Hexoskin Patent PDF
Hexoskin Patent PDF
Hexoskin Patent PDF
(51) International Patent Classification: (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
m m 13/52 (2006.01) m m 13/514 (2006.01) kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM,
A41D 13/00 (2006.01) H01R 13/703 (2006.01) AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BN, BR, BW, BY,
HOIR 11/16 (2006.01) HO2G 15/013 (2006.01) BZ, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM,
DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT,
(21) International Application Number:
HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP,
PCT/CA20 13/000221 KR, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD,
(22) International Filing Date: ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI,
12 March 2013 (12.03.2013) NO, NZ, OM, PA, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU,
RW, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ,
(25) Filing Language: English TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA,
(26) Publication Language: English ZM, ZW.
(30) Priority Data: (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
61/61 1,944 16 March 2012 (16.03.2012) US kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH,
GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, RW, SD, SL, SZ, TZ,
(71) Applicant: CARRE TECHNOLOGIES INC. [CA/CA]; UG, ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, RU, TJ,
5795, avenue de Gaspe, 3e etage, bureau 218, Montreal, TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK,
Quebec H2S 2X3 (CA). EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV,
MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM,
(72) Inventors: FOURNIER, Pierre-Alexandre; 24, avenue
TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW,
Shamrock, suite 2 1 1, Montreal, Quebec H2S 1A4 (CA).
ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).
ROY, Jean-Fran? ois; 324, rue Villeray, Sherbrooke,
Quebec H2R 1 G7 (CA). ROBILLARD, Charles; 1215, Published:
rue Dutchy, Saint-Lazare, Quebec J7T 1Z9 (CA).
— with international search report (Art. 21(3))
GAGNON, Stephan; 360, rue Champlain, Rosemere,
Quebec J7A 3X8 (CA).
(74) Agents: BEAUCHESNE, Sandra et al; BCF LLP, 1100
Rene-Levesque Blvd. West, 25th Floor, Montreal, Quebec
H3B 5C9 (CA).
Figure 14
Front Back
(57) Abstract: The present relates to a washable interconnection patch, a connection assembly, and an intelligent washable garment
equipped therewith. The patch receives and interconnects wires to a cable. The patch comprises two matching pieces interlocking to -
gether so as to define there between two opposite apertures. One of the apertures is adapted to receive and hold the wires, and the
o other aperture is adapted to receive and hold the cable. One of the two matching pieces defines on an interior face a channel to inter
connect the wires to the cables. The connection assembly comprises a male connector and a female connector. The male connector
o defines a series of independent connection points along a length thereof. The female connector is adapted to receive the male con -
nector, and defines along a length of an inner surface thereof a series of contact points. When the male connector is inserted within
the female connector, the connection points and the contact points are aligned and in contact together.
WASHABLE INTELLIGENT GARMENT AND COMPONENTS THEREOF
BACKGROUND
[0002] Physiological sensors have long been known and widely used for
medical and health related applications. Various physiological sensors embedded
in textile or garments, sometimes called portable or wearable sensors, have been
described before in publications and patents (Portable Blood Pressure, Patent
number: 4889132, Filing date: Sep 26, 1986 Issue date: Dec 26, 1989; Portable
device for sensing cardiac function, Patent number: 4928690, Filing date: Apr 25,
1988, Issue date: May 29, 1990). The term "wearable sensors" is now commonly
used to describe a variety of body-worn sensors to monitor activity, environmental
data, body signals, biometrics, health related signals, and other types of data.
[0016] Figure 7 is a side view of the male connector with the spring-loaded
pins in contact with the printed circuit board conductive pads.
[00 7] Figure 8 is a side view of the printed circuit board (PCB) of the male
connector showing the curve that pushes the spring-loaded pins during insertion.
[0018] Figure 8a is a bottom view of the PCB of the male connector showing
circular electrical contacts.
[0019] Figure 8b is a top view of the PCB of the male connector showing
rectangular contacts for soldering and printed wires.
[0024] Figure 13 shows garments that use the present patch and connection
system to connect textiles sensors for heart and breathing monitoring to an
electronic device with an accelerometer and a Bluetooth wireless connection. The
electronic device also contains analog and digital filters and amplifiers, a
microprocessor device, solid-state memory storage, sensor circuits, power
management circuits, buttons, and other circuits.
[0025] Figure 14 shows a garment with electrical and optical sensors that
use the present system to connect textiles, electrical, thermal, and optical sensors
for cardiac monitoring, breathing monitoring, blood pressure monitoring, skin
temperature and core temperature monitoring to an electronic device with position
sensors and a wireless data connection.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] The foregoing and other features of the present garment and
components thereof will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-
restrictive description of examples of implementation thereof, given by way of
illustration only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0034] The male connector and its components can be made of various
materials. In one example, the patch and strain relief components may be made of
any of the following material: silicone, rubber, or another flexible material over-
molded over the cable. The cable may be made of many color-coded electrical
wires, bundled together using a textile fabric knitted around the wires. The male
connector and strain relief components may be made using over-molded resin. In
one example electrical interconnections between wires coming from the garment
and the wires in the cable are made using a small open crimp or a crimp tube (as
exemplary shown in Figure 2b, and the interconnection is sealed using silicone,
rubber, or any other sealing material compatible with the over-molded patch.
[0038] The female connector may comprise spring-loaded contacts that are
lined up along an aperture shaped like a cylinder (see Figures 4 and 9). The
aperture is asymmetric to facilitate the alignment of the contacts with the contacts
of the male connector (see Figure 3). The female connector can be made as one
piece including the spring-loaded contacts, or two pieces including for example one
row of spring-loaded connectors and an injection molded plastic piece defining an
asymmetric aperture (see Figure 10).
[0039] Electric and/or optic connection between the male and female
connectors is completed upon complete engagement of the male connector within
the female connector, which permits the contacts of the male connector to be
aligned with the spring-loaded contacts of the female connector (see Figure 7).
[0043] In one example, the electronic device is further equipped with a button
that can be used to record an event, initiate wireless pairing using a protocol like
Bluetooth, or reset the device. In this example shown in Figure 5 , the device has 3
light emitting diodes used to communicate with users, for example to confirm to a
wearer of the garment that the garment is connected, the electronic device is
connected using a wireless link, a state of a battery of the electronic device, any
malfunction or any other information the electronic device must communicate to the
user. The electronic device may contain several analog and digital circuits to record
and process the physiological signals as shown on Figure 16. The electronic device
can further implement all the normal functions of a computing device as shown on
Figure 18. The device can be connected to other computing and networking
devices using a wired or wireless protocol as shown on Figure 17, and can use
another computing or networking device to communicate with a remote server, a
distance storage system, or a distance computing system, which can provide
automatic physiological data analysis services and help with the interpretation of
physiological signals. For example, such an automatic physiological data analysis
can be constructed using a stack of simple processing units to achieve a high-level
understanding of the original physiological signal, such as detailed cardiac activity
shown on Figure 19, symptoms, and pathologies.
2. The patch of claim 1, wherein one of the two matching pieces further
comprises a fastening member for fastening the interlocked matching pieces to a
fabric.
3. The patch of claim 1, wherein the two matching pieces are further adapted
to be filled with a sealant.
9 . The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the connection points and contact points are
electrical points.
10. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the male connector is adapted for use in a
washable garment.
13. The processing unite of claim 12 wherein the device starts recording the
physiological signals automatically from the sensors upon complete connection of
the male connector within the female connector, and stops recording when the
male connector is removed from the female connector.
INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT International application No.
PCT/CA20 13/000221
B . FIELDS SEARCHED
Minimum documentation seaixhed (classification system followed by classification symbols)
H01R 13/52 (2006.01) . A41D 13/00 (2006.01) . H01R 11/16 (2006.01) . H01R 13/514 (2006.01) .
H01R 13/703 (2006.01) . H02G 15/013 (2006.01)
Documentation searched other than minimum documentation to the extent that such documents are included n the fields searched
Electronic database(s) consulted during the international search (name of database(s) and, where practicable, search terms used)
Databases: Epoque (English full text database), Canadian Patents Database
Search terms: connector, sensor, seal, male, female, inline, c-shaped, garment, washable
Further documents are listed in the continuation of Box C . [X ] See patent family annex.
Special categories of cited documents : Ύ" later document published after the international filing date or priority
date and not m conflict with the application but citecTto understand
document defining the general state of the art which is not considered the principle or theorv underlying the invention
to be of particular relevance
X" document of particular relevance the claimed invention cannot be
earlier application or patent but published on or after the international considered novel or cannot be considered to involve an inventive
filing date step when the document is taken alone
document which may t r n doubts on priority clami(s) or which is "Y document of particular relevance the claimed invention cannot be
cited to establish the publication date of another citation or other considered to involve an inventive step when the document is
special reason (as specified) combined rath one or more other such documents such combination
being obvious to a person skilled m the art
document referring to an oral disclosure, use, exhibition or other means
document member of the same patent family
document published prior to the international filing date but later than
the priority date claimed
Date of the actual completion of the international search Date of mailing of the international search report
Box No. II Observations where certain claims were found unsearchable (Continuation of item 2 of the first sheet)
This international search report has not been established in respect of certain claims under Article 17(2)(a) for the following
reasons :
1. [ ] Claim Nos. :
because they relate to subject matter not required to be searched by this Authority, namely :
2. [ ] Claim Nos. :
because they relate to parts of the international application that do not comply with the prescribed requirements to such an extent
that no meaningful international search can be carried out, specifically :
3. [ ] Claim Nos. :
because they are dependent claims and are not drafted in accordance with the second and third sentences of Rule 6 .4( a).
Box No. Ill Observations where unity of invention is lacking (Continuation of item 3 of first sheet)
This International Searching Authority found multiple inventions in this international application, as follow s :
Group A (Claims 1-3): A washable interconnection patch for interconnecting wires to a cable.
Group B (Claims 4-13): A washable garment including a connection assembly with male and female connectors.
1. [ ] As all required additional search fees were timely paid by the applicant, this international search report covers all
searchable claims.
2. [X] As all searchable claims could be searched without effort justifying additional fees, this Authority did not invite
payment of additional fees.
3. [ ] As only some of the required additional search fees were timely paid by the applicant, this international search report
covers only those claims for which fees were paid, specifically claim Nos. :
4. [ ] No required additional search fees were timely paid by the applicant. Consequently, this international search report is
restricted to the invention first mentioned in the claims; it is covered bv claim Nos. :
Remark on Protest [ ] The additional search fees were accompanied by the applicant's protest and, where applicable,
the payment of a protest fee.
[ ] The additional search fees were accompanied by the applicant's protest but the applicable protest
fee was not paid within the time limit specified in the invitation.
[ ] No protest accompanied the payment of additional search fees.
Form PCT/ISA/210 (continuation of first sheet (2)) (July 2009) Page 2 of 4
INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT International application No.
Information o patent family members PCT/CA20 13/000221