Patent Publication Number: US-2020283931-A1

Title: Color-changing fabric and applications

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/163,307, filed Oct. 17, 2018, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/573,861, filed Oct. 18, 2017, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/581,425, filed Nov. 3, 2017, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/671,966, filed May 15, 2018, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Thermochromic pigments change color in response to a thermal stimulus (e.g., as they change temperature, etc.). Thermochromic pigments may include liquid crystals, while other thermochromic pigments may use organic dyes (e.g., carbon-based dyes, etc.) known as leucodyes. Leucodyes are (i) optically transparent or have a particular color at a first temperature and (ii) become visible or change to a different color at a second temperature. Such a change is evident to an observer as the temperature rises or falls. Leucodyes are organic chemicals that change color when heat energy makes their molecules shift back and forth between two subtly differently structures, known as the leuco (colorless) and non-leuco (colored) forms. Thermochromic liquid crystals may shift color up and down the visible spectrum as they get hotter or colder, while leucodyes may be mixed in various ways to produce different kinds of color-changing effects at a wide range of temperatures. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment relates to a color-changing product. The color-changing product includes a fabric and a color-changing fiber embroidered into a portion of the fabric. The color-changing fiber includes an electrically conductive core and a coating disposed around the electrically conductive core. The coating includes a thermochromic pigment. 
     Another embodiment relates to a color-changing product. The color-changing product includes a fabric, a first color-changing fiber embroidered into a first portion of the fabric, and a second color-changing fiber embroidered into a second portion of the fabric. Each of the first color-changing fiber and the second color-changing fiber includes an electrically conductive core having a first tensile strength, a reinforcement core having a second tensile strength that is greater than the first tensile strength, and a coating disposed around and along the electrically conductive core and the reinforcement core. The coating includes a polymeric material having a color-changing pigment. The color-changing pigment of the first color-changing fiber is different than the color-changing pigment of the second color-changing fiber. 
     Still another embodiment relates to a method for manufacturing a color-changing product. The method includes providing a fabric or a product including the fabric, providing a first color-changing fiber and a second color-changing fiber where each of the first color-changing fiber and the second color-changing fiber includes (i) an electrically conductive core and (ii) a coating disposed around the electrically conductive core that include a thermochromic pigment; embroidering the first color-changing fiber into a first portion of the fabric; embroidering the second color-changing fiber into a second portion of the fabric; and electrically connecting the electrically conductive core of the first color-changing fiber and the second color-changing fiber to a power source. The power source is configured to facilitate selectively providing an electrical current to the electrically conductive core of the first color-changing fiber and the second color-changing fiber to activate the thermochromic pigment within the coating of the first color-changing fiber and the second color-changing fiber. The first color-changing fiber and the second color-changing fiber are electrically isolated from each other such that a color change feature thereof is independently activatable. 
     This summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, inventive features, and advantages of the devices or processes described herein will become apparent in the detailed description set forth herein, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a color-changing monofilament, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a color-changing monofilament, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a color-changing monofilament, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a color-changing monofilament, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a color-changing monofilament, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a color-changing monofilament, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a color-changing monofilament, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a color-changing multifilament at least partially formed from one or more of the color-changing monofilaments of  FIGS. 1-7 , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a fiber fabrication machine used to produce color-changing monofilaments, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 9B  is a perspective view of a wire dispensing apparatus of the fiber fabrication machine of  FIG. 9A , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 10A-10E  are various raw materials that may be used by the fiber fabrication machine of  FIG. 9A  to form a coating of the color-changing monofilaments, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a detailed view of a spinneret of the fiber fabrication machine of  FIG. 9A , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a detailed view of a quench assembly of the fiber fabrication machine of  FIG. 9A , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 13 and 14  are detailed views of a winder assembly of the fiber fabrication machine of  FIG. 9A , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  is a detailed view of a multi-filament spinneret of the fiber fabrication machine of  FIG. 9A , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a fiber fabrication machine used to produce color-changing monofilaments, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 17-19  are various images of a fabric prototype, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 20  is a schematic of the fabric prototype of  FIGS. 17-19 , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 21  visually depicts a process of manufacturing an electrically controllable, color-changing end product, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 22A-22D  visually depict a process of electrically connecting color-changing fibers to a power source, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of an electrical connectorization system, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 24  is a detailed view of an electrical connectorization device of the electrical connectorization system of  FIG. 23 , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 25-27  are various views of a fabric having the fibers thereof electrically connected via the electrical connectorization system of  FIG. 23 , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 28  is a perspective view of a connector, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 29 and 30  show a first color-changing product in a first state and a second state, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 31 and 32  show a second color-changing product in a first state and a second state, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 33 and 34  show a third color-changing product having a patch in a first state and a second state, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 35 and 36  show a fourth color-changing product having an embroidered portion in a first state and a second state, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 37 and 38  show a fifth color-changing product having an embroidered portion in a first state and a second state, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 39 and 40  show a sixth color-changing product in a first state and a second state, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 41 and 42  show a seventh color-changing product in a first state and a second state, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 43 and 44  show an eighth color-changing product in a first state and a second state, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 45 and 46  show a ninth color-changing product in a first state and a second state, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 47 and 48  show a tenth color-changing product in a first state and a second state, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 49 and 50  show an eleventh color-changing product in a first state and a second state, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 51 and 52  show various fixed installation, home goods, furniture, and décor color-changing products in a first state and a second state, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 53 and 54  show various interior automotive color-changing products in a first state and a second state, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 55A-55C  show a color-changing product having a dynamic pattern, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 56  is a schematic diagram of an individual control system for the color-changing products of  FIGS. 29-55C , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 57  is a detailed view of a controller and power supply stored within a color-changing product, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 58  is a detailed view of a wired power supply for a color-changing product, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 59  is a detailed view of a solar panel/patch power supply for a color-changing product, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 60  is a detailed view of a button input device of a color-changing product, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 61  is a detailed view of a touch-sensitive input device of a color-changing product, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 62  is a detailed view of a portable input device useable with a color-changing product, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 63  is a schematic diagram of a graphical user interface of an application provided by an input device, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 64  is a schematic diagram of a supervisory control system for the color-changing products of  FIGS. 29-55C , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 65-69  are various cross-sectional views of a core of a color-changing monofilament including a reinforcement fiber, according to various exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 70  is a perspective view of an embroidery system, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 71 and 72  are various views of a color-changing embroidered fabric, according to various exemplary embodiments. 
         FIGS. 73 and 74  are various views of a fabric having the fibers thereof electrically connected via the electrical connectorization system of  FIG. 23 , according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 75  is a perspective view of a multi-layer bus usable with an electrical connectorization system, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 76  is a front view of an electrical connectorization system, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 77  is a perspective view of an electrical connectorization device of the electrical connectorization system of  FIG. 76 , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 78-82  are various views of wiring arrangements for a color-changing fabric, according to various exemplary embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before turning to the figures, which illustrate certain exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     Overview 
     The present disclosure is generally directed to the field of fabric technology and, more particularly, is directed to fibers, yarns, and fabrics having an on-demand (e.g., active, dynamic, selectively controllable, etc.) color-changing capability. According to an exemplary embodiment, a color-changing monofilament (e.g., a filament, a strand, a fiber, etc.), which is optionally formed (e.g., combined, twisted, braided, etc.) into a multifilament (e.g., yarn, thread, etc.), is configured to be either (i) incorporated into (e.g., stitched into, sewn into, embroidered into, integrated into, coupled to via a patch, etc.) an existing product or (ii) arranged (e.g., knit, woven, etc.) to form a new product. The color-changing monofilament includes at least one conductive core (e.g., an electrically conductive core, a thermally conductive core, a multi-core, etc.) and a color-changing coating disposed around and along the at least one conductive core. The color-changing coating includes one or more layers (e.g., one, two, three, four, etc.). Each of the one or more layers has one or more different color-changing portions or segments having a respective thermochromic pigment. An electrical current provided to the conductive core, and thereby the temperature of the conductive core, is selectively controllable to actively and dynamically adjust the color of the color-changing coating. 
     Current fabric products having appearance and color-changing capabilities are passively controlled in response to environmental stimuli (e.g., sunlight, body heat, etc.). By way of example, photochromic dyes may be used in prints on clothing that change color in sunlight. By way of another example, thermochromic dyes may be used to passively change the color of a fabric through body heat and/or ambient heat. Advantageously, the color-changing monofilament of the present disclosure facilitates dynamically changing one or more visual characteristics of a fabric or product on-demand. 
     According to various exemplary embodiments, the color-changing monofilament is capable of being incorporated into or arranged to form (i) apparel such as headbands, wristbands, ties, bowties, shirts, jerseys, gloves, scarves, jackets, pants, shorts, dresses, skirts, blouses, footwear/shoes, belts, hats, etc.; (ii) accessories such as purses, backpacks, luggage, wallets, jewelry, hair accessories, etc.; (iii) home goods, décor, and fixed installations such as curtains, window blinds, furniture and furniture accessories, table cloths, blankets, bed sheets, pillow cases, rugs, carpet, wallpaper, art/paintings, automotive interiors, etc.; (iv) outdoor applications and equipment such as tents, awnings, umbrellas, canopies, signage, etc.; and/or (v) still other suitable applications. Further applications may include camouflage (e.g., military camouflage, hunting camouflage, etc.), which may be dynamically (e.g., selectively, adaptively, etc.) changed to suit daytime, nighttime, season, desert locations, snow locations, forest locations, urban locations, and/or other environmental conditions. 
     Color-Changing Fiber 
     According to the various exemplary embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , a color-changing monofilament (e.g., a filament, a fiber, a strand, etc.), shown as color-changing fiber  10 , includes a first core or conductive element, shown as conductive core  12 , and a color-changing coating (e.g., sheath, cover, casing, etc.), shown as coating  14 , disposed around and along the conductive core  12  such that the conductive core  12  is embedded within the coating  14 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the conductive core  12  is manufactured from an electrically conductive material. In one embodiment, the conductive core  12  is manufactured from a metal or metal alloy. By way of example, the conductive core  12  may be manufactured from copper, nickel, aluminum, zinc, silver, gold, titanium, tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, platinum, palladium, nichrome, combinations thereof, and/or another suitable metal or metal alloy. In other embodiments, the conductive core  12  is manufactured from a non-metallic, electrically conductive material. By way of example, the conductive core  12  may be manufactured from a heavily doped semiconductor, a polymer doped with a conductive phase (e.g., an electrically conductive (conjugated) polymer, etc.), and/or carbon phases (e.g., graphite, graphene, carbon nanofibers, carbon nanowires, etc.). In some embodiments, the conductive core  12  includes electrically conductive contacts manufactured from a metallic material that is different than the material of the conductive core  12 . In such embodiments, the conductive core  12  itself may or may not be conductive (e.g., a plastic core, any flexible core capable of being woven, etc.). According to an exemplary embodiment, the color-changing fibers  10  are flexible to permit weaving, knitting, and embroidery, and are durable as textile fibers such that the resultant end product is launderable (i.e., capable of being washed or laundered). 
     According to the various exemplary embodiments shown in  FIGS. 65-69 , the color-changing fiber  10  includes a second core or reinforcing element, shown as reinforcement core  16 , embedded within the coating  14  with the conductive core  12 . In some embodiments, the reinforcement core  16  is a monofilament or fiber. In some embodiments, the reinforcement core  16  is a yarn. According to an exemplary embodiment, the reinforcement core  16  is manufactured from a low denier, high tensile strength material having a greater tensile strength than the conductive core  12 . By way of example, the reinforcement core  16  may increase the tensile strength of the color-changing fiber  10  by 50-500%. By way of example, the tensile strength of the color-changing fiber  10  may be able to withstand between a five pound tensile load and a thirty pound tensile load (e.g., depending on the type and/or number of the reinforcement cores  16  of the color-changing fiber  10 ). In one embodiment, the reinforcement core  16  has a tensile strength that can withstand up to a five pound tensile load. In another embodiment, the reinforcement core  16  has a tensile strength that can withstand up to a ten pound tensile load. In still another embodiment, the reinforcement core  16  has a tensile strength that can withstand up to a twenty pound tensile load. In other embodiments, the reinforcement core  16  has a tensile strength that can withstand up to a different tensile load (e.g., fifteen pounds, twenty-five pounds, thirty pounds, etc.). In some embodiments, the reinforcement core  16  is manufactured from a liquid crystal polymer fiber (e.g., a Kevlar-like liquid crystal aromatic polyester, etc.). By way of example, the liquid crystal polymer fiber may be or include Vectran. In some embodiments, the reinforcement core  16  is manufactured from an aramid fiber. By way of example, the aramid fiber may be or include Kevlar. In some embodiments, the reinforcement core  16  is manufactured from another material such as a low denier, high tensile strength nylon or polyester fiber/yarn, or fluorocarbon. According to an exemplary embodiment, the color-changing fibers  10  including the reinforcement core  16  are still flexible to permit weaving, knitting, and embroidery to provide a textile with increased durability. 
     As shown in  FIG. 65 , the color-changing fiber  10  includes a single reinforcement core  16  disposed within the coating  14  and extending along the conductive core  12 . In some embodiments, the reinforcement core  16  extends parallel and alongside the conductive core  12 . In some embodiments, the reinforcement core  16  is spiraled around the conductive core  12 . As shown in  FIG. 66 , the color-changing fiber  10  includes a plurality of the reinforcement cores  16  disposed within the coating  14 , extending along the conductive core  12 , and positioned variously around the periphery of the conductive core  12 . While two reinforcement cores  16  are shown, more than two reinforcement cores  16  may be disposed within the coating  14  (e.g., three, four, five, etc.). In some embodiments, the multiple reinforcement cores  16  are used to provide a desired tensile strength of the color-changing fiber  10 . Each reinforcement core  16  may have the same tensile strength (e.g., multiple fibers each having a five pound tensile strength, multiple fibers each having a ten pound tensile strength, etc.). Alternatively, the reinforcement cores  16  may have varying tensile strengths (e.g., one fiber with a five pound tensile strength and one fiber with a fifteen pound tensile strength, etc.). As shown in  FIG. 67 , the color-changing fiber  10  includes a plurality of the reinforcement cores  16  disposed within the coating  14 , extending along the conductive core  12 , and positioned along a portion of the periphery of the conductive core  12  in a multiple layer or staked arrangement. In some embodiments, a sufficient number of individual reinforcement cores  16  are included and arranged such that they form a reinforcement ring around the conductive core  12 . As shown in  FIG. 68 , the reinforcement core  16  is a tubular element disposed within the coating  14  and the conductive core  12  is disposed within the reinforcement core  16 . As shown in  FIG. 69 , the conductive core  12  is a tubular element disposed within the coating  14  and the reinforcement core  16  is disposed within the conductive core  12 . 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, the color-changing fiber  10  has dimensions (e.g., diameter, etc.) suitable for weaving in an industrial loom. By way of example, the transverse dimensions (e.g., diameter, width, etc.) of the color-changing fiber  10  and/or a multifilament fiber (e.g., thread, yarn, etc.) formed therefrom may generally be less than 1 millimeter. In some embodiments, the transverse dimensions are less than 700 micrometers. In some embodiments, the transverse dimensions are less than 40 micrometers. In some embodiments, the transverse dimensions are in a range from 15 micrometers to 30 micrometers. The diameter of the conductive core  12  may range between 1 micrometer and 500 micrometers. The diameter of the reinforcement core(s)  16  may range from 1 micrometer and 500 micrometers (e.g., 200-300 micrometers, 50 micrometers, 100 micrometers, less than 300 micrometers, less than 200 micrometers, 260-350 micrometer, etc.). The diameter of reinforcement core(s)  16  may be less than, greater than, or substantially the same as the conductive core  12  (e.g., dependent upon the desired tensile strength and overall diameter of the color-changing fiber  10 , 100-150 micrometer, etc.). The internal cross-sectional structure of the color-changing fiber  10  may have many variations from, for example, a single conductive core with a cladding coating, a multi-conductive-core within a cladding coating, a single conductive core with concentric ring coating layers, a single conductive core with a multi-segment coating in the azimuthal direction, combinations thereof, all of the above with one or more reinforcement cores, etc. Further, while the color-changing fiber  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1-7 and 65-69  to have a circular cross-sectional shape, in other embodiments, the color-changing fiber  10  has a different cross-sectional shape (e.g., square, triangular, rectangular, etc.). In such embodiments, the conductive core  12  and/or the reinforcement core  16  may have a circular cross-sectional shape or may have another shape that corresponds with the cross-sectional shape of the coating  14 . 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, the coating  14  includes one or more layers of polymeric material (e.g., a polymer, a polymer composite, a polymer with polycrystalline material, Hytrel, cyclic olefin copolymer, polypropylene, nylon, polyester, etc.). At least one of the one or more layers of polymeric material includes a reversible thermochromic pigment combined (e.g., mixed, compounded, impregnated, etc.) therewith such that the respective layer changes color in response to a temperature change thereof (e.g., the thermochromic pigment transitions from a first color to a second color when heated and transitions from the second color to the first color when cooled, etc.) and/or (ii) in response to an electrical current being provided to the conductive core  12 . Generally, any suitable reversible thermochromic pigment composition may be used. For example, the thermochromic pigment may include a liquid crystal material and/or a leucodye. In one embodiment, the coating  14  includes a single layer of polymeric material. In another embodiment, the coating  14  includes a plurality of concentric layers of polymeric material. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of concentric layers of polymeric material includes a respective thermochromic pigment. In some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of layers of polymeric material does not include a thermochromic pigment, but rather the pigment of the at least one polymeric material is substantially fixed and does not change (due to temperature or electrical current). The material of the coating  14  may be appropriately chosen for its properties based on the specific application for the color-changing fiber  10 . 
     In operation, an electrical current (e.g., provided by a power source such as a battery, a solar panel, a photovoltaic fiber, etc. for portable applications; provided by a power source such as battery, a solar panel, a photovoltaic fiber, a mains power supply, a standard wall socket, etc. for fixed installations; etc.) is passed through the conductive core  12 . The resistance of the conductive core  12  to the electrical current causes the temperature of the conductive core  12  to elevate and thereby heat and activate the thermochromic pigment of the coating  14  to transition the color thereof from a first color to a second color (e.g., from a darker color to a lighter color, from one opaque color to a different opaque color, from opaque to transparent, or the like when a temperature transition threshold is reached). The color-changing fiber  10  may operate at low voltages (e.g., 12 volts or less, etc.). By way of example, the conductive core  12  may be selected so that the current drawn from the power source is about 1 ampere, which then for a 5 volt DC power means the conductive core  12  should have a resistance of about 5 ohms. In some embodiments, the conductive core  12  has a higher resistance (e.g., based on the material of the conductive core  12 , based on the arrangement of the conductive cores  12  in a parallel or parallel-series configuration, etc.) such that higher current/voltage power sources may be used. In some embodiments, the color-changing fiber  10  transitions from the first color to the second color in 10s or 100s of milliseconds (e.g., depending on the amount of power applied, etc.). In some embodiments, the transition may be extended to seconds or even minutes to reduce energy consumption. 
     The color-changing fiber  10  may remain continuously biased at the second color and thus retain the second color until the user decides to remove the applied power to enable transitioning the color of the coating  14  back to the first color. In some embodiments, removing the electrical current results in the coating  14  transitioning from the second color back to the first color. The coating  14  may remain at the second color for several seconds or minutes following the removal of the electrical current. The transition time from the second color back to the first color may depend on the environmental temperature (e.g., body temperature of the person, temperature of the ambient environment, etc.) and the temperature at which the thermochromic pigment activates/deactivates (e.g., the temperature transition threshold, etc.). 
     In some embodiments, removing the electrical current does not result in the coating  14  transitioning from the second color back to the first color. By way of example, the temperature at which the thermochromic pigment returns to the first color may be below the environmental temperature. In such a case, removing the electrical current does not result in the color transitioning from the second color back to the first color. Rather, in such embodiments, the color of the coating  14  may remain fixed until extra cooling is applied to the color-changing fiber  10  to change the color back to the first color. By way of another example, the coating  14  may include a respective thermochromic pigment that exhibits thermal hysteresis in its photo-thermal behavior. For example, once the respective thermochromic pigment reaches its temperature transition threshold, the color thereof transitions. However, the coating  14  may retain the new color even when the temperature drops below the temperature transition threshold. In such a case, the respective thermochromic pigment may need to be brought to a temperature lower than the temperature transition threshold to return to its original color (e.g., 5, 10, 15, etc. degrees lower than the temperature transition threshold, etc.). Such an asymmetric transition capability may advantageously assist in reducing the electrical power needed for maintaining the second color of the coating  14  following the transition from the original, first color of the coating  14  to the second color. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, impregnating or otherwise mixing the material of the coating  14  with one or more thermochromic pigments facilitates controlling the optical properties of the resultant fabric or other end product that the color-changing fiber  10  is incorporated into. By way of example, changing the pigment concentration may yield a variety of dynamically controllable optical effects, such as transitioning from one solid color to another, transitioning from a solid color to a semi-transparent sheer effect, transitioning from a solid color to transparent or substantially transparent, etc. By way of another example, the selection of the type and concentration of the pigments within the material of the coating  14  may be specifically tailored to suit each individual application in order to provide a desired original color and transition color, optimize the transition temperature, provide a desired transition time, and/or minimize power consumption required to perform and/or maintain the transition. 
     In some embodiments, the color-changing fiber  10  includes phosphor (e.g., within the coating  14 , disposed between the conductive core  12  and/or the reinforcement core  16  and the coating  14 , in an independent coating layer, etc.). The phosphor may facilitate providing a color-changing fiber  10  with a selectively controllable “glow-in-the-dark” effect. By way of example, if the coating  14  transitions to a transparent state from an opaque state, with the phosphor disposed underneath the coating, the phosphor may glow through the coating  14  when in the transparent state to provide a luminescent fiber. By way of another example, if the coating  14  includes phosphor, the phosphor may “glow” as an electrical current is provided to the color-changing fiber  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the coating  14  of the color-changing fiber  10  includes a first layer (e.g., a single layer, etc.), shown as layer  20 , disposed around and along the conductive core  12 . The layer  20  includes a first material, shown as material  22 . The material  22  may include a respective polymer or polymer composite that includes a respective thermochromic pigment. The material  22  may transition from a first color (e.g., a relatively darker color, purple, green, etc.) to a second color (e.g., a relatively lighter color, red, yellow, etc.) at a first temperature transition threshold. The first temperature transition threshold may be dependent on (i) the respective polymer or polymer composite, (ii) the respective thermochromic pigment, and/or (iii) the concentration of the respective thermochromic pigment. The first temperature transition threshold may be designed to be at a temperature between about 0 degrees Celsius and about 70 degrees Celsius. The temperature transition threshold may be selected based on the intended application of the end product including the color-changing fibers  10 . By way of example, the temperature transition threshold may be about 0 degrees Celsius (e.g., between −15 and 15 degrees Celsius, at 0 degrees Celsius, at −5 degrees Celsius, at 5 degrees Celsius, below 5 degrees Celsius, below 10 degrees Celsius, etc.) for a garment intended for an outdoor winter application. By way another of example, the temperature transition threshold may be about 27 degrees Celsius (e.g., between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius, etc.) for a garment intended for an indoor application. By way of yet another example, the temperature transition threshold may be about 38 degrees Celsius (e.g., between 30 and 45 degrees Celsius, etc.) for a garment intended for an outdoor summer application. By way of still another example, the temperature transition threshold may be about 49 degrees Celsius (e.g., between 45 and 50 degrees Celsius, etc.) for a garment intended for a desert environment application (e.g., military use, etc.). In some embodiments, the transition from the first color to the second color includes a spectrum of colors between the first color and the second color. By way of example, the first color may be purple, the second color may be white, and an intermediate color or colors may be blue and/or red. In some embodiments, the second color is colorless or transparent such that the color of the conductive core  12  is exposed and visible. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a color-changing fiber according to another exemplary embodiment, in which a coating thereof is divided into different segments (for ease of reference, similar components in the various exemplary embodiments discussed herein bear the same reference numerals). As shown in  FIG. 2 , the coating  14  of the color-changing fiber  10  includes a layer  20  disposed around and along the conductive core  12  that has four azimuthal segments in which a first segment includes the material  22 , a second segment includes a second material (shown as material  24 ), a third segment includes a third material (shown as material  26 ), and a fourth segment includes a fourth material (shown as material  28 ). In other embodiments, the layer  20  includes fewer or greater than four azimuthal segments (e.g., two, three, five, six, etc. segments). In some embodiments, the azimuthal segments are equally sized. In other embodiments, the azimuthal segments may be differently sized. Each of the material  22 , the material  24 , the material  26 , and/or the material  28  may include a polymer or polymer composite that includes a thermochromic pigment. The composition of the various segments may differ depending on the desired effect. In some embodiments, the polymer or polymer composite of the material  22 , the material  24 , the material  26 , and/or the material  28  are the same, and the thermochromic pigments thereof and/or the concentrations of the thermochromic pigments may differ between the different segments (according to other embodiments, the polymer or polymer composite used for one or more of the various segments may also vary). Each of the material  22 , the material  24 , the material  26 , and/or the material  28  may transition from a first color to a second color at a first temperature transition threshold, a second temperature transition threshold, a third temperature transition threshold, and a fourth temperature transition threshold, respectively. The first color of the material  22 , the material  24 , the material  26 , and/or the material  28  may be different or the same. The second color of the material  22 , the material  24 , the material  26 , and the material  28  may be different or the same. The first temperature transition threshold, the second temperature transition threshold, the third temperature transition threshold, and/or the fourth temperature transition threshold may be the same, similar, or different (e.g., dependent on the respective polymer or polymer composite and/or the respective thermochromic pigment and concentration thereof, etc.). 
     The color of the coating  14  may be seen differently based on the angle at which the azimuthal segments of the coating  14  are being viewed. In some embodiments, the azimuthal segments of the coating  14  facilitate providing the appearance of a shimmering or iridescent material. By way of example, if the coating  14  has multiple azimuthal segments, then the angle at which the color-changing fibers  10  are viewed may change how the colors appear, leading to a shimmering effect. Also, if one or more of the azimuthal segment of the coating  14  include a pigment that transitions to a transparent state, then the conductive core  12  may show through, leading to a shimmering or iridescent effect depending on the angle at which the color-changing fibers  10  are viewed. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of a color-changing fiber. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the coating  14  of the color-changing fiber  10  has a plurality of concentric layers including the layer  20  disposed around and along the conductive core  12 , a second layer, shown as layer  30 , disposed around and along the layer  20 , and a third layer, shows as layer  40 , disposed around and along the layer  30 . In other embodiments, the coating  14  includes fewer or greater than three layers (e.g., two, four, etc. layers). The thickness of the layer  20 , the layer  30 , and/or the layer  40  may be the same or different. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the layer  20  includes the material  22 , the layer  30  includes a second material, shown as material  32 , and the layer  40  includes a third material, shown as material  42 . Each of the material  22 , the material  32 , and/or the material  42  may include a respective polymer or polymer composite that includes a respective thermochromic pigment. In some embodiments, the polymer or polymer composite of the material  22 , the material  32 , and/or the material  42  are the same, but the thermochromic pigments thereof and/or the concentrations of the thermochromic pigments differ. Each of the material  22 , the material  32 , and/or the material  42  may transition from a first color to a second color at a first temperature transition threshold, a second temperature transition threshold, and a third temperature transition threshold, respectively. In some embodiments, the material  22  of the layer  20  does not include a thermochromic pigment such that the color thereof is substantially fixed. In such an embodiment, the material  32  of the layer  30  and the material  42  of the layer  40  may transition from an opaque color to transparent to expose the fixed color of the layer  20 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the first temperature transition threshold is greater than the second temperature transition threshold and/or the second temperature transition threshold is greater than the third temperature transition threshold. Accordingly, (i) the material  42  of the layer  40  may transition from a first color to transparent at the third temperature transition threshold to expose a second color of the material  32  of the layer  30  underneath, (ii) the material  32  of the layer  30  may transition from the second color to transparent at the second temperature transition threshold to expose a third color of the material  22  of the layer  20  underneath, and (iii) either (a) the material  22  of the layer  20  may transition from the third color to transparent at the first temperature transition threshold to expose the conductive core  12 , (b) the material  22  of the layer  20  may transition from the third color to a fourth color (e.g., a non-transparent color, etc.) at the first temperature transition threshold, or (c) the color of the material  22  is substantially fixed. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of a color-changing fiber. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the coating  14  of the color-changing fiber  10  is a combination of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Specifically, the coating  14  includes the layer  20  disposed around and along the conductive core  12  and the layer  30  disposed around and along the layer  20  where the layer  20  has four azimuthal segments that include the material  22 , the material  24 , the material  26 , and the material  28 . The layer  20  of  FIG. 4  may be similar or function similarly to that of the layer  20  of  FIG. 2  and the layer  30  of  FIG. 4  may be similar or function similarly to that of the layer  30  of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of a color-changing fiber. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the coating  14  of the color-changing fiber  10  includes the layer  20  disposed around and along the conductive core  12  and the layer  30  disposed around and along the layer  20 . Both the layer  20  and the layer  30  include a plurality of azimuthal segments of different materials (e.g., a similar polymeric material with different thermochromic pigments, etc.) including (i) the material  22 , the material  24 , the material  26 , and the material  28  variously positioned about the layer  20  and (ii) the material  32  and a material  34  variously positioned about the layer  30 . Other combinations of materials or number of azimuthal segments may be used within the layer  20  and/or the layer  30  (e.g., a single material, more materials, fewer azimuthal segments, more azimuthal segments, etc.). As shown in  FIG. 5 , the layer  20  and the layer  30  only partially extend around the conductive core  12  (e.g., 45, 90, 115, 145, 180, 215, 245, 270, 300, 315, 330, etc. degrees), leaving a gap. The gap is filled with a thicker layer, shown as layer  50 , that extends the thickness of the layer  20  and the layer  30 . In some embodiments, the color-changing fiber  10  includes three or more concentric layers such that the layer  50  may extend the thickness of the three or more concentric layers. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate additional exemplary embodiments of color-changing fibers. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the color-changing fiber  10  includes a plurality of conductive cores  12  (e.g., a multi-core, etc.). As shown in  FIG. 6 , the color-changing fiber  10  includes nine separate conductive cores  12  disposed within the material  22  of the layer  20  (i.e., the material  22  is disposed around, along, and between the conductive cores  12 ). In other embodiments, the color-changing fiber  10  includes a different number of the conductive cores  12  (e.g., two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, ten, etc. of the conductive cores  12 ). As shown in  FIG. 7 , the color-changing fiber  10  includes three separate conductive cores  12 , where each of the conductive cores  12  is disposed within a different material, i.e., the material  22 , the material  24 , and the material  26 , respectively, of the layer  20 . The material  22 , the material  24 , and the material  26  are arranged to form the layer  20  of the color-changing fiber  10  that has a multi-segmented pie structure with a respective conductive core  12  within each of the segments of the multi-segmented pie structure. In some embodiments, the polymer or polymer composite of the material  22 , the material  24 , and/or the material  26  are the same, but the thermochromic pigments thereof and/or the concentrations of the thermochromic pigments differ. In other embodiments, the color-changing fiber  10  includes a different number of conductive cores  12  (e.g., two, four, five, etc.) and the layer  20  includes a corresponding number of materials such that each of the conductive cores  12  is embedded within a respective material of the layer  20 . Each of the conductive cores  12  may therefore be individually provided an electrical current to affect the visual characteristics of the material associated therewith. In some embodiments, the color-changing fiber  10  of  FIGS. 6 and 7  includes additional layers (e.g., the layer  30 , the layer  40 , etc.) disposed around the layer  20 . 
     In some embodiments, the color-changing fiber  10  is used to form fabric (e.g., in weaving or knitting processes, etc.) as a monofilament and/or is incorporated into an existing product or fabric (e.g., sewn into an existing fabric, embroidery, etc.) as a monofilament. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the color-changing fiber  10  is formed into or incorporated into a multifilament fiber (e.g., yarn, thread, etc.), shown as color-changing yarn  100 . The color-changing yarn  100  may be formed by twisting, braiding, or otherwise joining two or more fibers, shown as fibers  110 . In some embodiments, the fibers  110  of the color-changing yarn  100  include one type of the color-changing fibers  10  of  FIGS. 1-7 and 65-69 . In other embodiments, the fibers  110  of the color-changing yarn  100  include a combination of two or more of the types of the color-changing fibers  10  of  FIGS. 1-7 and 65-69 . In still other embodiments, the fibers  110  of the color-changing yarn  100  include at least one of the color-changing fibers  10  of  FIGS. 1-7 and 65-69 , and at least one non-color-changing fiber. The non-color-changing fiber may be a (i) natural fiber including plant-based fiber (e.g., linen, etc.) and/or an animal-based fiber (e.g., wool, silk, etc.) and/or (ii) a synthetic fiber (e.g., rayon, acetate, nylon, acrylic, polyester, etc.). 
     In some embodiments, the non-color-changing fiber is a photovoltaic fiber. The photovoltaic fibers may be used to generate electrical energy from light energy to (i) charge or power a power source and/or (ii) directly provide an electrical current to the color-changing fibers  10  within the color-changing yarn  100  to facilitate the transition between the possible colors thereof. In some embodiments, the color-changing fiber  10  and/or the color-changing yarn  100  includes a glass core or another type of transparent core. In some embodiments, the color-changing fiber  10  includes sensors, the non-color-changing fiber includes sensors, and/or sensors are otherwise embedded within the color-changing yarn  100  (e.g., sensors to measure temperature, force, pressure, acceleration, moisture, etc.). By way of example, the sensors may be or include piezoelectric sensors that sense a depressive force or pressure (e.g., on the fabric that the color-changing yarn  100  is woven into, etc.). The piezoelectric sensors may send an electrical signal to a controller and the controller may take an appropriate action in response to the depression (e.g., provide electrical current to the color-changing fibers  10  to activate the thermochromic pigment to transition the color, etc.). 
     Manufacture of the Color-Changing Fiber 
     According to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9A-16 , a machine, shown as fiber fabricator  200 , is configured to manufacture the color-changing fiber  10 . As shown in  FIG. 9A , the fiber fabricator  200  includes a pair of hoppers, shown as first hopper  210  and second hopper  212 , coupled to a pair of drivers, shown as first screw extruder  220  and second screw extruder  222 , via conduits, shown as first feed tube  214  and second feed tube  216 , respectively. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, the first hopper  210  is configured to receive a first raw material of the coating  14  and the second hopper  212  is configured to receive a second raw material of the coating  14 . By way of example, the first raw material may be a polymeric material such as thermoplastics, thermoplastic elastomers, polycrystalline polymers, and/or any other suitable material that softens sufficiently to traverse a fiber spinning system and then solidify upon cooling. The second raw material may be (i) a concentrate of the thermochromic pigment, (ii) a concentrate of the thermochromic pigment with added fillers or additives, and/or (iii) a concentrate of the thermochromic pigment and/or additives in a polymer host. The concentrate of the thermochromic pigment may come in the form of powder, pellets of any shape, slurry, ink, and/or another liquid. In other embodiments, the first hopper  210  and the second hopper  212  receive the same material (e.g., a thermochromic pigment and polymer mixture; see, e.g.,  FIGS. 10A-10E ; etc.). In still other embodiments, the fiber fabricator  200  includes a different number of hoppers (e.g., three, four, eight, etc.) that each receive different material and/or facilitate increasing the capacity of material able to be loaded into the fiber fabricator  200 . 
     According to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 9A , the first screw extruder  220  is configured to receive the first raw material through the first feed tube  214  and the second screw extruder  222  is configured to receive the second raw material from the second hopper  212  through the second feed tube  216 . In other embodiments, the fiber fabricator  200  does not include the second hopper  212 , the second feed tube  216 , or the second screw extruder  222 , but rather the fiber fabricator  200  is configured to receive a premixed mixture or compound of the first raw material and the second raw material. Therefore, (i) the concentrate of the pigment may be pre-mixed uniformly with virgin polymer pellets (e.g., of thermoplastics, thermoplastic elastomers, polycrystalline polymers, etc.) and fed into the first screw extruder  220 , (ii) the concentrate of the pigment may be pre-compounded with the virgin polymer pellets and fed into the first screw extruder  220 , and/or (iii) the virgin polymer and the concentrate of the pigment may be kept separate and fed into the first screw extruder  220  and the second screw extruder  222  separately to be combined by a spinneret in a prescribed ratio to produce the desired color change for the color-changing fiber  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 10A-10E , example raw materials  202  include (a) a concentrate of the thermochromic pigment in the form of a powder, (b) a concentrate of the thermochromic pigment in the form of a powder compounded with a host virgin polymer, (c) a concentrate of the thermochromic pigment in the form of pellets dispersed in a host resin with additives and fillers, (d) the pellets from (c) mixed with virgin polymer pellets, and (e) the pellets from (c) alongside virgin polymer pellets that may be separately introduced into the fiber fabricator  200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9A , the fiber fabricator  200  includes a pump, shown as melt pump  230 , coupled to the first screw extruder  220  and the second screw extruder  222 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the first screw extruder  220  and the second screw extruder  222  include heating elements that soften or melt the first raw material and/or the second raw material, respectively, which the first screw extruder  220  and the second screw extruder  222  drive into the melt pump  230 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the processing temperature of the first raw material and the second raw material (e.g., the raw materials  202 , etc.) within the first screw extruder  220  and the second screw extruder  222  is below a degradation temperature of the thermochromic pigment to avoid the destruction of the thermochromic pigment. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9A and 11 , the fiber fabricator  200  includes a fiber coater, shown as spinneret  240 , coupled to the melt pump  230 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the melt pump  230  is configured to regulate the volume of the softened and/or melted material that is metered into the spinneret  240 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the spinneret includes a body, shown as housing  242 , and a nozzle, shown as hollow needle  244 , extending from the housing  242 . As shown in  FIG. 9A , the fiber fabricator  200  includes a first wire payoff attachment including a first spool, shown as wire spool  204 , having a length of first prefabricated wire (e.g., wire for the conductive core  12 ), shown as wire  206 , wound therearound. In some embodiments, the fiber fabricator  200  includes a second wire payoff attachment including a second spool having a length of second prefabricated wire (e.g., wire for the reinforcement core  16 ) wound therearound. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 9B , the fiber fabricator  200  includes a wire dispensing apparatus, shown as wire payoff apparatus  203 , configured to dispense a plurality of individual wires simultaneously (e.g., a plurality wires for a plurality of reinforcement cores  16 , a first wire for the conductive core  12  and one or more second wires for one or more reinforcement cores  16 , etc.). As shown in  FIG. 9B , the wire payoff apparatus  203  includes (i) a first wire payoff attachment including the wire spool  204  having the wire  206  and (ii) a plurality of second wire payoff attachments including a plurality of second spools, shown as wire spools  205 , having a length of second prefabricated wire (e.g., wire for the reinforcement cores  16 ), shown as wire  207 , wound therearound. In some embodiments, the wire payoff apparatus  203  does not include the wire spool  204  such that the wire payoff apparatus  203  only provides/combines a plurality of the wires  207 . In some embodiments, the wire payoff apparatus  203  only includes one of the wire spools  205  such that only one wire  207  is provided/combined with the wire  206 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9B , the wire payoff apparatus  203  includes a base, shown as dispensing base  209 , defining an aperture, shown as through-hole  211 , positioned at the center of the dispensing base  209 . The dispensing base  209  includes (i) a first plurality of mounts, shown as outer mounts  213 , positioned/spaced around an outer periphery of the dispensing base  209  and (ii) a second plurality of mounts, shown as inner mounts  217 , spaced radially inward from the outer mounts  213  and positioned around the through-hole  211 . According to an exemplary embodiment, each of the inner mounts  217  is aligned with a respective one of the outer mounts  213 . As shown in  FIG. 9B , (i) each of the outer mounts  213  includes a first guide, shown as outer eyelet  215 , that receives either the wire  206  from the wire spool  204  or one of the wires  207  from one of the wire spools  205  and (ii) each of the inner mounts  217  include a second guide, shown as inner eyelet  217 , that receives the wire  206  or the wire  207  from the outer eyelet  215  associated therewith. The inner eyelets  217  direct the wire  206  and/or one or more of the wires  207  through the through-hole  211  to be provided together to the next component (e.g., a pulley, a needle, etc.) of the fiber fabricator  200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the fiber fabricator  200  includes a first pulley, shown as pulley  246 , positioned to receive the wire  206  from the wire spool  204  and guide the wire  206  to the hollow needle  244  and into the housing  242  of the spinneret  240 . In some embodiments, the pulley  246  receives the wire  206  and/or one or more of the wires  207  from the wire payoff apparatus  203 . In some embodiments, the fiber fabricator  200  does not include the pulley  246 , but rather the wire payoff apparatus  203  provides the wire  206  and/or the one or more of the wires  207  directly to the spinneret  240 . The spinneret  240  is configured to coat the wire  206  and/or the one or more of the wires  207  with the material provided by the melt pump  230 , which collapses onto the wire  206  and/or the one or more of the wires  207  to form the color-changing fiber  10  where the wire  206  functions as the conductive core  12 , the one or more wires  207  function as one or more reinforcement cores  16 , and the material functions as the coating  14 . The color-changing fiber  10  is drawn out of or extruded from the housing  242  at a desired diameter by manipulating the amount of material provided by the melt pump  230  to the spinneret  240  and/or the speed of the wire  206  passing through the spinneret  240 . In embodiments where the color-changing fiber  10  includes the reinforcement core  16 , the material for the reinforcement core  16 , e.g., the second prefabricated wire, may be received by the pulley  246  or a second pulley and guided with the wire  206  to the hollow needle  244  and into the housing  242  of the spinneret  240 . The spinneret  240  is configured to coat both the wire  206  and the second prefabricated wire with the material provided by the melt pump  230 , which collapses thereon to form a reinforced color-changing fiber  10 . 
     The newly formed color-changing fiber  10  may then be quenched to solidify and prevent deformation of the coating  14  around the wire  206 . As shown in  FIGS. 9A, 11, and 12 , the fiber fabricator  200  includes a quenching assembly, shown as water quench  250 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the water quench includes a fluid container, shown as tub  252 , that holds a volume of fluid such as water (or other suitable fluid). The water quench  250  further includes a second pulley, shown as pulley  254 , positioned at the bottom of the tub  252 , submerged in the fluid, and proximate a first end of the tub  252 , and a third pulley, shown as pulley  256 , positioned along a top edge of the tub  252  at an opposing, second end of the tub  252 . The pulley  254  is positioned to receive the color-changing fiber  10  from the spinneret  240  and guide the color-changing fiber  10  through the fluid in the tub  252  to the pulley  256 . In other embodiments, the coating  14  of the color-changing fiber  10  is quenched via air blade quenching or quenching in the ambient air environment. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9A and 13 , the fiber fabricator  200  includes a winding assembly, shown as winder  260 . The winder  260  includes a motor, shown as drive motor  262 , a fourth pulley, shown as godet roll  264 , coupled to and driven by the drive motor  262 , a traverse assembly, shown as traverse  266 , and a take-up roll, shown as fiber spool  280 . The traverse  266  includes a guide, shown as track  268 , a slide, shown as slide  270 , slidably coupled to the track  268 , and a fifth pulley, shown as pulley  272 , coupled to the slide  270 . The godet roll  264  receives the color-changing fiber  10  from the pulley  256  of the water quench  250  and provides the color-changing fiber  10  to the pulley  272  of the traverse  266 . The pulley  272  then guides the color-changing fiber  10  to the fiber spool  280 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the slide  270  is configured to translate back and forth along the track  268  as the color-changing fiber  10  accumulates on the fiber spool  280  to evenly distribute the color-changing fiber  10  onto the fiber spool  280 . The fiber spool  280  may be driven by a corresponding motor (e.g., at a speed based on the speed of the godet roll  264 , etc.). 
     As shown in  FIG. 9A , the fiber fabricator  200  includes a control system, shown as controller  290 . The controller  290  may be implemented as a general-purpose processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), a digital-signal-processor (DSP), circuits containing one or more processing components, circuitry for supporting a microprocessor, a group of processing components, or other suitable electronic processing components. According to an exemplary embodiment, the controller  290  includes a processing circuit having a processor and a memory. The processing circuit may include an ASIC, one or more FPGAs, a DSP, circuits containing one or more processing components, circuitry for supporting a microprocessor, a group of processing components, or other suitable electronic processing components. In some embodiments, the processor is configured to execute computer code stored in the memory to facilitate the activities described herein. The memory may be any volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium capable of storing data or computer code relating to the activities described herein. According to an exemplary embodiment, the memory includes computer code modules (e.g., executable code, object code, source code, script code, machine code, etc.) configured for execution by the processor. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, the controller  290  is configured to control operation of the first screw extruder  220 , the second screw extruder  222 , the melt pump  230 , the spinneret  240 , the drive motor  262 , and/or the traverse  266 . By way of example, the controller  290  may control the speed of the wire  206  through the fiber fabricator  200  (e.g., by controlling the speed of the drive motor  262 , etc.), the thickness of the coating  14  disposed onto the wire  206  (e.g., by controlling the flow of the melted coating provided by the melt pump  230 , the speed of the drive motor  262 , etc.), the temperature of the heating elements in the first screw extruder  220  and the second screw extruder  222 , and/or the speed at which the first screw extruder  220  and the second screw extruder  222  are driven. 
     It should be understood that the description of the fiber fabricator  200  in relation to  FIGS. 9A-15  is just one possible implementation of a machine that may be used to manufacture the color-changing fibers  10  and should not be considered as limiting. In other implementations, the fiber fabricator  200  may include different or variations of components, additional components, fewer components, etc. By way of example, the fiber fabricator  200  may include more hoppers (e.g., three, four, five, etc. hoppers). By way of another example, the fiber coater, the quench assembly, and/or the winder may be different than or a variation of the spinneret  240 , the water quench  250 , and/or the winder  260  disclosed herein. 
     Increased production is possible by adjusting the fiber fabricator  200  to include multiple spinnerets  240  with an equal number of winders  260 . More complex monofilament structures (e.g., the structures described in  FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 , etc.) may be produced through the use of distribution plates. The distribution plates may be placed directly above and/or within the spinneret  240 , and through carefully designed internal channels, combine raw materials from different screw extruders to produce the desired structure. By way of example, the distribution plates may guide softened polymer in such a way as to create a desired cross-sectional pattern onto the conductive core  12 . These structures may enable the production of the color-changing fiber  10  having multiple different thermochromic pigments segregated into each a plurality of segments within the cross-sectional structure. Color-changing fibers  10  with multi-layer coatings (e.g., the coating  14  of  FIGS. 3-5 , etc.) may be produced by passing the color-changing fiber  10  through the fiber fabricator  200  or a different fiber fabricator  200  one or more additional times to add additional layers to the coating  14 . The melt-spinning process may be employed to produce fibers with highly complex, multi-component cross sections, such as a multi-segmented pie that alternates between two or more colors as shown in  FIG. 7 , which can enable optical effects that cannot be achieved by simply mixing the thermochromic pigments in polymer or braiding different threads into a yarn. 
     In some embodiments, a pixelated cross-section pattern of the coating  14  is generated using distribution plates. In such embodiments, the pixelated cross-sections may be arranged in such a way to form or generate an image in the resulting fabric. 
     According to another example embodiment, a second fabrication procedure involves the continuous injection of a conductive core material, rather than using a prefabricated wire such as the wire  206 . The second fabrication procedure includes the use of raw materials. The raw materials for the coating  14  include those described above, in addition to a raw material or raw materials to form the conductive core  12  (i.e., no pre-existing wire is used). The raw materials to form the conductive core  12  may include (i) low-melting-temperature metals such as tin, indium, etc., (ii) low-melting-temperature metal alloys, (iii) a semiconductor material, (iv) a conductive polymer, or (v) combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the melt temperature of the raw materials for the conductive core  12  is less than the melt temperature of the raw materials for the coating  14 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , the fiber fabricator  200  does not include the wire spool  204  or use the wire  206 , but, rather, the fiber fabricator  200  alternatively includes a liquid injection system, shown as conductive core injection system  800 , that facilitates performing the second fabrication procedure. The conductive core injection system  800  includes a reservoir, shown as molten core reservoir  802 , which may be heated to maintain molten core materials in a liquid/molten state; a heating unit, shown as heating cabinet  804 , including heating elements that are configured to melt raw core materials, which are stored in the molten core reservoir  802 ; a first conduit, shown as heated hose  806 , connecting the molten core reservoir  802  to the spinneret  240  to facilitate providing the molten core materials from the molten core reservoir  802  to the spinneret  240 ; a pressure source, shown as pressurized tank  808 , configured to store pressurized gas (e.g., air, oxygen, nitrogen, etc.); and a second conduit, shown as gas line  810 , extending between the molten core reservoir  802  and the pressurized tank  808  to facilitate providing the pressurized gas from the pressurized tank  808  to the molten core reservoir  802  to drive (e.g., force, push, etc.) the molten core materials through the heated hose  806  into the spinneret  240 . 
     The second fabrication procedure may be performed as follows: (i) the raw materials for the coating  14  are fed into a hopper (e.g., the first hopper  210 , the second hopper  212 , etc.), (ii) the raw materials for the conductive core  12  are loaded into the conductive core injection system  800  (e.g., the heating cabinet  804 , etc.), (iii) the raw materials for the conductive core  12  are melted and delivered via the conductive core injection system  800  to a specialized spinneret (e.g., a bicomponent melt extrusion pack, the spinneret  240 , etc.), (iv) the raw materials for the coating  14  are melted and delivered via the first screw extruder  220 , the second screw extruder  222 , and/or the melt pump  230  to the specialized spinneret, (v) the specialized spinneret co-extrudes the conductive core  12  and the coating  14  into a core/cladding monofilament architecture (i.e., the color-changing fiber  10 ), and (vi) the color-changing fiber  10  is quenched and spooled. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, the fiber fabrication processes disclosed herein provide flexibility with respect to the materials selection, structure, size, and even shape of each individual fiber. Exercising control over these degrees of freedom facilitates optimizing the heat transfer and thermal distribution over a fabric formed from the individual fibers. For example, materials with different thermal conductivities may heat up and cool down at different rates. The freedom to choose materials that either hold heat (i.e., allowing for less electrical energy to maintain the color change) or dissipate heat (i.e., allowing for quicker color change/return) facilitates tailoring the material to the application. Further, control over the size of the color-changing fiber  10  and the ratio of the diameter of the conductive core  12  and/or the reinforcement core  16  to the diameter of the coating  14  facilitates optimizing the largest material volume change per unit electrical energy. Furthermore, control over the diameter of the conductive core  12  (which is the typically a heavier metal component) and/or the reinforcement core  16  facilitates controlling the weight (i.e., how “heavy”) of the resultant fabric. Such control therefore facilitates tailoring the fibers based on different application needs. 
     The fabrication of the color-changing yarn  100  may be performed in many ways. In one embodiment, the color-changing fiber  10  on the fiber spool  280  is combined (e.g., twisted, braided, etc.) with (i) one or more other color-changing fibers  10  from other fiber spools  280  and/or (ii) one or more non-color-changing fibers from other spools. In another embodiment, multiple fiber fabricators  200  are set up in parallel (e.g., each including the hoppers, the screw extruders, the melt pumps, the spinnerets, etc.). The resultant color-changing fiber  10  from each fiber fabricator  200  may be fed into a combining machine (e.g., a braiding machine, etc.) that forms the color-changing yarn  100  from the plurality of color-changing fibers  10 . The color-changing yarn  100  may then be spooled. In still another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 15 , the spinneret  240  (e.g., a multi-filament spinneret, etc.) is configured to receive a plurality of the wires  206  and facilitate coating each of the plurality of wires  206  with the coating  14  such that a plurality of color-changing fibers  10  exit the spinneret  240  simultaneously. The plurality of color-changing fibers  10  may be individually spooled using respective winders  260  or the plurality of color-changing fibers  10  may be fed into a combining machine (e.g., a braiding machine, etc.) that forms the color-changing yarn  100  from the plurality of color-changing fibers  10 . The multi-filament spinneret may also be adapted to work with the conductive core injection system  800  of  FIG. 16 . 
     Color-Changing Fabric 
     Prototype Fabrics and Testing 
     Applicant has produced various color-changing fabric prototypes through its research and development. The first generation fabric prototype included fibers from cyclic olefin copolymer that cold-drew under tension during weaving, which resulted in buckling of the fabric. 
     A second generation fabric prototype included fibers with a thermoplastic elastomer coating comprising a species of Hytrel, which did not undergo cold-drawing under tension during the weaving process. The fibers were fabricated using a melt-spinning machine (e.g., the fiber fabricator  200 , etc.) to extrude the polymer infused with the thermochromic pigment around a 37 AWG copper wire. The resultant monofilament (e.g., the color-changing fiber  10 , etc.) had an outer diameter of approximately 450 micrometers. As shown in  FIGS. 17-20 , a fabric, shown as color-changing fabric  300 , was woven from the monofilament with a cotton-nylon blend in the warp direction. As shown in  FIG. 17 , an active area of the color-changing fabric  300  had a dark color (e.g., a blue color, etc.), which comprised the color-changing fibers. The color-changing fabric  300  had dimensions of 53 inches by 22 inches, and the dark strip containing the color-changing fibers was approximately 4 inches wide. To electrically connect the cores of the fibers, Applicant selectively dissolved approximately one inch of the coating from the end of the fibers, leaving the ends of the cores exposed. The end of the cores were then grouped into clusters or separate segments and soldered together (e.g., groups of 12-13 cores, etc.). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 18-20 , the 4 inch wide portion of the color-changing fabric  300  comprising the color-changing fibers was electrically separated into five segments, shown as first segment, second segment, third segment, fourth segment, and fifth segment. As shown in  FIG. 20 , each of the five segments was electrically coupled to a respective switch device, shown as first relay  330 , second relay  332 , third relay  334 , fourth relay  336 , and fifth relay  338 . The first relay  330 , the second relay  332 , the third relay  334 , the fourth relay  336 , and the fifth relay  338  were configured to facilitate selectively electrically coupling the first segment, the second segment, the third segment, the fourth segment, and the fifth segment, respectively, to a control system (in this prototype an Arduino controller), shown as controller  310 , and a power source, shown as power supply  320 . The controller  310  was configured to selectively engage and disengage the first relay  330 , the second relay  332 , the third relay  334 , the fourth relay  336 , and the fifth relay  338  to selectively provide electrical current from the power supply  320  to the first segment, the second segment, the third segment, the fourth segment, and the fifth segment, respectively. 
     As shown in  FIG. 18 , the controller  310  selectively engaged the second relay  332  and the fourth relay  336  such that the second segment and the fourth segment transitioned from a darker color (blue) to a lighter color (white/colorless), while the first relay  330 , the third relay  334 , and the fifth relay  338  were left disengaged such that the first segment, the third segment, and the fifth segment remained the darker color. As shown in  FIG. 19 , the controller  310  then (i) selectively engaged the first relay  330 , the third relay  334 , and the fifth relay  338  such that the first segment, the third segment, and the fifth segment transitioned from the darker color to the lighter color and (ii) selectively disengaged the second relay  332  and the fourth relay  336  such that the second segment and the fourth segment transitioned back to the darker color from the lighter color. 
     A third generation fabric prototype was fabricated from a new spool of color-changing fiber with an even larger active area. The concentration of the thermochromic pigment was increased approximately 50% relative to the second prototype from 4% by mass thermochromic pigment (96% by mass virgin Hytrel) to 6% by mass thermochromic pigment (94% by mass virgin Hytrel) and the polymeric material was switched to a different species of Hytrel (from Hytrel 3038 to Hytrel 5526). The fibers of the second prototype had a tacky surface, likely due to the softness of the species of Hytrel chosen. The tackiness made the weaving process difficult and slow. The new species of Hytrel did not result in a tacky surface after coating the wire core, and the weaving speed was able to be performed at up to 150 picks per minute. In addition, a different thermochromic pigment concentrate was blended with the Hytrel polymer, which caused the color-changing fibers to transition from green to yellow, rather than from blue to colorless. 
     A red hue could be seen in the second prototype when the segments were activated due to the copper wire in the core of the fibers. The enamel coating on the copper had a red tint, and when the blue pigment transitioned to colorless, the fibers became semi-transparent, revealing the wire inside. With the third prototype, the green-to-yellow pigment never transitioned colorless such that the copper wire core was not visible. The width of the active area in the third fabric prototype was 16 inches and the length of the active area was 66 inches. In the third prototype, the active color-changing area was increased by a factor of approximately 6.7 relative to the second prototype. In the third prototype, Applicant grouped the cores into sixteen independently controllable segments along the width of the fabric. With the various prototypes and testing, Applicant has identified various ways to manufacture the color-changing fibers  10  and the color-changing yarns  100 , and then arrange (e.g., weave, knit, etc.) or incorporate (e.g., embroider, stitch, etc.) the color-changing fibers  10  and the color-changing yarns  100  into a fabric and/or end product that has visual characteristics that may be selectively, adaptively, and/or dynamically controlled (e.g., colors, patterns, etc.). 
     Fabric Manufacturing Process 
     Referring to  FIG. 21 , a process of manufacturing an electrically controllable, color-changing end product is visually depicted, according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 21 , the fiber fabricator  200  receives raw materials (e.g., the raw materials  202  for the coating  14 , the wire  206  for the conductive core  12 , the raw materials for the conductive core  12 , etc.) and produces the color-changing fiber  10  therefrom. The color-changing fiber  10  may then be: (i) combined with other fibers (e.g., the same color-changing fiber  10 , a different color-changing fiber  10 , a non-color-changing fiber, etc.) to make the color-changing yarn  100 , which may then be woven with non-color-changing fibers or yarns (e.g., a cotton-nylon blend, etc.) to form the color-changing fabric  300  (e.g., the non-color-changing fibers or yarns are woven in a first direction of the fabric and the color-changing yarns  100  are woven in a second direction, etc.), (ii) woven directly with non-color-changing fibers or yarns to form the color-changing fabric  300  (e.g., the non-color-changing fibers or yarns are woven in a first direction of the fabric and the color-changing fiber  10  are woven in a second direction, etc.), (iii) combined with other fibers to make the color-changing yarn  100 , which may then be knitted to form the color-changing fabric  300  (or the color-changing product  400  directly), or (iv) knitted to form the color-changing fabric  300  (or the color-changing product  400  directly). The color-changing fibers  10  of the color-changing fabric  300  may be electrically connected in a desired manner and then the color-changing fabric  300  may be manipulated (e.g., cut, shaped, joined to other fabrics, etc.) to form an end product, shown as color-changing product  400  (e.g., shown here as a window-blind, etc.), that is capable of transitioning a visual characteristic thereof from a first state, shown as state  410 , to a second state, shown as state  420 . 
     Various weaving and/or knitting techniques may be used to arrange the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  into the color-changing fabric  300  and/or the color-changing product  400 . By way of example, the weaving and/or knitting techniques may include a twill/herringbone weave, a satin weave, a loom weave, a basket weave, a plain weave, a Jacquard weave, an Oxford weave, a rib weave, courses and wales knitting, weft and warp knitting, and/or other suitable weaving and/or knitting techniques. Once the color-changing fabric  300  is formed, it can be cut and joined with (e.g., sewn to, etc.) other fabrics (e.g., the same color-changing fabric  300 , different color-changing fabric  300 , non-color-changing fabrics, etc.) to make any desired end product (e.g., the color-changing products  400 , etc.). One difference between traditional end product formation and end product formation using the color-changing fabric  300  may be that excess loose fabric extends beyond seams of the joined fabrics (e.g., one, two, etc. inches) to allow electrical connections of the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  of the color-changing fabrics  300  together, to relays, to a power source, and/or to a controller. 
     Embroidery 
     In addition to weaving and knitting, another method for incorporating the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  into regular and/or color-changing fabrics and products is embroidery. For traditional embroidery, the color-changing fibers  10  having the reinforcement core  16  may be used. By way of example, a color-changing fiber  10  or a color-changing yarn  100  may be fed through a needle, punched through fabric onto which the color-changing fiber  10  or color-changing yarn  100  is being embroidered, grabbed by a bottom yarn in a bobbin beneath the fabric, and then punched back through the fabric. The color-changing fiber  10  or the color-changing yarn  100  undergoes a fairly high level of tensile stress and a very tight bend radius from the looping back and forth between the top and the underside of the fabric. The reinforcement core  16  may provide sufficient strength to the color-changing fiber  10  or the color-changing yarn  100  to survive this process (e.g., prevent breaking, tearing, etc.). 
     Other types of embroidery processes may be used that have less stringent requirements on the properties of the color-changing fibers  10  and the color-changing yarns  100  such that the reinforcement core  16  may not be needed. Specifically, referring to  FIGS. 70-72 , an embroidery system, shown as embroidery machine  900 , may be used to create a fabric having embroidery, shown as fabric  930 . As shown in  FIG. 70 , the embroidery machine  900  includes a needle punching mechanism, shown as stitch mechanism  910 , and a fiber laying mechanism, shown as fiber guide  920 . The fiber guide  920  is configured to lay the color-changing fiber  10  and/or the color-changing yarn  100  along the fabric  930  and the stitch mechanism  910 , via a needle  912 , is configured to secure the color-changing fiber  10  and/or the color-changing yarn  100  to the fabric  930  by stitching a securing thread  914  along the color-changing fiber  10  and/or the color-changing yarn  100  to provide embroidery. Specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 71 and 72 , the securing thread  914  is looped over the color-changing fiber  10  and/or the color-changing yarn  100  and a bottom thread is then looped through the securing thread  914  as it is punched through to the underside of the fabric  930  to keep the color-changing fiber  10  and/or the color-changing yarn  100  tightly in place. The color-changing fiber  10  and/or the color-changing yarn  100  is, therefore, not fed through a needle, looped tightly, or punched through the fabric  930  as in the previous embroidery process described above. Rather, the color-changing fiber  10  and/or the color-changing yarn  100  is fed through the fiber guide  920  under zero tension and laid down onto the fabric  930  to create a desired pattern. 
     In some embodiments, the embroidery machine  900  is a another type of embroidery system, which may be used to create a fabric having another style embroidery. Such an embroidery system may use a cording device to lay down the color-changing fiber  10  and/or the color-changing yarn  100 . Specifically, the color-changing fiber  10  and/or the color-changing yarn  100  may be lead through a cord of the cording device and laid down onto a fabric and stitched into place with a top thread without the need to punch the color-changing fiber  10  and/or the color-changing yarn  100  through the fabric or apply any tensile strain thereto. Advantageously, this type of embroidery system facilitates embroidering the color-changing fiber  10  and/or the color-changing yarn  100  directly onto finished goods (e.g., t-shirts, jackets, pants, bags, etc.). It should be understood that the embroidery systems detailed herein are not limiting, and other types of embroidery systems may be used. 
     Using the embroidery machine  900 , various parameters may be manipulated to adjust the color and contrast of the fabric  930 . For example, the spacing between the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  may be manipulated, as shown in  FIGS. 71 and 72 . The more densely packed the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  are, the more strongly the color and color change will show. As another example, the stitch length of the securing thread  914  may be manipulated. The stitch length determines the distance between the loop that the securing thread  914  forms around the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  to hold them in place on the fabric  930 . The smaller the stitch length, the more securing thread  914  will cover the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100 , reducing the appearance of the color and color change. Conversely, the longer the stitch length, the less the securing thread  914  will cover the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100 . The spacing and stitch length parameters can be controlled in the software for the embroidery machine  900  and selected by an operator as desired. As yet another example, the diameter of (i) the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  and/or (ii) the securing thread  914  may be chosen to provide desired color changing performance. Firstly, the thicker the coating  14  is, the more absorption of the color changing pigment and the stronger the color will appear. Secondly, for a given stitch length of the securing thread  914 , (i) a larger diameter color-changing fiber  10  and/or color-changing yarn  100  and/or (ii) a smaller diameter securing thread  914  will result in less total area covered by the securing thread  914 , which may be selected to maximize the strength of the color and the contrast in the color change. 
     The applications of embroidery is vast. For example, the color-changing fibers  10  may embroidered in a pattern onto traditional fabric that can then be cut and sewn into a finished product. The embroidered pattern may include one long color changing fiber  10  with two electrical leads for the positive and negative terminals (e.g., for connection to a battery pack, etc.). In this case, the entire pattern will change color all at once when a sufficient current is applied thereto. Alternatively, the pattern can be broken up electrically into sub-segments. 
     As one example, the word “HI” can be embroidered all with one length of fiber. The entire word “HI” would therefore change color when a sufficient current is applied. Conversely, the letters of the word “HI” can be broken up into separate segments with separate electrical positive/negative leads for each letter. Thus, the “H” can change color on its own and likewise for the “I.” Furthermore, each letter could be broken up into sub-segments such that the top half or left half of the “H” can have separate electrical leads so that the top half or left half can change color separately from the bottom half or right half, respectively. 
     As another example, the color-changing fibers  10  may be used to form an embroidered image such as a flower that includes petals that are electrically isolated to change color separately from the stem. Or, furthermore, individual petals could be made to change color separately from the other petals. For example, the colors of the stem or individual petals in an embroidered flower pattern can be different fibers having different colors. The stem could be made of fibers that change from green to white, for example, while the petals could be made of different fibers that change from purple to red or red to white, to name one example. 
     As yet another example, the color-changing fibers  10  may be embroidered into a fabric as a multi-segment display (e.g., having between two and twenty or more segments). The multi-segment display may be used to variably display numbers and/or letters in a series to form various numbers or words (e.g., like a digital clock or calculator). Each segment may include separate electrical leads that each can be activated individually. By activating specific segments out of the multi-segment display, any number between zero and nine can be displayed and/or various letters. 
     Electrical Connections 
     Connecting each of the color-changing fibers  10  of a respective color-changing fabric  300  or a respective color-changing product  400  to a power source (e.g., the power supply  320 , the power supply  620 , etc.) and/or control circuitry (e.g., the controller  310 , the controller  610 , etc.) can range from being a relatively simple process to a relatively complicated process depending on the desired performance or color-changing capabilities of the respective color-changing fabric  300  and/or the respective color-changing product  400 . 
     By way of example, if a uniform color change for the entire area of the color-changing fabric  300  or the color-changing product  400  that comprises the color-changing fiber  10  is desired, the electrical connections to the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  may be simplified to a two position connector. More specifically, for a single, uniform color changing application, Applicant has devised a procedure in which: (i) the coating  14  is stripped from the conductive cores  12  on each end of the color-changing fabric  300  (e.g., by selective dissolution, etc.), (ii) the exposed conductive cores  12  along each side of the color-changing fabric  300  are coupled together (e.g., by soldering, by ultrasonic welding, etc.) en masse, and (iii) each of the connected ends of the color-changing fabric  300  is electrically connected to a respective electrical node, which is then coupled to the power source, forming a closed loop. 
     Whereas a more complex pattern or control scheme for color changing may necessitate connecting and addressing the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  individually or grouping them together. As shown in  FIG. 22A , edges  302  of the color-changing fabric  300  may have loose ends of color-changing fibers  10  and/or color-changing yarns  100  extending therefrom. As shown in  FIG. 22B , the coating  14  may be selectively removed from the ends of the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  to expose the conductive cores  12  thereof. The removal of the coating  14  from the loose ends of the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  may be performed using a chemical removal process (e.g., dissolving the coating  14  in a solution, etc.), a mechanical removal process (e.g., mechanically stripping the coating  14  therefrom, etc.), and/or still another suitable removal process. As shown in  FIGS. 22C and 22D , ends of selected conductive cores  12  may be grouped and connected together. By way of example, the grouped ends may be soldered together. By way of another example, the ends may be joined using an ultrasonic welding process. For example, an ultrasonic welding system may connect a first plurality of conductive cores  12  along a preselected distance (e.g., 0.1 inches, 0.25 inches, 0.5 inches, 1 inch, 1.5 inches, 2 inches, 4 inches, 6 inches, 1 foot, etc.) of the edge  302 , move or index the color-changing fabric  300  the preselected distance (e.g., via a conveyor, etc.), connect a second plurality of conductive cores  12  along the preselected distance of the edge  302 , and so on. As shown in  FIG. 22D , the grouped ends, shown as groupings  304 , may then each be connected to the power source and/or the control system via a connector, shown as electrical connector  340 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 23 and 24 , a first electrical connectorization system, shown as connectorization system  360 , includes an electrical connectorization device, shown as ultrasonic welder  370 , and a control system, shown as controller  380 , configured to control various operating parameters of the ultrasonic welder  370  to facilitate electrically connecting the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  of the color-changing fabric  300  and/or the color-changing product  400  together. As shown in  FIG. 24 , the ultrasonic welder  370  includes a base, shown as anvil  372 , and a head, shown as horn  374 , positioned to align with the anvil  372 . In some embodiments, the anvil  372  and/or the horn  374  are smooth. In some embodiments, the anvil  372  and/or the horn  374  are knurled. In such embodiments, the anvil  372  and/or the horn  374  may have pyramid-like shapes on the surface thereof with various possible sizes and/or pitches. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, the ultrasonic welder  370  is configured to manipulate the horn  374  such that the horn  374  applies pressure to and oscillates relative to the anvil  372  to form a bond between (i) one or more bus wires (e.g., the bus wires  392 , etc.) and/or bus foil (e.g., the bus foil  396 , etc.) and (ii) the conductive cores  12  of the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  of the color-changing fabric  300  and/or the color-changing product  400 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the ultrasonic welder  370  is capable of oscillating the horn  374  at a frequency up to 40 kilohertz (“kHz”) with an amplitude up to 30 micrometers (“μm”). In other embodiments, the ultrasonic welder  370  is capable of oscillating the horn  374  at a frequency greater than 40 kHz with an amplitude up to greater than 30 μm. According to an exemplary embodiment, the controller  380  is configured to control the pressure applied by the horn  374 , the oscillation frequency of the horn  374 , and the amplitude of the oscillations of the horn  374  to provide a desired amount of energy dissipation to form a desirable ultrasonic weld or connection between (i) the conductive cores  12  of the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  of the color-changing fabric  300  and/or the color-changing product  400  and (ii) the bus wires and/or the bus foil. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 25-27 , the color-changing fabric  300  has been processed by the ultrasonic welder  370  of the connectorization system  360  to generate ultrasonic welds, shown as welds  390 , along the ends of the color-changing fabric  300 . According to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 25-27 , the color-changing fabric  300  includes a plurality of the welds  390  (e.g., two, three, etc.) positioned at each end of the color-changing fabric  300  that are spaced apart from one another. In other embodiments, the color-changing fabric  300  includes a single weld  390  positioned at each end of the color-changing fabric  300 . As shown in  FIG. 25 , each of the welds  390  includes a plurality of bus wires (e.g., two, three, four, etc. bus wires), shown as bus wires  392 . In other embodiments, each of the welds  390  includes a single bus wire  392 . 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, connections between the conductive cores  12  of the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  of the color-changing fabric  300  and/or the color-changing product  400  using a plurality of the bus wires  392  per weld  390  and/or by applying a plurality of the welds  390  increases the connections therebetween. By way of example, the color-changing fabric  300  and/or the color-changing product  400  may have (i) the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  extending in a first direction (e.g., a warp direction, a weft direction, etc.) and (ii) non-color-changing fibers or yarns extending in a second direction (e.g., a perpendicular direction, a weft direction, a warp direction, etc.). The bus wires  392  may be applied in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and parallel with the second direction. As such, in some positions, one of the bus wires  392  and/or the welds  390  may overlap the non-color-changing fibers or yarns, preventing connection between a conductive core  12  and the respective bus wire  392  or the respective weld  390 . Therefore, by applying multiple welds  390  and/or multiple bus wires  392  per weld  390 , the percentage of successful bonds between the weld  390  and the conductive cores  12  is maximized. 
     As shown in  FIG. 27 , each end of the color-changing fabric  300  includes a first weld  390  that extends continuously across the width thereof. The first welds  390  may facilitate activating all of the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  to change the color of the entire color-changing fabric  300  from a first color to a second color. As shown in  FIG. 27 , each end of the color-changing fabric  300  additionally includes a second weld  390  that includes a plurality of discrete weld portions, shown as discrete welds  394 , having weld gaps therebetween. The discrete welds  394  of the second welds  390  may facilitate activating discrete portions of the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  to change the color of the discrete portions of color-changing fabric  300  from a first color to a second color, while the other portions remain the first color (e.g., providing a striped pattern, etc.). In some embodiments, the discrete welds  394  are connected together by one or more linking bus wires such that all of the discrete welds  394  are activated simultaneously. In some embodiments, the one or more linking bus wires are the same wires at the bus wires  392  (e.g., portions of the bus wires  392  are skipped and not welded during the ultrasonic welding of the bus wires  392 , etc.). In some embodiments, the one or more linking bus wires are different wires than the bus wires  392  (e.g., the linking bus wires are connected to the discrete welds  394  following the ultrasonic welding process, etc.). In some embodiments, the discrete welds  394  are additionally or alternatively independently activatable (e.g., to facilitate providing a dynamic pattern, etc.). By way of example, each of the discrete welds  394  may include a lead wire connected thereto that is capable of being powered independently of the other lead wires. As shown in  FIG. 26 , the color-changing fabric  300  also includes a plurality of discrete welds  394 , which, as shown, facilitates providing a striped pattern when the discrete welds  394  are activated (i.e., energized). 
     In some embodiments, the color-changing fabric  300  additionally or alternatively includes welds  390  that extend along other edges of the color-changing fabric  300  than shown in  FIGS. 26 and 27 . By way of example, the color-changing fabric  300  may have (i) the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  extending in a first direction (e.g., a warp direction, a weft direction, etc.) and/or (ii) the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  extending in a second direction (e.g., a perpendicular direction, a weft direction, a warp direction, etc.). Such an arrangement may facilitate providing different or more complex patterns and/or dynamic patterns (e.g., horizontal stripes, checkered, etc.). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 73 and 74 , the color-changing fabric  300  has been processed by the ultrasonic welder  370  of the connectorization system  360  to generate the welds  390  along the ends of the color-changing fabric  300 . Each of the welds  390  includes a connection bus, shown as bus foil  396 . The bus foil  396  may be manufactured from a metallic material such as copper, aluminum, or another suitable metallic material for forming the welds  390 . In some embodiments, the bus foil  396  is folded along the edge of the color-changing fabric  300  such that the bus foil  396  is positioned on the top and bottom of the color-changing fabric  300 . In some embodiments, individual pieces of bus foil  396  are positioned on the top and bottom of the color-changing fabric  300  and aligned with one another. As shown in  FIGS. 73 and 74 , the color-changing fabric  300  includes a cover, shown fabric cover  398 , positioned over the welds  390  and secured (e.g., glued, welded, stitched, etc.) along the edge of the color-changing fabric  300 . The fabric cover  398  is positioned to protect and insulate the connections of the welds  390 . As shown in  FIG. 74 , each of the bus foils  396  can be individually and selectively activated (e.g., provided an electrical current, etc.) to affect a color/pattern change in the color-changing fabric  300 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 75 , the bus foil  396  is a multi-layer bus having a first, outer layer, shown as canvas layer  396   a ; a second, middle layer, shown as foil layer  396   b ; and a third, inner layer, shown as film layer  396   c . The foil layer  396   b  may be manufactured from a metallic material such as copper, aluminum, or another suitable metallic material to perform the function described herein. The film layer  396   c  may be manufactured from a polycarbonate film or other suitable material to perform the function described herein. According to an exemplary embodiment, the canvas layer  396   a  is configured to increase friction between the horn  374  of the ultrasonic welder  370  and the materials below the canvas layer  396   a  such that energy from the vibration of the horn  374  can be efficiently transferred through the bus foil  396  to the color-changing fabric  300 . Higher energy may, therefore, be transferred to the conductive cores  12  during the welding process, which effectively clears away the coating  14  on the conductive cores  12  and removes any oxidation that may have formed on the surface of the conductive cores  12  providing an improved electrical connection. The foil layer  396   b  is configured to create an electrical contact that allows current to flow through the bus foils  396  and into the conductive cores  12  of the color-changing fabric  300 . The film layer  396   c  is configured to soften during the ultrasonic welding process and act as an adhesive that reinforces the mechanical stability of the bus foil  396  on the color-changing fabric  300  and electrically insolates/insulates the weld from the surrounding environment. The multi-layer structure of the bus foil  396  may, therefore, provide three main functions: (i) improved electrical connectorization, (ii) increased mechanical ruggedization, and (iii) electrical insulation. 
     While shown in  FIGS. 73 and 74  as including a plurality of discrete and separate pieces of bus foil  396 , in other embodiments, the color-changing fabric  300  includes a single, elongated piece of bus foil  396  to facilitate forming a continuous weld  390  along the edge thereof. As shown in  FIG. 76 , a second electrical connectorization system, shown as connectorization system  1000 , includes a support frame, shown as frame assembly  1002 , and an electrical connectorization device, shown as ultrasonic welder  1040 . The frame assembly  1002  has a first support structure, shown as feed rack  1010 , a second support structure, shown as intake rack  1020 , and a third support structure, shown as platform  1030 , positioned between the feed rack  1010  and the intake rack  1020 . While shown as separate components, in some embodiments, the feed rack  1010 , the intake rack  1020 , and the platform  1030  are integrated into a single structure. 
     As shown in  FIG. 76 , the feed rack  1010  includes a first pair of supports, shown as feed support  1012  and feed support  1014 , spaced from one another; a first roller, shown as feed roller  1016 , extending between the feed support  1012  and the feed support  1014  and configured to secure a roll of the color-changing fabric  300  to the feed rack  1010 ; a first motor, shown as feed motor  1018 , positioned to drive the feed roller  1016 ; and an interface, shown as bus interface  1019 , extending from the feed support  1014 , positioned above the feed roller  1016 , and configured to receive a spool of the bus foil  396 . In some embodiments, the feed rack  1010  does not include the feed motor  1018 . As shown in  FIG. 76 , the intake rack  1020  includes a second pair of supports, shown as intake support  1022  and intake support  1024 , spaced from one another; a second roller, shown as intake roller  1026 , extending between the intake support  1022  and the intake support  1024  and configured to receive and roll/wind up the color-changing fabric  300  having the bus foil  396  secured thereto by the ultrasonic welder  1040 ; and a second motor, shown as intake motor  1028 , positioned to drive the intake roller  1026 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 76 , the platform  1030  includes a plurality of legs, shown as legs  1032 ; a support surface, shown as welding surface  1034 , coupled to the legs  1032  and that supports the color-changing fabric  300  and the ultrasonic welder  1040  during the welding process; and a guide, shown as bus guide  1036 , coupled to the welding surface  1034  and positioned to receive and direct the bus foil  396  from the bus interface  1019  along the edge of the color-changing fabric  300  to be welded thereto by the ultrasonic welder  1040 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the feed roller  1016 , the intake roller  1026 , and the welding surface  1034  are all positioned at a height such that the color-changing fabric  300  remains flat or horizontal through the welding region. As shown in  FIG. 77 , the ultrasonic welder  1040  includes a base, shown as anvil  1042 , and a head, shown as horn  1044 , aligned with the anvil  1042 . According to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 77 , the anvil  1042  and the horn  1044  are cylindrical, circular plate, or disk shaped. In some embodiments, the anvil  1042  and/or the horn  1044  are smooth. In some embodiments, the anvil  1042  and/or the horn  1044  are knurled. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, the ultrasonic welder  1040  is configured to manipulate the horn  1044  such that the horn  1044  applies pressure to and oscillates relative to the anvil  1042 , while the anvil  1042  and the horn  1044  rotate relative to one another (e.g., in opposing rotational directions, etc.) to form a bond between (i) the bus foil  396  and (ii) the color-changing fabric  300  (as described above). According to an exemplary embodiment, the ultrasonic welder  1040  is capable of oscillating the horn  1044  at a frequency up to 40 kilohertz (“kHz”) with an amplitude up to 30 micrometers (“μm”) while providing a pressure of up to 60 pounds per square inch (“psi”). In other embodiments, the ultrasonic welder  1040  is capable of oscillating the horn  1044  at a frequency greater than 40 kHz with an amplitude up to greater than 30 μm and with a pressure greater than 60 psi. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, the ultrasonic welder  1040  is positioned relative to or coupled to the welding surface  1034  such that the interface between the anvil  1042  and the horn  1044  is at the same level as the color-changing fabric  300  as the color-changing fabric  300  moves along the welding surface  1034  between the feed roller  1016  and the intake roller  1026 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the feed motor  1018 , the intake motor  1028 , and/or the anvil  1042  and the horn  1044  are configured to cooperate to guide and push/pull the color-changing fabric  300  and the bus foil  396  from the feed roller  1016  and bus spool at the bus interface  1019 , respectively, through the ultrasonic welder  1040  to the intake roller  1026  to provide the color-changing fabric  300  having the bus foil  396  welded thereto (e.g., a continuous weld along the edge of the color-changing fabric  300 , etc.). 
     Further, in various embodiments, the arrangement of the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  of the color-changing fabric  300  and/or the color-changing product  400  and the arrangement of the welds  390  can facilitate providing much more complex patterns and/or dynamic patterns, as described in more detail herein. By way of example, the color-changing fabric  300  and/or the color-changing product  400  may have (i) the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  extending in a warp direction and/or a weft direction; (ii) multiple different color-changing fibers  10  and/or color-changing yarns  100  extending in a warp direction and/or a weft direction; (iii) patches that include the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  extending in a warp direction and/or a weft direction; and/or (iv) embroidered portions that includes the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100 . All such configurations can include complex weld patterns to allow for multiple different and/or complex color changing capabilities and patterns. 
     For larger diameter color-changing fibers  10  and/or color-changing yarns  100  (e.g., which may be used in stationary fixtures, for conductive cores  12  that are between 22 AWG (i.e., 0.644 millimeters) and 36 AWG (i.e., 0.127 millimeters), an insulation displacement connector (IDC) fixture (e.g., a ribbon cable connector, etc.), shown as IDC  350  in  FIG. 28 , may be used to connect a plurality of the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  without the need to strip the coating  14  from the ends of the conductive cores  12 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the IDC  350  facilitates coupling the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  to an external circuit (e.g., a power source, a controller, etc.). Care should be taken to connect the individual color-changing fibers  10  and/or color-changing yarns  100  to the IDC  350  in the proper order so that each of the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  has a known connector position at both the top and bottom of the color-changing fabric  300 . If the proper order is maintained, each of the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  in the color-changing fabric  300  or other application (e.g., the color-changing product  400 , etc.) may be individually activated. 
     Another strategy for connecting fibers to a plug individually is to remove the insulation of the fiber ends simultaneously using a chemical process (e.g., using chloroform, etc.), and then to tin the ends of the wires simultaneously using a solder pot. Next, the individually prepared fiber ends may be soldered to a connector or directly to a printed circuit board. With this method, care must be taken to ensure that the fibers are connected in a sequential order. It may be possible to design a fixture to secure individual fibers in the correct order before soldering them to a connector or a printed circuit board. 
     Another consideration is the nature of electrical connectivity across the color-changing fabric  300 : whether to connect the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  together in a series pattern, a parallel pattern, or a combination of the two. The availability of metals and wires of varying electrical conductivity can be selected to adjust the resistance of any of these three configurations. 
     In order to properly drive the fabrics electrically, it is important to connect the conductive core  12  in each color-changing fiber  10  in such a way that the effective resistance is within a certain range that the power source (e.g., a battery pack, etc.) can operate with. For example, if a few hundred milliamps are required to run through each conductive core  12  to activate a color change, then the effective resistance needs to be the correct value so the current drawn based on the battery pack voltage is in the hundreds of milliamps range. If the conductive cores  12  include a higher-resistance material (e.g., nichrome, etc.), then connecting entire portions or “groups” of the color-changing fabric  300  in parallel may work to achieve the desired effective resistance. This is due to the fact that the effective resistance is lowered in an electrically parallel configuration. On the other hand, if the conductive cores  12  include a lower-resistance material (e.g., copper, etc.), a series-parallel configuration may be used to increase the effective resistance of the otherwise lower resistance material. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 78 , a color-changing fabric  300  has a plurality of groups  1102  of conductive cores  12 , where the conductive cores  12  in each group  1102  are connected in a parallel configuration and each group  1102  can be individually activated. As another example, as shown in  FIG. 79 , the color-changing fabric  300  again has the plurality of groups  1102  of conductive cores  12 , where the conductive cores  12  in each group  1102  are connected in parallel, however, adjacent groups  1102  are also connected in series in a serpentine fashion using connectors  1104  (e.g., a wire, a metal bus, etc.) to provide a series-parallel configuration.  FIG. 80  provides a schematic representation of the color-changing fabric  300  of  FIG. 79 . A controller (e.g., a circuit board, etc.) is configured to provide current from a power source (e.g., a battery, etc.) to a first group  1102  at point  1 , which includes a plurality (e.g., five, etc.) of conductive cores  12  connected in a parallel configuration. The current exits the first group  1102  at point  2 , which is connected in series by the connector  1104  to the next group  1102  also including a plurality of conductive cores  12 . This continues in a serpentine arrangement to the last group  1102 , represented by point  3 . 
     In the case where all the conductive cores  12  are connected in parallel, each conductive core  12  is connected together (e.g., using the bus wires  392 , using the bus foil  396 , etc.) on each end of the fabric and provides a connection point. The connection point at one end is used as a positive terminal and the connection point at the other end is used as a negative terminal. Such a color-changing fabric  300  is shown in  FIG. 81 . This color-changing fabric  300  would therefore provide a single color change throughout the entire color-changing fabric  300  when activated. To provide for different patterns within the color-changing fabric  300 , the single, parallel connection can be severed and discrete parallel groups  1102  isolated/insulated from each other using a cutting/isolation process. Such a color-changing fabric  300  is shown in  FIG. 82 . Each of the discrete parallel groups  1102  can therefore be individually activated to provide greater color-changing capabilities. The discrete parallel groups  1102  can also be connected in a serpentine parallel-series configuration as described herein to increase the resistance as necessary. 
     In some embodiments, the connectorization system  360  includes a cutting/isolation apparatus that works alongside the ultrasonic welder  370 . The cutting/isolation apparatus is configured to cut the bus wires  392  and/or the bus foil  396  at programmed intervals following their application to the color-changing fabric  300  by the ultrasonic welder  360  to provide the groups  1102  discussed above. The cutting/isolation apparatus may then apply an insulator (e.g., a cover, a coating, tape, a fabric piece, etc.) to each of the groups  1102  to electrically isolate the groups  1102  from each other. 
     Applications 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, the color-changing fibers  10 , the color-changing yarns  100 , and/or the color-changing fabrics  300  are capable of being incorporated into existing products (e.g., using embroidery, as a patch, etc.) and/or arranged to form new products (e.g., using weaving, knitting, etc.) with color-changing capabilities, i.e., the color-changing products  400 . Various examples of the color-changing products  400  are shown in  FIGS. 29-38 . It should be understood that the color-changing products  400  shown in  FIGS. 29-38  are examples of possible implementations of the color-changing fibers  10 , the color-changing yarns  100 , and/or the color-changing fabrics  300  and should not be considered as an exclusive or exhaustive representation of such implementations. Specifically, the uses of the color-changing fibers  10 , the color-changing yarns  100 , and/or the color-changing fabrics  300  are expansive and may be used in products such as apparel (e.g., headbands, wristbands, ties, bowties, shirts, jerseys, gloves, scarves, jackets, pants, shorts, dresses, skirts, blouses, footwear/shoes, belts, hats, etc.), accessories (e.g., purses, backpacks, luggage, wallets, jewelry, hair accessories, etc.), fixed installations, home goods, and décor (e.g., table cloths, blankets, bed sheets, pillow cases, curtains, window blinds/shades, rugs, carpet, wallpaper, wall art/paintings, sculptures, decorative elements, furniture and furniture accessories, automotive interiors, etc.), outdoor applications and equipment (e.g., tents, awnings, umbrellas, canopies, signage, etc.), camouflage, toys, games, novelty items, and/or still other suitable applications. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 29 and 30 , the color-changing product  400  is configured as a first product, shown as dress  430 . As shown in  FIG. 29 , the dress  430  is in a first state (e.g., a first color, etc.), shown as first color state  432 . As shown in  FIG. 30 , the dress  430  is transitioned into a second state (e.g., a second color, etc.), shown as second color state  434 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the dress  430  is arranged entirely from the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  such that the entire dress  430  is capable of transitioning between the first color state  432  and the second color state  434 . In other embodiments, only a portion of the dress  430  is configured to transition between the first color state  432  and the second color state  434  (e.g., at least a portion of the dress  430  includes non-color-changing fibers or yarns, etc.). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 31 and 32 , the color-changing product  400  is configured as a second product, shown as shirt  440 . As shown in  FIG. 31 , the shirt  440  is in a first state, shown as first pattern state  442 , where the shirt  440  lacks a pattern or is all the same color (e.g., a solid color, etc.). As shown in  FIG. 32 , the shirt  440  is transitioned into a second state, shown as second pattern state  444 , where various portions or segments of the shirt  440  transition to a second color different than the remaining portions of the shirt  440 . According to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 32 , the second pattern state  444  includes a plurality of vertical stripes  446  generated across the shirt  440 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the portions of the shirt  440  that transition to selectively generate the vertical stripes  446  include the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100 . In other embodiments, the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  within the shirt  440  are arranged such that the second pattern state  444  additionally or alternatively provides a horizontal stripe pattern, a checkered pattern, a diagonal stripe pattern, a polka dot pattern, and/or another suitable pattern. In some embodiments, the shirt  440  is capable of selectively transitioning between a plurality of different patterns. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 33 and 34 , the color-changing product  400  is configured as a third product, shown as jersey  450 . The jersey  450  includes a first patch, shown as name patch  452 , and a second patch, shown as number patch  454 , coupled (e.g., stitched, adhesively coupled, sewn, etc.) thereto. According to an exemplary embodiment, the name patch  452  and the number patch  454  include the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  integrated therein or embroidered thereto. According to an exemplary embodiment, the name patch  452  and the number patch  454  are couplable to the fabric or other material of a preexisting jersey (or other preexisting product) such that name patch  452  and the number patch  454  may therefore provide a “retrofit” solution to produce the color-changing products  400 . In some embodiments, the jersey  450  does not include one of the name patch  452  or the number patch  454 . In other embodiments, the name patch  452  and/or the number patch  454  are replaced with another type of patch (e.g., a logo patch, a sponsor patch, a team name patch, etc.). As shown in  FIG. 33 , the name patch  452  and the number patch  454  of the jersey  450  are in a first state, shown as first player state  456 , where the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  thereof are selectively activated to display a first name and a first number associated with a first player in a different color than the remainder of the name patch  452  and the number patch  454 . As shown in  FIG. 34 , the name patch  452  and the number patch  454  of the jersey  450  are transitioned into a second state, shown as second player state  458 , where the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  thereof are selectively activated to display a second name and a second number associated with a second player in a different color than the remainder of the name patch  452  and the number patch  454 . It should be understood that name and number are used as an example and should not be interpreted as being limiting. Patches including the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  may be configured (e.g., designed, arranged, etc.) to facilitate providing virtually any type of pattern, design, wording, numbers, etc. on the patch. In an alternative embodiment, the functionality of the name patch  452  and/or the number patch  454  is directly integrated into the jersey  450  by embroidering the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  directly into the jersey  450 . 
     In some embodiments, a patch useable with the color-changing products  400  includes the photovoltaic fibers disclosed herein. The patch may exclusively include photovoltaic fibers, be incorporated into yarns that include the color-changing fibers  10 , and/or be weaved or embroidered into a patch that also includes the color-changing fibers  10 . Such photovoltaic fibers may be used to generate electrical energy from light energy to be stored in a power source and/or provided to the color-changing fiber  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 35 and 36 , the color-changing product  400  is configured as a fourth product, shown as shirt  460 . The shirt  460  includes an embroidered section, shown as embroidered portion  462 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the embroidered portion  462  is formed by directly incorporating the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  into the fabric or other material of a preexisting shirt (e.g., a newly manufactured shirt, a used shirt, etc.) (or other preexisting product). The color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  may therefore facilitate providing a “retrofit” solution to produce the color-changing products  400 . As shown in  FIG. 35 , the embroidered portion  462  is in a first state, shown as first color state  464 , where the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  thereof are selectively activated or deactivated to be a first color, a first set of colors, or have other first visual characteristics (e.g., a pattern, etc.). As shown in  FIG. 36 , the embroidered portion  462  is in a second state, shown as second color state  466 , where the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  thereof are selectively activated or deactivated to be a second color, a second set of colors, or have other second visual characteristics different than the first color state  464 . The embroidered portion  462  may include patterns, logos, sports team names, sponsor names, player names, player numbers, etc. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 37 and 38 , the color-changing product  400  is configured as a fifth product, shown as shoe  470 . The shoe  470  includes an embroidered portion, shown as embroidered portion  472 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the embroidered portion  472  is formed by directly incorporating the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  into the fabric or other material of a preexisting shoe (e.g., a newly manufactured shoe, a used shoe, etc.) (or other preexisting product). As shown in  FIG. 37 , the embroidered portion  472  is in a first state, shown as first color state  474 , where the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  thereof are selectively activated or deactivated to be a first color, a first set of colors, or have other first visual characteristics. As shown in  FIG. 38 , the embroidered portion  472  is in a second state, shown as second color state  476 , where the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  thereof are selectively activated or deactivated to be a second color, a second set of colors, or have other second visual characteristics (e.g., a pattern, etc.) different than the first color state  474 . 
     It should be understood that the concepts presented in the first product, the second product, the third product, the fourth product, and the fifth product in  FIGS. 29-38  above are not required to be independent of each other, but rather the concepts may be combined in a single product. By way of example, a single color-changing product  400  may include a combination of (i) being formed (e.g., woven, knit, etc.) from the color-changing fibers  10 , the color-changing yarns  100 , and/or the color-changing fabrics  300 , (ii) include one or more patches, and/or (iii) include one or more embroidered portions, which may all be independently controlled and activated. 
     The color-changing product  400  may also be other types of apparel than shown in  FIGS. 29-38 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 39-44 , the color-changing product  400  may be configured as a sixth product, shown as scarves  480 , a seventh product, shown as gloves  490 , and an eighth product, shown as hat  500 . The scarves  480 , the gloves  490 , and the hat  500  may include any of the properties described above with respect to  FIGS. 29-38  (e.g., being formed from the color-changing fibers  10 , the color-changing yarns  100 , and/or the color-changing fabrics  300 ; include one or more patches; include one or more embroidered portions; etc.) such that the scarves  480 , the gloves  490 , and the hat  500  or one or more portions thereof may be selectively transitionable from a first state to a second state. The color-changing product  400  may still be other types of apparel than shown in  FIGS. 29-44  such as pants, shorts, jackets, headbands, wristbands, ties, bowties, skirts, blouses, etc. 
     Further, while  FIGS. 29-44  show various different types of apparel with varying color-changing capabilities, it should be understood that non-apparel applications are also possible as previously described, such as fixed installations, accessories, home goods, décor, automotive, outdoor applications and equipment, and camouflage, to name a few. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 45-50 , the color-changing product  400  may be configured as one or more accessories such as a ninth product, shown as purse  510 , a tenth product, shown as luggage  520 , and an eleventh product, shown as backpack  530 . The purse  510 , the luggage  520 , and the backpack  530  may include any of the properties described above with respect to  FIGS. 29-38  (e.g., being formed from the color-changing fibers  10 , the color-changing yarns  100 , and/or the color-changing fabrics  300 ; include one or more patches; include one or more embroidered portions; etc.) such that the purse  510 , the luggage  520 , and the backpack  530  or one or more portions thereof may be selectively transitionable from a first state to a second state. The color-changing product  400  may still be other types of accessories than shown in  FIGS. 45-50  such as other types of bags (e.g., briefcases, messenger bags, duffel bags, etc.), wallets, jewelry, hair accessories, etc. 
     As another example of non-apparel applications,  FIGS. 51 and 52  show various color-changing products  400  that are fixed installations, home goods, furniture, and décor. As shown in  FIGS. 51 and 52 , the color-changing products  400  include a twelfth product, shown as wallpaper  540 , a thirteenth product, shown as window coverings  550  (e.g., window curtains, window blinds, window shades, etc.), a fourteenth product, shown as furniture  560  (e.g., a couch, a chair, a sofa, etc.), a fifteenth product, shown as décor  570  (e.g., artwork, etc.), and a sixteenth product, shown as flooring  580  (e.g., carpeting, a rug, etc.). The wallpaper  540 , the window coverings  550 , the furniture  560 , the décor  570 , and the flooring  580  may include any of the properties described above with respect to  FIGS. 29-38  (e.g., being formed from the color-changing fibers  10 , the color-changing yarns  100 , and/or the color-changing fabrics  300 ; include one or more patches; include one or more embroidered portions; etc.) such that the wallpaper  540 , the window coverings  550 , the furniture  560 , the décor  570 , and the flooring  580  or one or more portions thereof may be selectively transitionable from a first state to a second state to allow a user to selectively manipulate and customize the appearance of a room. The color-changing product  400  may still be other types of fixed installations, home goods, furniture, and décor than shown in  FIGS. 51 and 52  such as table cloths, blankets, bed sheets, pillow cases, etc. Sensors may be employed (e.g., motion sensors, activity sensors, proximity sensors, occupancy sensors, etc.; the sensors  640 , the sensors  494 , etc.) to change or facilitate detecting when to change the color state of one or more of the items (e.g., when a person enters a room as sensed by a motion sensor, certain items may change color, etc.). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 51 and 52 , the wallpaper  540  is coupled (e.g., adhered, etc.) to a wall surface and facilitates variably changing the appearance of the walls of a room in which the wallpaper  540  is installed. As shown in  FIGS. 51 and 52 , the window coverings  550  are configured to hang in front of a window. The window coverings  550  may transition between a first, more transparent color to a second, more opaque color to facilitate transitioning between standard shades or curtains to blackout shades or curtains such that the window coverings  550  facilitate selectively allowing a variable amount of light through the window into an associated room. The window coverings  550  may also selectively transition from a first decorative color or pattern to a second decorative color or pattern. As shown in  FIGS. 51 and 52 , the furniture  560  is selectively positionable about a room and may selectively transition from a first color or pattern to a second color or pattern. As shown in  FIGS. 51 and 52 , the décor  570  is configured to hang on a wall. In some embodiments, the décor  570  is additionally or alternatively configured to rest on a surface (e.g., a table, a ground surface, etc.). The décor  570  may selectively transition from a first color or pattern to a second color or pattern. As shown in  FIGS. 51 and 52 , the flooring  580  is disposed (e.g., adhered, nailed, stapled, laid on top of, etc.) a floor surface and facilitates variably changing the appearance of the floor of a room in which the flooring  580  is installed or located. 
     As another example of non-apparel applications,  FIGS. 53 and 54  show various interior automotive color-changing products  400  including seats  590 , a headliner  592 , a dash  594 , side panels  596 , and an armrest  598 . The seats  590 , the headliner  592 , the dash  594 , the side panels  596 , and the armrest  598  may include any of the properties described above with respect to  FIGS. 23-32  (e.g., being formed from the color-changing fibers  10 , the color-changing yarns  100 , and/or the color-changing fabrics  300 ; include one or more patches; include one or more embroidered portions; etc.) such that the seats  590 , the headliner  592 , the dash  594 , the side panels  596 , and the armrest  598  or one or more portions thereof (e.g., a center portion of the seats  590 ; stitching on the seats  590 , the armrest  598 , etc.; etc.) may be selectively transitionable from a first state to a second state to allow a user to selectively manipulate and customize the interior appearance of their automobile or other type vehicle (e.g., boat, plane, etc.). 
     While the color and/or pattern changes of the color-changing products  400  disclosed herein have mainly been described as a discrete transition from a first color to a second color and/or from a first pattern to a second pattern, it should be understood that the color-changing products  400  may facilitate dynamic transitions. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 55A-55C , the color-changing product  400  is configured to provide a dynamic pattern that changes with respect to time. Specifically, (i) the color-changing product  400  has no pattern at time A in  FIG. 55A , (ii) then the color-changing product  400  has a pair of vertical stripes positioned proximate the center of the color-changing product  400  at time B in  FIG. 55B , and (iii) then the pair of vertical stripes are positioned further outward, proximate the edges of the color-changing product  400  at time C in  FIG. 55C . The transition shown in  FIGS. 55A-55C  may be continuous until a wearer provides a stop command and/or for a specified period of time such that the pattern appears to be moving (i.e., dynamic). 
     Further, while the dynamic pattern in  FIGS. 55A-55C  is shown as dynamic vertical stripes that move from the center of the color-changing product  400  to the outer edges of the color-changing product  400 , it should be understood that various other types of dynamic patterns are possible. By way of example, the dynamic vertical stripes may move from left to right, move from right to left, increase in number over time from the center to the outer edges (i.e., add vertical stripes over time), decrease in number over time from the outer edges to the center (i.e., remove vertical stripes over time), etc. By way of another example, the dynamic pattern may additionally or alternatively include dynamic horizontal stripes that move from the center toward the top and bottom edges, move from top to bottom, move from bottom to top, increase in number over time from the center to the top and bottom edges (i.e., add horizontal stripes over time), decrease in number over time from the top and bottom edges to the center (i.e., remove horizontal stripes over time), etc. By way of still another example, the dynamic pattern may additionally or alternatively include a dynamic diagonal stripe pattern, a dynamic concentric circle pattern, a dynamic checkered pattern, a dynamic polka dot pattern, etc. Further, the dynamic pattern may be predefined, random, and/or user definable/selectable. Additionally or alternatively, the dynamic pattern, rather than or in addition to appearing to move, may flash or blink at a predefined rate or a user specified rate. 
     Product Control System 
     Any of a variety of systems and methods may be used to control the color-changing fibers  10 , the color-changing yarns  100 , the color-changing fabrics  300 , and/or the color-changing products  400  disclosed herein. According to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 56 , a control system, shown as control system  600 , is coupled (e.g., electrically coupled, communicatively coupled, mechanical coupled, etc.) to the color-changing product  400  and includes a control device (e.g., similar to controller  310 , etc.), shown as controller  610 , a power source (e.g., similar to power supply  320 , etc.), shown as power supply  620 , and a user input, shown as input device  630 . The controller  610  may be implemented as a general-purpose processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), a digital-signal-processor (DSP), circuits containing one or more processing components, circuitry for supporting a microprocessor, a group of processing components, or other suitable electronic processing components. According to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 56 , the controller  610  includes a processing circuit having a processor  612  and a memory  614 . The processing circuit may include an ASIC, one or more FPGAs, a DSP, circuits containing one or more processing components, circuitry for supporting a microprocessor, a group of processing components, or other suitable electronic processing components. In some embodiments, the processor  612  is configured to execute computer code stored in the memory  614  to facilitate the activities described herein. The memory  614  may be any volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium capable of storing data or computer code relating to the activities described herein. According to an exemplary embodiment, the memory  614  includes computer code modules (e.g., executable code, object code, source code, script code, machine code, etc.) configured for execution by the processor  612 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 56 , the controller  610  includes a communications interface, shown as transceiver  616 . The transceiver  616  is configured to send and receive signals between the controller  610 , the power supply  620 , the input device  630 , the color-changing product  400  (e.g., sensors thereof, etc.), and/or sensors, shown as sensors  640 . The transceiver  616  may facilitate wired and/or wireless (e.g., Bluetooth, NFC, Zigbee, radio, cellular, Wi-Fi, short-range, long-range, etc.) communication. By way of example, the transceiver  616  may include one or more ports to facilitate making a wired connection. By way of another example, the transceiver  616  may include wireless components (e.g., Bluetooth components, Wi-Fi components, a cellular chip, etc.) to facilitate wireless communication. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, the power supply  620  is configured to facilitate selectively providing an electrical current to the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  of the color-changing product  400  (e.g., based on commands provided by the controller  610 , etc.) to activate the thermochromic pigments in the coatings  14 . The power supply  620  may be a rechargeable battery pack, a replaceable battery pack, and/or another suitable power supply. The power supply  620  may be chargeable using a direct connection to an external power source (e.g., a mains power line, etc.), wirelessly using wireless charging technology, and/or require that batteries therein be replaced on occasion. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 56 , the color-changing product  400  includes a photovoltaic source, shown as PV source  492 . The PV source  492  may be or include photovoltaic fibers incorporated into the color-changing yarns  100 , an independent photovoltaic patch, etc. The PV source  492  may charge the power supply  620 , supplement the power supply  620  in providing current to the color-changing fibers  10 , and/or, in some embodiments, obviate the need for the power supply  620  altogether. 
     As shown in  FIG. 57 , the color-changing product  400  includes a compartment, shown as pocket  402 . In one embodiment, the pocket  402  is positioned along an interior of the color-changing product  400  (e.g., along an inner lining of a jacket, along the back of a shirt, etc.) such that the pocket  402  is accessible from the interior of the color-changing product  400 . In another embodiment, the pocket  402  is positioned along an exterior of the color-changing product  400  (e.g., along a sleeve, a back, a side, etc.) such that the pocket  402  is accessible from the exterior of the color-changing product  400 . As shown in  FIG. 57 , the pocket  402  is configured to receive and store the controller  610  and/or the power supply  620 . The power supply  620  may therefore be a removable power source, shown as battery pack  622 , that is selectively removable, replaceable, and/or rechargeable. The battery pack  622  may be charged via a direct charging connection (e.g., inserted into a charging apparatus, connected to a charging cable, etc.) or wirelessly (e.g., using wireless charging technology, etc.). As shown in  FIG. 57 , the pocket  402  includes a securing element, shown as button  404 , positioned to selectively enclose and secure the controller  610  and/or the battery pack  622  within the pocket  402 . In other embodiments, the securing element additionally or alternatively is or includes a clip, a zipper, Velcro, and/or another suitable securing element that facilitates selectively closing the pocket  402 . 
     In some embodiments, the color-changing product  400  does not include the pocket  402 . In such embodiments, the controller  610  and/or the power supply  620  may be integrated into the color-changing product  400 . By way of example, the controller  610  and/or the power supply  620  may be directly coupled to the color-changing product  400  (e.g., with clips, Velcro, sewn thereto, etc.). By way of another example, the controller  610  and/or the power supply  620  may be disposed within a liner of the color-changing product  400  (e.g., with the insulation of a liner within a jacket, etc.). In such an embodiment, the color-changing product  400  may include a charging port that facilitates charging the internally disposed power supply  620 . By way of another example, the power supply  620  may be a “free-floating” power supply that is carried by the wearer or within a compartment of the color-changing product  400  (e.g., a pursue compartment, a bag compartment, a jacket pocket, etc.) and may be selectively connectable to the controller  610  and/or the other components of the color-changing product  400  (e.g., directly, using a connection port within the compartment, etc.). 
     As shown in  FIG. 58 , the power supply  620  of the color-changing product  400  additionally or alternatively includes a cord, shown as power cord  624 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the power cord  624  is configured to interface with a wall socket, generator, or other external power source to power the color-changing product  400 . In some embodiments, the power cord  624  is integrated directly into a power grid of a building or vehicle. Such a power supply  620  may be more suitable for color-changing products  400  that are not frequently moving (e.g., fixed applications, furniture, décor, tents, etc.) and, therefore, may not require a portable power supply. 
     As shown in  FIG. 59 , the power supply  620  of the color-changing product  400  additionally or alternatively includes a solar cell array, shown as solar panel  626 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the solar panel  626  includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells configured to generate electrical energy from light energy. The solar panel  626  may be removably coupled to or integrated into the color-changing product  400  or positioned remotely from the color-changing product  400  and connected therewith via a wired connection. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, the input device  630  is configured to facilitate a user or operator of the color-changing product  400  with selectively controlling the visual appearance (e.g., color, pattern, etc.) of the color-changing product  400  (e.g., may be used to remotely control the color and/or pattern of a fabric or of an individual fiber, etc.). The input device  630  may be configured to communicate with the controller  610  via any suitable wireless communication protocol (e.g., Bluetooth, NFC, Zigbee, radio, cellular, Wi-Fi, etc.) and/or wired communication protocol. The input device  630  may be a cellular phone, a “smart” phone, a remote control, a computing device such as a laptop computer, a switch device, a button device, a touch-sensitive feature, a “smart home” controller device or hub (e.g., Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Z-wave controller, etc.), a remote control system (see, e.g.,  FIG. 64 ), etc. 
     As shown in  FIG. 60 , the input device  630  is configured as a button or switch device, shown as button  632 . The button  632  may be secured to or positioned within the fabric of the color-changing product  400 . By way of example, the button  632  may be disposed within or along a sleeve of a garment, along an interior breast portion of a garment, at an edge of a garment/product (e.g., the bottom edge of a shirt, etc.), and/or still otherwise positioned. The button  632  may allow a user to selectively activate and deactivate predefined or preset color-changing and/or pattern-changing features of the color-changing product  400  at the activation of the button  632 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 61 , the input device  630  is configured as a touch-sensitive feature, shown as touch-sensitive portion  634 . The touch-sensitive portion  634  may be secured to or integrated with the fabric of the color-changing product  400 . By way of example, the touch-sensitive portion  634  may be disposed within or along a sleeve of a garment, along an edge of a product, along an interior of a product, and/or still otherwise positioned. The touch-sensitive portion  634  may allow a user to selectively activate and deactivate predefined or preset color-changing and/or pattern-changing features of the color-changing product  400  in response to receiving touch gestures. By way of example, the touch-sensitive portion  634  may be configured to identify one or more touch gestures such as a tap motion, a swipe motion, a pinch motion, etc. and provide a corresponding signal to the controller  610  to take an appropriate action based on the identified touch gesture. 
     As shown in  FIG. 62 , the input device  630  is a portable device, shown as smartphone  636 . In other embodiments, the portable device is another device such as a tablet, a smartwatch, a laptop, a smart hub, etc. The smartphone  636  may include or run an application (“app”) that allows a user to select from one or more predefined colors, predefined patterns, predefined dynamic patterns, etc. for a fiber or fabric. In another example, the app on the smartphone  636  may allow the user to design a custom pattern and/or custom dynamic patterns. The smartphone  636  may then communicate with the controller  610  responsible for controlling the fiber/fabric, such as by wirelessly transmitting a signal to the transceiver  616  associated with the controller  610 , after which electrical current may be provided to one or more fibers to effect the color change and/or pattern change of the color-changing product  400  as discussed in more detail herein. 
     As an example, an article of clothing or another product incorporating color-changing fibers may normally exhibit a first color (e.g., purple, green, etc.) or first pattern in a first state, and a user may select a second, different color (e.g., red, yellow, etc.) or pattern using the input device  630  (e.g., by pressing the button  632 , swiping across the touch-sensitive portion  634 , selecting an appropriate command on the smartphone  636 , etc.), which in turn sends a signal to the controller  610  to turn the fabric from the first color/pattern to the second color/pattern such that the fabric is in a second state that differs from the first state (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 29, 30, and 39-54 ). As another example, the user may select a pattern such as “stripe” in the smartphone app (e.g., by selecting a “stripe” button, etc.), and various portions of the fabric may change from the first color to a striped pattern (e.g., blue stripes in the purple fabric, by selectively changing the temperature of certain fibers in the fabric to effect the striped pattern, etc.) (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 31 and 32 ). The input device  630  may therefore allow the user to determine when a color change occurs and/or what pattern appears on the color-changing product  400 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 56 , in some embodiments, the color-changing product  400  and/or the control system  600  include one or more sensors (e.g., sensors to measure temperature, force, pressure, acceleration, moisture, motion, activity, occupancy, proximity, health characteristics, gas, liquid, chemicals, light, etc.), shown as sensors  494  and/or sensors  640 . The sensors  494  and/or the sensors  640  may be configured to (i) monitor various characteristics and/or parameters and (ii) send signals to the controller  610  regarding the characteristics and/or parameters to facilitate determining if and/or when the color-changing product  400  should be activated (e.g., automatically based on the characteristics and/or parameters, etc.). The sensors  494  may be integrated into the color-changing fibers  10  and/or otherwise integrated into the color-changing product  400  (e.g., during manufacture of the color-changing product  400 , etc.). The sensors  640  may be integrated into the controller  610  and/or electrically coupled thereto, and coupled to a portion of the color-changing product  400  post-manufacture. 
     In some embodiments, the sensors  494  and/or the sensors  640  include a piezoelectric sensor that is configured to sense a depressive force or pressure on the fabric that the color-changing fibers  10  and/or the color-changing yarns  100  are included with (e.g., similar to the touch-sensitive portion  634  in  FIG. 61 , etc.). The piezoelectric sensor may be incorporated directly into the fabric of the color-changing product  400  and/or in a patch coupled to the fabric of the color-changing product  400 . The piezoelectric sensor may send an electrical signal to the controller  610  in response to detecting a depressive force and the controller  610  may take an appropriate action in response to the signal (e.g., command the power supply  620  to provide electrical current to the color-changing fibers  10  to activate the thermochromic pigment to transition the color, pattern, etc.). 
     In some embodiments, the sensors  494  and/or the sensors  640  include a hazard sensor configured to facilitate detecting a hazardous substance such as one or more specific gasses, liquids, and/or chemicals. By way of example, in a personal protective equipment embodiment (e.g., a lab coat, a hazmat suit, medical scrubs, gloves, etc.), the color-changing product  400  may include such a hazard sensor that is configured to detect harmful gasses in the ambient air around the color-changing product  400 , harmful liquids that come into contact with the color-changing product  400 , and/or harmful chemicals that come into contact with the color-changing product  400 . In such embodiments, the controller  610  may (i) receive a signal from the hazard sensor when it detects a harmful substance and (ii) activate the color-changing product  400  to notify the wearer of the color-changing product  400  and/or people nearby. Such activation may include changing the color of the entire color-changing product  400 , changing the color of the portion of the color-changing product  400  where the harmful substance was detected on the color-changing product  400 , changing a pattern on the color-changing product  400  to a predefined warning pattern, dynamically changing the pattern, flashing the pattern, and/or still otherwise change the appearance of the color-changing product  400  to provide a warning notification. 
     In some embodiments, the sensors  494  and/or the sensors  640  include a light sensor configured to facilitate detecting a level of ambient light around the color-changing product  400 . In such embodiments, the controller  610  may (i) receive a signal from the light sensor regarding light intensity and (ii) activate the color-changing product  400  in response to the light intensity falling below a threshold light intensity (e.g., when it gets relatively dark outside, a low light condition, etc.). Such activation may include (i) changing the color of at least a portion of the color-changing product  400  to a higher visibility color (e.g., a brighter color, a neon color, expose a brighter/neon color underneath, etc.) and/or (ii) changing a characteristic of at least a portion of the color-changing product  400  to have a reflective capability (e.g., by changing the color of the coating, by exposing a reflective layer underneath, etc.) to increase the visibility of the color-changing product  400  in low light conditions. In embodiments where the color-changing fibers  10  include phosphor, such activation may include activating the phosphor within the color-changing fibers  10  such that at least a portion of the color-changing product  400  “glows” to increase the visibility of the color-changing product  400  in low light conditions. Such activation may additionally or alternatively include dynamically changing the glowing, reflective, and/or color pattern; flashing the glowing, reflective, and/or color pattern; etc. 
     In some embodiments, the sensors  494  and/or the sensors  640  include an activity or health sensor configured to facilitate monitoring physiological characteristics of the wearer of the color-changing product  400 . By way of example, the physiological characteristics may include a heart rate, breathing patterns, temperature, sleeplessness/alertness, time of activity, SpO 2  levels, glucose levels, salt levels, hydration levels, and/or other physiological characteristics that may be affected by physical exertion. Such an activity or health sensor may be or include a heart rate sensor, a temperature sensor, a sweat sensor, a timer, a respiratory or breathing sensor, and/or still other sensors, to acquire the physiological characteristics regarding conditions of the wearer of the color-changing product  400 . In such embodiments, the controller  610  may (i) receive a signal from the activity or health sensor regarding one or more physiological characteristics of the wearer of the color-changing product  400  and (ii) activate the color-changing product  400  in response to a physiological characteristic of the wearer not satisfying a corresponding physiological threshold (e.g., exceeding a threshold; falling below a threshold; a maximum heart rate, a minimum heart rate, a maximum time of activity, an irregular heartbeat, an irregular breathing pattern, a maximum temperature, a minimum temperature, a minimum glucose level, a maximum glucose level, a minimum salt level, a maximum salt level, etc.) to notify the wearer of the color-changing product  400  and/or people nearby. Such activation may include changing the color of the entire color-changing product  400 , changing the color of a portion of the color-changing product  400 , changing a pattern on the color-changing product  400  to a predefined warning pattern, dynamically changing the pattern, flashing the pattern, and/or still otherwise change the appearance of the color-changing product  400  to provide a warning notification. 
     In some embodiments, the sensors  494  and/or the sensors  640  include an audio sensor (e.g., a microphone, a micro-electro-mechanical systems (“MEMS”) microphone, etc.) configured to facilitate detecting sound waves. In some embodiments, the audio sensor is integrated into the input device  630 . By way of example, the color-changing product  400  (or the input device  630 ) may include an audio sensor that is configured to detect voice commands. In such embodiments, the controller  610  may (i) receive a signal from the audio sensor when the audio sensor detects a voice command and (ii) activate the color-changing product  400  based on the voice command. Such activation may be specific to the voice command. For example, a first voice command (e.g., “active mode  1 ,” etc.) may activate a first color, activate a first pattern, activate a first dynamic pattern, cause the pattern to flash/blink at a first rate, activate a first portion, etc.; while a second voice command (e.g., “active mode  2 ,” etc.) may activate a second color, activate a second pattern, activate a second dynamic pattern, cause the pattern to flash/blink at a second rate, activate a second portion, etc. By way of another example, the color-changing product  400  (or the input device  630 ) may include an audio sensor that is configured to detect characteristics of music (e.g., beat, bass, intensity, etc.). In such embodiments, the controller  610  may (i) receive a signal from the audio sensor when the audio sensor detects music and (ii) activate the color-changing product  400  based on the music. For example, first music characteristics (e.g., fast beat music, high bass music, high intensity music, etc.) may activate a first color, activate a first pattern, activate a first dynamic pattern, cause the pattern to flash/blink at a first rate, activate a first portion, etc.; while second music characteristics (e.g., slow beat music, low bass music, low intensity music, etc.) may activate a second color, activate a second pattern, activate a second dynamic pattern, cause the pattern to flash/blink at a second rate, activate a second portion, etc. 
     In some embodiments, the sensors  494  and/or the sensors  640  include an activity sensor (e.g., a motion sensor, a proximity sensor, an occupancy sensor, etc.) configured to facilitate detecting a person and/or movement around the color-changing product  400 . In some embodiments, the activity sensor is integrated into the color-changing product  400 . In some embodiments, the activity sensor is an external sensor that is electrically connected to the color-changing product  400 . The controller  610  may (i) receive a signal from the activity sensor when the activity sensor detects a person and/or movement and (ii) activate the color-changing product  400  based on the detection. By way of example, the controller  610  may be configured to activate the color-changing product  400  when a person enters a room and deactivate the color-changing product  400  when the person exits the room. 
     In some embodiments, the controller  610  is configured to provide notifications to the wearer of the color-changing product  400  based on certain programmed activation settings. By way of example, the controller  610  may be wirelessly connected (e.g., via Bluetooth, etc.) to the wearer&#39;s personal device (e.g., smartphone, smartwatch, etc.). The controller  610  may be configured to activate the color-changing product  400  in response to the wearer&#39;s personal device generating a notification (e.g., a phone call notification, a text notification, an email notification, a social media notification, an alarm notification, a calendar notification, etc.). Such activation may include changing the color of the entire color-changing product  400 , changing the color of a portion of the color-changing product  400 , changing a pattern on the color-changing product  400  to a predefined notification pattern, dynamically changing the pattern to a predefined dynamic notification pattern, flashing the pattern at a predefined frequency, and/or still otherwise change the appearance of the color-changing product  400  to provide a notification. The activation color, pattern, dynamic transition time, flashing frequency, and/or location for a first type of notification (e.g., a text message, etc.) may be different than the activation color, pattern, dynamic transition time, flashing frequency, and/or location for a second, different type of notification (e.g., an email, etc.). 
     The controller  610  may additionally or alternatively be configured to activate the color-changing product  400  based on data available on the wearer&#39;s personal device. The wearer&#39;s personal device may run or operate numerous applications such as a weather application, a maps application, etc. By way of example, the controller  610  may be configured to activate the color-changing product  400  or a portion thereof based on the data in the weather application indicating characteristics regarding the current weather (e.g., sunny, rain, snow, fog, hot, cold, etc.). For example, the controller  610  may be configured to activate a first color, activate a first pattern, activate a first dynamic pattern, cause the pattern to flash/blink at a first rate, activate a first portion, etc. based on a first weather characteristic; while the controller  610  may be configured to activate a second color, activate a second pattern, activate a second dynamic pattern, cause the pattern to flash/blink at a second rate, activate a second portion, etc. based on a second weather characteristic. 
     By way of another example, the controller  610  may be configured to activate the color-changing product  400  or a portion thereof based on the data in the maps application indicating directions to a destination during a GPS session (e.g., turn left, turn right, continue straight, arrived, etc.). For example, the controller  610  may be configured to activate a first color, a first pattern, a first dynamic pattern, cause the pattern to flash/blink at a first rate, activate a first portion (e.g., a right sleeve, etc.), etc. based on a first direction characteristic (e.g., turn right, etc.); while the controller  610  may be configured to activate a second color, activate a second pattern, activate a second dynamic pattern, cause the pattern to flash/blink at a second rate, activate a second portion (e.g., a left sleeve, etc.), etc. based on a second direction characteristics (e.g., turn left, etc.). 
     According to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 63 , a graphical user interface, shown as GUI  700 , is provided to a user via the input device  630  (e.g., on a display thereof, etc.) through an app stored thereon or a program accessed thereby. As shown in  FIG. 63 , the GUI  700  has a logo button  710 , a product image section  720 , a first pattern button  730 , a second pattern button  740 , a third pattern button  750 , a battery meter button  760 , a temperature button  770 , a network information button  780 , and a social media button  790 . In other embodiments, the GUI  700  provides more, fewer, or different buttons or sections. The logo button  710  may facilitate selectively manipulating the visual appearance (e.g., color, pattern, etc.) of a logo or embroidered portion (e.g., the embroidered portion  462 , the embroidered portion  472 , etc.) of the color-changing product  400 . The product image section  720  may visually depict how the color-changing product  400  currently looks or provide a visual rendering of what the color-changing product  400  may look like following confirmation of a command to change a color and/or a pattern of the color-changing product  400  (e.g., via the logo button  710 , the first pattern button  730 , the second pattern button  740 , the third pattern button  750 , etc.). 
     The first pattern button  730 , the second pattern button  740 , and/or the third pattern button  750  may facilitate selectively manipulating the color and/or pattern of the color-changing product  400 . By way of example, the first pattern button  730  may be associated with a first predefined pattern (e.g., a striped pattern, a checkered pattern, etc.), the second pattern button  740  may be associated with a second predefined pattern (e.g., a gradient color pattern, etc.), and the third pattern button  750  may be associated with a third predefined pattern (e.g., a solid color pattern, etc.). In some embodiments, the patterns associated with the first pattern button  730 , the second pattern button  740 , and/or the third pattern button  750  are selectively set by the user (e.g., downloadable, chosen from a larger list, etc.) and/or selectively customizable. In some embodiments, the GUI  700  provides fewer or more than three pattern options (e.g., two, four, five, etc. selectable patterns). 
     In some embodiments, the GUI  700  additionally or alternatively provides a notification button that facilitates defining which types of notifications cause activation of the color-changing product  400  and/or selecting what color, pattern, dynamic pattern, flash/blink rate, portion of the color-changing product  400 , etc. is activated based on a respective type of notification. In some embodiments, the GUI  700  additionally or alternatively provides a dynamic button that facilitates starting, stopping, setting a timer for, setting a transition time for, setting a flash rate/frequency for, and/or identifying which events cause the dynamic pattern. 
     The battery meter button  760  may facilitate selectively presenting a battery status or power level of the power supply  620  or the PV source  492  to the user of the input device  630  (e.g., upon selection by the user, etc.). The temperature button  770  may facilitate selectively presenting a temperature setting and/or a current temperature of the color-changing product  400  or various individual portions thereof to the user of the input device  630  (e.g., upon selection by the user, etc.). The network information button  780  may facilitate (i) selectively connecting the input device  630  to a respective color-changing product  400  (i.e., the controller  610  thereof) and/or (ii) selectively presenting network connection information to the user of the input device  630  (e.g., upon selection by the user, etc.) regarding communication between (a) the input device  630  and (b) the controller  610  (e.g., communication protocol type, connection strength, an identifier of the color-changing product  400  connected to the input device  630 , etc.) and/or an external network (e.g., communication protocol type, connection strength, etc.). The social media button  790  may facilitate linking the app on the input device  630  to the user&#39;s social media account(s) (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, etc.). Such linking may allow the user to share the patterns they have generated with their peers and/or facilitate downloading patterns generated by others via their social media account. 
     These examples are not intended as limiting but are provided merely to provide certain non-exclusive examples of how fabrics incorporating the color-changing fibers  10  disclosed herein may be controlled by a user. It should be noted that although the aforementioned examples contemplate the use of a wireless electronic device such as a smartphone to communicate with and change the color and/or pattern of a fabric and/or an individual fiber, any of a variety of other types of controllers may be used to control the color and/or pattern of a fabric, and may employ wired or wireless communications connections, and may use any useful wired or wireless communications protocols that are now known or that may be hereafter developed. The color and/or pattern changes may be manually activated at a desired time by a user or may be programmed to occur (or not occur) at defined times and/or intervals in the future. In some embodiments, the controller  610  is configured to activate at least a portion of the color-changing fibers  10  in response to the smartphone receiving a notification (e.g., a text message, an email, a call, etc.). The type of activation (e.g., color, pattern, etc.) or portion of the color-changing product  400  that is activated may correspond with the type of notification or the cause of such notification (e.g., the person texting, emailing, calling, etc.). The controller  610  may allow for programming of such timer settings and/or notifications using any of a variety of possible programming methods, all of which are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     According to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 64 , a second, supervisory control system, shown as remote control system  650 , includes a controller, shown as supervisory controller  660 , that is configured to communicate with and a provide commands to a plurality of the color-changing products  400 . The supervisory controller  660  may be implemented as a general-purpose processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), a digital-signal-processor (DSP), circuits containing one or more processing components, circuitry for supporting a microprocessor, a group of processing components, or other suitable electronic processing components. According to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 64 , the supervisory controller  660  includes a processing circuit having a processor  662  and a memory  664 . The processing circuit may include an ASIC, one or more FPGAs, a DSP, circuits containing one or more processing components, circuitry for supporting a microprocessor, a group of processing components, or other suitable electronic processing components. In some embodiments, the processor  662  is configured to execute computer code stored in the memory  664  to facilitate the activities described herein. The memory  664  may be any volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium capable of storing data or computer code relating to the activities described herein. According to an exemplary embodiment, the memory  664  includes computer code modules (e.g., executable code, object code, source code, script code, machine code, etc.) configured for execution by the processor  662 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 64 , the supervisory controller  660  includes a communications interface, shown as transceiver  666 . The transceiver  666  is configured to send and receive signals between the supervisory controller  660  and one or more of the color-changing products  400  (e.g., the transceivers  616  thereof, etc.). The transceiver  666  may facilitate wired and/or wireless (e.g., Bluetooth, NFC, Zigbee, radio, cellular, Wi-Fi, short-range, long-range, etc.) communication. By way of example, the transceiver  666  may include one or more ports to facilitate making a wired connection. By way of another example, the transceiver  666  may include wireless components (e.g., Bluetooth components, Wi-Fi components, a cellular chip, etc.) to facilitate wireless communication. 
     One example implementation of the remote control system  650  may be to facilitate control of a plurality of color-changing products  400  of a single user with a single control system. By way of example, the remote control system  650  may be a hub installable within a home, office, or other building (e.g., a wall mounted hub, a standalone hub, etc.) and communicate via a wired and/or wireless connection with the plurality of color-changing products  400  (e.g., within the user&#39;s home, etc.). A user may interact with the hub to control the various color-changing products  400  connected thereto. 
     Another example implementation of the remote control system  650  may be to facilitate control of a plurality of color-changing products  400  of multiple, different users with a single control system. By way of example, the remote control system  650  may be a hub installable or usable within a public space or arena (e.g., a sport arena, etc.). The hub may communicate wirelessly with the plurality of color-changing products  400  within communication range of the hub. Such a remote control system  650  may be configured to synchronize control of the plurality of color-changing products  400  within the range thereof. As an example, spectators at a sports arena may all be wearing sports apparel having the color-changing capabilities described herein. The hub may then, based on the respective location of each of the spectators wearing the sports apparel, control the sports apparel to manipulate a color scheme, make a static design, make a dynamic design, etc. throughout the stands. As another example, a group of children on a field trip may all be wearing clothing and/or have accessories (e.g., a shirt, a hat, a backpack, etc.) having the color-changing capabilities. A chaperone may control the clothing and/or accessories using the hub (e.g., a smartphone or other portable device connectable to the clothing and/or accessories) such that the group of children have visual characteristics that distinguish them from others. 
     As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially”, and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the disclosure as recited in the appended claims. 
     It should be noted that the term “exemplary” and variations thereof, as used herein to describe various embodiments, are intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such terms are not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples). 
     The term “coupled” and variations thereof, as used herein, means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent or fixed) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members coupled directly to each other, with the two members coupled to each other using a separate intervening member and any additional intermediate members coupled with one another, or with the two members coupled to each other using an intervening member that is integrally formed as a single unitary body with one of the two members. If “coupled” or variations thereof are modified by an additional term (e.g., directly coupled), the generic definition of “coupled” provided above is modified by the plain language meaning of the additional term (e.g., “directly coupled” means the joining of two members without any separate intervening member), resulting in a narrower definition than the generic definition of “coupled” provided above. Such coupling may be mechanical, electrical, or fluidic. 
     The term “or,” as used herein, is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is understood to convey that an element may be either X; Y; Z; X and Y; X and Z; Y and Z; or X, Y, and Z (i.e., any combination of X, Y, and Z). Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z to each be present, unless otherwise indicated. 
     References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below”) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure. 
     The hardware and data processing components used to implement the various processes, operations, illustrative logics, logical blocks, modules and circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose single- or multi-chip processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or, any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor also may be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. In some embodiments, particular processes and methods may be performed by circuitry that is specific to a given function. The memory (e.g., memory, memory unit, storage device) may include one or more devices (e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash memory, hard disk storage) for storing data and/or computer code for completing or facilitating the various processes, layers and modules described in the present disclosure. The memory may be or include volatile memory or non-volatile memory, and may include database components, object code components, script components, or any other type of information structure for supporting the various activities and information structures described in the present disclosure. According to an exemplary embodiment, the memory is communicably connected to the processor via a processing circuit and includes computer code for executing (e.g., by the processing circuit or the processor) the one or more processes described herein. 
     The present disclosure contemplates methods, systems and program products on any machine-readable media for accomplishing various operations. The embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented using existing computer processors, or by a special purpose computer processor for an appropriate system, incorporated for this or another purpose, or by a hardwired system. Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure include program products comprising machine-readable media for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. By way of example, such machine-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions. 
     Although the figures and description may illustrate a specific order of method steps, the order of such steps may differ from what is depicted and described, unless specified differently above. Also, two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence, unless specified differently above. Such variation may depend, for example, on the software and hardware systems chosen and on designer choice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure. Likewise, software implementations of the described methods could be accomplished with standard programming techniques with rule-based logic and other logic to accomplish the various connection steps, processing steps, comparison steps, and decision steps. 
     It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the fibers, yarns, fabrics, and end products as shown in the various exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Additionally, any element disclosed in one embodiment may be incorporated or utilized with any other embodiment disclosed herein. Although only one example of an element from one embodiment that can be incorporated or utilized in another embodiment has been described above, it should be appreciated that other elements of the various embodiments may be incorporated or utilized with any of the other embodiments disclosed herein.