ARTICLE OF CLOTHING INCLUDING BIO-MEDICAL UNITS
An article of clothing includes a clothing fabric and a plurality of bio-medical units integrated into the clothing fabric. A bio-medical includes a power harvesting module, a communication module, a processing module, a functional module, a die, and an IC package. The die supports the power harvesting module, the processing module, the communication module, and the functional module. The IC package houses the die and includes a mechanism for adhering to the clothing fabric.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . An integrated circuit (IC) for incorporation in a clothing fabric, the IC comprises:
a power harvesting module configured to convert a radio frequency (RF) signal into a supply voltage;
a communication module configured, when powered by the supply voltage, to:
convert an inbound wireless signal into an inbound symbol stream;
convert an outbound symbol stream into an outbound wireless signal;
a processing module configured, when powered by the supply voltage, to:
convert the inbound symbol stream into a bio-medical function;
convert a bio-medical response into the outbound symbol stream;
a functional module configured, when powered by the supply voltage, to:
perform the bio-medical function; and
when the bio-medical function is a monitoring function, generate the bio-medical response.
22 . The IC of claim 21 , further comprising:
an IC package housing the IC, wherein the IC package includes a fabric adhering mechanism
23 . The IC of claim 22 wherein the fabric adhering mechanism comprises at least of:
an eyelet for facilitating sewing the IC into the clothing fabric;
a hook for facilitating sewing the IC into the clothing fabric;
a notch for facilitating sewing the IC into the clothing fabric; and
a fabric adhesive for facilitating gluing the IC into the clothing fabric.
24 . The IC of claim 21 further comprises:
an encapsulant for encapsulating the IC package.
25 . The IC of claim 21 , wherein the bio-medical function further comprises at least one of:
an image capture function;
a movement capture function;
a sound capture function;
a topical treatment function; and
an electronic stimulation function.
26 . The IC of claim 21 , wherein the power harvesting module comprises at least one of:
an electromagnetic signal to voltage conversion module;
an RF signal to voltage conversion module;
a motion to voltage conversion module;
a light to voltage conversion module; and
a heat to voltage conversion module.
27 . The IC of claim 26 , wherein the electromagnetic signal to voltage conversion module comprises at least one of:
an array of inductors and a rectifying circuit module to produce the supply voltage from the electromagnetic signal; and
an array of Hall-effect devices and the rectifying circuit module to produce the supply voltage from the electromagnetic signal.
28 . An article of clothing comprises:
a clothing fabric; and
a plurality of bio-medical units integrated with the clothing fabric, wherein a bio-medical unit of the plurality of bio-medical units includes:
a power harvesting module operable to convert radio frequency (RF) signals into a supply voltage;
a communication module operable, when powered by the supply voltage, to:
convert an inbound wireless signal into an inbound symbol stream; and
convert an outbound symbol stream into an outbound wireless signal;
a processing module operable, when powered by the supply voltage, to:
convert the inbound symbol stream into a bio-medical function; and
convert a bio-medical response into the outbound symbol stream;
a functional module operable, when powered by the supply voltage, to:
perform the bio-medical function; and
when the bio-medical function is a monitoring function, generate the bio-medical response.
29 . The article of clothing of claim 28 wherein the plurality of bio-medical units are integrated into the clothing fabric by adhering the plurality of bio-medical units into seams of the clothing fabric.
30 . The article of clothing of claim 28 , wherein the clothing fabric comprises:
a plurality of pouches for housing at least some of the bio-medical units.
31 . The article of clothing of claim 28 , further comprising:
a die supporting at least one of the power harvesting module, the processing module, the communication module, and the functional module; and
an IC package housing the IC.
32 . The article of clothing of claim 31 , wherein the IC package further comprises:
a fabric adhering mechanism that includes at least of:
an eyelet for facilitating sewing the IC into the clothing fabric;
a hook for facilitating sewing the IC into the clothing fabric;
a notch for facilitating sewing the IC into the clothing fabric; and
a fabric adhesive for facilitating gluing the IC into the clothing fabric.
33 . The article of clothing of claim 28 , wherein the bio-medical unit further comprises:
an encapsulant for encapsulating the IC package.
34 . The article of clothing of claim 28 , wherein the bio-medical function further comprises at least one of:
an image capture function;
a movement capture function;
a sound capture function;
a topical treatment function; and
an electronic stimulation function.
35 . The article of clothing of claim 28 , wherein the power harvesting module comprises at least one of:
an electromagnetic signal to voltage conversion module;
an RF signal to voltage conversion module;
a motion to voltage conversion module;
a light to voltage conversion module; and
a heat to voltage conversion module.
36 . The article of clothing of claim 35 , wherein the electromagnetic signal to voltage conversion module comprises at least one of:
an array of inductors and a rectifying circuit module to produce the supply voltage from the electromagnetic signal; and
an array of Hall-effect devices and the rectifying circuit module to produce the supply voltage from the electromagnetic signal.
37 . A method for a executing a bio-medical application by a wireless communication device, the method comprising:
transmitting a continuous wave (CW) signal for a predetermined period of time, wherein a power harvesting module of a bio-medical unit of a plurality of bio-medical units integrated into a clothing fabric converts the CW signal into a supply voltage;
after expiration of the predetermined period of time, transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal for executing the bio-medical application, including:
converting the RF signal into an inbound symbol stream;
converting the inbound symbol stream into a bio-medical command;
performing the bio-medical command and, when commanded, generating a bio-medical response;
converting the bio-medical response into an outbound symbol stream; and
converting the outbound symbol stream into an outbound RF response signal; and
receiving the RF response signal.
38 . The method of claim 37 further comprising:
receiving a request for re-transmission of the CW signal as the RF response signal.
39 . The method of claim 37 further comprising: instructing the power harvesting module to also convert the RF signal into the supply voltage.
40 . The method of claim 37 further comprising:
after sending the RF signal, resume transmitting the CW signal;
indicating a time window for when the bio-medical unit is to transmit the RF response signal; and
during the time window, stop transmitting the CW signal.