Abstract: Interlacing equipment may be used to form fabric such as woven fabric. The woven fabric may include warp strands and weft strands. In a Leno weave, a warp strand may include one or more covering strands twisted around a core strand. The covering strands and/or the core strand may be conductive to form a conductive warp strand. An electrical component may be mounted to the conductive warp strand. A first electrical connection may couple the electrical component to the core strand and a second electrical connection may couple the electrical component to the covering strand. The two electrical connections may be isolated from one another. A warp strand may have a first region in which the core includes a conductive strand and a second region in which the conductive strand forms part of the covering or is located on an outer surface of the covering.

Abstract: Interlacing equipment may be used to form fabric. A component detector may be used to feed strands such as a conductive strand to the interlacing equipment. One or more electrical components may be mounted to the conductive strand. The component detector may have a sensor configured to detect the presence of the electrical component as the conductive strand is fed to the interlacing equipment through the component detector. In response to detecting the component with the sensor, the interlacing equipment may automatically adjust interlacing operations in preparation for receiving the electrical component. For example, needles may be lowered in a knitting system, select warp strands may be raised and lowered in a weaving system, or a carrier may follow a modified path in a braiding system in response to detecting the electrical component. The fabric may have a different construction in regions where the electrical component is received.

Abstract: Knitting equipment may be used to form warp knit fabric. The warp knit fabric may be a spacer fabric having a spacer strand that travels back and forth between outer warp knit layers. The spacer fabric may include a pocket for receiving an electrical component. The electrical component may be mounted to an inlaid conductive strand that floats between the outer warp knit layers and that is held in place by the spacer strand. The pocket may be one of multiple pockets in the spacer fabric that are separated from one another by the spacer strand. Braiding equipment may include carriers that braid strands around an electrical component while a tool holds the electrical component in place. A ring may be used to isolate the braiding angle from the carriers to accommodate component insertion. The electrical component may be mounted to an inlaid conductive strand in the braid.

Abstract: Knitting equipment may be used to form weft knit fabric. A conductive strand may be coupled to a weft knit fabric layer using stitches such as tuck stitches, knit stitches, and floats. An electrical component may be mounted to a float and electrically connected to the conductive strand. A double knit fabric may include first and second outer weft knit layers joined by a connecting strand. The electrical component may be mounted to an outer weft knit layer or the connecting strand. The electrical component may have first and second portions that attach together to trap a conductive strand between the first and second portions. The electrical component may have a through-hole that receives a conductive loop in the fabric. A circular knit fabric may include a conductive strand that spirals around a longitudinal axis and that has connected segments and electrically isolated segments.

Abstract: Electrodes that can be formed in a flexible band of a wrist-worn device to detect hand gestures are disclosed. Multiple rows of electrodes can be configured to detect electromyography (EMG) signals produced by activity of muscles and tendons. The band can include removable electrical connections (e.g., pogo pins) to enable the electrode signals to be routed to processing circuitry in the housing of the wrist-worn device. Measurements between signals from the active electrodes and one or more reference electrodes can be obtained to capture EMG signals at a number of locations on the band. The measurement method and mode of operation (lower power coarse detection or higher power fine detection) can determine the location and number of electrodes to be measured. These EMG signals can be processed to identify hand movements and recognize gestures associated with those hand movements.

Abstract: A fabric-based item may include a housing that is covered in fabric. Areas of the fabric may overlap input circuitry such as button switches, touch sensors, force sensors, proximity sensors, and other sensing circuitry and may overlap other components such as light-emitting components and haptic output devices. The fabric-based item may include control circuitry that gathers user input from the input circuitry and wireless communications circuitry that the control circuitry uses to transmit remote control commands and other wireless signals in response to information from the input circuitry. The fabric-based item may have a weight that is located in the housing to orient the housing in a desired direction when the housing rests on a surface. A movable weight may tilt the housing in response to proximity sensor signals or other input. Portions of the fabric may overlap light-emitting components and optical fiber configured to emit light.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive textile device that is configured to detect the occurrence of a touch, the location of a touch, and/or the force of a touch on the touch-sensitive textile device. In some embodiments, the touch-sensitive textile device includes a first set of conductive threads oriented along a first direction, and a second set of conductive threads interwoven with the first set of conductive threads and oriented along a second direction. The device may also include a sensing circuit that is operatively coupled to the first and second set of conductive threads. The sensing circuit may be configured to apply a drive signal to the first and second set of conductive threads. The sensing circuit may also be configured to detect a touch or near touch based on a variation in an electrical measurement using the first or second set of conductive threads.

Abstract: A fabric-based item may be provided with a stretchable band. The stretchable band may be formed from a ring-shaped strip of stretchable fabric having an opening configured to fit around a body part of a user. Circuitry may be coupled to strands of material in the stretchable band. The circuitry may include sensor circuitry for making measurements on the body part such as electrocardiogram measurements, blood pressure measurements, and respiration rate measurements. Wireless communications circuitry in the fabric-based item may be used to communicate wirelessly with external electronic equipment. A wireless power transmitting device may transmit wireless power. A coil formed from conductive strands in the fabric-based item may be used by wireless power receiving circuitry in the fabric-based item to receive the wireless power. The coil may have one or more turns that run around the ring-shaped strip of stretchable fabric.

Abstract: An article of footwear including a sole system, including an upper and the sole system. The sole system includes a knitted component incorporating a one-piece knit outsole. The knit outsole has a ground-facing side, a top side, an inlaid tensile element, and a ground-engaging cleat member protruding from the ground-facing side of the knit outsole. The tensile element may be adjacent a cleat member. The upper is connected at its bottom to the top side of the knit outsole.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive textile device that is configured to detect the occurrence of a touch, the location of a touch, and/or the force of a touch on the touch-sensitive textile device. In some embodiments, the touch-sensitive textile device includes a first set of conductive threads oriented along a first direction, and a second set of conductive threads interwoven with the first set of conductive threads and oriented along a second direction. The device may also include a sensing circuit that is operatively coupled to the first and second set of conductive threads. The sensing circuit may be configured to apply a drive signal to the first and second set of conductive threads. The sensing circuit may also be configured to detect a touch or near touch based on a variation in an electrical measurement using the first or second set of conductive threads.

Abstract: An article of footwear with an upper having a knitted component in an instep region extending between a first side and a second side. Outer lace apertures and inner lace apertures are disposed along the instep area on the first side and, in some aspects, the second side, where inner lace apertures are located more inward towards a middle of the upper than outer lace apertures. A lace extends through an inner lace aperture from an exterior surface on the first side of the upper, along an interior surface of the upper, and then exits the upper through an outer lace aperture on the first side. After exiting the outer lace aperture on the first side, the lace extends across the instep area along the exterior surface of the upper and extends through a lace aperture on the second side, which may be an inner lace aperture.

Abstract: An article of footwear with an upper having a knitted component in an instep region extending between a lateral side and a medial side. First lace apertures and second lace apertures are disposed along the instep area on the medial and lateral sides at first and second locations. A lace extends through an first lace aperture of the plurality of first lace apertures, from an exterior surface on the medial side of the upper, along an interior surface of the upper, and then exits the upper through a second lace aperture of the plurality of second lace apertures on the medial side. After exiting the second lace aperture, the lace extends across the instep area along the exterior surface of the upper and extends through a third lace aperture of the plurality of first lace apertures on the lateral side.

Abstract: Electrodes that can be formed in a flexible band of a wrist-worn device to detect hand gestures are disclosed. Multiple rows of electrodes can be configured to detect electromyography (EMG) signals produced by activity of muscles and tendons. The band can include removable electrical connections (e.g., pogo pins) to enable the electrode signals to be routed to processing circuitry in the housing of the wrist-worn device. Measurements between signals from the active electrodes and one or more reference electrodes can be obtained to capture EMG signals at a number of locations on the band. The measurement method and mode of operation (lower power coarse detection or higher power fine detection) can determine the location and number of electrodes to be measured. These EMG signals can be processed to identify hand movements and recognize gestures associated with those hand movements.

Abstract: An article of footwear with an upper having a knitted component in an instep region extending between lateral and medial sides. Outer lace apertures and inner lace apertures are disposed along the instep area on the lateral and medial sides, where inner lace apertures are located more inward towards a middle of the upper than outer lace apertures. A lace extends through an inner lace aperture from an exterior surface on the medial side of the upper, along an interior surface of the upper, and then exits the upper through an outer lace aperture on the medial side. After exiting the outer lace aperture on the medial side, the lace extends across the instep area along the exterior surface of the upper and extends through an inner lace aperture on the lateral side.

Abstract: Weaving equipment may include warp strand positioning equipment that positions warp strands and weft strand positioning equipment that inserts weft strands among the warp strands to form fabric. The fabric may include insulating strands and conductive strands. The conductive strands may be coupled to electrical components. The warp strand positioning equipment may position the warp strands to form a shed. Component insertion equipment may be used to insert electrical components into the shed. The weaving equipment may have a reed. The reed may be used to help position an electrical component in the fabric. The weaving equipment may have take-down equipment and individually controllable warp fiber positioning and tensioning devices.

Abstract: An article of footwear with an upper having a knitted component in an instep region extending between a lateral side and a medial side. First lace apertures and second lace apertures are disposed along the instep area on the medial and lateral sides at first and second locations. A lace extends through an first lace aperture of the plurality of first lace apertures, from an exterior surface on the medial side of the upper, along an interior surface of the upper, and then exits the upper through a second lace aperture of the plurality of second lace apertures on the medial side. After exiting the second lace aperture, the lace extends across the instep area along the exterior surface of the upper and extends through a third lace aperture of the plurality of first lace apertures on the lateral side.

Abstract: An article of footwear with an upper having a knitted component in an instep region extending between lateral and medial sides. Outer lace apertures and inner lace apertures are disposed along the instep area on the lateral and medial sides, where inner lace apertures are located more inward towards a middle of the upper than outer lace apertures. A lace extends through an inner lace aperture from an exterior surface on the medial side of the upper, along an interior surface of the upper, and then exits the upper through an outer lace aperture on the medial side. After exiting the outer lace aperture on the medial side, the lace extends across the instep area along the exterior surface of the upper and extends through an inner lace aperture on the lateral side.

Abstract: An article of footwear with an upper having a knitted component in an instep region extending between a first side and a second side. Outer lace apertures and inner lace apertures are disposed along the instep area on the first side and, in some aspects, the second side, where inner lace apertures are located more inward towards a middle of the upper than outer lace apertures. A lace extends through an inner lace aperture from an exterior surface on the first side of the upper, along an interior surface of the upper, and then exits the upper through an outer lace aperture on the first side. After exiting the outer lace aperture on the first side, the lace extends across the instep area along the exterior surface of the upper and extends through a lace aperture on the second side, which may be an inner lace aperture.

Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear may include one or more of the following: a knitted component forming a collar of the upper, the collar at least partially forming an opening for providing access to an interior of the article of footwear; and a first knit edge and a second knit edge that extend along the collar of the upper, wherein a knitted central portion of the collar extends between the first knit edge and the second knit edge. The collar may consist of a single seam to join together the first knit edge and the second knit edge. The single seam may be offset from a centerline at the rear-most portion of a heel area such that the knitted central portion of the collar extends through the centerline of the heel area.

Abstract: A wearable device can provide an audio module that is operable to provide audio output from a distance away from the ears of the user. For example, the wearable device can be worn on clothing of the user and direct audio waves to the ears of the user. Such audio waves can be focused by a parametric array of speakers that limit audibility by others. Thus, the privacy of the audio directed to the user can be maintained without requiring the user to wear audio headsets on, over, or in the ears of the user. The wearable device can further include microphones and/or connections to other devices that facilitate calibration of the audio module of the wearable device. The wearable device can further include user sensors that are configured to detect, measure, and/or track one or more properties of the user.