS. 1-3  or as shown in  FIG. 5 , or another type of housing, for holding the electronic module  16 , which may be positioned adjacent the port  14 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7-10 , the port  14  is located in the center of the back region  53  of the clothing member  50  (e.g. in a tailbone area), but may be located elsewhere in other embodiments, such as a hip area or a belt buckle area. Additionally, the clothing member  50  has sensors  20  located in the knee regions  54 , which deform upon flexing of the user&#39;s knees, and two sensors  20  located in the back region  53 , which deform upon raising of the user&#39;s knees and thighs. It is understood that the article  500  may include additional sensors  20  and/or sensors  20  in other positions in other embodiments. It is also understood that the clothing member  50  and/or the sensor system  12  may include any variations or alternative configurations described above. 
       FIGS. 11-12  illustrate another embodiment of an article of apparel  600  that includes a clothing member  60  in the form of a bodysuit, having a sensor system  12  connected thereto. The clothing member  60  is configured as a bodysuit to be worn on to cover a user&#39;s full body, and as illustrated in  FIGS. 11-12 , includes a trunk portion  61  with legs  62  extending downward from the trunk portion  61  configured to at least partially cover the user&#39;s legs, as well as sleeves  63  extending from the sides of the trunk portion  61  configured to at least partially cover the user&#39;s arms. The trunk portion  61  has a lower back region  64  configured to at least partially cover the user&#39;s lower back, back side, and hips, and an upper back region  65  configured to at least partially cover the user&#39;s upper back. The legs  62  have knee regions  66  configured to at least partially cover the user&#39;s knees. The sleeves  63  have elbow regions  67  configured to at least partially cover the user&#39;s elbows. Shoulder regions  68  and underarm regions  69  connect the sleeves  63  to the trunk portion  61  and are configured to at least partially cover the user&#39;s shoulders and underarms, respectively. The sensor system  12  includes the same general features as described above with respect to the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-10 , including sensors  20  and leads  22  connecting the sensors  20  to a port  14 , as well as any variations or alternate embodiments. The port  14  may include a housing  40  as described above or another type of housing, for holding the electronic module  16 , which may be positioned adjacent the port  14 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 11-12 , the port  14  is located in the center of the upper back region  65  of the clothing member  60 , but may be located elsewhere in other embodiments, such as at a lower portion of the trunk portion  61  (e.g. a front or back waist area). Additionally, the clothing member  60  has sensors  20  located in the elbow regions  67 , which deform upon flexing of the user&#39;s elbows, sensors  20  located in the knee regions  66 , which deform upon flexing of the user&#39;s knees, and two sensors  20  located in the lower back region  64 , which deform upon raising of the user&#39;s knees and thighs. Additional sensors  20  are positioned on the back sides of each of the shoulder regions  68  and in each underarm region  69  of the clothing member  60 , with leads  22  connecting each sensor  20  to the port  14 . These sensors  20  deform when the user&#39;s arms are raised and lowered or moved forward and backward. It is understood that the article  600  may include additional sensors  20  and/or sensors  20  in other positions in other embodiments. It is also understood that the clothing member  60  and/or the sensor system  12  may include any variations or alternative configurations described above. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates an additional embodiment of an article of apparel  700  including a clothing member  70  in the form of a track suit that includes separate clothing members in the form of a shirt  10  and pants  50  as described above and shown in  FIGS. 1-10 , having a sensor system  12  connected thereto. In the embodiment of  FIG. 13 , the article  700  includes two ports  14  with two electronic modules  16  that are arranged and positioned as described above in connection with the clothing members  10 ,  50  of  FIGS. 1-10 . The two modules  16  in this embodiment may be configured to communicate simultaneously with a separate electronic device, and may additionally or alternately be configured to communicate with each other. In another embodiment, the article  700  may include a single port  14  connected to a single module  16 . The port  14  is positioned in the upper part of the back region  32  of the shirt member  10 , similar to the article  600  of  FIGS. 11-12 , where the leads  22  from the sensors  20  in the pants member  50  extend from the pants member  50  to the shirt member  10 . This may be accomplished by the use of a bridging connection, such as a releasable electronic connection, for example any variety of plugs, computer connectors, etc. It is also understood that the clothing member  70  and/or the sensor system  12  may include any variations or alternative configurations described above. 
     The port  14  is configured for communication of data collected by the sensors  20  to an outside source, in one or more known manners. In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 14-15 , the port  14  is a universal communication port, configured for communication of data in a universally readable format. As described above, in the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-13 , the port  14  includes an interface  18  for connection to an electronic module  16 , shown in connection with the port  14  in  FIGS. 3 and 14-15 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 14-15 , the interface  18  may take the form of electrical contacts. As also described above the sensor leads  22  in  FIGS. 1-13  are consolidated to form the interface  18  at their terminal ends, in order to connect to the port  14 , as shown in greater detail in  FIG. 4 . In one embodiment, leads  22  may be individually connected to the port interface  18 , such as through the connection pins  13  discussed above. In another embodiment, the sensor leads  22  could be consolidated to form an external interface, such as a plug-type interface or another configuration, and in a further embodiment, the sensor leads  22  may form a non-consolidated interface, with each lead  22  having its own sub-interface. As illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 4-5, and 8-9 , the sensor leads  22  can converge to a single location to form the consolidated interface. As also described below, the module  16  may have an interface  17  for connection to the port interface  18  and/or the sensor leads  22 . 
     The port  14  is adapted for connection to a variety of different electronic modules  16 , which may be as simple as a memory component (e.g., a flash drive) or which may contain more complex features. It is understood that the module  16  could be as complex a component as a personal computer, mobile device, server, etc. The port  14  is configured for transmitting data gathered by the sensors  20  to the module  16  for storage and/or processing. Although the port  14  is illustrated with electronic contacts forming an interface  18  for connection to a module, in other embodiments, the port  14  may contain one or more additional or alternate communication interfaces. For example, the port  14  may contain or comprise a USB port, a Firewire port, 16-pin port, or other type of physical contact-based connection, or may include a wireless or contactless communication interface, such as an interface for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, near-field communication, RFID, Bluetooth Low Energy, Zigbee, or other wireless communication technique, or an interface for infrared or other optical communication technique. 
     The module  16  may additionally have one or multiple communication interfaces for connecting to one or more external devices  110  to transmit the data for processing, as described below and shown in  FIG. 14 . Such interfaces can include any of the contacted or contactless interfaces described above. In one embodiment, the module  16  is configured for connecting to the external device  110  using a wireless connection technique, such as those mentioned above. In this embodiment, the module  16  may be configured for wireless communication with the external device  110 , which allows the device  22  to remain connected to the port  14 . In a wireless embodiment, the module  16  may be connected to an antenna for wireless communication. The antenna may be shaped, sized, and positioned for use with the appropriate transmission frequency for the selected wireless communication method. Additionally, the antenna may be located internally within the module  16  or external to the module. Additionally, the module  16  may be configured for contacted or contactless connection to a mobile device, such as a watch, cell phone, portable music player, etc. In another embodiment, the module  16  additionally or alternately includes a physical connector, such as a retractable USB connection for connection to the external device  110 . The module  16  may be configured to be removed from the port  14  to be directly connected to the external device  110  for data transfer, such as by the retractable USB connection described above. In one embodiment, the module  16  may be permanently mounted to the clothing member  10 , or alternately may be removable at the option of the user and capable of remaining mounted to the clothing member  10  if desired. Additionally, as further explained below, the module  16  may be removed and replaced with another module  16  programmed and/or configured for gathering and/or utilizing data from the sensors  20  in another manner. If the module  16  is permanently mounted to the clothing member  10 , the sensor system  12  may further contain an external port to allow for data transfer and/or battery charging, such as a USB or Firewire port. It is understood that the module  16  may be configured for both contacted and contactless communication. 
       FIG. 14  shows a schematic diagram of an example electronic module  16  including data transmission/reception capabilities through a data transmission/reception system  106 , which may be used in accordance with at least some examples of this invention. While the example structures of  FIG. 14  illustrate the data transmission/reception system (TX-RX)  106  as integrated into the electronic module structure  16 , those skilled in the art will appreciate that a separate component may be included as part of the structure of an article of apparel  100 , et seq., or other structure for data transmission/reception purposes and/or that the data transmission/reception system  106  need not be entirely contained in a single housing or a single package in all examples of the invention. Rather, if desired, various components or elements of the data transmission/reception system  106  may be separate from one another, in different housings, on different boards, and/or separately engaged with the article of apparel  100 , et seq., or other device in a variety of different manners without departing from this invention. Various examples of different potential mounting structures are described in more detail below. 
     In the example of  FIG. 14 , the electronic component  16  may include a data transmission/reception element  106  for transmitting data to and/or receiving data from one or more remote systems. In one embodiment, the transmission/reception element  106  is configured for communication through the port  14 , such as by the contacted or contactless interfaces described above. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 14 , the module  16  includes an interface  17  configured for connection to the port  14  and/or sensors  20 . In the module  16  illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the interface  17  has contacts that are complementary with the contacts of the interface  18  of the port  14 , to connect with the port  14 . In other embodiments, as described above, the port  14  and the module  16  may contain different types of interfaces  17 ,  18 , which may be wired or wireless. It is understood that in some embodiments, the module  16  may interface with the port  14  and/or sensors  20  through the TX-RX element  106 . Accordingly, in one embodiment, the module  16  may be external to the article  100 , et seq., and the port  14  may comprise a wireless transmitter interface for communication with the module  16 . The electronic module  16  of this example further includes a processing system  202  (e.g., one or more microprocessors), a memory system  204 , and a power supply  206  (e.g., a battery or other power source). 
     Connection to the one or more sensors can be accomplished through TX-RX element  106 , but additional sensors (not shown) may be provided to sense or provide data or information relating to a wide variety of different types of parameters, such as physical or physiological data associated with use of the article  100 , et seq., or the user, including pedometer type speed and/or distance information, other speed and/or distance data sensor information, temperature, altitude, barometric pressure, humidity, GPS data, accelerometer output or data, heart rate, pulse rate, blood pressure, body temperature, EKG data, EEG data, data regarding angular orientation and changes in angular orientation (such as a gyroscope-based sensor), etc., and this data may be stored in memory  204  and/or made available, for example, for transmission by the transmission/reception system  106  to some remote location or system. The additional sensor(s), if present, may also include an accelerometer  208  (e.g., for sensing direction changes during steps, such as for pedometer type speed and/or distance information, for sensing jump height, changes of direction, etc.). 
     An electronic module  16  as shown in  FIG. 14  can include an activation system (not shown). The activation system or portions thereof may be engaged with the module  16  or with the article  100 , et seq., (or other device) together with or separate from other portions of the electronic module  16 . The activation system may be used for selectively activating the electronic module  16  and/or at least some functions of the electronic module  16  (e.g., data transmission/reception functions, etc.). A wide variety of different activation systems may be used without departing from this invention, and a variety of such systems will be described in more detail below with respect to various included figures. In one example, the sensor system  12  may be activated and/or deactivated by activating the sensors  20  in a specific pattern, such as consecutive or alternating arm or leg bends. In another example, the sensor system  12  may be activated by a button or switch, which may be located on the module  16 , on the clothing member  10 , or on an external device in communication with the sensor system  12 , as well as other locations. In any of these embodiments, the sensor system  12  may contain a “sleep” mode, which can deactivate the system  12  after a set period of inactivity. In an alternate embodiment, the sensor system  12  may operate as a low-power device that does not activate or deactivate. 
     The module  16  may further be configured for communication with an external device  110 , as described above, which may be an external computer or computer system, mobile device, gaming system, or other type of electronic device, as shown in  FIGS. 14-15 . The exemplary external device  110  shown in  FIGS. 14-15  includes a processor  302 , a memory  304 , a power supply  306 , a display  308 , a user input  310 , and a data transmission/reception system  108 . The transmission/reception system  108  is configured for communication with the module  16  via the transmission/reception system  106  of the module  16 , through any type of known electronic communication, including the contacted and contactless communication methods described above and elsewhere herein. It is understood that the module  16  can be configured for communication with a plurality of external devices, including a wide variety of different types and configurations of electronic devices. Additionally, the transmission/reception system  106  of the module  16  may be configured for a plurality of different types of electronic communication. It is further understood that the shoe  80  may include a separate power source to operate the sensors  20  if necessary, such as a battery, piezoelectric, solar power supplies, or others. The sensors  20  may also simply receive power through connection to the module  16 . 
     The operation and use of the sensor system  12  is described below with respect to the sensor system  12  shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , and it is understood that the principles of operation of the sensor system  12 , including all embodiments and variations thereof, are applicable to the other embodiments of the sensor system  12  described above. In operation, the sensors  20  gather data according to their function and design, and transmit the data to the port  14 . The port  14  then allows the electronic module  16  to interface with the sensors  20  and collect the data for later use and/or processing. In one embodiment, the data is collected, stored, and transmitted in a universally readable format, so the data is able to be accessed and/or downloaded by a plurality of users, with a variety of different applications, for use in a variety of different purposes. In one example, the data is collected, stored, and transmitted in XML format. 
     In different embodiments, the sensor system  12  may be configured to collect different types of data. In one embodiment (described above), the sensor(s)  20  can collect data reflecting movement of the body at the points around the sensors  20 , e.g. at the user&#39;s joints in one embodiment. For example, the sensors  20  may gradually increase in resistance as the deformation of the sensor  20  changes due to different degrees of flexing or other movement. From this data, information about the user&#39;s movements can be gathered, such as the number, sequence, and/or frequency of movement, as well as the degree of movement, the speed of movement, and other information. In another embodiment, the sensors  20  may be binary on/off type sensors, rather than qualitative sensors. Such data may not permit the degree of the user&#39;s movement to be detected, but other aspects of the user&#39;s movement can be detected, such as number, sequence, frequency, etc. In further embodiments, the sensor(s)  20  may be able to measure rates of changes in flexing, bending, or other deformation, and/or other temporally-dependent parameters. It is understood that, in any embodiment, the sensors  20  may require a certain threshold force or deformation before registering data. 
     As described above, the data is provided through the universal port  14  to the module  16  in a universally readable format, so that the number of applications, users, and programs that can use the data is nearly unlimited. Thus, the port  14  and module  16  are configured and/or programmed as desired by a user, and the port  14  and module  16  receive input data from the sensor system  12 , which data can be used in any manner desired for different applications. In many applications, the data is further processed by the module  16  and/or the external device  110  prior to use. In configurations where the external device  110  further processes the data, the module  16  may transmit the data to the external device  110 . This transmitted data may be transmitted in the same universally-readable format, or may be transmitted in another format, and the module  16  may be configured to change the format of the data. Additionally, the module  16  can be configured and/or programmed to gather, utilize, and/or process data from the sensors  20  for one or more specific applications. In one embodiment, the module  16  is configured for gathering, utilizing, and/or processing data for use in a plurality of applications. Examples of such uses and applications are given below. As used herein, the term “application” refers generally to a particular use, and does not necessarily refer to use in a computer program application, as that term is used in the computer arts. Nevertheless, a particular application may be embodied wholly or partially in a computer program application. 
     Further, the module  16  can be removed from the clothing member and replaced with a second module  16  configured for operating differently than the first module  16 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-6 , the replacement is accomplished by disconnecting the first module  16  from the port  14  and removing the first module  16  from the well  41 , then inserting the second module  16  into the well  41  and connecting the second module  16  to the port  14 . The second module  16  may be programmed and/or configured differently than the first module  16 . In one embodiment, the first module  16  may be configured for use in one or more specific applications, and the second module  16  may be configured for use in one or more different applications. For example, the first module  16  may be configured for use in one or more gaming applications and the second module  16  may be configured for use in one or more athletic performance monitoring applications. Additionally, the modules  16  may be configured for use in different applications of the same type. For example, the first module  16  may be configured for use in one game or athletic performance monitoring application, and the second module  16  may be configured for use in a different game or athletic performance monitoring application. As another example, the modules  16  may be configured for different uses within the same game or performance monitoring application. In another embodiment, the first module  16  may be configured to gather one type of data, and the second module  16  may be configured to gather a different type of data. Examples of such types of data are described herein, including quantitative force measurement, relative force measurement (i.e. sensors  20  relative to each other), weight shifting/transfer, impact sequences (such as for stride patterns) rate of force change, etc. In a further embodiment, the first module  16  may be configured to utilize or process data from the sensors  20  in a different manner than the second module  16 . For example, the modules  16  may be configured to only gather, store, and/or communicate data, or the modules  16  may be configured to further process the data in some manner, such as organizing the data, changing the form of the data, performing calculations using the data, etc. In yet another embodiment, the modules  16  may be configured to communicate differently, such as having different communication interfaces or being configured to communicate with different external devices  110 . The modules  16  may function differently in other aspects as well, including both structural and functional aspects, such as using different power sources or including additional or different hardware components, such as additional sensors as described above (e.g. GPS, accelerometer, etc.). 
     One use contemplated for the data collected by the system  12  is in detecting and/or measuring movement by flexing of the user&#39;s joints, including joints used in a wide variety of athletic activities, such as elbows, shoulders, knees, and hips. As described above, information about the user&#39;s movements that can be gathered from the data include the number, sequence, and/or frequency of movement, the degree of movement, the speed of movement, and other information. It is understood that more or less expensive and complex sensor systems  12  may be designed, based on the intended use of the data collected thereby. The data collected by the system  12  can be used in measurement of a variety of other athletic performance characteristics. For example, speed and distance monitoring can be performed, which may include pedometer-based measurements. As another example, movement information can be used to model the user&#39;s movements (such as by an external device  110 ). Such movements that can be modeled include, without limitation, running form, throwing form (e.g., baseball, football, softball, cricket, etc.), basketball shooting form, swing form (e.g., baseball, golf, tennis, hockey, etc.), kicking form (e.g. soccer or football), ice skating or roller skating form, jumping form, climbing form, weightlifting or other stationary exercise form, posture, and other such movements. 
     The data, or the measurements derived therefrom, may be useful for athletic training purposes, including improving speed, power, quickness, consistency, technique, etc. The port  14 , module  16 , and/or external device  110  can be configured to give the user active, real-time feedback. In one example, the port  14  and/or module  16  can be placed in communication with a computer, mobile device, etc., in order to convey results in real time. Additionally, the data can be used to compare athletic movements, such as comparing a movement with a user&#39;s past movements to show consistency, improvement, or the lack thereof, or comparing a user&#39;s movement with the same movement of another, such as a professional golfer&#39;s swing. Further, the system  12  may be used to record biomechanical data for a “signature” athletic movement of an athlete. This data could be provided to others for use in duplicating or simulating the movement, such as for use in gaming applications or in a shadow application that overlays a movement over a user&#39;s similar movement. 
     The system  12  can also be configured for “all day activity” tracking, to record the various activities a user engages in over the course of a day. The system  12  may include a special algorithm for this purpose, such as in the module  16 , the external device  110 , and/or the sensors  20 . 
     The system  12  may also be used for control applications, rather than data collection and processing applications. In other words, the system  12  could be incorporated into apparel, or another clothing member that encounters bodily contact, for use in controlling an external device  110 , such as a computer, television, video game, etc., based on movements by the user detected by the sensors  20 . In effect, the apparel with the incorporated sensors  20  and leads  22  extending to a universal port  14  allows the apparel to act as an input system, and the electronic module  16  can be configured, programmed, and adapted to accept the input from the sensors  20  and use this input data in any desired manner, e.g., as a control input for a remote system. For example, a shoe with sensor controls could be used as a control or input device for a computer, or for a program being executed by the computer, similarly to a mouse, where certain movements, gestures, etc. (e.g., a horizontal or vertical hand or arm wave, a kick, etc.) can control a pre-designated operation on a computer (e.g., page down, page up, undo, copy, cut, paste, save, close, etc.). Software can be provided to assign various gestures to different computer function controls for this purpose. It is contemplated that an operating system could be configured to receive and recognize control input from the sensor system  12 . Televisions or other external electronic devices can be controlled in this manner. Articles  100 ,  500 ,  600 ,  700  incorporating the system  12  can also be used in gaming applications and game programs, similarly to the Nintendo Wii controller, where specific movements can be assigned certain functions and/or can be used to produce a virtual representation of the user&#39;s motion on a display screen. The system  12  can be used as an exclusive controller for a game or other computer system, or as a complementary controller. 
     Additionally, the system  12  may be configured to communicate directly with the external device  110  and/or with a controller for the external device. As described above,  FIG. 14  illustrates one embodiment for communication between the electronic module  16  and the external device. In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 15 , the system  12  can be configured for communication with an external gaming device  110 A. The external gaming device  110 A contains similar components to the exemplary external device  110  shown in  FIG. 14 . The external gaming device  110 A also includes at least one game media  307  containing a game program (e.g. a cartridge, CD, DVD, Blu-Ray, or other storage device), and at least one remote controller  305  configured to communicate by wired and/or wireless connection through the transmitting/receiving element  108 . In the embodiment shown, the controller  305  complements the user input  310 , however in one embodiment, the controller  305  may function as the sole user input. In this embodiment, the system  12  is provided with an accessory device  309 , such as a wireless transmitter/receiver with a USB plug-in, that is configured to be connected to the external device  110  and/or the controller  305  to enable communication with the module  16 . In one embodiment, the accessory device  309  may be configured to be connected to one or more additional controllers and/or external devices, of the same and/or different type than the controller  305  and the external device  110 . It is understood that if the system  12  includes other types of sensors described above (e.g., an accelerometer), such additional sensors can also be incorporated into controlling a game or other program on an external device  110 . 
     An external device  110 , such as a computer/gaming system, can be provided with other types of software to interact with the system  12 . For example, a gaming program may be configured to alter the attributes of an in-game character based on a user&#39;s real-life activities, which can encourage exercise or greater activity by the user. In another example, a program may be configured to display an avatar of the user that acts in relation or proportion to the user activity collected by the sensing system of the shoe. In such a configuration, the avatar may appear excited, energetic, etc., if the user has been active, and the avatar may appear sleepy, lazy, etc., if the user has been inactive. The sensor system  12  could also be configured for more elaborate sensing to record data describing a “signature move” of an athlete, which could then be utilized for various purposes, such as in a gaming system or modeling system. 
     A single article  100 , et seq., containing the sensor system  12  as described herein can be used alone or in combination with a second article  100 , et seq., having its own sensor system  12 , such as the articles  100 ,  500  in the track suit  70  illustrated in  FIG. 13  and described above. In one embodiment, one of the articles  100 , et seq., described above may have a sensor system  12  that communicates or otherwise works in conjunction with a sensor system  82  in an article of footwear  80 , as illustrated in  FIG. 20 , where the sensor system  82  of the footwear  80  is in communication with the sensor system  12  of the shirt article  100 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 20 , the article of footwear  80  has a sensor system  82  that includes a port  81 , one or more sensors  83  connected to the port  81 , and a module  84  connected to the port  81  to receive data from the sensors  83 . The sensor system  82  of the article of footwear  80  may utilize FSR sensors, and may be configured according to one or more embodiments as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/401,918, which application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and made part hereof. Additional embodiments of sensors and sensor systems, as well as articles of footwear and sole structures and members utilizing the same, are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/483,824, published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0063778; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/483,828, published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0063779; and U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 13/399,778 and 13/399,935, all of which applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties and made part hereof.  FIG. 20  illustrates the modules  16 ,  84  in communication with each other, and it is understood that one or more intermediate devices may be involved in such communication. In one embodiment, the data from the sensor system  12  in the article of apparel  100  can be integrated, combined, and/or otherwise used together with the data from the sensor system  82  of the footwear  80 . Such integrated data can provide further detail describing the user&#39;s movement, and can be used in any of the applications described herein or in the aforementioned patent applications, as well as other uses. The data integration can be performed by a module  16 ,  84  or may be performed by an external device  110 , after receiving the data from both the sensor systems  12 ,  82 . The device  110  may also generate visual, audio, or other output of the integrated data, which may include performance indicators. 
     Various modes of communication may be used to integrate the data from multiple sensor systems  12 ,  82 , including any modes of communication described in the aforementioned patent applications may be used as well. As illustrated in  FIG. 20 , the module  16  of the sensor system  12  may communicate directly with the module  84  of the footwear sensor system  82  and/or both modules  16 ,  84  may communicate with an external device  110  in one embodiment. In another embodiment, only a single module  16  may be used for both sensor systems  12 ,  82 . For example, the port  14  of the apparel sensor system  12  or the port  81  of the footwear sensor system  82  may be configured for wireless communication with the module  16  to enable such use. As another example, one or more individual sensors  20 ,  83  of the sensor systems  12 ,  82  may have a dedicated antenna or other communication device for communication with other components and/or devices described herein. Still other uses and applications of the data collected by the system  12  are contemplated within the scope of the invention and are recognizable to those skilled in the art. 
     As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art upon reading the present disclosure, various aspects described herein may be embodied as a method, a data processing system, or a computer program product. Accordingly, those aspects may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, such aspects may take the form of a computer program product stored by one or more tangible computer-readable storage media or storage devices having computer-readable program code, or instructions, embodied in or on the storage media. Any suitable tangible computer readable storage media may be utilized, including hard disks, CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, and/or any combination thereof. In addition, various intangible signals representing data or events as described herein may be transferred between a source and a destination in the form of electromagnetic waves traveling through signal-conducting media such as metal wires, optical fibers, and/or wireless transmission media (e.g., air and/or space). 
     As described above, aspects of the present invention may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer and/or a processor thereof. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Such a program module may be contained in a tangible computer-readable medium, as described above. Aspects of the present invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. Program modules may be located in a memory, such as the memory  204  of the module  16  or memory  304  of the external device  110 , or an external medium, such as game media  307 , which may include both local and remote computer storage media including memory storage devices. It is understood that the module  16 , the external device  110 , and/or external media may include complementary program modules for use together, such as in a particular application. It is also understood that a single processor  202 ,  302  and single memory  204 ,  304  are shown and described in the module  16  and the external device  110  for sake of simplicity, and that the processor  202 ,  302  and memory  204 ,  304  may include a plurality of processors and/or memories respectively, and may comprise a system of processors and/or memories. 
     The various embodiments of the sensor system described herein, as well as the articles of apparel and other structures incorporating the sensor system, provide benefits and advantages over existing technology. For example, many of the sensor embodiments described herein provide relatively low cost and durable options for sensor systems, so that a sensor system can be incorporated into articles of apparel with little added cost and good reliability. As a result, apparel can be manufactured with integral sensor systems regardless of whether the sensor systems are ultimately desired to be used by the consumer, without appreciably affecting price. Additionally, the article(s) of apparel may be manufactured as thin and lightweight garments to be worn underneath a user&#39;s normal apparel, providing performance tracking without affecting the user&#39;s external appearance and style. As another example, the sensor system provides a wide range of functionality for a wide variety of applications, including gaming, fitness, athletic training and improvement, practical controls for computers and other devices, and many others described herein and recognizable to those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, third-party software developers can develop software configured to run using input from the sensor systems, including games and other programs. The ability of the sensor system to provide data in a universally readable format greatly expands the range of third party software and other applications for which the sensor system can be used. 
     Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated herein. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the embodiments could be provided in any combination with the other embodiments disclosed herein. It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. The terms “first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” etc., as used herein, are intended for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the embodiments in any way. Additionally, the term “plurality,” as used herein, indicates any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number. Further, “Providing” an article or apparatus, as used herein, refers broadly to making the article available or accessible for future actions to be performed on the article, and does not connote that the party providing the article has manufactured, produced, or supplied the article or that the party providing the article has ownership or control of the article. Accordingly, while specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.