Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for attaching electronic components to interactive textiles. In various implementations, an interactive textile that includes conductive thread woven into the interactive textile is received. The conductive thread includes a conductive wire (e.g., a copper wire) that that is twisted, braided, or wrapped with one or more flexible threads (e.g., polyester or cotton threads). A fabric stripping process is applied to the interactive textile to strip away fabric of the interactive textile and the flexible threads to expose the conductive wire in a window of the interactive textile. After exposing the conductive wires in the window of the interactive textile, an electronic component (e.g., a flexible circuit board) is attached to the exposed conductive wire of the conductive thread in the window of the interactive textile.

Abstract: This document describes techniques using, and objects embodying, a haptic feedback mechanism for an interactive garment. A wearable interactive garment (e.g., a jacket, shirt, or pants) may include various sensors that can sense user interactions in the form of single or multi-touch-input (e.g., gestures). A haptic feedback mechanism is integrated within the interactive garment and includes a vibration source (e.g., a vibration motor) and a transmission structure coupled to the vibration source. A controller is configured to control the haptic feedback mechanism to provide haptic feedback by causing the vibration source to distribute vibration to multiple vibration points within the transmission structure.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments describe techniques for body part motion analysis. A stretch sensor is attached to a body part. Tape can be applied to the body part, and the stretch sensor can be attached to the tape using connectors, hooks, snaps, or Velcro™. The stretch sensor changes electrical characteristics as it stretches. A sensor coupled to the stretch sensor collects changes in electrical characteristics based on motion of the body part. A communication unit provides information from the sensor to a receiving unit. Motion of the body part is shown on a display. The displayed body part can be an animation and can be displayed in the context of an overall body. The stretch sensor is used for measuring body part motion. An inertial measurement unit provides augmented motion information. The stretch sensor senses muscle activities such as muscle activation and deformation and provides movement angle, force and torque evaluation.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments describe techniques for body part analysis. Data is collected from a body sensor. The body sensor is coupled to a fabric attached to a body part. The body sensor provides electrical information based on a deformation of the body part. The data from the body sensor is analyzed to determine the deformation of the body part. An angle for the body part is determined based on the deformation. The data is augmented with additional data collected from an inertial measurement unit. Anchor points for the body part are determined, where the anchor points enable placement of the body sensor coupled to the fabric. The body part is treated, wherein the body part treatment is based on the analyzing. Additional data is collected from a second body sensor. The second body sensor is also coupled to the fabric.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide a way to perform body measurements. A garment has a sensor module attached. The garment encompasses a body portion. The sensor module is stretchable and provides electrical data. The electrical data is based on an amount that the sensor module is stretched. The electrical data from the sensor module is collected. The collected electrical data is analyzed to determine a measurement for the body portion. A size for the body portion is calculated, based on the measurement. A second sensor module is attached to the garment. Electrical data from the second sensor is also collected and analyzed. A size for the body portion is further calculated based on the electrical data from the sensor module and the second sensor module. The sensor module and the second sensor module transmit data to a computing device using distinct, wireless transmitters.

Abstract: This document describes techniques using, and objects embodying, an interactive fabric which is configured to sense user interactions in the form of single or multi-touch-input (e.g., gestures). The interactive fabric may be integrated into a wearable interactive garment (e.g., a jacket, shirt, or pants) that is coupled (e.g., via a wired or wireless connection) to a gesture manager. The gesture manager may be implemented at the interactive garment, or remote from the interactive garment, such as at a computing device that is wirelessly paired with the interactive garment and/or at a remote cloud based service. Generally, the gesture manager recognizes user interactions to the interactive fabric, and in response, triggers various different types of functionality, such as answering a phone call, sending a text message, creating a journal entry, and so forth.

Abstract: This document describes an interactive object with multiple electronics modules. An interactive object (e.g., a garment) includes a grid or array of conductive thread woven into the interactive object, and an internal electronics module coupled to the grid of conductive thread. The internal electronics module includes a first subset of electronic components, such as sensing circuitry configured to detect touch-input to the grid of conductive thread. An external electronics module that includes a second subset of electronic components (e.g., a microprocessor, power source, or network interface) is removably coupled to the interactive object via a communication interface. The communication interface enables communication between the internal electronics module and the external electronics module when the external electronics module is coupled to the interactive object.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for connecting an electronic component to an interactive textile. Loose conductive threads of the interactive textile are collected and organized into a ribbon with a pitch that matches a corresponding pitch of connection points of the electronic component. Next, non-conductive material of the conductive threads of the ribbon are stripped to expose the conductive wires of the conductive threads. After stripping the non-conductive material from the conductive threads of the ribbon, the connection points of the electronic component are bonded to the conductive wires of the ribbon. The conductive threads proximate the ribbon are then sealed using a UV-curable or heat-curable epoxy, and the electronic component and the ribbon are encapsulated to the interactive textile with a water-resistant material, such as plastic or polymer.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for attaching electronic components to interactive textiles. In various implementations, an interactive textile that includes conductive thread woven into the interactive textile is received. The conductive thread includes a conductive wire (e.g., a copper wire) that that is twisted, braided, or wrapped with one or more flexible threads (e.g., polyester or cotton threads). A fabric stripping process is applied to the interactive textile to strip away fabric of the interactive textile and the flexible threads to expose the conductive wire in a window of the interactive textile. After exposing the conductive wires in the window of the interactive textile, an electronic component (e.g., a flexible circuit board) is attached to the exposed conductive wire of the conductive thread in the window of the interactive textile.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for attaching electronic components to interactive textiles. In various implementations, an interactive textile that includes conductive thread woven into the interactive textile is received. The conductive thread includes a conductive wire (e.g., a copper wire) that that is twisted, braided, or wrapped with one or more flexible threads (e.g., polyester or cotton threads). A fabric stripping process is applied to the interactive textile to strip away fabric of the interactive textile and the flexible threads to expose the conductive wire in a window of the interactive textile. After exposing the conductive wires in the window of the interactive textile, an electronic component (e.g., a flexible circuit board) is attached to the exposed conductive wire of the conductive thread in the window of the interactive textile.

Abstract: In one aspect, a modular sensing apparatus will be described. The modular sensing apparatus includes a flexible substrate and multiple sensors. The flexible substrate is reconfigurable into different shapes that conform to differently shaped structures. The multiple sensors are positioned on the substrate. Various embodiments relate to software, devices and/or systems that involve or communicate with the modular sensing apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide a way to measure the size of an object using an electronic fabric. Embodiments are particularly well suited for measuring human body parts such as legs, arms, feet, and the like. The measurements are acquired simply by wearing a garment comprised of the electronic fabric. Electrical properties such as resistance and capacitance are measured. These electrical properties are converted to distance measurements. The measurements are acquired by a local processor and then transmitted to a server, where the sizing information is converted to a higher level size, such as a dress size. Additionally, the sizing information can be converted to a clothing pattern to efficiently enable customized clothing based on size.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for attaching electronic components to interactive textiles. In various implementations, an interactive textile that includes conductive thread woven into the interactive textile is received. The conductive thread includes a conductive wire (e.g., a copper wire) that that is twisted, braided, or wrapped with one or more flexible threads (e.g., polyester or cotton threads). A fabric stripping process is applied to the interactive textile to strip away fabric of the interactive textile and the flexible threads to expose the conductive wire in a window of the interactive textile. After exposing the conductive wires in the window of the interactive textile, an electronic component (e.g., a flexible circuit board) is attached to the exposed conductive wire of the conductive thread in the window of the interactive textile.

Abstract: A sensing floor to locate people and devices is described. In an embodiment, the sensing floor (or sensing surface), is formed from a flexible substrate on which a number of distributed sensing elements and connections between sensing elements are formed in a conductive material. In an example, these elements and connections may be printed onto the flexible substrate. The sensing floor operates in one or more modes in order to detect people in proximity to the floor. In passive mode, the floor detects signals from the environment, such as electric hum, which are coupled into a sensing element when a person stands on the sensing element. In active mode, one sensing element transmits a signal which is detected in another sensing element when a person bridges those two elements. In hybrid mode, the floor switches between passive and active mode, for example, on detection of a person in passive mode.

Abstract: A sensing floor to locate people and devices is described. In an embodiment, the sensing floor (or sensing surface), is formed from a flexible substrate on which a number of distributed sensing elements and connections between sensing elements are formed in a conductive material. In an example, these elements and connections may be printed onto the flexible substrate. The sensing floor operates in one or more modes in order to detect people in proximity to the floor. In passive mode, the floor detects signals from the environment, such as electric hum, which are coupled into a sensing element when a person stands on the sensing element. In active mode, one sensing element transmits a signal which is detected in another sensing element when a person bridges those two elements. In hybrid mode, the floor switches between passive and active mode, for example, on detection of a person in passive mode.