Patent ID: 12245969

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows a schematic of a generalized temperature regulation system. As shown inFIG.1, the temperature regulation system100comprises at least one humidity sensor103, at least one temperature adjusting element104, such as a heating element, a controlling unit or controller106and a user device108.

The humidity sensor103is not necessarily located close to the temperature adjusting element104.

The system may further comprise a flexible support110that can be a wearable article110, or that can be integrated in such a wearable article, such as a garment.

As shown inFIG.1, the humidity sensor103is disposed on the flexible support110, such that it can measure the humidity in the vicinity of a portion of the user's body.

The flexible support110can be, or integrated in, any suitable garment110that a user can wear on a portion of the user's body. For example, the garment110can be a long sleeve shirt, T-shirt, hat, socks, gloves, pants, tights, jacket, beanie or any other suitable wearable garment.

In a specific embodiment, at least one temperature sensor102is disposed on the flexible support110such that the temperature sensor102is in contact with a portion of the user's body. The temperature sensor102is at least directly in contact with the user's skin. Alternatively, the temperature sensor102is indirectly in contact with the user's skin, for example through a layer of the garment. The sensor102is configured to measure the skin temperature of the user.

The temperature sensor102is configured to generate a temperature measurement that corresponds to the temperature at a portion of the user's body. Preferably the temperature measurement is a skin temperature.

The temperature adjusting element104can be any suitable element or device to provide heat or cold to a user. For example, the temperature adjusting element104may be a heating pad that can be positioned on the wearable garment110and arranged in direct contact with the user's skin or in contact through a layer of textile, to provide heat to a portion of the user's body. The temperature adjusting element104provides heat to increase the skin temperature of the user. Alternatively, the temperature adjusting element can be an air conditioning unit in a car or home or can be a smart appliance or a HVAC system of a building or any other suitable device or system to provide heat or cold to a user.

The controller106is configured to receive the humidity related measurement from the humidity sensor103, and, when a temperature sensor102is used, the temperature related measurement from this temperature sensor102. The controller106is in wire or wireless communication with the humidity sensor103, the temperature adjusting element104, and when applicable with the temperature sensor102. The controller106receives the humidity related measurement from the humidity sensor103, and when applicable the temperature measurement from the temperature sensor102, as electronic signals. The controller106is configured to process these signals and/or to receive already signals already processed for example by the sensors themselves.

The system comprises further a memory unit101adapted to store at least one threshold humidity related value Hthresh. The controller106is also in communication with the memory unit101.

The controller106is configured to receive an instant humidity related value Hinst, related to the humidity in the vicinity of a given portion of the body, from the humidity sensor103, this value being measured in the vicinity of the given portion of the body, and to receive, when applicable, the instant temperature θinstof a given portion of the body from the temperature sensor102.

Besides, as will be explained in examples further below, the controller106if configured to determine at least one instant user information related value, that can be for example an instant temperature θinstof a given portion of the body, or an instant duration tinstof a user inactivity period.

The controller106is configured to perform a comparison between at least one instant user information related value ttrig, θinst, and at least one triggering user information related value ttrig, θtrig, such as a triggering user inactivity period duration value ttrigor a triggering temperature related value θtrig, and activate the temperature adjustment element104to provide heat or cold to a given portion of the body depending on the result of the comparison.

The triggering user information related value ttrig, θtrigis based on one reference user information related values tref, θref, also stored in the memory unit101, such as a reference user inactivity period duration value trefor a reference temperature related value θref.

In some specific embodiment, the memory unit101may also be adapted to store at least one user profile information related to a user profile parameter.

The controller106is further configured to perform a comparison between the instant humidity related value Hinstand at one triggering humidity related value Htrig. This triggering humidity related value Htrigis based on the threshold humidity related value Hthresh. The controller106is also configured to set the triggering user information related value ttrig, θtrigto a value lower than the reference user information related value tref, θrefwhen the instant humidity related value Hinstis greater or equal to the threshold humidity related value Hthresh.

Many humidity sensors exist, with variation in terms of sensing precision and size.

Preferably, the humidity sensor103should be small enough to be able to detect humidity at the level of the base layer of a garment in which the system is integrated, next to the skin, and yet not impairing the movements of the wearer, the fit, nor increasing the bulkiness of the clothing ensemble.

The humidity sensor103measures humidity and send the information to the controller106continuously or regularly, as frequently as possible. The threshold humidity related value Hthreshcan be predefined in the memory unit101, and should be as low as possible, but it can also be determined during a calibration process and then stored in the memory unit101.

As an example, the humidity sensor103can be a sensor adapted to measure the level of water vapor in the air in the vicinity of the given portion of a body. In such a case, the threshold humidity related value Hthreshis the threshold of water vapor saturation in the air in the vicinity of the given portion of a body, this threshold of water vapor saturation in the air being, by definition, dependent on the temperature.

The invention can apply for example to a human user or animal user, the body being then the body of the human or animal user. In such cases, the humidity sensor103is adapted to measurement next to the skin of the corresponding portion of the user body, preferably in contact with the skin.

As mentioned above, the system is particularly adapted to be integrated in a garment. The system is then more precisely adapted to be integrated in or on the inner or outer surface of such a garment.

The garment comprises at least one layer. This layer is preferably aimed at being in contact with the user's skin, and the humidity sensor103, and when applicable also the temperature sensor102, are adapted to measurement in or on said layer.

The body portion in question can be the user's back. More particularly, it can be a strip along, or around, the spine, preferably substantially 5 cm wide. It can also be an area between the two scapulae, or an area in the lower region of the back. By using more than one humidity sensors, and when applicable temperature sensors, more than one body portion can be addressed by a system according to the invention.

In one embodiment according to the invention, one way of taking account of the humidity factor to regulate the temperature of a portion of a body, is to use a user inactivity period as the user information related value, to adjust the duration of an inactivity period after which the temperature adjustment is activated.

In normal conditions, the controller106is configured to activate the temperature adjustment element after an inactivity period which lasts more than a triggering duration ttrig, the latter being dependent on a reference duration trefstored in the memory unit101. It means that the controller106is configured to determine the instant duration tinstof a user inactivity period, based on a user activity information related to a user instant activity parameter, to activate the temperature adjustment element104, when the this instant duration tinstis greater or equal to the triggering duration ttrig.

In said normal conditions, meaning normal humidity conditions, the controller106may be configured for example such that this triggering duration ttrigis equal to the reference duration tref.

In this embodiment, to account of the humidity factor, the controller106is further configured to set this triggering duration ttrigto tref×Y, where Y is a number strictly greater than 0 and strictly smaller than 1, when the humidity exceeds a threshold value. In an example, this means when the instant humidity related value Hinstmeasured by the humidity sensor103is greater or equal to the threshold humidity related value Hthresh.

Preferably, the controller106can be configured such that Y is strictly greater than 0.4 and strictly slower than 0.6, substantially equal to 0.5.

The value for Y can vary, depending on the type of activity, the intensity of the activity, the season, the time in the day, the user profile, etc. . . . It can be setup when the system is built and/or can be modified at anytime by the user through an appropriate interface on an external device or apparatus, or one the user device108itself.

The user activity parameter is related to the activity of at least a portion of the body of the user, and the system also comprises at least one user activity sensor, not shown on the figures. This user activity sensor is adapted to generate a user activity measurement that relates to an activity of the given portion of the body of the user.

The controller106is in communication with the user activity sensor and is configured to receive the user activity measurement and to determine the user activity information from the user activity measurement.

Alternatively, the user activity sensor is also adapted to determine the user activity information from the user activity measurement. In that case, the controller106, in communication with the user activity sensor, is configured to receive directly the user activity information from the user activity sensor.

The user activity sensor may be a motion sensor, or a geographical position sensor, or a heartbeat sensor. The system may comprise several activity sensors, each being for example of one of the type mentioned above.

In the case of a motion sensor, this sensor can be a 3-axis accelerometer. The accelerometer detects or measures the body movements of the user. The motion measurement is an acceleration measurement or a velocity measurement. The motion measurement is sampled by the controller106from the motion sensor. The motion sensor is sampled at any suitable sampling rate. The controller106uses the motion measurement to adjust the threshold temperature based on a predetermined relationship.

The controller106may comprises an interface adapted to receive from an external device the user activity measurement. The controller106is then configured to determine the user activity information from the user activity measurement received via said interface.

Alternatively, the interface is adapted to receive from an external device directly the user activity information.

The interface may also be adapted to receive the user activity information as a manual input from a user.

Alternatively, the interface is adapted to receive a user activity measurement as a manual input. Then, the controller106is configured to determine the user activity information from the user activity measurement received via the interface.

In another embodiment according to the invention, another way of taking account of the humidity factor to regulate the temperature of a portion of a body, is to use the temperature of a portion of the body of the user as the user information related value, to adjust temperature that triggers the activation of the temperature adjustment element104.

In normal conditions, the controller106is configured to activate the temperature adjustment element when the instant temperature related value θinstfalls below the triggering temperature related value θtrig, the latter being dependent on the reference temperature related value θrefstored in the memory unit101.

In that specific embodiment, the system further comprises the temperature sensor102, already mentioned above. This temperature sensor102is adapted to generate a temperature measurement that relates to a temperature of a given portion of the body. The controller106is in communication with the temperature sensor102and is configured to receive the instant temperature θinstof the given portion of the body from the temperature sensor102, activate the temperature adjustment element104to provide heat to this portion of the body when the instant temperature related value θrefis lower or equal to the triggering related value θtrig.

In said normal conditions, meaning normal humidity conditions, the controller106may be configured for example such that this triggering temperature related value θtrigis equal to the reference temperature related value θref.

In this embodiment, to account of the humidity factor, the controller106is further configured to set this triggering temperature related value θtrigsuch that θtrig=θref−X, with X being a number strictly greater than 0 and strictly smaller than θref, when the humidity exceeds a threshold value. In an example, this means when the instant humidity related value Hinstmeasured by the humidity sensor103is greater or equal to the threshold humidity related value Hthresh.

The controller106can also be further configured to perform the following steps:comparison between the instant temperature related value θinstreceived from the temperature sensor102, and one target temperature related value θtarg, with this target temperature related value θtargbeing also based on the reference temperature related value θref;maintaining the temperature adjustment element104activated until the instant temperature related value θinstcontinuously or regularly received from the temperature sensor102; becomes equal to the target temperature related value θtarg;set the target temperature related value θtargto a value greater than the reference temperature related value θrefwhen the instant humidity related value Hinstis greater or equal to the threshold humidity related value Hthresh.

The user device108is a portable device that includes at least a processor, a memory and a user interface, that can be used by the user as an input-output interface. The user device108is a low energy wireless system. The user device108may, for example, be a smartphone or a tablet. The user device108is adapted for two-way communication with the controller106, such that information can be transmitted from the user device108to the controller106and information can be transmitted from the controller106to the user device108. The user device108preferably uses a low energy wireless system such as Bluetooth or infra-red as the wireless communication protocol.

The system100further comprises a power source112cthat is connected to the controller106to power the controller106. The power source112ccan transmit power via a wired connection or wirelessly. The controller106and the power source112care preferably disposed on the wearable garment110.

Alternatively, the power source can be the power source of the user device108.

The controller106includes at least a processor, a memory unit and a power unit. The power unit generates power and the power unit preferably comprises rechargeable batteries. The processor, memory unit and power unit are preferably arranged in a casing.

The structure and operation of the controller for the temperature regulation system will now be described with respect toFIG.2, which shows a controller1000. The controller106has a structure that is the same as controller1000described with respect toFIG.2, and functions like this controller1000.

FIG.2shows a generalized schematic of the controller1000in communication with humidity sensors1008, a plurality of temperature adjusting elements1006a-1006c, and at least one user activity sensor such as a motion sensor1010c. It comprises also, in one embodiment described above, one or more temperature sensors1004a-1004c. The sensors shown inFIG.2are generic representations to illustrate operation of the generalized controller1000. The functionality of the controller and interaction with the sensors and user device is applicable in any of the earlier embodiments described.

As shown inFIG.2, controller1000comprises a logical unit1022, such as a processor1022, a memory unit1024and a power unit1026. The controller1000, in this example, is a microcontroller, i.e. it includes all components on a single chip or integrated circuit. The processor1022is a microprocessor that can process electronic commands. The processor1022can execute commands stored in the non-transitory computer readable memory unit1024. The processor1022is preferably in the form of an integrated circuit. The memory unit1024comprises ROM1028and RAM1030. The power unit1026includes one or more rechargeable batteries that are disposed in a casing and in communication with the processor. The controller1000also includes other essential electronic components for interfacing the various components described and appropriate interfacing circuitry.

The controller1000further includes a communication module1032which is functionally part of a controlling unit1032,1034. The communication module1032is low energy wireless system such as a Bluetooth module. The communication module1032is in wire or wireless communication with the processor1022and allows the controller1000to communicate with a user device1016.

A local application that is executable on the user device1016allows communication between the user device1016and the controller. The application also allows for a user to access an interface that allows a user to input for example user profile information (as described earlier) as well as additionally modify controller operating modes.

The controller1000is also in communication with the plurality of humidity sensors, and when applicable temperature sensors, and temperature adjusting elements that are disposed for example on a wearable garment, and is configured as explained above with respect ofFIG.1

The controller1000is also configured to deactivates the temperature adjusting element after a certain amount of time and/or once the instant temperature measurement exceeds the threshold temperature. It should be noted that the temperature sensors described herein measure the skin temperature, but alternative sensors can be used that allow other temperature measurements such as muscle temperature or core temperature and so on.

Each humidity sensor, and when applicable temperature sensor, can be associated with a temperature adjusting element. The controller1000receives a plurality of measurements from each of the sensors, and uses each of these measurements as explained above relatively to a configuration with one humidity sensor, when applicable one temperature sensor, and one temperature adjusting element. The controller1000allows thus for localized or selective temperature adjustment of specific portions of the user's body.

The controller1000is configured to provide an activation signal along the power lines to the temperature adjusting elements1006a-1006c. The activation signal is preferably a pulse width modulated (PWM) power signal. The controller1000includes a PWM module1034which is functionally part of the controlling unit1032,1034. This PWM module1034can be integrated into the processor or connected to the processor and the power unit. The PWM module1034generates a PWM signal and transmits such along the power lines to the heating pads1006a-1006c. A PWM signal conserves the power from the power unit.

The temperature regulation system as described is advantageous because the system regulates a temperature distribution across a user's skin and selectively energizes or activates a temperature adjusting element in the corresponding location. Further the temperature regulation system as described is also advantageous because the system takes into account humidity that can affect a person's thermal comfort or sense of comfort.

It is to be reminded that the two main specific embodiments described above can be combined in a single regulation system according to the invention.

The humidity becomes particularly a problem when the user is inactive. In an inactive state, the user produces less heat, and humidity (water) evaporates, leading to a cooling of the garment microclimate, possibly the skin itself. On top of this, when the garment microclimate is saturated in water, the body heat loss towards the environment is faster.

This is why the regulation system of the invention is of particular importance, to account of the humidity factor to regulate the temperature of a portion of the user body.

In one of the embodiments described above, when the instant humidity related value goes over the threshold humidity related value, such as the threshold of water vapor saturation in the air in the vicinity of the body portion in question, the delay before activating the temperature adjustment element during a pause of activity, or inactivity period, is reduced, for example is divided by two.

For example, when the user runs during 10 minutes in the cold, the temperature adjustment element is activated during the first 5 minutes of running, and then is deactivated. At the 11thminutes, thus after 1 minute of pause in conditions of low humidity, the temperature adjustment element would be activated again. But in order to take into account the increase of humidity during the run, the system will activate the temperature adjustment element after 30 seconds only, instead of 1 minute.

Also, when the user is static or quasi-static, in the cold, and in an environment where humidity is increasing, or is higher than at the time of calibration (initial configuration of the system), and even if the temperature is stable, the system will account of this specific configuration by activating the temperature adjustment element when the instant temperature related value reach a value lower than the reference temperature related value which could be otherwise used for triggering the activation.

The above description has been directed to specific embodiments of this invention which is, however, not limited to these embodiments described for purpose of example only.

In particular, the invention concerns not only a temperature regulation system for regulating the temperature of a portion of a human or animal user's body, but more generally the for regulating the temperature of a portion of a any other body such as a recipient for receiving food or a liquid.

Besides, the above description relates to a controller, comprising a logical unit, a memory unit and controlling unit, in communication with the temperature sensors, the heat adjustment elements, and the user device. Alternatively, the memory unit may be part of one of the temperature sensors or of the user device, and the logical unit may be part of the user device.

Also, the above description relates to examples where the system is integrated to a wearable garment for a user, human or animal. But it extends to a system integrated or part of an accessory such as a belt, a wrist lace or a watch, a shoe, etc. . . .