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[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to articles of clothing or accessories and more specifically to apparel including one or more flexible electronic displays.
[0003] 2. Background of the Invention
[0004] Clothing articles on which distinctive graphics and text appear are for sale by clothing retailers as well as organizations having a promotional or advertising interest in the graphics or text being displayed. Static printed apparel is well known (e.g., printed t-shirts) and are found highly desirable by both consumers and promoters.
[0005] In the recent past, electronic display technology has improved to yield increasingly low-cost, low power and small graphical and textual displays, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays. While such displays may be used to provide changeable graphical and textual matter to an apparel article via attachment of an LCD, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,912,653, in actuality, an LCD cannot be packaged to yield a degree of flexibility that would prevent damage to the display while providing comfort and flexibility of movement to the wearer. Further, LCD technology typically requires back-lighting to be visible under a wide variation of lighting conditions.
[0006] U.S. patent application US2002/0167483A1 describes OLED apparel articles generally as an improvement over the above-referenced patent. However, the above-referenced patent (as well as other existing patents and publications) is directed toward a display for promoting or otherwise presenting graphics and animations to persons other than the wearer. Typically this type of apparel display serves as a“substitute” or improvement over the printed designs described above. While such displays are useful for providing eye-catching and visible displays for advertising or for calling attention to the wearer, it would be desirable to provide further functionality within such apparel. It would further be desirable to provide functionality that serves the wearer of the apparel other than the functionality described above, which only serves the wearer in relation to other persons viewing the displays. It would also be desirable to provide functional interaction between apparel and other persons.
[0007] The above objectives of providing an article of apparel having an electronic display providing functionality that serves the wearer and/or wearer interactivity with other persons is provided in apparel articles incorporating a flexible display comprising a personal device display. The display may be an output of a personal device such as a wristwatch, Internet or other network appliance, cellular telephone, exercise and environmental monitors, personal computers, video games, music players and other personal devices. The display is generally oriented for convenient viewing by the wearer, but may also include displays oriented for viewing by other persons while programmed with the graphical and/or textual output of a personal device where the input to the personal device is provided by one or more other persons.
[0008] The apparel articles incorporate a flexible light-emitting diode display forming a graphical pixel matrix for display of graphics and/or text. The light-emitting diode display radiates light, eliminating any need for back-lighting and providing a flexible display enhancing flexibility of movement and comfort to the wearer.
[0009] The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0010]
[0011]
[0012]
[0013] The present invention provides various interactive and display improvements to articles of apparel including flexible displays. The improvements include personal device information displays integrated within the article of apparel. Such displays may include cellular telephone and other personal communication device displays such as pager, e-mail, personal digital assistant (PDA) displays, personal computer displays and the like. Generally, the display differs from prior art displays not necessarily in format or structure, but in programming, in that the display is programmed in an orientation for convenient viewing by the wearer of the article of apparel, rather than for viewing by others. Personal devices as defined in the context of the present application include all of the above-listed devices and other devices that present information to a person (the wearer) on a multi-pixel display. One embodiment of the invention in exception to the wearer orientation of the present invention is a novel use of a flexible display integrated in an article of apparel and a novel method and system for operating an article of apparel, whereby another person may view a response to a communication received from the other person on the flexible display of the wearer.
[0014] The present invention provides a display of information provided from the personal communication devices mentioned above, but also contemplates personal devices that are sensor devices such as exercise monitors and temperature sensors as well as completely contained devices such as timers, stopwatches and wristwatches and personal computing devices. Apparel as contemplated by the embodiments of the present invention include accessories such as wallets, purses, gym bags, luggage, belts as well as general clothing-type apparel such as shirts, shoes, jackets, pants, skirts, dresses and the like. The flexible display and associated control circuits may be made detachable so that transfer between various articles of clothing may be accomplished. An adhesive-backed display or VELCRO-attached display may be provided.
[0015] Referring now to
[0016] LED display
[0017] Referring now to
[0018] Buttons
[0019] Display
[0020] Electronic displays
[0021] Referring now to
[0022] In addition to the locations described above as examples, a visual display in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention may be provided in other locations on an apparel body. For example; the top of the leg or knee of a pair of pants, dress, skirt or other leg-covering article of apparel may have a display mounted thereon for providing a convenient location for viewing by the wearer. Additionally, the display may be mounted on a front shirt tail, providing a means for hiding the visual display when the shirt tail is tucked in and wherein the visual display may be oriented upside-down for viewing then the shirt tail is flipped up toward the viewer. Other“flap” type articles of apparel or additions to articles of apparel may be provided, for example on the front of a shirt or blouse, so that the user may“flip-up” a visual display that is oriented for viewing by the wearer when such“flap” is flipped so as to face the user.
[0023] Referring now to
[0024] A wireless network node
[0025] Sensor/switch input interface
[0026] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form, and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.