Patent Publication Number: US-9837760-B2

Title: Connectors for connecting electronics embedded in garments to external devices

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/250,937 entitled “Connectors for Connecting Electronics Embedded in Garments to External Devices” and filed Nov. 4, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronics embedded in garments are becoming increasingly common, and such electronics often need connectivity to external devices for power and/or data transmission. Conventional connectors do not provides such connectivity, while at the same time providing multi-pin electrical connections and power transmission simultaneously, being washable and cleanable, being easily engaged and disengaged by the user, remaining locked when desired, being forgiving to rotation misalignments, and/or being easily integrated into fabrics. 
     SUMMARY 
     This document describes connectors for connecting electronics embedded in garments to external devices. The connector is configured to connect an external device to a garment to enable communication between electronics embedded in the garment and electronic components of the external device. The connector may include a connector plug and a connector receptacle. The connector plug may be implemented at the external device and is configured to connect to the connector receptacle, which may be implemented at the garment. 
     The connector plug may utilize a variety of different materials to form an electrical connection with the connector receptacle. In one or more implementations, the connector plug includes an anisotropic material that is configured to connect to a printed circuit board (PCB) implemented at the connector receptacle. For example, the connector plug, implemented at the external device, may include a first printed circuit board coupled to a strip of an anisotropic conducting polymer. The connector receptacle, implemented at the garment, may include a second printed circuit board that includes circular pads. The strip of anisotropic conducting polymer is configured to form a connection with the circular pads of the second printed circuit board to enable a connection between one or more electronic components of the external device and the electronics embedded in the garment. 
     In another implementation, the connector plug may include compliant polyurethane polymers to provide compliance to metal pads implemented at the connector receptacle to enable an electromagnetic connection. In another implementation, the connector plug and the connector receptacle may each include magnetically coupled coils which can be aligned to provide power and data transmission between the garment and the external device. 
     This summary is provided to introduce simplified concepts concerning connectors for connecting electronics embedded in garments to external devices, which is further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of connectors for connecting electronics embedded in garments to external devices are described with reference to the following drawings. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of an example environment in which a connector for connecting electronics embedded in garments to external devices can be implemented. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a garment connector when implemented with an anisotropic conducting polymer in accordance with one or more implementations. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of a garment connector when implemented with an anisotropic conducting polymer in accordance with one or more implementations. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates various components of an example computing system that can be implemented as any type of client, server, and/or computing device as described with reference to the previous  FIGS. 1-3  to implement connectors for connecting electronics embedded in garments to external devices. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Overview 
     Electronics embedded in garments are becoming increasingly common. Such electronics often need connectivity to external devices for power and/or data transmission. For example, it can be difficult to integrate bulky electronic components (e.g., such as batteries, microprocessors, wireless units, and sensors) into wearable garments, such as a shirt, coat, or pair of pants. Furthermore, connecting such electronic components to a garment may cause issues with durability since garments are often washed. Thus, instead of integrating such electronic components within the garment, at least some of the electronic components may be placed in an external device. When electronic components are placed in an external device, a connector may be utilized to connect the electronic components in the external device to the electronics embedded in the garment. 
     Connectors for connecting electronics embedded in garments to external devices are described. The connector is configured to connect an external device to a garment to enable communication between electronics embedded in the garment and the external device. The connector may include a connector plug and a connector receptacle. The connector plug may be implemented at the external device and is configured to connect to the connector receptacle, which may be implemented at the garment. In some cases, these roles may be reversed, such that the connector plug is implemented at the garment and the connector receptacle is implemented at the external device. 
     The connector plug may utilize a variety of different materials to form an electrical connection with the connector receptacle. In one or more implementations, the connector plug includes an anisotropic material that is configured to connect to a printed circuit board (PCB) implemented at the connector receptacle. For example, the connector plug, implemented at the external device, may include a first printed circuit board coupled to a strip of an anisotropic conducting polymer. The connector receptacle, implemented at the garment, may include a second printed circuit board that includes circular pads. The strip of anisotropic conducting polymer is configured to form a connection with the circular pads of the second printed circuit board to enable a connection between one or more electronic components of the external device and the electronics embedded in the garment. 
     In another implementation, the connector plug may include compliant polyurethane polymers to provide compliance to metal pads implemented at the connector receptacle to enable an electromagnetic connection. In another implementation, the connector plug and the connector receptacle may each include magnetically coupled coils which can be aligned to provide power and data transmission. 
     Unlike conventional connectors, the garment connectors described herein are easily integrated into fabrics, provide connectivity between the garment and the external device, provide multi-pin electrical connections and power transmission simultaneously, are washable and cleanable, are easily engaged and disengaged by the user, remain locked when desired, and are forgiving to rotation misalignments which often occur when wearing garments. 
     EXAMPLE ENVIRONMENT 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of an example environment  100  in which a connector for connecting electronics embedded in garments to external devices can be implemented. Environment  100  includes a garment connector  102  (“connector  102 ”) that is configured to connect an external device  104  to an interactive garment  106  (“garment  106 ”). Doing so enables communication (e.g., data transfer and power transfer) between electronics  108  embedded in garment  106  and external device  104 . 
     Garment  106  may include various types of electronics  108 , such as by way of example and not limitation, sensors (e.g., capacitive touch sensors woven or otherwise integrated into the garment, microphones, or accelerometers), output devices (e.g., LEDs, speakers, or micro-displays), electrical circuitry, and so forth. In environment  100 , examples of garment  106  include a shirt  106 - 1 , a hat  106 - 2 , and a handbag  106 - 3 . It is to be noted, however, that connector  102  can be configured to connect to any type of garment or flexible object made from fabric or a similar flexible material, such as articles of clothing, blankets, shower curtains, towels, sheets, bed spreads, or fabric casings of furniture, to name just a few. 
     External device  104  includes various electronic components  110  that are configured to connect and/or interface with electronics  108  of garment  106 . Examples of electronic components  110  include batteries, microprocessors, wireless units (e.g., Bluetooth or WiFi), sensors (e.g., accelerometers, heart rate monitors, or pedometers), output devices (e.g., speakers, LEDs), and so forth. 
     In this example, external device  104  is implemented as a strap that contains the various electronic components  110 . The strap, for example, can be formed from a material such as rubber, nylon, or any other type of fabric. Notably, however, external device  104  may take any type of form. For example, rather than being a strap, external device  104  could resemble a circular or square piece of material (e.g., rubber or nylon). 
     In this example, external device  104  further includes a USB plug  111  which may enable external device  104  to be connected to other devices, such as to connect external device  104  to a computer to charge the device or transfer data. However, in other implementations, external device  104  may be implemented without USB plug  111 , or with a different type of connector. 
     Connector  102  includes a connector plug  112  and a connector receptacle  114 . In this example, connector plug  112  is positioned on external device  104  and is configured to attach to connector receptacle  114 , which is positioned on garment  106 , to form an electronic connection between external device  104  and garment  106 . For example, in  FIG. 1 , connector receptacle  114  is positioned on a sleeve of garment  106 . 
     In various implementations, connector plug  112  may resemble a snap or button, and is configured to connect or attach to connector receptacle  114  via a magnetic or mechanical coupling. For example, in some implementations magnets on connector plug  112  and connector receptacle  114  cause a magnetic connection to form between connector plug  112  and connector receptacle  114 . Alternately, a mechanical connection between these two components may cause the components to form a mechanical coupling, such as by “snapping” together. 
     Connector  102  may be implemented in a variety of different ways. In one or more implementations, connector plug  112  includes an anisotropic conducting polymer which is configured to connect to circular pads of a printed circuit board (PCB) implemented at connector receptacle  114 . In another implementation, connector plug  112  may include compliant polyurethane polymers to provide compliance to metal pads implemented at connector receptacle  114  to enable an electromagnetic connection. In another implementation, connector plug  112  and connector receptacle  114  may each include magnetically coupled coils which can be aligned to provide power and data transmission. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example  200  of garment connector  102  when implemented with an anisotropic conducting polymer in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     At  202 , a top side of connector plug  112  is shown. In this case, the top side of connector plug  112  resembles a round, button-like structure. Notably the top side of connector plug  112  may be implemented with various different shapes (e.g., square or triangular). Further, in some cases the top side of connector plug  112  may resemble something other than a button or snap. 
     In this example, the top side of connector plug  112  includes one or more openings (e.g., tiny holes) to enable light from one or more light sources (e.g., LEDs) to shine through. Of course, other types of input or output units could also be positioned here, such as a microphone or a speaker. 
     At  204 , a bottom side of connector plug  112  is shown. The bottom side of connector plug  112  includes an anisotropic conducting polymer  206  to enable electrical connections between electronics  108  of interactive garment  106  and electronic components  110  of external device  104 . 
     In more detail, consider  FIG. 3  which illustrates an exploded view  300  of garment connector  102  when implemented with an anisotropic conducting polymer in accordance with one or more implementations. 
     In this example, connector plug  112  of connector  102  includes a button cap  302 , a printed circuit board (PCB)  304 , anisotropic conducting polymer  306 , a magnet  308 , and a casing  310 . 
     Button cap  302  resembles a typical button, and may be made from a variety of different materials, such as plastic, metal, and so forth. In this example, button cap  302  includes holes which enable light from LEDs to shine through. 
     PCB  304  is configured to electrically connect electronics  108  of garment  106  to anisotropic conducting polymer  306 . A top layer of PCB  304  may include the LEDs that shine through the holes in button cap  302 . A bottom layer of PCB  304  includes contacts which electrically connect to anisotropic conducting polymer  306  positioned beneath PCB  304 . 
     Anisotropic conducting polymer  306  includes a strip of anisotropic material that is configured to form a connection with connector receptacle  114 . The anisotropic material include any type of anisotropic material. 
     Magnet  308  is configured to enable a magnetic connection to connector receptacle  114 . The magnetic connection enables connector plug  112  to attach to connector receptacle  114  without the need to apply force to connect, which reduces the chance of the connection wearing down over time. Alternately, in one or more implementations, connector plug  112  may be implemented without magnet  308 . For example, connector plug  112  could be implemented as physical or mechanical snap that snaps to connector receptacle  114 . Casing  310  is configured to hold the components of connector plug  112 , and can be implemented from a variety of different materials such as plastic, metal, and so forth. 
     In this example, connector receptacle  114  includes a receptacle PCB  312  which includes circular pads which are configured to connect to anisotropic conducting polymer  306 . The bottom layer of receptacle PCB  312  includes connections to electronics  108  of garment  106 . 
     Connector receptacle may also include a metallic component  314  which is configured to generate a magnetic force with magnet  308  of connector plug  112  to form the magnetic connection between connector plug  112  and connector receptacle  114 . Metallic component  314  may be implemented as any type of metal or alloy, or as another magnet, that can generate a magnetic force with magnet  308 . Connector receptacle  114  may also include other components, such as a housing, a washer, and so forth. 
     Notably, anisotropic conducting polymer  306  includes various properties which make for a good connector, which include rotational tolerance, mechanical compliance, multi-pin electrical and power transmission, and being waterproof. 
     For instance, when connector plug  112  attaches to connector receptacle  114 , an electrical connection is formed between anisotropic conducting polymer  306  and receptacle PCB  312 . The anisotropic conducting polymer  306  provides rotational tolerance because the strip of anisotropic material can be rotated 360 degrees and maintain the same connection to the circular pads of receptacle PCB  312 . This is beneficial because when wearing a garment, the strap of external device  104  will naturally move around. Thus, the rotational tolerance enables the connector to be rotated without losing the connection between connector plug  112  and connector receptacle  114 . Furthermore, the anisotropic conducting polymer  306  is elastomeric, which causes the strip of material to shrink and conform under mechanical force. 
     Anisotropic conducting polymer  306  provides multi-pin electrical transmissions and power transfer transmissions simultaneously. For example, the anisotropic material causes conduction to occur in just one direction, which means that the conductive paths can operate completely independently, without interfering with each other. This enables multiple conducting channels, which makes it easy to isolate multiple data lines or power lines from each other using anisotropic conducting polymer  306  and the circular structure of receptacle PCB  312 . 
     Additionally, anisotropic conducting polymer  306  is waterproof which prevents connector  102  from being damaged by water, such as when being worn in the rain or when being washed. 
     Connector  102  may be implemented in a variety of different ways. In one or more implementations, instead of using anisotropic conducting polymer  306 , connector plug  112  may include compliant polyurethane polymers to provide compliance to metal pads implemented at connector receptacle  114  to enable an electromagnetic connection. In another implementation, connector plug  112  and connector receptacle  114  may each include magnetically coupled coils which can be aligned to provide power and data transmission between garment  106  and external device  104 . 
     EXAMPLE COMPUTING SYSTEM 
       FIG. 4  illustrates various components of an example computing system  400  that can be implemented as any type of client, server, and/or computing device as described with reference to the previous  FIGS. 1-3  to implement connectors for connecting electronics embedded in garments to external devices. For example, computing system  400  may correspond to external device  104  and/or embedded in garment  106 . In embodiments, computing system  400  can be implemented as one or a combination of a wired and/or wireless wearable device, System-on-Chip (SoC), and/or as another type of device or portion thereof. Computing system  400  may also be associated with a user (e.g., a person) and/or an entity that operates the device such that a device describes logical devices that include users, software, firmware, and/or a combination of devices. 
     Computing system  400  includes communication devices  402  that enable wired and/or wireless communication of device data  404  (e.g., received data, data that is being received, data scheduled for broadcast, data packets of the data, etc.). Device data  404  or other device content can include configuration settings of the device, media content stored on the device, and/or information associated with a user of the device. Media content stored on computing system  400  can include any type of audio, video, and/or image data. Computing system  400  includes one or more data inputs  406  via which any type of data, media content, and/or inputs can be received, such as human utterances, user-selectable inputs (explicit or implicit), messages, music, television media content, recorded video content, and any other type of audio, video, and/or image data received from any content and/or data source. 
     Computing system  400  also includes communication interfaces  408 , which can be implemented as any one or more of a serial and/or parallel interface, a wireless interface, any type of network interface, a modem, and as any other type of communication interface. Communication interfaces  408  provide a connection and/or communication links between computing system  400  and a communication network by which other electronic, computing, and communication devices communicate data with computing system  400 . 
     Computing system  400  includes one or more processors  410  (e.g., any of microprocessors, controllers, and the like), which process various computer-executable instructions to control the operation of computing system  400  and to enable techniques for, or in which can be embodied, interactive textiles. Alternatively or in addition, computing system  400  can be implemented with any one or combination of hardware, firmware, or fixed logic circuitry that is implemented in connection with processing and control circuits which are generally identified at  412 . Although not shown, computing system  400  can include a system bus or data transfer system that couples the various components within the device. A system bus can include any one or combination of different bus structures, such as a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, a universal serial bus, and/or a processor or local bus that utilizes any of a variety of bus architectures. 
     Computing system  400  also includes computer-readable media  414 , such as one or more memory devices that enable persistent and/or non-transitory data storage (i.e., in contrast to mere signal transmission), examples of which include random access memory (RAM), non-volatile memory (e.g., any one or more of a read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, EPROM, EEPROM, etc.), and a disk storage device. A disk storage device may be implemented as any type of magnetic or optical storage device, such as a hard disk drive, a recordable and/or rewriteable compact disc (CD), any type of a digital versatile disc (DVD), and the like. Computing system  400  can also include a mass storage media device  416 . 
     Computer-readable media  414  provides data storage mechanisms to store device data  404 , as well as various device applications  418  and any other types of information and/or data related to operational aspects of computing system  400 . For example, an operating system  420  can be maintained as a computer application with computer-readable media  414  and executed on processors  410 . Device applications  418  may include a device manager, such as any form of a control application, software application, signal-processing and control module, code that is native to a particular device, a hardware abstraction layer for a particular device, and so on. Device applications  418  also include any system components, engines, or managers to implement connectors for connecting electronics embedded in garments to external devices. 
     CONCLUSION 
     Although embodiments of techniques using, and objects including, connectors for connecting electronics embedded in garments to external devices have been described in language specific to features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the subject of the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as example implementations of connectors for connecting electronics embedded in garments to external devices.