Claims
- 1. A textile comprising:
a. a plurality of spaced-apart contacts for receiving electrical power; b. at least one resistive fiber connected to each of the contacts and running along a first direction; and c. a thermoresponsive colorant along at least a portion of the at least one resistive fiber, the colorant changing color in response to heat, a voltage across the contacts causing the at least one resistive fiber to produce the heat and thereby change the color of the colorant.
- 2. The textile of claim 1, wherein the thermoresponsive colorant is responsive within a temperature range of about 31° C. to about 45° C.
- 3. The textile of claim 1, wherein the thermoresponsive colorant is responsive within a temperature range of about 31° C. to about 34° C.
- 4. The textile of claim 1, wherein the thermoresponsive colorant is in the form of an ink applied to the textile in the region of the at least one resistive fiber.
- 5. The textile of claim 1, wherein the thermoresponsive colorant is in the form of a dye applied to the textile in the region of the at least one resistive fiber.
- 6. The textile of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the thermoresponsive colorant is within the at least one resistive fiber.
- 7. The textile of claim 1, wherein the textile is embroidered with the at least one resistive fiber in a shape of interest.
- 8. The textile of claim 1, wherein the at least one resistive fiber has a resistance between about 15 to about 100 Ω.
- 9. The textile of claim 1, wherein each contact comprises a series of conductive fibers running along a second direction distinct from the first direction.
- 10. The textile of claim 9, wherein the series of conductive fibers runs along a weft direction and the at least one resistive fiber runs along a warp direction.
- 11. The textile of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the thermoresponsive colorant is within at least one of the series of conductive fibers.
- 12. The textile of claim 1, wherein the at least one resistive fiber is woven into the textile.
- 13. The textile of claim 1, wherein the at least one resistive fiber is sewn or embroidered into the textile.
- 14. The textile of claim 1, wherein the at least one resistive fiber is adhered to the textile.
- 15. The textile of claim 1, wherein each contact comprises a discrete electrical connector.
- 16. The textile of claim 6, wherein the thermoresponsive colorant comprises a first composition of a first color applied to the textile in the region of the resistive fiber, the thermoresponsive colorant within the resistive fiber is a second color, and the first and second colors mix to form a third color when electrical power is supplied.
- 17. A method for manufacturing a textile, the method comprising:
a. providing a plurality of spaced-apart contacts for receiving electrical power; b. electrically coupling the contacts to at least one resistive fiber running along a second direction; and c. providing a thermoresponsive colorant along at least a portion of the at least one resistive fiber, the colorant changing color in response to heat, a voltage across the contacts causing the at least one resistive fiber to produce the heat and thereby change the color of the colorant.
- 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the thermoresponsive colorant-is responsive within a temperature range of about 31° C. to about 45° C.
- 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the thermoresponsive colorant is responsive within a temperature of about 31° C. to about 34° C.
- 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the thermoresponsive colorant is in the form of an ink applied to the textile in the region of the at least one resistive fiber.
- 21. The method of claim 17, wherein the thermoresponsive colorant is in the form of a dye applied to the textile in the region of the at least one resistive fiber.
- 22. The method of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the thermoresponsive colorant is within the at least one resistive fiber.
- 23. The method of claim 17, wherein the textile is embroidered with the at least one resistive fiber in a shape of interest.
- 24. The method of claim 17, wherein the contacts and the at least one resistive fiber are coupled so as to minimize the resistance therebetween.
- 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the resistance is less than about 10 Ω.
- 26. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one resistive fiber has a resistance between about 15 to about 100 Ω.
- 27. The method of claim 17, wherein each contact comprises a series of conductive fibers running along a second direction distinct from the first.
- 28. The method of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the thermoresponsive colorant is within at least one of the series of conductive fibers.
- 29. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one resistive fiber is woven into the textile.
- 30. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one resistive fiber is sewn or embroidered into the textile.
- 31. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one resistive fiber is adhered to the textile.
- 32. The method of claim 17, wherein each contact comprises a discrete electrical connector.
- 33. The method of claim 27, wherein the series of conductive fibers runs along a weft direction and the at least one resistive fiber runs along a warp direction.
- 34. The method of claim 22, wherein the thermoresponsive colorant comprises a first composition of a first color applied to the textile in the region of the at least one resistive fiber, the thermoresponsive colorant within the at least one resistive fiber is a second color, and the first and second colors mix to form a third color when electrical power is supplied.
- 35. The method of claim 23, further comprising separating at least two of the plurality of spaced-apart contacts by cutting the series of conductive fibers.
- 36. The method of claim 17, further comprising insulating at least two of the plurality of spaced-apart contacts by weaving a non-conductive fabric therebetween.
- 37. The method of claim 27, further comprising attaching at least one lead comprising at least one conductive fiber to at least one of the series of conductive fibers.
- 38. A system including a textile with addressable color characteristics, the system comprising:
a. a first set of spaced-apart resistive fibers extending along a first direction; b. interwoven therewith, a second set of spaced-apart resistive fibers extending along a second direction; c. a thermoresponsive colorant at least at points of intersection between fibers of the first set and fibers of the second set; and d. a power source connectable to selected ones of the first set of fibers and the second set of fibers, application of a voltage across intersecting fibers causing the thermoresponsive colorant to change color only in a region where the intersecting fibers cross.
- 39. The system of claim 38 wherein the thermoresponsive colorant undergoes color change as a function of time and of a voltage through a resistive fiber in contact with the colorant, the color change exhibiting hysteresis, the system further comprising a controller for operating the power source to vary, over time, the fibers to which power is applied in order to activate only selected points of intersection without interference by neighboring points of intersection.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefits of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/385,203 filed on Jun. 3, 2002, commonly owned herewith, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60385203 |
Jun 2002 |
US |