Patent Publication Number: US-2022218048-A1

Title: Clothing-type wearable fabric capable of adjusting temperature thereof

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to temperature regulation, and more particularly, to a clothing-type wearable fabric capable of adjusting temperature. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Artificial skin with sensors, robotic arms, and certain clothing, may include wearable fabrics which have functions that are powered. Existing wearable fabric does not adjust its temperature, which fails to meet actual needs of users. Improvement in the art is desired. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of embodiment, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of a clothing-type wearable fabric capable of adjusting temperature, according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic view of two temperature adjusting modules of the wearable fabric of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic view of a signal transmission line of the wearable fabric of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic view of the temperature adjusting module of  FIG. 2  before and after being stretched. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a stretchable circuit of the signal transmission line of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a stretchable circuit of the signal transmission line of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of a stretchable circuit of the signal transmission line of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of a stretchable circuit of the signal transmission line of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of a stretchable circuit of the signal transmission line of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
     The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a clothing-type wearable fabric  100  capable of adjusting its own temperature. The wearable fabric  100  can be worn around a human body. The wearable fabric  100  includes a fabric body  10  and a temperature adjusting module  20  disposed on the fabric body  10 . The fabric body  10  can be of a jacket or pants. The fabric body  10  can insulate heat from the ambient environment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the temperature adjusting module  20  includes at least one temperature adjusting array  21  ( FIG. 2  shows that there are two temperature adjusting arrays  21 ). Each temperature adjusting array  21  includes at least two first electrodes  30 , at least one second electrode  40 , and a plurality of signal transmission lines  50 . The first electrodes  30  and the second electrodes  40  are cooperatively arranged in an array. The signal transmission lines  50  cross-link the first electrodes  30  and the second electrode(s)  40  together to form grids, thereby improving a structure stability of the temperature adjusting array  21 . That is, two adjacent first electrodes  30  are connected to each other through the signal transmission line  50 . When there are two second electrodes  40 , two adjacent second electrodes  40  are connected to each other through the signal transmission line  50 . The first electrode  30  and the adjacent second electrode  40  are also connected to each other through the signal transmission line  50 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the fabric body  10  includes an inner surface  101  and an outer surface  102  opposite to the inner surface  101 . When the wearable fabric  100  is worn around the human body, the inner surface  101  faces the human body. At least one of the first electrodes  30  is disposed above the inner surface  101  of the fabric body  10 . At least one of the first electrodes  30  is disposed above the outer surface  102  of the fabric body  10 . The first electrode  30  disposed above the inner surface  101  can sense a temperature of the body of the wearer (first temperature value). The first electrode  30  disposed on the outer surface  102  can sense temperature of the ambient environment (second temperature value). 
     Each first electrode  30  is stretchable under an external force. The first electrode  30  includes a first stretchable substrate (not shown), a first stretchable pattern (not shown) disposed on the first stretchable substrate, and a first electrode layer (not shown) disposed on the first stretchable substrate and electrically connected to the first stretchable pattern. In at least one embodiment, the first stretchable pattern is made of silver paste. The first electrode layer can sense the first temperature value and the second temperature value. 
     The second electrode  40  is disposed above the inner surface  101  of the fabric body  10 . The second electrode  40  can absorb heat and release heat when energized. When the first temperature value is low, the second electrode  40  can release heat to increase the temperature of the wearer. When the first temperature value is high, the second electrode  40  can absorb and dissipate heat to reduce the first temperature value. 
     Each second electrode  40  is stretchable under an external force. The second electrode  40  includes a second stretchable substrate (not shown), a second stretchable pattern (not shown) disposed on the second stretchable substrate, and a second electrode layer (not shown) disposed on the second stretchable substrate and electrically connected to the second stretchable pattern. In at least one embodiment, the second stretchable pattern is made of silver paste. The second electrode layer can also absorb heat and release heat. 
     The temperature adjusting module  20  further includes a processor  60 . The processor  60  can be disposed inside the fabric body  10 . The processor  60  is electrically connected to the first electrodes  30  and the second electrode(s)  40  through the signal transmission lines  50 . The processor  60  can receive the first temperature value and the second temperature value from the first electrodes  30 , and control the second electrode  40  to release or absorb heat by reference to the first temperature value and the second temperature value. As such, the wearable fabric  100  can adjust the body temperature of the wearer, thereby improving the comfort of the user. 
     In at least one embodiment, when the first temperature value and the second temperature value are equal to a first preset value and a second preset value respectively, the user should feel that his current temperature is comfortable. When at least one of the first temperature value and the second temperature value decreases, the processor  60  controls the second electrode  40  to release heat according to the amount of decrease of the first or second temperature value. When at least one of the first temperature value and the second temperature value increases, the processor  60  controls the second electrode  40  to absorb heat according to the amount of increase of the first or second temperature value. 
     In at least one embodiment, the second electrode  40  can further sense bioelectric signals of the human body. The bioelectric signals can include ECG signals, electromyography signals, a respiration rate, ocular vibration signals, and brain wave signals. The processor  60  can further receive the bioelectric signals, and determine the physiological state of the human body according to such bioelectric signals. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , each signal transmission line  50  is stretchable under an external force. The signal transmission lines  50  includes at least one stretchable circuit  51  and two terminals  52  disposed at opposite ends of the stretchable circuit  51 . The terminal  52  is electrically connected to the processor  60 , the first electrode  30 , and the second electrode  40 . The stretchable circuit  51  can have a horseshoe or zigzag shape. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , since the first electrode  30 , the second electrode  40 , and the signal transmission line  50  can be stretched under an external force, the temperature adjusting array  21  can also be stretched. The temperature adjusting array  21  can further return to its initial state after the external force is removed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 to 8 , the stretchable circuit  51  includes a conductive core  511  and an insulating layer  512  around the conductive core  511 . The conductive core  511  may be a single layer or multiple layers. For example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the conductive core  511  includes a silver paste layer  5111  and a carbon paste layer  5112  around the silver paste layer  5111 . As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the conductive core  511  only includes the silver paste layer  5111  or the carbon paste layer  5112 . The insulating layer  512  can be made of a stretchable and resilient material, which returns to its original state when an external stretching force is removed, for example, the material can be thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or rubber. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the stretchable circuit  51  can also include two conductive cores  511  spaced apart from each other. The insulating layer  512  is also disposed between the two conductive cores  511 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6-9 , a cross-section of the stretchable circuit  51  is circular. Referring to  FIG. 10 , the cross-section of the stretchable circuit  51  can also be rectangular. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the temperature adjusting module  20  further includes a power supply  70 . The power source  70  is disposed inside the fabric body  10  and electrically connected to the processor  60 . The power supply  70  can provide electrical energy to the first electrode  30 , the signal transmission line  50 , and the second electrode  40 . The power source  70  may be a battery. 
     Even though information and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present embodiments to the full extent indicated by the plain meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.