BACKGROUND

Articles of apparel or footwear having sensor systems incorporated therein are known. Sensor systems may track movement and sense, measure, and/or collect performance data. Such systems may provide an enhanced workout experience based on sensed information. Known sensor-integrated apparel designs often have significant impacts on the weight, softness, and/or flexibility of the apparel, and/or often require some amount of disassembly in order to wash the apparel.

Therefore, improved systems and methods to address these and other shortcomings in the art are desired.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. The summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor to delineate the scope of the disclosure. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the description below.

Aspects of this disclosure relate to sensor-integrated apparel systems configured to sense biometric information of a wearer. Example embodiments may relate to a system, method, apparatus that include sensor-integrated garments and/or uses thereof. Certain implementations may include a garment sized and dimensioned to be worn by a user and a sensor system integrated into the garment. The sensor system includes at least one stretchable capacitive fabric sensor, a control module and an illumination system. The at least one stretchable capacitive sensor is integrated onto the garment so as to measure at least one biometric parameter of the user when the garment is worn. The illumination system includes at least one light emitting diode (LED) module and is configured to provide illumination to a designated area. The control module is configured to control and operably connect to the capacitive sensor and the illumination system.

In some embodiments, the garment may be a shirt or jacket and the at least one capacitive sensor may include a pair of sensors. Each sensor may be positioned to correspond to right and left deltoids of the user and be configured to sense an arm swing of the user. Each deltoid sensor may be configured to sense a strain indicative of an arm swing of the user. In some embodiments, the garment may be a pair of pants or shorts, and the at least one capacitive sensor may be positioned to correspond to the right and left ankles, knees, thighs, etc. of the user and be configured to sense a pace or leg swing of the user.

The illumination system may be configured to adjust an intensity and/or a duration of illumination based on one or more settings from the control module. The control module may also be operably connected to additional sensors, e.g., including a time/intensity sensor configured to receive a user input specifying a setting of the illumination system, and/or a mode sensor configured to receive a user input specifying a mode of operation of the illumination system and to power on/off the illumination system. The time/intensity sensor and the mode sensor may be positioned in particular locations on the garment so as to provide ease of access to a user to provide inputs thereon. The control module may be positioned on a particular location on the garment so as not to obstruct the user when the garment is worn and/or when performing an activity. The mode sensor may include input selectors corresponding to a continuous mode and a pace mode. The time/intensity sensor may include input selectors configured to adjust an intensity of the illumination system, and to adjust a frequency of a pulsation of the illumination system.

The control module may be configured to be disconnectable from the sensor system and removable from the garment. The control module may include a hermetically sealed outer shell encasing electronic and other components therein. The hermetically sealed outer shell may be shaped so as to contour a portion of the user in accordance with a location of the control module when affixed to the garment. The control module may include a battery and a printed circuit board assembly. The control module may be configured to allow recharging of the battery without disassembly or removal of the battery therefrom. The control module may be configured to be removable from the garment and connectable to a computing device for transfer of data therebetween.

The illumination system may be configured to have a targeted and/or controllable illumination area based on a selected mode of operation. The illumination system may include a controllable directional component configured to adjust the illumination area. The illumination system may include an inboard LED module and an outboard LED module. A twisted wire armature or spine may connect to inboard and outboard LED modules. A flexible printed circuit board may electrically connect the inboard and outboard LED module and connect the illumination system to the sensor system and/or the control module. The illumination system be include a casing housing various components therein. For example, a clear rubber casing that forms a watertight seal may be provided. Portions of the LED modules in the illumination system may be bendable or movable to adjust the illumination area.

The sensor system, the illumination system, and the control module may be interconnected in the garment by wiring routed along seams of the garment. In some embodiments, the wiring may be comprised of a flexible, thin metallized thread. In some embodiments, the wiring may be comprised of a tape including thermal plastic urethane film with conductive ink traces that is radio frequency (RF) or thermally bonded to the garment.

In some embodiments, a method for providing illumination from a garment as a user performs an athletic activity is provided. The method may include sensing a strain from one or more sensors located on the garment, determining a pace or a predicted next movement of the user based on the sensed strain, and causing an illumination system on the garment to illuminate a portion of the user's path based on the determined pace or predicted next movement. The method may further include determining a side of a next footstrike based on the determined pace. Causing the illumination system to illuminate may then include illuminating an area of the user's path corresponding to the determined side of the next footstrike. The method may further include adjusting a duration of illumination of the user's path in response to a user-provided input. The method may further include adjusting the illumination system to provide a constant illumination in response to a user-provided input.

These and other aspects of the embodiments are discussed in greater detail throughout this disclosure, including the accompanying drawings.

