Patent Application
20220225696
Human Systems Integration, Inc.
Brian Farrell
Richard Streeter
Allan Neville
David McDonald
Sean Farrell
John Phillips
This patent application relates generally to warming, and more particularly to a novel heated apparel system comprising at least one article of heated apparel with a heater, a heater controller and an electrical power supply.
People around the world live, work and play in a wide range of environments. The environments can range from the hot, arid conditions of a desert, to the hot, humid conditions of a jungle, to the frosty, low-humidity conditions of high mountains or polar regions. Whatever the environment, proper clothing is typically required for comfort, safety or even survival. The clothing that people choose to wear in their environments is often dictated by culture, local requirements, or fashion. Some cultures dictate rules for what is considered proper attire for women and men, while other cultures maintain a laissez faire attitude. Similarly, light-weight, loose-fitting clothing is most comfortable in the tropics, in contrast to the heavy wool or fleece sweaters and jackets worn in cold climes. And in terms of fashion, while wearing a couture gown and extravagant jewelry, or wearing a black tie and a diamond-accented dress watch, may be highly appropriate for a red carpet or gala affair, such attire would be ludicrous or even dangerous in the Antarctic. People thus choose their clothing to meet these various requirements. In many cases, the clothing choices come down to personal preference, clothing price point, or even individual sense of fun. An otherwise drab or muted outfit can be enlivened by a colorful scarf, a brightly patterned shirt, or a particularly loud tie.
The present invention comprises the provision and use of a novel heated apparel system for warming one or more portions of a human body. The novel heated apparel system generally comprises at least one article of heated apparel with a heater, a heater controller and an electrical power supply.
The heated apparel may comprise garments such as shirts, sweaters and coats, pants, underwear and socks, and other wearable items such as hats, balaclavas, scarves and neck warmers, gloves and mittens, and shoes and boots. For the purposes of the present invention, all of the foregoing, and the like, are intended to be encompassed by the term “apparel”. The heated apparel carries a heater which provides heat when electrical power is supplied to the heater. The heater can include electrically-resistive material (e.g., electrically resistive wire) which generates heat when an electrical current is passed through it. The electrically-resistive material (e.g., electrically resistive wire) can be attached to, or woven or knit into, the heated apparel (e.g., a glove).
The heater controller is interposed between the electrical power supply and the heated apparel. The heater controller comprises control electronics for regulating the electrical power delivered to the heated apparel from the electrical power supply. The heater controller may be carried by a wearable item such as a belt, harness, vest, backpack, waist pack, field bag or pouch or satchel, etc.
The electrical power supply may be in the form of a battery or another source of electrical power, e.g., a power generation system. The electrical power supply may be carried by a wearable item such as a belt, harness, vest, backpack, waist pack, field bag or pouch or satchel, etc. Or the electrical power supply may be provided by a vehicle or aircraft, with the electrical power supply being connected to the heater controller via external cabling.
Thus it will be seen that, with the novel heated apparel system of the present invention, warming of the one or more portions of the human body is enabled by using electrical power provided by the electrical power supply to energize a heater carried by the heated apparel, with the heater controller controlling operation of the heater so that the amount of heating provided by the heater can maintain a desired temperature at the heater. The ability to warm a given body part, such as a hand, while enabling that body part to remain agile, depends on the capabilities of the heater and the availability of the electrical power to energize the heater. The warming of the body part has many applications. The warming can be used to maintain a level of comfort, and/or to protect the body part from a hostile environment, among many other applications.
Significantly, multiple articles of heated apparel may be coupled to a heater controller, e.g., via a “hub and spoke” scheme.
And significantly, multiple articles of heated apparel may be “daisy-chained” to one another so that the power for enabling a remote article of heated apparel is supplied through an intervening article of apparel, which may or may not itself constitute an article of heated apparel. By way of example but not limitation, it may be desired to provide only heated gloves, but a shirt could be used as an intervening article of apparel to deliver power to the gloves, with the power being connected at the neck of the shirt and run down the sleeves of the shirt to the gloves via embedded shirt wiring. So the intervening article of apparel can be for power distribution only, or it can be for a combination of power distribution while itself being heated.
In one preferred form of the invention, there is provided a heated apparel system comprising:
In another preferred form of the invention, there is provided a method for warming a portion of the body of a user, the method comprising:
In another preferred form of the invention, there is provided a heated apparel system comprising:
In another preferred form of the invention, there is provided a heated apparel system comprising:
In another preferred form of the invention, there is provided an article of heated apparel, the article of heated apparel comprising:
In another preferred form of the invention, there is provided an article of apparel, the article of apparel comprising:
In another preferred form of the invention, there is provided a heated apparel system comprising:
In another preferred form of the invention, there is provided a heated apparel system comprising:
Various features, aspects, and advantages of various embodiments will become more apparent from the following further description.
The following detailed description of certain embodiments may be understood by reference to the following figures wherein like numbers refer to like parts, and further wherein:
Whether working, recreating or on maneuvers in a cold environment, proper clothing is required to provide warmth and comfort. In fact, proper clothing is so critical to such endeavors that the clothing can easily mean the difference between life and death. The deleterious effects of cold on a human body are well known. Principal among these effects are frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite can cause damage to exposed tissue, and can easily occur in digits, ears, nose, or any exposed skin. The damaged tissue at a digit can cause difficulty in moving a digit, and in extreme cases, frostbite can lead to the loss of the digit or appendage. Hypothermia can result from the body temperature of a person dropping below 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius). Hypothermia can present as uncontrollable shivering, tiredness, clumsiness, slurred speech, etc. Serious injury or death can result. A further risk of cold includes problems with the heart. More particularly, the cold can cause the heart to pump harder as the body attempts to increase warming bloodflow to the torso and appendages. The resulting increases in heart rate and blood pressure can cause a heart attack. Clearly, clothing and gear that protects the body is critical in an environment that can kill.
Being cold is a miserable experience. To protect against the cold, people have developed warm garments such as shirts, sweaters and coats, pants, underwear and socks, and other wearable items such as hats, balaclavas, scarves and neck warmers, gloves and mittens, and shoes and boots. For the purposes of the present invention, all of the foregoing, and the like, are intended to be encompassed by the term “apparel”. In the past, the basic approach to making apparel warmer was simply to make the apparel heavier and/or to make the apparel out of a more thermally-insulating material. While increased warmth can result, the weight and thickness of the heavier and/or more thermally-insulating material often restricts motion of the arms and legs, and heavy mittens prevent use of the hands beyond simple grasping. In addition, apparel designed to keep one warm while stationary can easily cause profuse sweating when the person is exerting strenuously. Dampness adjacent to skin is particularly dangerous in cold climates because such moisture draws heat away from the very body that the apparel is attempting to keep warm.
In order to address the deficiencies associated with prior art apparel, and looking now at
The heated apparel 10 may comprise garments such as shirts, sweaters and coats, pants, underwear and socks, and other wearable items such as hats, balaclavas, scarves and neck warmers, gloves and mittens, and shoes and boots. For the purposes of the present invention, all of the foregoing, and the like, are intended to be encompassed by the term “apparel”. The heated apparel 10 carries a heater 13 which provides heat when electrical power is supplied to the heater 13. The heater 13 can include electrically-resistive material (e.g., electrically resistive wire 25) which generates heat when an electrical current is passed through the electrically-resistive material. The electrically-resistive material (e.g., electrically resistive wire 25) can be attached to, or knit, woven or embroidered into, or printed or laminated onto, the heated apparel 10 (e.g., a glove). In the case of a printed ink heater, one heater manifestation could be a Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heater which is a self-regulating heater that runs open-loop, without any external controls (i.e., without the need for a heater controller 15).
The heater controller 15 is interposed between the electrical power supply 30 and the heated apparel 10. The heater controller 15 comprises control electronics 32 for regulating the electrical power delivered to the heated apparel 10 from the electrical power supply 30. The heater controller 15 may be carried by a wearable item 35 such as a belt, harness, vest, backpack, waist pack, field bag or pouch or satchel, etc.
The electrical power supply 30 may be in the form of a battery or another source of electrical power, e.g., a power generation system. The electrical power supply 30 may be carried by a wearable item such as a belt, harness, vest, backpack, waist pack, a field bag or pouch or satchel, etc. The electrical power supply 30 may be carried by the same wearable item 35 which carries the heater controller 15, or the electrical power supply 30 may be carried by a different wearable item 35A. Alternatively, if desired, electrical power supply 30 may be provided by a vehicle (e.g. car, truck, aircraft, etc.), with the electrical power supply 30 being connected to the heater controller 15 via external cabling.
Thus it will be seen that, with the novel heated apparel system 5 of the present invention, warming of one or more portions of a human body is enabled by using electrical power provided by the electrical power supply 30 to energize a heater 13 carried by the heated apparel 10, with the heater controller 15 controlling operation of the heater 13 so that the amount of heating provided by the heater 13 can maintain a desired temperature or level of power at the heater 13. The ability to warm a given body part, such as a hand, while enabling that body part to remain agile, depends on the capabilities of the heater 13 and the availability of the electrical power to energize the heater 13. The warming of the body part has many applications. The warming can be used to maintain a level of comfort, and/or to protect the body part from a hostile environment, among many other applications.
If desired, heated apparel 10 can comprise one or more sensors 45 for providing information regarding the heating being provided by heated apparel 10. In this form of the invention, sensors 45 are connected to heater controller 15 so that heater controller 15 can take into account the information provided by sensors 45 while controlling the operation of heater 13.
Significantly, multiple articles of heated apparel 10 may be coupled to a heater controller 15, e.g., via a “hub and spoke” scheme.
And significantly, multiple articles of heated apparel 10 may be “daisy-chained” to one another so that the power for enabling a remote article of heated apparel 10 is supplied through an intervening article of apparel, which may or may not itself constitute an article of heated apparel 10. By way of example but not limitation, it may be desired to provide only heated gloves, but a shirt could be used as an intervening article of apparel to deliver power to the gloves, with the power being connected at the neck of the shirt and run down the sleeves of the shirt to the gloves via embedded shirt wiring. So the intervening article of apparel can be for power distribution only, or it can be for a combination of power distribution while itself being heated.
Further details regarding the heated apparel system 5, its constituent components heated apparel 10, heater controller 15 and electrical power supply 30, and their operation, will hereinafter be disclosed.
As noted above, people wear a variety of types, sizes, shapes, and colors of apparel such as shirts, sweaters and coats, pants, underwear and socks, and other wearable items such as hats, balaclavas, scarves and neck warmers, gloves and mittens, and shoes and boots. The particular apparel that a person wears may be dictated by local custom, may be chosen to communicate or convey messages to other people, or may be required based on climate, profession, and so on. In cold or dangerous climates, for example, the apparel that a person wears can be chosen to provide protection against hostile environmental elements. The apparel is donned to keep wind and precipitation away from the body, while at the same time maintaining body heat and dry comfort. Anyone familiar with outdoor activities is aware that a person who becomes overheated and damp from exercising runs a significant risk of hypothermia or frostbite when the activity abates. To allay this problem, fabrics have been developed that purport to keep exterior moisture out while wicking internal moisture away from the body.
There is a significant challenge in choosing the “right” apparel. Putting on more and more layers of clothing can indeed assist in retaining body heat, but as additional layers are added, the person wearing the apparel can lose flexibility of limbs, dexterity of fingers, and so on. This loss of flexibility and dexterity can range from a mere inconvenience to an inability to perform critical tasks. The critical tasks can include operating oil rigs in the North Sea or in the Arctic, missions of military personnel in cold or wet environments, etc.
To enable the apparel to remain light-weight and warm, novel approaches are disclosed herein for warming one or more portions of a human body. These novel approaches comprise the provision and use of the novel heated apparel system 5. The novel heated apparel system 5 generally comprises at least one article of heated apparel 10 with a heater 13, a heater controller 15 and an electrical power supply 30. The heated apparel 10 may comprise garments such as shirts, sweaters and coats, pants, underwear and socks, and other wearable items such as hats, balaclavas, scarves and neck warmers, gloves and mittens, and shoes and boots. For the purposes of the present invention, all of the foregoing, and the like, are intended to be encompassed by the term “apparel”. The heated apparel 10 carries a heater 13 which provides heat when electrical power is supplied to the heater 13. The heater 13 can include electrically-resistive material (e.g., electrically-resistive wire 25) which generates heat when an electrical current is passed through the electrically-resistive material. The electrically-resistive material (e.g., electrically-resistive wire 25) can be attached to, or embroidered, knit or woven into, or printed or laminated onto, the heated apparel 10 (e.g., a glove). The heater controller 15 is interposed between the electrical power supply 30 and the heated apparel 10. The heater controller 15 comprises control electronics 32 for regulating the electrical power delivered to the heated apparel 10 from the electrical power supply 30. The heater controller 15 may be carried by a wearable item 35 such as a belt, harness, vest, backpack, waist pack, field bag or pouch or satchel, etc. The electrical power supply 30 may be in the form of a battery or another source of electrical power, e.g., a power generation system. The electrical power supply 30 may be carried by a wearable item such as a belt, harness, vest, backpack, waist pack, field bag or pouch or satchel, etc. The electrical power supply 30 may be carried by the same wearable item 35 which carries the heater controller 15, or the electrical power supply 30 may be carried by a different wearable item 35A. Alternatively, if desired, electrical power supply 30 may be provided by a vehicle (e.g., car, truck, aircraft, etc.), with the electrical power supply 30 being connected to the heater controller 15 via external cabling. Or vehicle or aircraft power may be used to charge the electrical power supply 30, e.g., where it constitutes a battery.
Heating by the heater 13 is accomplished using electrical power 112 provided by electrical power supply 30. The electrical power supplied by electrical power supply 30 can include DC power, AC power, pulsed power, and the like. The power can be based on constant voltage, constant current, etc. The electrical power supply 30 can include a power pack, a battery pack (comprising one or more batteries), etc. The electrical power supply 30 can include a power generation system, where the power generation system can be based on movement of the body, solar energy, a fuel cell, etc.
The flow 100 includes the step 120 of coupling the heater 13 to a heater controller 15 worn on the human body. The heater controller 15 can be carried by, or included in, a wearable item 35, e.g., a belt, harness, garment, item of equipment, etc. In embodiments, the heater controller 15 can be carried by or included in a vest. The vest can include a general purpose vest such as an ordinary clothing vest, or a specialty item such as a military vest or flak jacket. In other embodiments, the heater controller 15 can be carried by or included in a backpack. The backpack can include a general purpose backpack such as a backpack for hiking, camping, or climbing, a specialty backpack such as a military equipment pack, etc. In other embodiments, the heater controller 15 can be carried by or included in a field bag or pouch or satchel.
The flow 100 further includes the step 130 of controlling power expended by the heater 13. The step 130 of controlling power expended by the heater 13 can include limiting the voltage or current supplied to the heater 13 so as to protect the heater 13, optimizing the power expended by the heater 13 so as to maximize battery life, and so on. In embodiments, the step 130 of controlling power expended by the heater 13 can be based on the “health” of the electrical power supply 30. The “health” of the electrical power supply 30 can include a measurement or estimate of energy remaining within the electrical power supply 30, the operating temperature of the electrical power supply 30, etc.
The flow 100 further includes the step 132 of monitoring the electrical power supply 30. As described herein, the step 132 of monitoring the electrical power supply 30 can include measuring voltage, current, or temperature; keeping track of the numbers of hours of usage of the electrical power supply 30, etc. In a usage example, certain types of batteries can be safely discharged in a particular manner in order to avoid damage to the exhausted or nearly-exhausted battery cells. The electrical power supply 30 can include a conformable/wearable battery.
In embodiments, the flow 100 includes the step 134 of controlling the power expended by the heater 13 based upon the monitoring of the electrical power supply 30 (which occurs in the aforementioned step 132). Controlling the power expended by the heater 13 can include protecting the heater 13 from over-voltage or under-voltage events, over-current events, and the like. Other embodiments of controlling the power expended by the heater 13 can include controlling the power expended on the heaters 13 of additional articles of heated apparel 10, various electronic devices, etc. In a usage example, military personnel can carry and use a range of electronic devices, where each device consumes power. The electronic devices can include lighting such as one or more colors of LED lighting, a GPS unit, one or more radios such as land, mobile or team radios, a personnel beacon, night vision equipment, etc. Overall power consumption can be balanced, prioritized, minimized, etc. Power consumption can be reduced by dimming or extinguishing lighting, reducing the transmit power of radios or using a different communication mode, reducing the heating temperature or the timing of the one or more heaters, and so on. Priority can be given to devices such as night vision equipment at night, or to a personnel beacon during a rescue.
The flow 100 further includes the step 140 of controlling heating by the heater 13. Various parameters of the heater 13 can be controlled. The step 140 of controlling heating by the heater 13 can include controlling an operating temperature of the heater 13, a quantity of joules of heat delivered by the heater 13, etc. In embodiments, the heating can be based on a temperature measurement on the body (e.g., a hand in the case where the heated apparel 10 comprises a glove). The temperature measurement on the body (e.g., a hand) can be accomplished using a thermistor, an infrared (IR) sensor, etc. (which may be the aforementioned sensor 45). The temperature measurement on the body (e.g., a hand) can be used to increase an amount of heat delivered by the heater 13, to reduce an amount of heat delivered by the heater 13, to maintain a given amount of heat delivered by the heater 13, etc. In other embodiments, the step 140 of controlling heating can be based on a temperature measurement on an outside surface of the heated apparel 10 (e.g., a glove). The temperature measurement on the outside of the heated apparel 10 (e.g., a glove) can be measured using a temperature-sensing component, where the temperature that is measured can be used to calculate or estimate a temperature on the body (e.g., a hand), to calculate a delta or differential temperature between the body (e.g., a hand) and the outside surface of the heated apparel 10 (e.g., a glove), etc. The step 140 of controlling heating by the heater 13 can also be based on an amount of time. In embodiments, the heating can be based on required heating duration. The required heating duration can include a day, overnight, the duration of a task or of a mission, etc. In other embodiments, the heating can be further based on the power available from the electrical power supply 30. The amount of heating can be reduced, the duration of the heating can be scheduled for a period of time, etc. In certain usage situations or requirements, the electrical power supply 30 can be used by one or more devices in addition to the heater 13 carried by the heated apparel 10. These other devices can include lighting, communications equipment, GPSs, etc. A priority can be determined and assigned to the usage of the devices and the heater 13. A priority can include favoring communications over light, heat over GPS, or other combinations of devices and usage needs or preferences.
Various steps in the flow 100 shown in
Glove 210 can include a dress glove, a work glove, a protective glove, a military glove, etc. In embodiments, the glove can include a mitten, mitt, or other wearable item that can be applied to the hand. Heater 13 can be based on an electrically-resistive material, where the electrically-resistive material can include a resistive wire, a resistive thread, resistive film, etc. By way of example but not limitation, electrically-resistive wire 25 can be applied to the glove 210. The electrically-resistive wire 25 can be coupled to the inside of the glove 210, to the outside of the glove 210, or to both the inside and the outside of the glove 210. The electrically-resistive wire 25 can be coupled to the glove 210 so that the digits of the hand can receive heat from the heater 13. The heater 13 can be laid out in a variety of patterns, designs, etc., where the patterns or designs can be chosen to maximize heat transfer, minimize reduction in dexterity, etc. In embodiments, the electrically-resistive wire 25 can be laid out in an origami pattern. The glove 210 can comprise insulation layers to distribute the heat created by the heater 13. The glove 210 can also comprise a protective layer for durability, especially when the glove is used in hazardous or abrasive work environments.
In embodiments, a glove 210 uses a narrow knit “electronic textile” for the heater 13. The narrow knit “electronic textile” is incorporated into a cut-and-sew manufacturing process. The narrow knit electronic textile can comprise a stainless steel heating fiber (i.e., the electrically-resistive material) coupled to a stretchable fabric. Other electrically-resistive materials can be used such as silver-coated nylon, nitinol, nichrome, etc. In some embodiments, 2D glove pattern pieces are generated individually and then assembled together so as to together form the complete glove. In embodiments, a printed heater (e.g., resistive ink) is applied to the 2D glove pattern pieces. In other embodiments, a 3D knitting process is performed where the glove, with integral heating wires or threads, is knit as a unit.
In embodiments, the heater controller 15 for powering glove 210 using electrical power supply 30 comprises control electronics 32 which are electrically connected to glove 210, e.g., with a power conduit. In embodiments, a peripheral device that is integrated into a larger system leverages some core functions (central power, central electronics) in that system. In embodiments, a base layer garment, with an integral electronic textile power bus, can be used to provide power from a remote location (e.g., a hip, the base of the neck, the back, etc.) to the gloves. The remote location usage can help remove battery bulk from the hands or arms. In other words, the electrical power supply 30, which is located remote from glove 210, is connected to the heater controller 15, and the heater controller 15 is in turn connected to the glove 210 by a power conduit. In some embodiments, the power conduit may be “free-standing” (e.g., a free-standing power cable). In other embodiments, the power conduit extending from heater controller 15 to glove 210 may be integrated into a garment which is worn on the body, with the heater controller 15 being connected to glove 210 via the power conduit which is integrated into the intervening garment. Note that the intervening garment may or may not comprise heated apparel.
The heating provided by glove 210 aids in control of local tissue blood flow (i.e., blood perfusion) within the body.
It should be appreciated that the foregoing discussion regarding gloves 210 can also apply to other heated apparel.
It should also be appreciated that the foregoing discussion regarding gloves 210 can also apply to other heated apparel.
With heated apparel and power usage scheme 500, a heater controller 15 is used to provide power to a heater 13 coupled to heated apparel 10 (e.g., a glove 210), and to power control and management components. Power management can include regulating power settings to heated apparel 10 (e.g., gloves 210) and, in some embodiments, can comprise a DC to DC converter. In some embodiments, an analog control (e.g., a potentiometer) is used to control output voltage going to the heated apparel 10 (e.g., gloves 210) and thereby control heating power. A feedback loop can be employed with a control unit that is automatically adjusted. The heater controller 15 can include the charge and protection component 322. The charge and protection component 322 can be used to charge electrical power supply 30 (e.g., which may comprise one or more batteries 324), where charging the one or more batteries 324 can include controlling the voltage, current, or both voltage and current, supplied to the batteries 324.
A control component 520 can be included in the heater controller 15. The control component 520 can be used to control or charge the electrical power supply 30, to power and manage one or more heaters 13 of heated apparel 10, or to power and manage one or more devices (e.g., lighting, communications equipment, GPS, electronic devices such as smartphones or tablets, etc.), etc. The control component 520 can include a step-up power supply 522. The step-up power supply 522 can be used to convert the voltage obtained from the electrical power supply 30 to a higher voltage where the higher voltage can be used to power one or more heaters 13 of heated apparel 10. In embodiments, the step-up power supply 522 can be used to step up the voltage from the electrical power supply 30, e.g., up to 22-24 VDC. The control component 520 can include a step-down power supply 524. The step-down power supply 524 can be used to convert the voltage obtained from the electrical power supply 30 to a lower voltage. The lower voltage can be used to power one or more digital or other electronic components. In embodiments, the step-down power supply 524 can be used to step down the voltage from the electrical power supply 30, e.g., down to 3.3 VDC.
The control component 520 can include a controller 526. The controller 526 can include a microcontroller, where the microcontroller can execute software code. The software code can be executed to control the heater controller 15, e.g., to charge the electrical power supply 30, control one or more heaters 13 (on heated apparel 10), or control a device (e.g., lighting, communications equipment, GPS, electronic devices such as smartphones or tablets, etc.), etc.
The control component 520 can include a temperature select component 528. The temperature select component 528 can be user-operated and can be used by the user to select a temperature comfort zone, a specific temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit, a temperature range such as “high”, “medium”, or “low”, and so on. The temperature select component 528 can provide data to the controller 526. The control component 520 can include a heater driver 530. The heater driver 530 can provide a voltage, a current, a frequency, etc., that can be used to energize/control one or more heaters 13 carried by heated apparel 10. A garment 540 (such as long underwear, a shirt or jacket) can be coupled to the control component 520. Garment 540 (which may or may not include a heater 13 for heating the body) receives power from heater driver 530. Garment 540 can include electrical connections and conductors which can be used to provide power from the control component 520 to a downstream heated apparel, e.g., a left glove 210 or a right glove 210, a left sock or a right sock (not shown), etc. Thus it will be seen that control component 520 can be used to supply power to a “first stage” article of apparel (e.g., garment 540), and/or to a “second stage” article of heated apparel 10 (e.g., a left glove 210, a right glove 210, etc.) by means of the intervening “first stage” article of apparel (e.g., garment 540). Note that the “first stage” article of apparel may or may not be an article of heated apparel.
Heated apparel control 600 may be used to regulate the heat provided by heated apparel 10. Heated apparel control 600 includes temperature or power level selection 610. Selecting a temperature or power level can include selecting a specific temperature or power level, selecting a range of temperatures or power levels, selecting a high or low temperature or power level cutoff, selecting a range of temperatures or power levels such as high, medium, or low, etc. Temperature or power level selection 610 can be accomplished using buttons, a knob, a slider, a touch screen, etc. Heated apparel control 600 can include a comparator 620. The comparator 620 can be used to compare the temperature that was selected to an actual temperature as measured by a sensor (e.g., sensor 45 on heated apparel 10). The actual temperature can include a heater temperature, a temperature on the human hand, etc. Heated apparel control 600 can include a controlling component 630. The controlling component 630 can include a microcontroller, where the microcontroller can be coded or programmed to operate the heater 13 coupled to the heated apparel 10 (e.g., a glove 210). Heated apparel control 600 can include an output driver 640. The output driver 640 can be used to provide a voltage, a current, a frequency, etc. to the heater 13. The heater 13 can be coupled to the heated apparel 10 (e.g., a shirt, a sweater or a coat, pants, underwear and socks, or other wearable items such as a hat, a balaclava, a scarf or a neck warmer, gloves and mittens, and shoes and boots). The heater 13 can provide heat based on the voltage, current, etc., provided to the heater 13 by the output driver 640. Heated apparel control 600 can include a monitor 660. The monitor 660 can be used to observe operating or other characteristics, such as operating temperature of the heater 13, temperature of a portion of the user's body (e.g., a hand), accuracy of a voltage, current, or frequency from the output driver 640, etc. Note that monitor 660 may communicate with sensor 45 on heated apparel 10. The monitor 660 can be coupled to the comparator 620. By providing feedback data from the heater 13 via the monitor 660 to the comparator 620, heated apparel control can be accomplished.
More particularly, heated gloves 210, a heater controller 15 and an electrical power supply 30 are shown at 700 in
In
The programmable control system 800 can include an analysis component 810. The analysis component 810 can include one or more electronic components which can be used to monitor and control heating by a heater 13 coupled to heated apparel 10 (e.g., a glove 210). The analysis component 810 can comprise one or more processors 812, a memory 814 coupled to the one or more processors 812, and a display 816. The display 816 can be configured and disposed to present collected data, analysis, intermediate analysis steps, instructions, algorithms, or heuristics, a thermal signature, heating data, etc. In embodiments, one or more processors 812 are connected to the memory 814, where the one or more processors 812, when executing the instructions, which are stored, are configured to control a heater 13 coupled to heated apparel 10 (e.g., a glove 210) for a portion (e.g., a hand) of a human body, wherein heating by the heater 13 is accomplished using electrical power which is supplied to heater 13 by electrical power supply 30 via the intervening heater controller 15 (which is worn on the human body).
The programmable control system 800 can include a management and power data component 820. The management portion of the management and power data component 820 can include a library of lookup tables, heater characteristics, functions, algorithms, routines, code segments, apps, etc. that can be used for management of the heater 13 carried by the heated apparel 10. The power data portion of the management and power data component 820 can include the status of a source of electrical power, power dissipation data for the heater 13, etc. The programmable control system 800 can include a coupling component 830. The coupling component 830 can act as an interface between a heater 13 of heated apparel 10 and the analysis component 810. The coupling component 830 can further act as an interface between the heater 13 and heated apparel 10 (e.g., a glove 210) for a portion (e.g., a hand) of a human body. The coupling component 830 can provide power to a heater 13 within heated apparel 10 (e.g., a glove 210), can capture status data or operating data from the heater 13 carried by the heated apparel 10 (e.g., the glove 210), etc. The coupling component 830 can act as an interface between the heater 13 of heated apparel 10 and the heater controller 15, where the heater controller 15 can be worn on the human body. The coupling of the heater controller 15 to the heater 13 of heated apparel 10 can include enabling or disabling the heater controller 15, monitoring heater controller status data such as voltage, current, or temperature, etc.
The programmable control system 800 can include computer program products (i.e., software) embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program products comprising code which causes one or more processors to perform the operations of controlling a heater 13 coupled to heated apparel 10 (e.g., a glove 210) for a portion (e.g., a hand) of a human body, wherein heating by the heater 13 is accomplished using electrical power, and wherein the electrical power is supplied by a heater controller 15 worn on the human body.
Each of the above methods may be executed on one or more processors on one or more computer systems. Embodiments may include various forms of distributed computing, client/server computing, and cloud-based computing. Further, it will be understood that the depicted steps or boxes contained in this disclosure's flow charts are intended to be solely illustrative and explanatory. The steps may be modified, omitted, repeated, or re-ordered without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Further, each step may contain one or more sub-steps. While the foregoing drawings and description set forth functional aspects of the disclosed systems, no particular implementation or arrangement of software and/or hardware should be inferred from these descriptions unless explicitly stated or otherwise clear from the context. All such arrangements of software and/or hardware are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure.
The block diagrams and flowchart illustrations depict methods, apparatus, systems, and computer program products. The elements and combinations of elements in the block diagrams and flow diagrams show functions, steps, or groups of steps of the methods, apparatus, systems, computer program products and/or computer-implemented methods. Any and all such functions (generally referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module,” or “system”) may be implemented by computer program instructions, by special-purpose hardware-based computer systems, by combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions, by combinations of general purpose hardware and computer instructions, and so on.
A programmable apparatus which executes any of the above-mentioned computer program products or computer-implemented methods may include one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, embedded microcontrollers, programmable digital signal processors, programmable devices, programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, memory devices, application specific integrated circuits, etc. Each may be suitably employed or configured to process computer program instructions, execute computer logic, store computer data, etc.
It will be understood that a computer may include a computer program product from a computer-readable storage medium and that this medium may be internal or external, removable and replaceable, or fixed. In addition, a computer may include a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), firmware, an operating system, a database, or the like that may include, interface with, or support the software and hardware described herein.
Embodiments of the present invention are neither limited to conventional computer applications nor the programmable apparatus that run them. To illustrate: the embodiments of the presently claimed invention could include an optical computer, quantum computer, analog computer, etc. A computer program may be loaded onto a computer to produce a particular machine that may perform any and all of the depicted functions. This particular machine provides a means for carrying out any and all of the depicted functions.
Any combination of one or more computer readable media may be utilized including but not limited to: a non-transitory computer readable medium for storage; an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor computer readable storage medium or any suitable combination of the foregoing; a portable computer diskette; a hard disk; a random access memory (RAM); a read-only memory (ROM); an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM, Flash, MRAM, FeRAM, or phase change memory); an optical fiber; a portable compact disc; an optical storage device; a magnetic storage device; or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
It will be appreciated that computer program instructions may include computer executable code. A variety of languages for expressing computer program instructions may include, without limitation, C, C++, Java, JavaScript™, ActionScript™, assembly language, Lisp, Perl, Tcl, Python, Ruby, hardware description languages, database programming languages, functional programming languages, imperative programming languages, etc. In embodiments, computer program instructions may be stored, compiled, or interpreted to run on a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, a heterogeneous combination of processors or processor architectures, etc. Without limitation, embodiments of the present invention may take the form of web-based computer software, which includes client/server software, software-as-a-service, peer-to-peer software, etc.
In embodiments, a computer may enable execution of computer program instructions including multiple programs or threads. The multiple programs or threads may be processed approximately simultaneously to enhance utilization of the processor and to facilitate substantially simultaneous functions. By way of implementation, any and all methods, program codes, program instructions, and the like described herein may be implemented in one or more threads which may in turn spawn other threads, which may themselves have priorities associated with them. In some embodiments, a computer may process these threads based on priority or other order.
Unless explicitly stated or otherwise clear from the context, the verbs “execute” and “process” may be used interchangeably to indicate execute, process, interpret, compile, assemble, link, load, or a combination of the foregoing. Therefore, embodiments that execute or process computer program instructions, computer-executable code, or the like may act upon the instructions or code in any and all of the ways described. Further, the method steps shown are intended to include any suitable method for causing one or more parties or entities to perform the steps. The parties performing a step, or portion of a step, need not be located within a particular geographic location or country boundary. For instance, if an entity located within the United States causes a method step, or portion thereof, to be performed outside of the United States, then the method is considered to be performed in the United States by virtue of the causal entity.
In the preferred form of the invention, heater controller 15 is configured to supply constant power to a given heater 13.
More particularly, in prior art heated apparel systems, the heating element of the heated apparel is connected directly to a battery. As that battery loses energy, the voltage drops, which in turn reduces the power output of the battery, and hence reduces the power which is delivered to the heating element of the heated apparel.
In contrast, in the preferred form of the present invention, heater controller 15 is configured to supply constant power to a given heater 13. This approach allows for changes in heating element resistance, both over manufacturing process variation and in changes over time and temperature, and allows for changes in battery energy. The constant power supply is based on the concept that power, P, is related to current, I, and voltage, V, by the equation:
Heater controller 15 is configured so that voltage is adjusted in the circuitry to provide the correct current, such that the resulting power sent to a given heater 13 remains constant.
As discussed above, with the present invention, power is delivered from electrical power supply 30, through the heater controller 15, to one or more articles of heated apparel 10. As also discussed above, this power is delivered using cabling which extends from electrical power supply 30 to heater controller 15, and from heater controller 15 to the one or more articles of heated apparel 10.
If desired, power may be delivered from electrical power supply 30 to heater controller 15 using a USB Power Delivery (PD) scheme, and/or power may be delivered from heater controller 15 to the one or more articles of heated apparel 10 using a USB Power Delivery (PD) scheme. With a USB Power Delivery (PD) scheme, heaters 13 of various articles of heated apparel 10 would be able to negotiate their needed voltage, up to 20 Volts DC. By leveraging USB PD's higher available voltage supplies, much lower current is required while still providing desirable power levels. For example, to allow a heater 13 to dissipate 20 watts of power, at 20 volts it will only need to draw 1 amp of current. For this same heater 13 to dissipate 20 watts of power from a 5 volt bus will require 4 amps of current. This higher current is not supported by most USB hubs, and even if it were, the higher current would necessitate the use of much larger cables/wires to carry the current efficiently. Likewise, for example, to cascade 6 heaters 13 at 5 volts drawing 4 amps each would require 24 amps of current on one cable, which would require a large cable. Leveraging USB PD's higher voltage provides a substantial advantage for powering and controlling a distributed heater system.
In the system architecture discussed above, articles of heated apparel 10 are connected to heater controller 15 through a power and data management hub 400. This is essentially a “hub and spoke” system. It will be appreciated that such a “hub and spoke” system can be implemented using a variety of power distribution schemes, including a USB Power Delivery (PD) scheme. More particularly, and looking now at
It should be appreciated that a “daisy-chained”/cascaded system can be implemented using a USB Power Delivery (PD) scheme. More particularly, and looking now at
Wearable electronic systems are in some measure limited in their application due to the difficulties in providing sufficient battery capacity for high power and/or long duration activities. Conventional batteries and their connectors and cables do not generally lend themselves to mounting on the human body in such a way as to limit negative effects on human performance. Bulky batteries stand too proud, causing snag and comfort concerns. Heavy cables and bulky connectors prove difficult to integrate with low-profile, fabric-based clothing, requiring unsightly pockets, additional layers or other undesirable solutions. A flexible, conformal, low-profile battery is proposed which addresses these current battery pack limitations and offers some additional tangential benefits.
One or more individual low-profile prismatic or other shaped battery cells form the basis for a battery pack. When multiple cells are used, they may be electrically combined in series and parallel combinations to create the desired pack power characteristics. The battery uses a high strength magnetic connector for easy, almost effortless electrical and mechanical connection with heated apparel system 5. The individual cells of the battery are arranged such that a space is maintained between them in order to allow an array of cells to bend and fold without colliding and interfering with each other. The cells may be bonded or otherwise attached to a substrate in order to hold and organize the cells in a specific desirable shape and also to prevent the cells from relative motion which may induce stress fracturing of the electrical connections between the cells. Co-located, within the space between the cells, magnet elements are fixed in such a way as to provide attraction to coincidentally-placed magnet elements located on a wearable garment. For individual cell protection and as a means for mechanically interlocking and/or keying with a garment, an impact-resistant and tear-resistant material is formed around the individual cells, and also formed over and/or around the magnet elements. This flexible and segmented battery pack is shaped to nest tightly and flexibly with a similar, but inverse-shaped, dock structure stitched or otherwise fused to a garment. This dock structure includes the coincidentally-located magnets for pulling the pack towards the dock structure, forcing the nesting engagement and keying of the battery pack and dock. It can be thought of as in the manner of how a waffle sits in a waffle tray, or a chocolate bar sits in its mold, etc. The arrayed magnets hold the pack to the dock, while both together are able to flex with the garment as worn by an active end user. The keyed “waffle” like elements provide lateral stability and reduce the shear loads that the magnets must resist. From a fashion and aesthetic perspective, the shape of the overmolded battery cell elements may be varied and arranged to form pleasing arrays. In addition, the overmolded battery elements may work in concert with other similar shaped and molded components to act as impact protection for the end user. In this case, the overmold material may be chosen for having impact-resistant characteristics such as foam structure or low durometer, etc.
Battery base 925 comprises a flexible substrate 935. Flexible substrate 935 is secured to wearable item 35 (e.g., a backpack, vest, etc.). Flexible substrate 935 is formed out of a flexible material so that battery base 925 can generally conform to the shape of the wearable item 35. Recesses 940 are formed in flexible substrate 935. Magnets 945 and electronics 950 are attached to flexible substrate 935. Electronics 950 are connected to heater controller 15 (not shown in
Battery pack 930 comprises a flexible substrate 955. Battery cells 960, magnets 965 and a magnetically-coupled connector 968 are attached to flexible substrate 955.
In use, battery pack 930 is seated in battery base 925, with battery cells 960 seating in recesses 940, magnetically-coupled connector 968 connecting to electronics 950, and magnets 945, 965 holding the assembly together.
Preferably, molded foam cushions 969 are secured to wearable item 35 on either side of battery base 925.
While the invention has been disclosed in connection with preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the foregoing examples should not limit the spirit and scope of the present invention; rather it should be understood in the broadest sense allowable by law.
This patent application claims benefit of pending prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/853,076, filed May 27, 2019 by Human Systems Integration, Inc. and Brian Farrell for HEATED GLOVE COUPLED TO A WEARABLE POWER SYSTEM (Attorney's Docket No. HSI-001Q), which patent application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US20/34731 | 5/27/2020 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62853076 | May 2019 | US |
