PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10299520-B1
Application Number: US-201514824505-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Fabric-based items with environmental control elements

Abstract:
A fabric-based item may adapt to and adjust the biometric state of an individual that is wearing or touching the fabric-based item. The fabric-based item may be a cover for a seat in a vehicle, an article of clothing, a wrist band, or other suitable fabric-based item. The fabric-based item may include one or more sensors that gather biometric information about the individual and one or more environmental control devices that adjust or maintain the environment around the individual based on the biometric information. The sensors may include temperature sensors, humidity sensors, pressure sensors, heart rate sensors, or other sensors that gather biometric information about the user. The environmental control elements may be used to control the temperature, humidity, airflow or other aspect of the environment around the individual based on the biometric state of the individual.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system, comprising:
 a fabric comprising intertwined strands of material, wherein the strands of material include electrically conductive strands and electrically insulating strands; 
 sensors in the fabric that gather biometric information about a user; 
 temperature control elements in the fabric, wherein the temperature control elements include a first temperature control element that controls a temperature of a first region of the fabric and a second temperature control element that controls a temperature of a second region of the fabric; and 
 control circuitry that receives the biometric information from the sensors via the electrically conductive strands and that operates the temperature control elements based on the biometric information, wherein the control circuitry operates the first and second temperature control elements independently of one another and determines whether to activate the first temperature control element or the second control element based on the biometric information gathered by the sensors. 
 
     
     
       2. The system defined in  claim 1  wherein the sensors comprise temperature sensors. 
     
     
       3. The system defined in  claim 1  wherein the temperature control elements comprise at least one Peltier effect device. 
     
     
       4. The system defined in  claim 1  wherein the sensors are located in a third region of the fabric that is different than the first and second regions. 
     
     
       5. The system defined in  claim 1  wherein the fabric includes openings and wherein the control circuitry adjusts a size of the openings based on the biometric information. 
     
     
       6. The system defined in  claim 1  wherein the fabric comprises an odor absorbing layer. 
     
     
       7. The system defined in  claim 1  further comprising humidity control elements in the fabric that adjust an amount of moisture in a vicinity of the fabric, wherein the control circuitry operates the humidity control elements based on the biometric information. 
     
     
       8. The system defined in  claim 1  wherein the sensors comprise at least one humidity sensor. 
     
     
       9. The system defined in  claim 1  wherein the sensors comprise at least one heart rate sensor. 
     
     
       10. The system defined in  claim 1  wherein the fabric comprises a warp knit fabric. 
     
     
       11. An environmental control system that controls an environment for a passenger in a vehicle, comprising:
 a fabric on which the passenger sits, wherein the fabric comprises electrically conductive strands intertwined with electrically insulating strands; 
 at least one temperature sensor in the fabric that measures a temperature of the passenger; 
 at least one environmental control element in the fabric that provides different sensations to the passenger; and 
 control circuitry that operates the at least one environmental control element based on the temperature of the passenger, wherein the control circuitry receives signals from the at least one temperature sensor via the electrically conductive strands. 
 
     
     
       12. The environmental control system defined in  claim 11  wherein the vehicle has an interior and wherein the at least one environmental control element comprises a humidity control element that adjust an amount of moisture in the interior of the vehicle. 
     
     
       13. The environmental control system defined in  claim 11  wherein the at least one environmental control element comprises a Peltier effect device that adjusts a temperature of the fabric. 
     
     
       14. The environmental control system defined in  claim 11  wherein the vehicle has an interior and wherein the at least one environmental control element comprises an odor emitting layer that releases a scent into the interior of the vehicle. 
     
     
       15. The environmental control system defined in  claim 11  wherein the fabric has openings and wherein the at least one environmental control element comprises an airflow control element that controls how much air passes through the openings in the fabric. 
     
     
       16. A method for operating an adaptive fabric that adapts to an individual&#39;s biometric state, wherein the adaptive fabric comprises electrically conductive strands intertwined with electrically insulating strands, the method comprising:
 with a sensor in the fabric, gathering biometric information from the individual; 
 with control circuitry:
 receiving the biometric information from the sensor via the electrically conductive strands, and 
 activating a thermal haptic device in the fabric in response to the biometric information from the sensor; and 
 with the thermal haptic device, changing a thermal property of the fabric in response to being activated. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The method defined in  claim 16  wherein the thermal haptic device comprises a Peltier effect device and wherein changing the thermal property of the fabric comprises using the Peltier effect device to change a temperature of the fabric. 
     
     
       18. The method defined in  claim 16  wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor and wherein gathering biometric information comprises measuring a temperature of the individual. 
     
     
       19. The method defined in  claim 16  wherein the thermal haptic device is located in a first region of the fabric and wherein the sensor is located in a second region of the fabric that is different than the first region. 
     
     
       20. The method defined in  claim 16  further comprising:
 with the control circuitry, determining an emotional state of the individual based on the biometric information, wherein activating the thermal haptic device in the fabric in response to the biometric information comprises activating the thermal haptic device in the fabric based on the inferred emotional state of the individual.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/036,532 filed on Aug. 12, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This relates generally to control systems and, more particularly, to fabrics with environmental control elements. 
     People often interact with fabric-based articles. For example, a user may have a fabric-based watch band that wraps around the user&#39;s wrist. Clothing articles may come into contact with a user&#39;s skin. A car seat in a vehicle may have a fabric-based cover that rests against the passenger&#39;s legs and back. 
     Conventional fabric-based articles do not adapt to a person&#39;s biometric profile. A person may find a fabric-based article to be comfortable and breathable when the person is at rest, but when emotionally stressed or physically active, the person may find the same article to be restrictive and excessively warm. A person&#39;s emotional or physical state can be negatively affected by a non-responsive fabric that does not adapt to the person&#39;s activity or biometric state. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved fabric-based items for adapting and responding to a user&#39;s biometric profile. 
     SUMMARY 
     A fabric-based item may adapt to and adjust the biometric state of an individual that is wearing or touching the fabric-based item. The fabric-based item may be a cover for a seat in a vehicle, an article of clothing, a wrist band for a watch, or other suitable fabric-based item. 
     The fabric-based item may include one or more sensors that gather biometric information about the individual and one or more environmental control devices that adjust or maintain the environment around the individual based on the biometric information. The sensors may include temperature sensors, humidity sensors, pressure sensors, heart rate sensors, or other sensors that gather biometric information about the user. The environmental control elements may include thermal haptic devices such as Peltier effect devices that are used to adjust the temperature of the fabric and thereby adjust the thermal sensations felt by the individual. Other environmental control elements that may be used to control the environment around the individual include humidity control elements, airflow control elements, odor absorbing elements, odor emitting elements, or other environmental control elements that can adjust the sensations felt by the individual. 
     Control circuitry may be configured to operate the environmental control elements in the fabric based on the biometric information gathered by the sensors in the fabric. The control circuitry may infer information about an individual&#39;s emotional state based on the biometric information gathered by the sensors. For example, elevated temperatures in certain regions of the body may be indicative of increased stress levels. The control circuitry may operate the environmental control elements based on the inferred emotional state of the individual. If desired, the control circuitry may attempt to induce a certain emotional state using the environmental control elements. For example, cooling elements in the fabric may be activated to cool certain areas of the individual&#39;s body, which may in turn lead to increased wakefulness. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative system that may include fabric-based items in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of an illustrative conductive mesh that may be embedded in, integrated with, or attached to a fabric-based item in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D  show illustrative examples of activation schemes that may be used to activate sensors or output devices in a fabric-based item in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of an illustrative fabric-based item that includes woven strands of material in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of an illustrative fabric-based item that includes warp knit strands of material in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative fabric-based item that includes a filter layer and one or more environmental control layers in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of an illustrative vehicle with a fabric-based environmental control system in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing illustrative articles of clothing which may include environmental control elements in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E  show illustrative ways in which sensors and environmental control elements may be incorporated into a fabric-based article of clothing in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a flow chart of illustrative steps in operating a fabric-based item with environmental control elements in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Fabric-based items such as clothing and seat covers may incorporate environmental control elements. The environmental control elements may provide different sensations to an individual who is wearing, sitting on, or otherwise near the fabric-based item. As an example, a cover for a car seat in a vehicle may include environmental control elements that regulate the environment around a passenger&#39;s body. The environmental control elements may respond to an individual&#39;s biometric profile. One or more sensors in the fabric-based item may gather information about an individual&#39;s biometric state and the environmental control elements may respond accordingly. The use of environmental control systems in vehicle interiors is sometimes described herein as an example. In general, environmental control elements may be used in any fabric-based item that comes close to an individual&#39;s body (e.g., a backpack or other bag, a couch, a wrist band, an article of clothing, etc.). 
     An illustrative fabric-based system of the type that may include fabric with embedded sensors and environmental control elements or other components is shown in  FIG. 1 . Fabric-based system  40  may include fabric  10  and control circuitry  12 . 
     Control circuitry  12  may include storage and processing circuitry that is configured to execute software. The software may control the operation of fabric  10  and/or components included in fabric  10 . For example, code that is executed on control circuitry  12  may be used in controlling the temperature of fabric  10 , may be used in adjusting vibrating elements or other mechanical devices in fabric  10 , and/or may be otherwise used in adjusting the properties of fabric  10  and/or components embedded in fabric  10 . 
     Control circuitry  12  may be implemented using one or more integrated circuits such as microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits, memory, and other storage and processing circuitry. If desired, control circuitry  12  may be included in an electronic device. For example, control circuitry  12  may be included in a computer that is integrated into a display such as a computer monitor, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a somewhat smaller portable device such as a wrist-watch device, pendant device, or other wearable or miniature device, a cellular telephone, a media player, a tablet computer, a gaming device, a navigation device, a computer monitor, a television, or other electronic equipment. Control circuitry  12  may also be embedded within fabric  10  (e.g., within a thick portion of fabric  10 , in a cushion or other item formed using fabric  10 , in multiple locations distributed throughout fabric  10  and/or an item formed using fabric  10 ). In some embodiments, part of control circuitry  12  may be formed in a first item (e.g., an electronic device such as a portable electronic device, computer, tablet computer, etc.) and part of control circuitry  12  may be formed in a second item (e.g., an item of clothing formed from fabric  10 , a cushion formed from fabric  10 , etc.). Configurations in which control circuitry  12  is distributed among three or more items may also be used (e.g., three or more items such as clothing items, cushions or other furniture or seating items, electronic devices, etc.). 
     Fabric  10  may be a strand-based (e.g., fiber-based) structure with intertwined strands (e.g., fibers or other strands of material) that are woven, knitted, warp knitted, braided, or otherwise intertwined together to form a fabric material. Strands that are used to form fabric  10  may be formed natural fibers (e.g., cotton, linen, wool, etc.) or synthetic fibers (e.g., polyester, nylon, acrylic, spandex, etc.). Strands may be formed from one or more continuous filaments (e.g., continuous filaments that form a strand), untwisted bundles of continuous filaments, twisted bundles of non-continuous filaments, etc. Strands for fabric  10  can be formed from dielectric materials (e.g., plastic), metal or other conductive material (e.g., carbon fibers), plastic coated with metal, metal coated with plastic, or other conductive and/or non-conductive strands. 
     Fabric  10  may include embedded structures such as one or more sensors  14  and one or more output devices  16 . As explained in detail below, sensors  14  can be integrated into fabric  10  or may be separate from fabric  10  (e.g., may be mounted to, carried by, or otherwise attached to fabric  10  without being integrated into fabric  10 ). Sensor signals gathered by sensors  14  may be conveyed to control circuitry  12  using path  42 , and control circuitry  12  may issue control signals to output devices  16  using path  44 . 
     Control circuitry  12  may be separate from fabric  10  or may be carried by or integral with fabric  10 . In arrangements where all or part of control circuitry  12  is separate from fabric  10 , the portion of control circuitry  12  that is separate from fabric  10  may communicate with fabric  10  over an electrical communications path or over a wireless communications path. Wireless communications paths may be implemented using wireless local area network protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocols—sometimes referred to as WiFi®), protocols for other short-range wireless communications links such as the Bluetooth® protocol, etc. Electrical communications path may be formed using conductive signal paths in one or more wires (e.g., fibers that are separate from fabric  10  and/or that are part of fabric  10 ) or may be formed using conductive traces on a substrate (e.g., a flexible printed circuit substrate, a rigid printed circuit substrate, or other suitable substrate). 
     Sensors  14  may include one or more sensors for gathering information such as biometric information about a user. For example, sensors  14  may be used to gather biometric information about a user that is wearing, sitting on, or otherwise contacting fabric  10 . Sensors  14  may include temperature sensors, force sensors (e.g., piezoelectric sensors, resistive force sensors, capacitive force sensors, etc.), motion sensors (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, etc.), switches or other mechanical sensors, moisture detectors, strain gauges, pressure sensors, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices, capacitive sensors, touch sensors (e.g., touch sensor electrodes, drive and sense circuitry, etc.), resistance-based sensors, light-based sensors (e.g., infrared sensors), piezoelectric sensors, and/or acoustic-based sensors such as ultrasonic acoustic-based sensors (as examples). A user of system  40  may supply commands to sensors  14  (e.g., a user may supply a touch command or other input command) and/or sensors  14  may gather information about the environment in which system  40  is being used (e.g., information on the temperature of the surroundings of system  40 , etc.), and/or sensors  14  may gather biometric data on the user (e.g., information on the temperature of part of the user&#39;s body, information on how much pressure is being exerted on fabric  10  by the user&#39;s body (e.g., when a user is sitting on fabric  10  or is otherwise in contact with fabric  10 ), or may gather other information about the user, input from the user, and/or information on the user&#39;s environment. 
     Information from sensors  14  may be used in gathering information on the way in which a user is wearing or touching fabric  10 . For example, sensors  14  may detect one or more user conditions that control circuitry  12  may use to gather information about a user, including, for example, a user&#39;s temperature (e.g., skin temperature or body temperature), perspiration, blood flow, blood pressure, pulse (heart rate), or other biometric information. Information can be gathered through direct contact between sensors  14  and the user and/or the user&#39;s environment. For example, a temperature sensor in contact with a user may measure the user&#39;s temperature or a pressure sensor in contact with a portion of the skin of a user&#39;s body may measure pressures imposed on the sensor by the body. A heart rate sensor may be formed from one or more light sources (e.g., light emitting diodes) and one or more light detectors (e.g., photodiodes) that are used to detect the amount of blow flow in a region of the body (e.g., a user&#39;s wrist) adjacent to the fabric. Information can also be gathered indirectly. For example, a force sensor may detect that fabric  10  is being stretched and can conclude from this stretching that the user&#39;s body is imposing a force on fabric  10 . Sensing arrangements that use combinations of direct and indirect sensing and/or that use one or more different types of sensor may also be used. 
     Control circuitry  12  may issue control signals to output devices  16  to provide output to a user (e.g., in response to information gathered by sensors  14  or other information such as information on the current time, output from an application program running on control circuitry  12  that is controlled by non-sensor input, output that is generated based on user commands, etc.). 
     Output devices  16  may include environmental control elements  46  that are capable of manipulating the environment around a user&#39;s body. Environmental control elements  46  may include thermal haptic elements such as heating elements  50  (e.g., resistive heating elements, thermoelectric (Peltier) effect heating devices, or other heating elements) and cooling elements  52  (e.g., refrigerant lines, thermoelectric coolant structures, thermoelectric (Peltier) cooling effect cooling elements, fans, or other cooling elements). Output device  16  may include mechanical components such as mechanical haptic elements  54  (e.g., an electromechanical actuator such as a haptic feedback device, a vibrator for issuing alerts, a device for imparting other vibrations or motions to fabric  10 , actuators based on shape memory metals, etc.). 
     Components such as heating elements  50  and cooling elements  52  may be used to control the temperature of fabric  10  and/or the amount of heat conduction through fabric  10 . These components may therefore sometimes be referred to as temperature control elements or temperature management components. If desired, temperature control elements may be implemented using elements that heat or cool fabric  10 , may be implemented using elements that provide heating or cooling directly to a user, or may be implemented using elements that alter the thermal properties of fabric  10 . For example, heating and cooling may be achieved by adjusting the breathability of fabric  10  (e.g., by adjusting the density of threads in fabric  10 , by stretching or shrinking fabric  10 , by aligning openings in two layers of fabric in fabric  10 , by opening and/or closing air ports or other openings in fabric  10 , etc.). Methods of adjusting the breathability of fabric  10  are described in detail in connection with  FIG. 4 . 
     Output devices  16  may provide output to a user by changing the properties of fabric  10 . For example, fabric  10  may be heated using heating elements  50 , cooled using cooling elements  52 , and vibrated using actuators such as haptic elements  54 . Other types of output may be provided using output devices  16 . For example, fabric  10  may be configured to stretch (e.g., to provide greater breathability) or shrink (e.g., to provide compression to an area on the user&#39;s body). In general, output devices  16  may provide any suitable type of output to change a user&#39;s experience (e.g., to adjust blood circulation, to alert a user, to adjust skin or body temperature, to adjust pleasurability, etc.). 
     In additional to heating elements  50  and cooling elements  52 , environmental control elements  46  may include airflow control elements, filters, humidity control elements, odor-absorbing and/or odor-emitting elements, or other suitable elements for providing different sensations to an individual and controlling the environment around an individual&#39;s body and/or near the individual&#39;s skin. Because environmental control elements  46  may sometimes use thermal effects to induce a tactile sensation for the user, environmental control elements  46  may sometimes be referred to as thermal haptic elements. 
     Output devices  16  may be controlled based on information from sensors  14  or may be controlled independently of sensors  14 . For example, fabric  10  may be pre-programmed or manually operated (e.g., fabric  10  may be manually controlled remotely or locally by control circuitry  12 ) to activate output devices  16  in a desired fashion. 
     If desired, control circuitry  12  may be omitted and fabric  10  may be configured to operate automatically. In this type of arrangement, sensors  14  and output devices  16  may communicate directly over path  60  and output devices  16  may be automatically activated or deactivated based on gathered sensor signals. As an example, cooling elements  52  may automatically be activated when sensors  14  detect perspiration (e.g., when a humidity sensor or moisture sensor detects humidity (moisture) levels over a threshold). 
     Control circuitry  12  may use sensor  14  to gather information about an individual&#39;s biometric state and may use environmental control elements  46  to induce a desired effect on the individual&#39;s biometric state. In some scenarios, an individual&#39;s biometric state may be linked to the individual&#39;s emotional state. Changes in body temperature may be linked to (e.g., may be caused by or may be the cause of) changes in emotional state. As examples, elevated temperatures in certain areas of the body may be indicative of stress. Cooling certain areas of the body may lead to increased wakefulness. 
     If desired, control circuitry  12  may use sensors  14  and environmental control elements  46  to infer and induce changes in an individual&#39;s emotional state. For example, control circuitry  12  may use biometric information from sensors  14  (e.g., information on the user&#39;s skin temperature at one or more locations on the user&#39;s body, the user&#39;s heart rate, the user&#39;s movement, etc.) to make inferences about a user&#39;s emotional state. Similarly, control circuitry  12  may use environmental control elements  46  to provide an environment that may induce emotional or physical changes for the user. 
     If desired, control circuitry  12  may operate environmental control elements  46  based on the inferred emotional state of an individual. For example, control circuitry  12  may infer a user&#39;s emotional state based on body temperature information gathered by sensors  14 . Control circuitry  12  may activate one or more environmental control elements  46  to change, enhance, or otherwise have a desired effect on the user&#39;s emotional state. By inferring and inducing an individual&#39;s emotional state using sensors  14 , thermal haptics  46 , and/or other environmental control elements, control circuitry  12  may adapt to an individual&#39;s current state and may provide a pleasant environment for the individual to maximize the individual&#39;s comfort and pleasure. 
     The example of  FIG. 1  in which fabric  10  includes both sensors  14  and output devices  16  is merely illustrative. If desired, fabric  10  may include sensors  14  without any output devices  16 , or may include output devices  16  without any sensors  14 . 
     Circuitry included in fabric  10  such as sensor circuitry  14  and output circuitry  16  may be implemented using a mesh that is embedded in fabric  10 . The mesh may be formed form a grid of fibers (e.g., solid wires and/or intertwined fibers). The fibers in the grid may be conductive (i.e., the mesh may be a conductive mesh) and/or the fibers in the grid may include non-conducting fibers or portions of fibers. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of an illustrative mesh  18  that may be embedded in fabric  10  of  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , mesh  18  includes a grid of crisscrossing conductive lines  20  and  22 . Mesh  18  may be formed from metal, metal fibers, metal fibers that are completely or partly coated with plastic, plastic fibers that are coated with metal or that have metal portions, intertwined fibers (e.g., conductive and/or dielectric fibers), or other suitable conductive and/or insulating materials. If desired, mesh  18  may be formed from a shape memory substance (e.g., nitinol or other shape memory metal alloys, shape memory polymers, etc.). 
     If desired, mesh  18  may include conductive portions and non-conductive portions. Conductive portions of mesh  18  may be formed from non-conductive threads that are selectively coated with conductive material (e.g., conductive ink, metal coatings, or other conductive materials) and/or may include conductive threads formed form metal filaments (e.g., a collection of metal filaments that are bundled to form a strand). Forming discrete or localized conductive portions on threads may allow portions of mesh  18  to be electrically connected while other portions are in contact but not electrically connected. For example, some overlapping or intersecting portions of mesh  18  may be non-conductive and inactive, whereas other overlapping or intersecting portions of mesh  18  may be selectively coated with conductive material to form an active node  26 . 
     Sensors  14  and output devices  16  may be formed at nodes  26  where lines  20  overlap lines  22  or other suitable locations within fabric  10 . Nodes  26  may, for example, correspond to overlapping portions of lines  20  and  22 . The portions of lines (fibers)  20  and  22  that overlap at nodes  26  may be coated with insulating coating, may be selectively stripped to form contacts that are coupled to sensors  14  and/or devices  16 , may be bare portions of bare wires, etc. 
     Sensors  14  ( FIG. 1 ) may be formed at nodes  26 A, and output devices  16  ( FIG. 1 ) may be formed at nodes  26 B. If desired, every node where lines  20  overlap lines  22  may be used for sensing and/or output (e.g., to form an array or sheet of sensors and output devices), or sensing/output nodes may be formed selectively in mesh  18  (e.g., in select regions of mesh  18  such as region  30 ). The location, number, and density of nodes  26  may be chosen based on the desired sensing or output performance characteristics. 
     If desired, conductive lines  20  aligned in a first direction may be drive signal lines, and conductive lines  22  aligned in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction may be sense signal lines. Sensing nodes  26 A may, for example, include capacitive touch sensing electrodes or the portions of lines  20  and  22  that overlap each other may serve as capacitive touch sensing structures. With this type of arrangement mesh  18  may form a touch sensor. Alternating current drive signals may be driven onto the drive lines. Selected drive signals from the drive lines may be capacitively coupled to one or more sense lines when a user&#39;s finger or other body part or other external object (e.g., a stylus, etc.) is present at the intersections between certain drive lines and sense lines. Control circuitry (e.g., control circuitry  12  of  FIG. 1 ) may be used to supply drive signals to electrodes at nodes  26  using drive signal lines  20  and to gather corresponding sense signals using sense signal lines  22 . Control circuitry  12  can also process the sense line signals on lines  22  to determine where a user&#39;s body is touching mesh  18 , etc. If desired, mesh  18  may be used in forming other types of conductive paths (e.g., paths for carrying temperature sensor signals, pressure sensor signals, etc.). The use of mesh  18  for carrying touch sensor signals so that mesh  18  may be used as a two-dimensional touch sensor is merely illustrative. 
     Sensing nodes  26 A and output nodes  26 B may be formed in the same region of mesh  18  (e.g., may be adjacent to each other or may be interspersed with one another in a region of fabric  18 ) or may, if desired, be formed in different regions of mesh  18 . The location of sensing nodes  26 A and output nodes  26 B may depend on the type of garment or other structure that is formed with fabric  10 . For example, when fabric  10  is used in forming a shirt or cushion, sensing nodes  26 A that are used for temperature sensing may be formed or activated in a location where temperature can be measured most accurately, whereas output nodes  26 B that are used for heating and/or cooling may be formed or activated in a location where the body will be receptive to temperature changes (which may be different from the location of sensing nodes  26 A). If desired, sensing nodes  26 A and output nodes  26 B may be activated in the same region or may be activated in different regions. 
     If desired, sensing nodes  26 A and output nodes  26 B may be activated individually (e.g., turned on one node at a time), may be activated in groups or regions, or may all be activated at the same time. If desired, nodes in a line may be activated sequentially and/or periodically depending on the type of information being gathered and/or depending on the type of output being provided (e.g., a heating and cooling cycle). 
     Illustrative examples of activation schemes that may be used to activate sensors  14  of  FIG. 1  and/or output devices  16  of  FIG. 1  are shown in  FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D . Activation schemes of the type shown in  FIGS. 3A-3D  may be used as output activation schemes (e.g., schemes by which output devices  16  of  FIG. 1  are activated and output is provided to a user) or may be used as sensing activation schemes (e.g., schemes by which sensors  14  of  FIG. 1  are activated and sensor data is gathered). In the examples of  FIGS. 3A-3D , nodes  26 ′ are activate nodes (e.g., nodes that are actively sensing or actively providing output), while nodes  26  are inactive nodes (e.g., nodes that are not gathering sensor data or providing output). 
     In the example of  FIG. 3A , one or more individual (e.g., isolated) nodes  26 ′ are active while the remaining nodes  26  in fabric  10  are inactive. Nodes  26 ′ may be activated independently of one another or may be activated in sync with one another. Activating individual nodes in this way may allow output at one location on fabric  10  to be independent from and unaffected by the output at another location on fabric  10 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 3B , a group or sub-array of nodes  26 ′ is active while the remaining nodes  26  in fabric  10  are inactive. Activating nodes in portions or sub-regions of fabric  10  may be useful in providing output to a particular region of a user&#39;s body (e.g., to heat a user&#39;s neck or to provide other suitable output to a particular region). In another embodiment, control circuitry  12  may heat, cool, vibrate, or otherwise activate certain nodes when sensors or other devices gather input indicating that those particular nodes should be activated. As an example, a cushion may be heated, cooled, or vibrated only where sensors  12  detect the presence of a user&#39;s body or detect the presence of a temperature rise change that exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
     In the example of  FIG. 3C , nodes  26 ′ are activated in a particular pattern. This type of activation scheme may include activating all of the nodes  26 ′ in a particular pattern simultaneously, or activating the nodes  26 ′ in the pattern sequentially. For example, a first row of nodes may provide heating for a first period of time, and a second row of nodes may provide heating for a second period of time following the first period of time. 
     In the example of  FIG. 3D , all of nodes  26 ′ in fabric  10  are activated. All of nodes  26 ′ in fabric  10  may be actively sensing to gather information about a user, all of nodes  26 ′ may be actively providing output to the user, or some of nodes  26 ′ may be sensing while other nodes  26 ′ may be providing output. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of fabric  10  showing how mesh  18  of  FIG. 2  may be embedded in fabric  10 . In the example of  FIG. 4 , mesh  18  is interwoven with strands  32  of fabric  10 . This is, however, merely illustrative. If desired, mesh  18  may be sandwiched between two layers of fabric  10 , may be stitched into fabric  10 , may be attached to the surface or edge of fabric  10 , or may be integrated with fabric  10  using any other suitable method. Mesh  18  may be formed in a single layer in or on fabric  10  or may be separated into multiple layers in or on fabric  10 . For example, conductive lines  20  and  22  of mesh  18  may both be formed in a single layer (e.g., a single layer embedded in, surface-mounted on, or integral with fabric  10 ), or conductive lines  20  of mesh  18  may be formed in a first layer and conductive lines  22  may be formed in a second layer (e.g., portions of fabric  10  may be interposed between lines  20  and lines  22 ). 
     Item  10  may include intertwined strands  32 . The strands may be intertwined using strand intertwining equipment such as weaving equipment, knitting equipment, braiding equipment, or equipment that intertwines strands by entangling the strands with each other in other ways (e.g., to form felt). Intertwined strands  32  may, for example, form woven or knitted fabric or other fabric (i.e., item  10  may be a fabric-based item), a braided cord, etc. 
     Strands  32  may be single-filament strands or may be threads, yarns, or other strands that have been formed by intertwining multiple filaments of material together. Strands  32  may be formed from polymer, metal, glass, graphite, ceramic, natural fibers such as cotton, bamboo, wool, or other organic and/or inorganic materials and combinations of these materials. Strands  32  may be entirely insulating, entirely conductive, or partially insulating and partially conductive. 
     Conductive coatings such as metal coatings may be formed on non-conductive strands (e.g., plastic cores) to make them conductive and strands such as these may be coated with insulation or left bare. Reflective coatings such as metal coatings may be applied to strands  32  to make them reflective. Strands  32  may also be formed from single-filament metal wire, multifilament wire, or combinations of different materials. 
     Strands  32  may be conductive along their entire length or may have conductive segments (e.g., metal portions that are exposed by locally removing insulation or that are formed by adding a conductive layer to a portion of a non-conductive strand). Threads and other multifilament yarns that have been formed from intertwined filaments may contain mixtures of conductive fibers and insulating fibers (e.g., metal strands or metal coated strands with or without exterior insulating layers may be used in combination with solid plastic strands or natural strands that are insulating). 
     Item  10  may include additional mechanical structures such as polymer binder to hold strands  32  together, support structures such as frame members, housing structures (e.g., an electronic device housing), and other mechanical structures. 
     If desired, fabric  10  may include multiple layers or pieces of mesh  18 . The layers of mesh  18  may be stacked (e.g., may overlap each other in or on fabric  10 ) or may be formed in different regions of fabric  10  (e.g., a first mesh in first portion of fabric  10  and a second mesh in a second portion of fabric  10 ). If desired, multiple layers of fabric  10  may be combined with one or more layers or pieces of mesh  18 . For example, layers of fabric  10  may be alternated with layers or pieces of mesh  18 . 
     The breathability of fabric  10  may be determined by the thread density and/or by the size of openings  62  in fabric  10 . Fabrics with a tighter weave have lower breathability than fabrics with a looser weave. Adjusting the breathability of fabric  10  be achieved using an actuator system that is based on shape memory material. For example, mesh  18  or other portions of fabric  10  may be formed with or may include portions formed with shape memory material. The shape memory material may be heated by passing a current through the shape memory material using a heating element. Using shape memory effects (e.g., the two-way shape memory effect), the state of fabric  10  may be controlled. For example, a loop-shaped structure may be expanded or contracted when it is desired to locally stretch or relax a portion of fabric  10 . Shape memory metal actuators or electromechanical actuators based on solenoids, motors, etc. may also be used in opening and closing air vents, turning on and off fans, or otherwise adjusting components and/or structures associated with fabric  10  that adjust how much heat is generated by fabric  10  and/or passes through fabric  10 . If desired, control circuitry  12  can control heating and/or cooling by controlling how much current flows through Peltier effect elements in fabric  10  (and therefore how much heating and/or cooling is produced). 
     When the shape memory material that forms mesh  18  or other portion of fabric  10  is maintained at room temperature, the shape memory material may have a first shape that places fabric  10  (or a portion of fabric  10 ) in a first state (e.g., in which openings  62  or larger air vents in fabric  10  have a first size). When the shape memory material that forms mesh  18  or other portion of fabric  10  is heated to an elevated temperature (e.g., a temperature above room temperature), the shape memory material may have a second shape that places fabric  10  or a portion of fabric  10  in a second state (e.g., in which openings  62  or larger air vents in fabric  10  have a second size). In one illustrative example, shape memory material may be embedded in threads  32  and may be used to adjust the diameter of threads  32  or other property of threads  32  to adjust the size of openings  62  or other openings in fabric  10 . In another illustrative example, shape memory material may be separate from threads  32  and may be used to tighten or loosen the weave of threads  32  to adjust the size of openings  62 . 
     The breathability of the entire fabric  10  may be adjusted simultaneously or the breathability of fabric  10  or the size of one or more openings in fabric  10  may be adjusted in discrete, localized areas of fabric  10  without affecting the breathability of the remainder of the fabric  10 . 
     The example of  FIG. 4  in which fabric-based item  10  is formed with woven fabric is merely illustrative. If desired, fabric-based item  10  may be a warp knit fabric, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In the example of  FIG. 5 , fabric  10  is a warp knit fabric having columns of warp strands  32  that zigzag along the length L of fabric  10 . Each warp strands  32  has a number of loops, with each loop securing a loop of an adjacent strand  32  from a previous row. For example, the loops of row  92  in fabric  10  secure the loops of row  90  in fabric  10 . 
     If desired, sensing components  14  and output components  16  may be incorporated into strands  32  of fabric  10 . For example, sensing components  14  and/or output components  16  may be formed using non-conductive strands  32 - 1  and conductive strands  32 - 2  in fabric  10 . 
     The fabrics of  FIGS. 4 and 5  are merely illustrative. In general, fabric  10  may have a plain weave, a satin weave, a twill weave, or variations of these weaves, may be a three-dimensional woven fabric, or may be other suitable woven fabric. If desired, the strands that make up item  10  may be intertwined using knitting equipment, braiding equipment, or other strand intertwining equipment. Item  10  may also incorporate more than one type of fabric or intertwined strand-based material (e.g., item  10  may include both woven and knitted portions). 
     Fabric  10  may be used to form an article of clothing, a wrist band, a backpack or other bag, or other items such as a seat cushion. For example, fabric  10  may be used to form a cushion that can be moved between one or more pieces of furniture, a cushion that is formed as part of a chair, sofa, or other seating, a cushion that is built into a seat in a car, airplane, train, or other vehicle, a cushion that is part of medical equipment, a cushion that is part of a wheel chair, or other seating. When fabric  10  is formed as part of a cushion, then sensors of fabric  10  or other input devices can provide control circuitry  12  with information that control circuitry  12  processes to determine how to adjust output devices  16 . For example, if control circuitry  12  detects pressure or temperature changes in a particular portion of a cushion, control circuitry  12  can direct output devices  16  to make corresponding temperature changes, vibrations, or other adjustments (e.g., to enhance user comfort, etc.). The corresponding output may be provided at the same location of fabric-based item  10  that the pressure or temperature change was detected or may be at a different location of fabric-based item  10 . 
     Fabric-based item  10  may include one or more layers of sensing elements  16  and one or more layers of environmental control elements  46 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , for example, fabric-based item  10  may include one or more environmental control layers  46  and sensing layers  14 . Environmental control layers  46  and sensing layers  14  may be stacked layers with each layer containing a different sensor or environmental control element, or any two or more of environmental control layers  46  and sensing layers  14  may be integrated into one layer. There may be some regions of fabric  10  that include less than all of the layers shown in  FIG. 6  or the entirety of fabric  10  may include all of the layers shown in  FIG. 6 . The example of  FIG. 6  in which each layer contains a different sensing or environmental control element is merely illustrative. The layers of  FIG. 6  may be embedded in layers of intertwined strands  32  that make up fabric  10 , may be sandwiched between layers intertwined strands  32  that make up fabric  10 , may be formed on or otherwise attached to layers of intertwined strands  32  that make up fabric  10 , or may be formed entirely or partially from intertwined strands  32  that make up fabric  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , environmental control elements may include a filter or screen layer  84 , heating elements  50 , cooling elements  52 , odor absorbing and/or odor emitting elements  76 , humidity control elements  78 , airflow control elements  80 , and/or other suitable structures or output devices for changing or maintaining the environment around fabric  10  for a user or for providing various sensations to the user. 
     Airflow control elements  80  may include fans or other structures that push air  88  out of fabric  10  and/or may include structures that pull air  86  into fabric  10 . Air  88  may be directed directly at a user or may provide indirect environmental control for the user. Humidity control elements  78  may be used to adjust humidity levels in the environment around the user (e.g., by adjusting the amount of moisture provided to the environment). Humidity control elements  78  may include desiccants or other moisture absorbing materials and/or may include humidifiers that release moisture into the environment around the user. If the humidity of the environment around a user is low, control circuitry  12  may use humidity control elements  78  to vaporize liquid water and thereby humidify the environment around fabric  10  and the user. Odor emitting and odor absorbing elements  76  may be used to provide a scent to the environment and/or to absorb odors from the environment around the user. Odor absorbing elements in layer  76  may include charcoal or other odor absorbing materials. Odor emitting elements in layer  76  may include naturally or artificially scented materials that release a pleasant scent into the environment around the user. 
     Filter layer  84  may include air passageways such as openings  82  through which air may pass through filter  84 . Openings  82  may allow air  88  to escape from fabric-based item  10  and air  86  to pass into fabric-based item  10 . Openings  82  may be openings in a layer of fabric (e.g., similar to openings  62  of  FIG. 4 ), may be openings in a metal mesh structure, or may be openings in a layer of plastic, metal, ceramic, glass, or other suitable material. Control circuitry  12  may be configured to control the size of openings  82  to control the amount of air that passes through filter  84 . For example, control circuitry  12  may switch openings  82  between opened and closed states and/or may adjust the size with which openings  82  are opened. 
     Filter  84  may be used to control when and how quickly external elements such as air, odors, and moisture are absorbed into fabric  10  and when and how quickly internal elements such as air from airflow control elements  80 , moisture from humidity control elements  78 , and odor from odor emitting elements  76  escape from fabric  10 . If desired, odor emitting and absorbing elements  76  may be used in conjunction with airflow control elements  80  to enhance the effect of odor emitting and absorbing elements  76 . For example, odor emitting elements  76  may include a scented substance and airflow control elements  80  may push air  88  through the scented substance in layer  76  so that scented air  88  escapes through holes  82 . 
     Adaptive fabrics that adapt to an individual&#39;s biometric state to create a desired environment for the individual may be incorporated into seat covers or furniture on which the individual sits. In one illustrative example, the bio-adaptive fabric may be incorporated into a cover or cushion for a car seat in a vehicle. A side view of an illustrative vehicle of the type that may be provided with fabrics having environmental control elements is shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , vehicle  40  (e.g., a system of the type shown and described in connection with  FIG. 1 ) may include a body such as body  66 . Body  66  may have body panels and other structures that are mounted on a chassis. Interior components in vehicle  40  such as seating for a driver and other vehicle occupants may be supported by the chassis (see, e.g., front vehicle seat  70 F for supporting a user such as vehicle occupant  74  and rear seat  70 R which may support additional passengers). External components such as wheels  64  may also be mounted to the chassis. The structures that make up body  66  may include metal structures, structures formed from fiber-composite materials such as carbon-fiber materials and fiberglass, plastic, and other materials. 
     Vehicle body  66  may include doors. Windows may be formed at the front and rear of vehicle  40  in openings in body  66  and may be formed within the doors or other portions of the body  66  of vehicle  40 . For example, vehicle  40  may have a front window that faces the front of vehicle  40  and rearward facing windows and side windows mounted within the doors of vehicle  40 . Windows in vehicle  40  may be formed from glass (e.g., glass laminated with polymer layers), plastics such as polycarbonate, or other clear materials. 
     The structures of vehicle  40  such a body  66  define an interior region such as vehicle interior  68 . The characteristics of interior  68  adjacent to passengers such as passenger  74  (e.g., temperature, air flow, scent, humidity, etc.) may be adjusted using bio-adaptive fabric-based seat portions such as fabric portion  10 A in head rest  72 , fabric portion  10 B in a back portion of seat  70 F, and fabric portion  10 C in a lower portion of seat  70 F. Fabric portion  10 A may be adjacent to the head of user  74 , fabric portion  10 B may be adjacent to the back and shoulders of user  74 , and fabric portion  10 C may be adjacent to the lower body of user  74 . Adaptive fabrics  10 A,  10 B, and  10 C may include sensors  14  and environmental control elements  46  (e.g., as described in connection with  FIGS. 1-6 ). 
     Control circuitry  12  ( FIG. 1 ) may operate fabric portions  10 A,  10 B, and  10 C in unison or may operate fabric portions  10 A,  10 B, and  10 C individually to provide different sensing schemes and output schemes around different areas of the body of user  74 . As an example, sensors  14  in fabric  10 B may be configured to measure body temperature around the underarms of user  74 . Control circuitry  12  may infer an emotional state of user  74  from the body temperature information and may activate environmental control elements  46  in fabric portion  10 A,  10 B, and/or  10 C to provide cooling, heating, humidity adjustment, airflow adjustment, odor adjustment, or other environmental adjustment to the environment around user  74  in those regions. Control circuitry  12  may initiate a thermal program or cycle in which various environmental adjustments are made by environmental control elements  46  in fabric portions  10 A,  10 B, and  10 C to create the desired environment around the user&#39;s body in response to the detected biometric state of user  74 . 
     If desired, other structures or electronic devices in vehicle  40  may supplement or use the information gathered by sensors  14  in fabric  10  to further enhance the environment around user  74 . For example, a camera, gaze detection device, or other sensor in vehicle  40  may provide user information (e.g., information about the user&#39;s gaze or eyelids, information about the user&#39;s facial expressions, or other information that may be used to infer the user&#39;s biometric state) to control circuitry  12  to supplement the information gathered by sensors  14  in fabric  10 . Control circuitry  12  may use the user information from other sensors in vehicle  40  in conjunction with the information from sensors  14  in fabric  10  to determine a biometric state of user  74 . Control circuitry  12  may activate environmental control elements  46  based on the biometric state of user  74 . 
     Just as control circuitry  12  may use other sensors in vehicle  40  to supplement or replace sensor data from sensors  14  in fabric  10 , other control circuitry  12  may, if desired, use other output devices in vehicle  40  to supplement or replace the output from environmental control elements  46  in fabric  10 . For example, the characteristics of interior  68  (e.g., sounds, air temperature, air flow, scent, humidity, etc.) may be adjusted by an environmental control system in vehicle  10  (e.g., in a dashboard region or elsewhere in vehicle  40 ) in response to sensor information gathered by sensors  14  in fabric  10  and/or gathered by other sensors in vehicle  40 . The output may be provided by an air conditioning and heating unit that produces heated and/or cooled air in response to biometric information from sensors  14 , a sound system that provides sound to user  74  in response to biometric information from sensors  14 , and/or other environmental control devices that can adjust or maintain the environment around user  74  based on biometric information from sensors  14  in fabric portions  10 A,  10 B, and  10 C. 
     The location of fabric portions  10 A,  10 B, and  10 C in vehicle  40  are merely illustrative. If desired, bio-adaptive fabric  10  may be located on one or more armrests, a seat belt, the interior surface of a door, a steering wheel, or other suitable location in vehicle  40 . 
     If desired, bio-adaptive fabric  10  may be incorporated into one or more articles of clothing. Illustrative articles of clothing  28  which may be formed using fabric  10  are shown in  FIG. 8 . Fabric  10  may be used to form shirts  28 A, pants  28 B, or socks  28 C. This is, however, merely illustrative. In general, fabric  10  may be used to for any suitable article of clothing and/or may be used in forming other structures that a user touches, uses, or interacts with. For example, fabric  10  may be used to form a seat cushion, a back cushion, a neck pillow, a blanket, an arm band, a watch band, a leg band, a head band, a hat, an article for securing a portable electronic device, etc. 
       FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, and 9E  show illustrative ways in which sensors and environmental control elements may be incorporated into articles of clothing. In these examples, sensors  14  and environmental control elements  46  are represented by conductive mesh  18 . However, it should be understood that not all of the sensors and output devices in fabric  10  may be formed using a conductive mesh. In the examples of  FIGS. 9A-9E , fabric  10  is used to form a t-shirt  28 . However, it should be understood that fabric  10  may be used in forming any other suitable garment or article. 
     In the example of  FIG. 9A , mesh  18  is embedded throughout fabric  10 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 9B , mesh  18  is embedded in select portions of fabric  10 . For example, upper mesh  18 U may be used to cool or heat a user&#39;s upper back area, while lower mesh  18 L may be used to cool or heat a user&#39;s lower back area (as an example). 
     In the example of  FIG. 9C , mesh  18  is embedded in select portions of fabric  10  such as portions that cover a user&#39;s under arms. Mesh  18  in these regions may, for example, detect perspiration using sensing nodes  26 A and provide cooling using output nodes  26 B. 
     In the example of  FIG. 9D , mesh  18  has been incorporated into a logo or emblem on shirt  28 . If desired, mesh  18  that is incorporated into a logo or emblem may be sewn or otherwise attached to a normal shirt (e.g., a shirt without any embedded mesh  18 ). 
     In the example of  FIG. 9E , mesh  18  is incorporated into regions of shirt  28  with thicker fabric. For example, mesh  18  may be incorporated into the seams at the edges of shirt  28  or the seams around pocket  34  of shirt  28 . Forming mesh  18  using thicker portions of fabric  10  may allow components such as sensors  14 , output devices  16 , and/or control circuitry  12  (e.g., a microprocessor, etc.) to be formed in fabric  10  without being visibly present to a user. For example, portions of the seams of fabric  10  that include sensing circuitry  14 , output circuitry  16 , or control circuitry  12  may have the same thickness as portions of the seams with fabric only (e.g., without any embedded circuitry). Hiding the circuitry in fabric  10  in this way may help to maintain the desired aesthetics of shirt  28  without sacrificing functionality. 
       FIG. 10  is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in operating a fabric-based system (e.g., system  40  of  FIG. 1 ) having a fabric with embedded sensors and environmental control elements. 
     At step  100 , control circuitry  12  may gather information to use when controlling fabric  10 . For example, control circuitry  12  can gather user input such as user commands. The user commands can be touch gestures, button presses, voice commands, or other input. Circuitry  12  may also gather sensor data from sensors  14  embedded in fabric  10  and/or other sensors. This may include, for example, gathering temperature information from one or more temperature sensors, moisture information from one or more moisture detectors or humidity sensors, pulse information from a pulse sensor, heart rate information from a heart rate sensor, etc. Control circuitry  12  may use information on the operating environment of fabric  10 , time and date information, location information, and/or other information in controlling fabric  10 . Control circuitry  12  may gather information from other sensors that are not integrated with fabric  10  (e.g., one or more cameras that track the gaze or facial expression of a user). The use of sensor input from sensors  14  is merely illustrative. 
     At step  102 , control circuitry  12  may process the gathered sensor data and/or other information to assess the condition of the user&#39;s experience or body. This may include, for example, comparing the gathered sensor data (e.g., gathered biometric information) with a threshold or a predetermined standard or biometric profile, recognizing commands, processing environmental data such as ambient temperature data, etc. Other processing may include averaging sensor data from a single sensor to obtain a final measurement value. For example, control circuitry  12  may average temperature readings from temperature sensors in two or more locations in fabric  10  to obtain an average skin or body temperature. Other processing may include combining sensor data from different types of sensors in fabric  10  or other sensors to determine certain information about a user&#39;s biometric state. For example, a first sensor in fabric  10  may detect high temperatures and a second sensor in fabric  10  may detect swelling, which may be indicative of an injury (as an example). If desired, control circuitry  12  may infer the user&#39;s emotional state based on the biometric data. For example, elevated temperatures in certain areas of the body may be indicative of stress. Gaze information from a camera may indicate sleepiness (as an example). 
     If desired, sensor data or other data may be gathered from different devices and/or fabric structures. For example, data may be gathered by a first fabric item (clothing, wrist band, head band, cushion, etc.) and may be gathered by a second fabric item (clothing, wrist band, head band, cushion, etc.). The gathered data from one or more items may be used locally (e.g., in the item that gathered the data) or may be used by another item. For example, data gathered by one item of clothing such as a shirt may be used in controlling output devices  16  in another item of clothing such as a pair of pants. Data may be processed using control circuitry in one or more of the items (e.g., electrical devices and/or fabric-based devices such as clothing, cushions or other seating structures, etc.). 
     At step  104 , system  40  may take appropriate action based on the information gathered at step  102 . For example, control circuitry  12  may issue control signals to output devices  16  to activate or deactivate one or more of heating elements  50 , cooling elements  52 , vibrators or other mechanical actuators such as haptic elements  54 , or other environmental control elements  46 . The output devices may be used to heat fabric  10 , cool fabric  10 , shrink or stretch fabric  10 , vibrate fabric  10 , adjust the breathability of fabric  10 , or perform other suitable functions to adjust the user&#39;s sensation or experience (e.g., to adjust skin or body temperature, to adjust blood circulation, to alert a user, to adjust pleasurability, etc.). As examples, if overheating is detected, fabric  10  may be cooled using cooling elements  50 . If an injury is detected, a physical therapy program may be initiated (e.g., the affected area may be heated, cooled, compressed, etc.). 
     The example described above in which control circuitry  12  operates output devices  16  in response to information from sensors  14  is merely illustrative. If desired, the operations of step  104  may be performed automatically or may be pre-programmed to occur. For example, output devices  16  may provide output independently of the data gathered by sensors  14 , or fabric  10  may not include any sensors  14  and fabric  10  may be used as a programmable fabric with programmable temperature control features. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20150812
Publication Date: 20190528
Grant Date: 20190528
Priority Date: 20140812
Inventors: SHAFFER, BENJAMIN A.
FOSTER, JAMES H.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H05B3/345", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/026", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/024", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B2562/0247", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B3/347", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/6891", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/6893", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A41D13/0051", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/6804", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/7455", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B2203/016", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/681", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B2562/029", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/6804", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A41D13/0051", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/021", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A41D13/0053", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A41D13/002", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/6893", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A41D13/0053", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/02055", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/02055", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A41D1/005", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A41D13/0053", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A41D13/0051", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B3/347", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05B2203/016", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/6893", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/02055", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/6804", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A41D13/002", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B2562/029", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/7455", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/6891", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/681", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/11", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A41D1/005", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/021", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/024", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B5/026", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "A61B2562/0247", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 66636092