Abstract: A temperature-based sensing device (10) for detecting or determining a presence or proximity of a body or body part (12) in or near a garment, device, apparatus, or other item (14), such as, for example, an orthopedic device or exercise apparatus. The device (10) broadly comprises a first temperature sensor (20) for measuring a first or internal temperature of a an interior or receiving portion (16) of the item (14); a second temperature sensor (22) for measuring a second or external temperature of an ambient environment (18) surrounding the item (14); a controller (24) adapted to determine the presence of the body part (12) by comparing the first temperature with the second temperature; and connective circuitry (26) made of flexible material and adapted to electrically connect at least the first temperature sensor (20) with the controller (24).

Abstract: A temperature-based sensing device (10) for detecting or determining a presence or proximity of a body or body part (12) in or near a garment, device, apparatus, or other item (14), such as, for example, an orthopedic device or exercise apparatus. The device (10) broadly comprises a first temperature sensor (20) for measuring a first or internal temperature of a an interior or receiving portion (16) of the item (14); a second temperature sensor (22) for measuring a second or external temperature of an ambient environment (18) surrounding the item (14); a controller (24) adapted to determine the presence of the body part (12) by comparing the first temperature with the second temperature; and connective circuitry (26) made of flexible material and adapted to electrically connect at least the first temperature sensor (20) with the controller (24).

Abstract: A capacitance-based sensing device (10) for detecting or determining a presence or proximity of a body or body part (12) in or near a garment, device, apparatus, or other item, such as, for example, an orthopedic device or exercise apparatus. Two or more conductive surfaces (16,18), interacting as a capacitor (17) having an actual capacitance, are embedded into the item, and the presence of the body part (12) is detected as a difference between the actual capacitance of the capacitor(17)formed by the conductive surfaces (16,18)and a reference capacitance.