Patents Assigned to Advanced Functional Fabrics of America
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Patent number: 12288122Abstract: A system for monitoring performance of a rope includes a drawn form factor that has a plurality of radio-frequency identification (RFID) devices (e.g., embedded therein). The form factor is integrated into a core portion of the rope. Each RFID device is configured to transmit a corresponding message to at least one receiver in response to an interrogation initiated by at least one transmitter. The messages enable the determination of at least one characteristic of the rope based on a spatial relationship of the plurality of RFID devices and a timing of the received messages.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2023Date of Patent: April 29, 2025Assignee: Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, Inc.Inventors: Jimmy Nguyen, Edin Insanic, Kristina McCarthy
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Patent number: 12001905Abstract: Exemplary embodiments use a single, physical embodiment that compiles independent machine-readable codes together with little to no space in between codes. This physical embodiment is in two primary forms—adhesive tape or fabric strips with hook and loop backing. A code reader device, with software compatible with the machine-readable codes, can rapidly or simultaneously aggregate independent codes together on the physical embodiment in order to assign them to one or more digital addresses.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2023Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Assignee: Advanced Functional Fabrics of AmericaInventors: Yoel Fink, Nicholas Dimitruk, Federico Bescotti, Catherine Chapman
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Patent number: 11970795Abstract: Methods of manufacturing multi-material fibers having one or more electrically-connectable devices disposed therein are described. In certain instances, the methods include the steps of: positioning the electrically-connectable device(s) within a corresponding pocket provided in a preform material; positioning a first electrical conductor longitudinally within a first conduit provided in the preform material; and drawing the multi-material fiber by causing the preform material to flow, such that the first electrical conductor extends within the multi-material fiber along a longitudinal axis thereof and makes an electrical contact with a first electrode located on each electrically-connectable device. A metallurgical bond may be formed between the first electrical conductor and the first electrode while drawing the multi-material fiber and/or, after drawing the multi-material fiber, the first electrical conductor may be located substantially along a neutral axis of the multi-material fiber.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, Inc.Inventors: Chia-Chun Chung, Jason Cox, Joshua Deisenhaus, Kristina McCarthy, Kristen Mulherin, Jimmy Nguyen, Michael Rein
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Patent number: 11951672Abstract: Methods of manufacturing multi-material fibers having one or more electrically-connectable devices disposed therein are described. In certain instances, the methods include the steps of: positioning the electrically-connectable device(s) within a corresponding pocket provided in a preform material; positioning a first electrical conductor longitudinally within a first conduit provided in the preform material; and drawing the multi-material fiber by causing the preform material to flow, such that the first electrical conductor extends within the multi-material fiber along a longitudinal axis thereof and makes an electrical contact with a first electrode located on each electrically-connectable device. A metallurgical bond may be formed between the first electrical conductor and the first electrode while drawing the multi-material fiber and/or, after drawing the multi-material fiber, the first electrical conductor may be located substantially along a neutral axis of the multi-material fiber.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignees: Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, Inc., Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Chia-Chun Chung, Jason Cox, Kristina McCarthy, Kristen Mulherin, Jimmy Nguyen, Michael Rein, Matthew Bernasconi, Lauren Cantley, Lalitha Parameswaran, Michael Rickley, Alexander Stolyarov
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Patent number: 11761123Abstract: A fiber capable of switching optical states is provided. The fiber includes a laminate having a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and an electro-optic material between the first and second electrode layers, at least one of the first and second electrode layers being light-transmissive and a sheath surrounding the laminate. The fiber may have a ribbon-like structure, i.e. a width that is substantially greater than its thickness. The electro-optic medium may be an encapsulated electrophoretic medium.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2020Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignees: E Ink Corporation, Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, Inc.Inventors: Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Mihai Ibanescu, Stephen Bull, Jay William Anseth
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Patent number: 11636299Abstract: Exemplary embodiments use a single, physical embodiment that compiles independent machine-readable codes together with little to no space in between codes. This physical embodiment is in two primary forms—adhesive tape or fabric strips with hook and loop backing. A code reader device, with software compatible with the machine-readable codes, can rapidly or simultaneously aggregate independent codes together on the physical embodiment in order to assign them to one or more digital addresses.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, Inc.Inventors: Yoel Fink, Nicholas Dimitruk, Federico Bescotti, Catherine Chapman
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Patent number: 11552706Abstract: Optical communication systems and their method of operation are disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more images of one or more optical transmitters may be collected with an imaging device during relative motion between the imaging device and the one or more optical transmitters. The one or more optical transmitters may transmit bit stream segments as a pattern of sequential modulation cycles. The relative motion between the imaging device and the one or more optical transmitters may be sufficiently fast and an image integration time of the imaging device may be sufficiently long such that one or more bit stream segments transmitted by the one or more optical transmitters may be captured as one or more data traces in the images for subsequent decoding.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, Inc.Inventors: Jason Cox, Noah Lillian Drori, Tairan Wang
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Patent number: 11120319Abstract: An article is a selected one of a set of articles. Each article of the set includes a fabric and is associated with a unique identification code. The selected article has a pattern distributed over at least 10% of an exposed surface of the selected article. The pattern encodes the identification code associated with the selected article, wherein the pattern is configured to be read and decoded by a mobile computing device in a manner wherein the selected article is contextually recognizable. A two-dimensional plaid pattern may be used to carry the identification code, which can be decoded according to described methods.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, Inc.Inventors: Tairan Wang, Tosha Hays, Yoel Fink, Alexander Stolyarov, Mihai Ibanescu
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Patent number: 11093809Abstract: Exemplary embodiments use a single, physical embodiment that compiles independent machine-readable codes together with little to no space in between codes. This physical embodiment is in two primary forms—adhesive tape or fabric strips with hook and loop backing. A code reader device, with software compatible with the machine-readable codes, can rapidly or simultaneously aggregate independent codes together on the physical embodiment in order to assign them to one or more digital addresses.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2020Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Advanced Functional Fabrics of AmericaInventors: Yoel Fink, Nicholas Dimitruk, Federico Bescotti, Catherine Chapman
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Patent number: 10962816Abstract: A color-changing flexible fiber that can be incorporated into fabrics and other woven materials. The color changing flexible fibers are hollow and include at least two wire electrodes integrated into the wall of the hollow fiber that provide an electrical potential across an electro-optic medium disposed inside the hollow fiber. The electro-optic medium includes a non-polar solvent and at least one set of charged particles.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2018Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignees: E Ink Corporation, Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, Inc.Inventors: Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Mihai Ibanescu, Yoel Fink, Michael Rein
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Publication number: 20210040654Abstract: A fiber capable of switching optical states is provided. The fiber includes a laminate having a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and an electro-optic material between the first and second electrode layers, at least one of the first and second electrode layers being light-transmissive and a sheath surrounding the laminate. The fiber may have a ribbon-like structure, i.e. a width that is substantially greater than its thickness. The electro-optic medium may be an encapsulated electrophoretic medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2020Publication date: February 11, 2021Applicants: E Ink Corporation, Advanced Functional Fabrics of AmericaInventors: Richard J. PAOLINI, JR., Mihai IBANESCU, Stephen BULL, Jay William ANSETH
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Publication number: 20200313768Abstract: Optical communication systems and their method of operation are disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more images of one or more optical transmitters may be collected with an imaging device during relative motion between the imaging device and the one or more optical transmitters. The one or more optical transmitters may transmit bit stream segments as a pattern of sequential modulation cycles. The relative motion between the imaging device and the one or more optical transmitters may be sufficiently fast and an image integration time of the imaging device may be sufficiently long such that one or more bit stream segments transmitted by the one or more optical transmitters may be captured as one or more data traces in the images for subsequent decoding.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, Inc.Inventors: Jason Cox, Noah Lillian Drori, Tairan Wang
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Patent number: 10594400Abstract: A textile capable of detecting electromagnetic radiation includes interlaced fibers; a photodetector embedded, as a result of a fiber draw process, within a particular one of the fibers; and a first electrical conductor extending within the particular fiber and along a longitudinal axis thereof. The first electrical conductor is in electrical contact with the photodetector, and the photodetector position in the particular fiber corresponds to a lowest energy configuration relative to a pattern of flow along the longitudinal axis of the particular fiber throughout the fiber draw process. A method of manufacturing the textile and a system including the textile are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2018Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, Inc.Inventors: Chia-Chun Chung, Jason Cox, Yoel Fink, Mihai Ibanescu, Chhea Chhav
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Publication number: 20180364518Abstract: A color-changing fiber that can be incorporated into fabrics and other woven materials. The color changing fibers are hollow and include at least two wire electrodes that provide an electrical potential across an electro-optic medium including a non-polar solvent and at least one set of charged particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2018Publication date: December 20, 2018Applicant: Advanced Functional Fabrics of AmericaInventors: Richard J. PAOLINI, JR., Mihai IBANESCU, Yoel FINK, Michael REIN