Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/14—Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
  • G06F3/147—Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units using display panels
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B1/00—Footwear characterised by the material
  • A43B1/0027—Footwear characterised by the material made at least partially from a material having special colours
  • A43B1/0036—Footwear characterised by the material made at least partially from a material having special colours with fluorescent or phosphorescent parts
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
  • A43B3/24—Collapsible or convertible
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
  • A43B3/24—Collapsible or convertible
  • A43B3/242—Collapsible or convertible characterised by the upper
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
  • A47B13/00—Details of tables or desks
  • A47B13/08—Table tops; Rims therefor
  • A47B13/12—Transparent tops, e.g. with lighting means under the table top

Definitions

• An object of the present invention is to provide a system for changing the visual effect of any object, such as wearing apparel or home decor, without changing the object itself providing an endless array of visual variety to interest the user and viewer.
• the present invention creates a changeable color, image, pattern and/or text on the surface of an object.
• the present invention discloses a system and method for changing the visual effect of an object or substrate including a display unit having a visual effect and bonded to the substrate.
• a control circuit is provided for configuration of the display unit. Power is provided to the control circuit and the display unit through a power unit.
• a different visual effect for the display unit is selected using an input device such as a remote control unit or an input device coupled to the control circuit.
• the input device provides an activating signal for activation of the control circuit according to preprogrammed instructions corresponding to the different visual effect.
• the control circuit is activated, the visual effect of the display unit is changed to the different visual effect according to the preprogrammed instructions, wherein the visual effect of the substrate is also changed.
• the display unit includes a plurality of pixels formed into a matrix and embedded on the substrate using a polymer such as a silicon gel.
• the substrate includes, but is not limited to, any object worn by a user, for example, such as clothing or wearing apparel, or footwear.
• the substrate includes objects used as a form of artwork or articles of furniture.
• Figures 1 A-1C are schematic views of the present invention wherein the substrate is an article of clothing such as a shirt;
• Figure 2 is a schematic view of the present invention wherein the substrate is an article of footwear such as a shoe;
• Figure 3 is a schematic view of the present invention wherein the substrate is an article of furniture such as a table;
• Figure 4 is a schematic view of the present invention wherein the substrate is an article such as a wall hanging;
• Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating the method for changing the visual effect of a substrate according to the present invention
• Figure 6 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the system of the present invention.
• FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the system of the present invention.
• FIGS 1-4 illustrate the system 15 of the present invention for changing the
• Figures 1 A-1C are schematic representations of various substrates 10.
• Figures 1 A-1C are schematic representations of various substrates 10.
• FIG. 10 views of a substrate 10 including wearing apparel, such as the shirt illustrated.
• Figure 1 views of a substrate 10 including wearing apparel, such as the shirt illustrated.
• FIG 2 is a schematic view of a substrate 10 including footwear, such as the shoe illustrated.
• Figure 3 is a schematic view of a substrate 10 including an article of furniture, such as
• Figure 4 is a schematic view of a substrate 10 such as the wall hanging illustrated.
• the system 15 includes a display unit 45 having a visual effect and bonded to the substrate 10.
• display unit 45 may include any combination of colors, images, patterns and/or text.
• the display unit 45 includes a plurality of pixels (picture elements) 25
• a control circuit 30 is coupled
• An input device is provided,
• remote control unit 20 including a transmitter, provides an activating signal
• control circuit 30 is activated according to preprogrammed instructions corresponding to the selected different visual effect.
• the input device 55 is
• control circuit 30 coupled to the control circuit 30 and includes one or more switches for selecting the
• the control circuit 30 includes, for example, a receiver 35 for receiving the
• power unit 40 provides power to the control circuit 30.
• the plurality of pixels 25 are embedded on the
• substrate 10 using a polymer.
• a polymer examples include a silicon gel,
• thermosetting polymer or a variety of polymers.
• a housing cavity 50 also including, for example, a thermosetting polymer, contains the control circuit 30 and the power
• control circuit 30 the control circuit
• power unit 40 and the input device 55 can be attached to the substrate 10 using any suitable and reliable means.
• the display unit 45 and plurality of pixels 25 may include various shapes, as
• the plurality of pixels 25 may be embedded on the substrate so as to entirely cover the substrate or object.
• the system of the present invention may be used on a variety of substrates.
• the substrate 10 may include various objects worn by a user including any article of clothing or wearing apparel, such as shirts, skirts, pants, jackets or hats, or an article of footwear, such as sneakers or the shoe shown in Figure 2.
• the system of the present invention may be used as a form of artwork on objects including articles of furniture, such as the table shown in Figure 3, as a framed wall
• the flow chart of Figure 5 illustrates the method for changing the visual effect
• a substrate is provided per block 95.
• a display unit having a visual effect is bonded to the substrate.
• the display unit includes a plurality of pixels formed into a matrix, which
• thermosetting polymer per block 105.
• control circuit is provided at block 110 for configuration of the display unit and power
• an operator or users selects a desired visual effect, for example, using the remote control unit, and the preprogrammed instructions corresponding to the selected visual effect is transmitted to one or more control units for reconfiguration of the display unit and plurality of pixels to the selected visual effect.
• the system may be devised such that the activation signal may be transmitted to a large number of objects, such as all the sneakers having a particular coded sequence for receiving the activation signal wherein all of the sneakers change from a blue color (an initial visual effect) to a red color (a different visual effect).
• an individual having the system of the present invention applied, for example, to a wall or an article of -furniture in their home may change the visual effect or "look" of their home by using an input device coupled to the control circuit of the system to select a desired visual effect of the display unit and plurality of pixels of the system.
• Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the remote control unit 20 in greater
• the remote control unit 20 includes a processor 70, a memory 65
• a software module including the
• preprogrammed instructions for configuration of the display unit 45 are stored, for
• the software module and preprogrammed instructions include, for instance, a palette of system colors, and the resolution, brightness and intensity of the colors, as well as sequence codes for patterns, images and text.
• display unit 45 is bonded to the substrate 10.
• the system of the present invention can be implemented in hardware, such as an application specific integrated circuit as shown in Figure 7.
• control circuit 30 is coupled to a receiver 35 for receiving the
• the control circuit 30 includes, for example, a graphics controller 75, which produces
• the graphics controller 75 provides the signals required for the individual pixels (such as the intensity and color signal), as well as the synchronization signals for the horizontal and vertical lines of the pixel matrix.
• the activating signal is transmitted to the control circuit 30 from an input device 55 coupled to the control
• the input device includes one or more switches or buttons for selecting a
• control circuit 30 includes an application specific integrated circuit (IC)

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=22312575

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (3)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 1999
  • 1999-11-02 EP EP99956839A patent/EP1125268A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1999-11-02 AU AU13364/00A patent/AU1336400A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-11-02 WO PCT/US1999/025697 patent/WO2000026890A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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