WO2003075693A1

WO2003075693A1 - Method and system for detecting the operational status of a garment

Info

Publication number: WO2003075693A1
Application number: PCT/FI2003/000186
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jukka Vanhala; Karri Palovuori; Mikko Tasanen; Tapio Karinsalo; Akseli Reho; Petri Piirainen; Jussi IMPIÖ
Original assignee: Clothing Plus Oy
Priority date: 2002-03-12
Filing date: 2003-03-11
Publication date: 2003-09-18
Also published as: AU2003209799A1; FI20020458A0; EP1489935A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system for detecting the operational status of a garment. The invention especially relates to the garment (400), which is provided with a user interface for detecting the use of the garment (400) so that the garment (400) is provided with at least one element (402-418, 424) supplying an output, the value of the output being determined according to the operational status of the garment (400).

Description

Method an system for detecting the operational status of a garment

The invention relates to a garment. The invention especially relates to such a garment, which is provided with a user interface.

The use of various portable data processing systems, such as PDA devices and mobile stations, and electronic systems integrated in intelligent clothing, is now known from the state of the art. Especially the use of portable data processing systems is also very common recently, and they are often used simultaneously while performing some other task, for example, during outdoor recreation, cycling or driving a car. The use of intelligent clothing has also become more common, among others, by rescue workers and professionals and devotees moving in demanding circumstances.

However, there are some features in the use of portable data processing systems and wearable intelligent clothing that require attention from the user. For example, it is typical of systems integrated into clothing that they have to be remembered to be switched on or off, depending on the situation and/or the use of the garment. The problem with the use of portable data processing systems is again, among others, that hands are not free during the use so that it is more difficult or even impossible to perform other tasks. In addition, the user's attention is easily focused, for example, on keeping the mobile station at place by the ear/mouth so that a dangerous situation may arise as the user is doing something else at the same time. Besides, the road traffic acts of several countries prohibit the use of data processing devices, such as talking to a mobile station, when simultaneously driving the car, if the speaker has to keep the mobile station in hand or otherwise concentrate on the use of the device.

Different kinds of "hands free" systems known from the state of the art can be considered as one solution to some of the problems described above, in which systems, for example, a mobile station is connected to a system comprising an earphone and/or microphone, such as an ear handle receiver to be put on the head. In addition, the specification WO 02/07476 A2, among others, discloses a solution for produc- ing and recording sound with the help of a system integrated into headgear, the system comprising at least one microphone and loudspeaker to be used together with some other communications system, such as a telephone or computer system. In addition, the specification US 2001/0012373 Al discloses a piece of clothing, such as a face mask or a neck ribbon with an integrated microphone so that the piece of clothing comprising the microphone can communicate, for example, with a communications system connected to a computer performing speech identification. Further, the specification US 6, 271,760 Bl discloses a solution for identif ing the presence of a human body, for example, on a seat with the help of pressure sensors and sen- sors measuring oscillation or vibration.

However, the problem with the solutions described above is that they are difficult to use, due to their size and often also their weight, and that they further are unpleasant, for example, in subzero temperatures. In addition, the user may have the feeling that the apparatus drops or slips off the user. The state-of-the-art devices are often perceived to have an ugly and socially doubtful appearance and to be doubtful and unpleasant because the user himself cannot see the apparatus, although he detects it, for example, on the basis of the size and/or weight of the apparatus. Further, the state-of-the-art systems have to be separately connected to the device to be connected to them, such as a mobile station, and to be switched on and off. This slows down and makes the use of the system clumsy and often also frustrating.

In addition, the known state-of-the-art technology does not present a solution with the help of which, for example, different kinds of electrical and/or electronic systems, which are integrated into a garment to be put on the user, could be switched on and off easily and simply when required, for example, for saving power.

The object of the invention is to provide a solution for a user interface for a garment so that the said drawbacks or defects associated with the state of the art can be reduced. The invention aims to solve how the use of a garment can be detected with the help of the system in the garment and how other systems integrated into the garment can be switched on/off (ON/OFF) at least partly without requiring measures from the user, depending on the operational status of the garment.

The objects of the invention are achieved so that the garment is provided with at least one element, which detects the operational status of the garment.

It is characteristic of the garment of the invention that the garment comprises at least one element supplying an output signal, the value of the output signal being deter- mined according to the operational status of the garment.

It is characteristic of the user interface of the invention, which can be installed into a garment that the user interface comprises at least one element supplying an output signal, the value of the output signal being determined according to the operational status of the garment. It is characteristic of the method of the invention for detecting the operational status of the garment that the operational status of the garment is detected with the help of at least one element supplying an output signal in the garment by comparing the value of the output signal with a predetermined value, which corresponds to the op- erational status to be detected.

Some advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

Considerable advantages are achieved with the help of the invention, compared to the state-of-the-art solutions. The method and system of the invention make possible an easy, natural and secure way to realise a user interface detecting the operational status of the garment. With the help of the system, it is, for example, possible to at least partly switch on or off the electrical system integrated into the garment without separate measures by the user, using the user interface detecting the operational status of the garment. In addition, the system of the invention makes it possible for the user to move freely without a disturbing and unpleasant feeling of an ugly and heavy separate system to be put on.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the garment can be provided with means indicating the operational status of the garment so that, for example, the garment detects when it has been put on the user and when it has been taken off, i.e. it detects the operational status of the garment. In addition, the garment can also detect whether it has been put on properly, for example, in relation to prevailing circumstances, or if the garment has possibly been put on the wrong way round. The garment according to the invention and the user interface to be installed into the garment are especially useful, for example, for rescue workers or users otherwise in demanding conditions, in which case the garment of the invention makes it possible, for example, to switch the systems integrated into the garment on or off, according to the situation or the operational status of the garment without the user having to pay attention to this. For example, the garment can switch on a light emitting element that improves the user's visibility as the garment has been put on the user and as the level of brightness decreases sufficiently. Alternatively, the means connected to the data processing device in the garment can connect without measures by the user, for example, via a radio link to the user's mobile station as the garment has been put on and as the user's mobile station is within a certain distance from the garment. The means in the garment or in the user interface to be installed into the garment, indicating the operational status of the garment, is most preferably an element supplying an easily measurable signal, for example, an electrical output signal, such as a capacitive element or resistor, the output signal supplied by which can, for exam- pie, be voltage or current.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the garment can be provided with means for communicating with the data processing device, for example, wire- lessly; with means for presenting the information produced by the data processing device; with means for registering the information produced by the user and for- warding it to the data processing device; and with means for indicating the operational status of the garment.

The means in the garment for indicating the operational status of the garment can be operationally connected to other electrical means in the garment so that the other electrical means in the garment can at least partly be switched on and off according to the operational status of the garment, such as whether the garment is worn by the user or not, whether the garment is in the dark or whether it has been put on incorrectly.

In the garment according to the invention, the element detecting the operational status of the garment can be, for example, a capacitive element, the capacitance of which changes, for example, according to whether the garment is worn by the user, in which case the permittivity of the environment of the capacitive element is considerably higher than in a situation, in which the garment has been taken off. The element can also be a strain gauge, the tension directed to which depends on the operational status of the garment. The shape of the garment can, for example, change according to the operational status so that also the tensions directed to the strain gauge in the garment and thus also the output signal of the strain gauge change. In addition, the element can be an element comprising an optical fibre and an element measuring the intensity of light, the optical fibre being installed into the garment so that the loss of light in the optical fibre is considerably dependent on the operational status of the garment. The loss of light can be, for example, considerably larger when the garment has been put on than when it has been taken off. One element measuring the operational status of the garment can also be an element measuring the brightness of the environment, such as a light diode.

An element in the garment detecting the operational status of the garment can also be an element measuring the temperature, with which, for example, the temperature of the environment and/or the user's body can be detected and, for example, with the help of these two temperatures, the operational status of a coat can be deducted. The element can also be an element measuring moisture, the capacitance or resistance of which changes as the moisture changes. The moisture of the garment can again be dependent on the operational status of the coat, for example, whether the coat has been taken off or put on. Alternatively, the element can also be an element detecting the pulse or breathing of the user of the garment. The element can also be an ON/OFF switch, press-stud or zipper. The press-stud can act as a detector of the operational status, for example, so that its some property, such as resistance, changes considerably as the press-stud is opened or closed. Also a zipper can act as the detector of the operational status, for example, so that some property of the zipper, such as resistance or capacitance, changes considerably according to the position of the zipper.

The element in the garment detecting the operational status of the garment can be fixedly integrated into the garment or, alternatively, for example a user interface recognising the operational status of the garment, comprising at least one element, can be installed into the garment. The user interface can be detachable. The element can be, for example, a cloth-like element, which can consist of a structure comprising conductive fibres and a moisture-retaining base, to which the structure contain- ing the conductive fibres is attached. In addition to the user interface and/or element, the garment can also contain other components known from intelligent clothing, such as sound-producing elements, for example, a loudspeaker, and microphones.

The at least one element indicating the operational status of the garment according to the invention can also be arranged as a separate user interface, which can be installed into the garment also afterwards. Further, the user interface can contain other elements in the garment of the invention, indicating the operational status of the garment, and other said means, such as means for communicating with the data processing device, means for presenting the information produced by the data proc- essing device, and means for registering the information produced by the user and for forwarding it to the data processing device. For example, the user interface can be made onto a cloth-like base so that the user interface is easily adaptable to different types of clothes.

The garment of the invention, into which also the user interface of the invention can be installed, can be, for example, headgear, neck cloth, scarf, coat, shirt, waistcoat, overalls, belt, trousers, sock, shoe, glove, helmet, radar collar, or any other garment or similar intended to be worn by a human being or animal.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are next explained in more detail, referring to the enclosed drawings, in which

Figure 1 presents an exemplary garment of the invention, into which means for detecting the use of the said garment have been integrated;

Figure 2 shows a second exemplary garment of the invention, into which means for detecting the use of the said garment and means for connecting to a data processing device have been integrated;

Figure 3 presents a third exemplary piece of clothing of the invention, into which means for detecting the use of the said piece of clothing have been integrated;

Figure 4 presents a fourth exemplary garment of the invention, into which means for detecting the use of the said garment have been integrated;

Figure 5 presents a fifth exemplary garment of the invention, into which means for detecting the use of the said garment and means for connecting to a data processing device have been integrated; and

Figure 6 presents an exemplary method for detecting the use of the garment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows an exemplary garment 100 of the present invention, into which means for indicating the use of the said garment 100 have been integrated. The exemplary garment 100 shown in the Figure 1 is headgear, but the garment of the invention, which can be provided with the disclosed means of the invention , can be any garment known by one skilled in the art, such as a pointed cap, neck cloth, scarf, coat, shirt, waistcoat, overalls, belt, trousers, sock, shoe, glove, helmet or radar col- lar.

The user interface of a garment 100 according to the invention, which detects whether the garment 100 has been put on the user, can be realised by arranging at least one element to the garment 100, the element changing its status or output value according to whether the garment has been put on the user or taken off. In this case, the use of the garment 100 can be detected merely by following the value of an output of an element integrated into the garment 100. According to one embodiment of the invention, the garment 100 can comprise several elements measuring the same variable or different variables, in which case the use of the garment 100 can be detected by monitoring the outputs of several elements. For example the fact that the garment 100 has been put on the user can be de- tected, among others, by a logic AND operator so that the values of the outputs of at least two different elements have to be TRUE for the garment to be detected as having been put on. This way it is possible to minimise the situation that the garment 100 has been left taken off, for example, to a place or a position, in which one of the sensors of the garment 100 supplies a signal, according to which the garment 100 would have been put on. For monitoring the one or several elements integrated into the garment 100 and for performing possible logical operations, the garment 100 of the invention can be provided with the data processing unit 116, which can comprise memory and at least one processor.

In accordance with the invention, it is possible to control other electronic systems integrated into the garment 100 to be at least partly switched on or off with the help of the data processing unit 116 integrated into the garment 100 depending on whether the garment 100 has been put on the user or whether the garment 100 has been taken off.

For example, the garment 100 can have the capacitive sensor 102, the area of which is A, located so that the one first part of the capacitive sensor 102 is on the one side of the garment, and the one second counterpart of the capacitive sensor 102 is, for example, on the opposite side of the garment at a distance d from the first part. In a situation, in which the garment 100 has not been put on, there is typically, for example, air between or around the capacitive sensors 102, the air having some specific permittivity ε; so that the capacitance C of the capacitive sensor 102 is obtained according to the formula (1):

The garment 100 with its capacitive sensor 102 is arranged so that as the garment 100 is put on, the capacitance C of the capacitive sensor 102 changes substantially, but at least so that it can be clearly detected. The change in the capacitance is caused by that, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, as the user puts on the garment, some organ or a sufficient amount of tissue of the user, such as the head, comes between the parts of the capacitive sensor 102 so that the permittivity ε between the parts of the capacitive sensors 102 changes substantially. The permittivity of human tissue is almost two orders bigger than the permittivity of dry air so that also the change in the capacitance C is about two orders bigger, in accordance with the formula (1).

Alternatively, the capacitive sensor 102 can be a separate capacitive element 102, which has some specific capacitance C in dry air, corresponding to a situation in which the garment 100 has been taken off and there is dry air around the capacitive element 102. As the garment 100 is put on the user, the capacitance C of the capacitive element 102 changes considerably, as the dry air around the capacitive element 102 is replaced by the user's body tissue or organ, such as shoulder.

According to a second embodiment, the garment 100 of the invention can be provided with at least one strain gauge 104 detecting deformations, which can be a strain gauge known for one skilled in the art, such as a metal resistor strain gauge or a sensitive semiconductor strain gauge. In this connection, the strain gauge 104 is especially a resistor, the resistance of which changes easily as the strain gauge stretches or contracts.

The strain gauge 104 used in the garment 100 of the invention is preferably arranged in the garment so that as the garment 100 is used, a substantially different tension is directed to the strain gauge 104 from the one if the garment 100 has been taken off. In this case, also the resistance R measured over the strain gauge is substantially different in a case, in which the garment 100 has either been put on or taken off. According to the invention, the use of the garment 100 can be detected by changing the resistance over the strain gauge and by comparing the obtained value with predetermined values as the garment 100 has been put on or taken off. The strain gauge 104 can further be connected to be a part of, for example, the Wheatstone bridge. In this connection, also a spring can be understood as the strain gauge 104 measuring the deformation.

According to one embodiment, the deformations of the garment 100 of the invention can further be monitored with the help of at least one optical fibre 106 integrated into the garment 100. In the garment 100 of the invention, the optical fibre 106 can, for example, be arranged so that as the garment 100 has been taken off, the garment 100 contracts at least partly so that also the optical fibre 106 integrated into the garment partly contracts. In this case, the loss occurring in the optical fibre 106 is considerably larger than in a situation in which the garment 100 has been put on. Fur- ther, the optical fibre 106 can be arranged into the garment 100 so that, as the gar- ment has been put on, the optical fibre 106 is strained so that no sharp curves occur in the optical fibre 106 and that light can pass through the optical fibre 106 with very little loss.

The garment 100 according to the invention can also be provided with the element 108 measuring temperature or detecting IR radiation. In the garment 100 of the invention, the element 108 can be arranged, for example, to the side of the garment 100 that is nearest the user, in which case, as the garment 100 is used has having been put on the user, the element 108 measures the user's body temperature (for example, approx. +37°C), which most often deviates from the temperature of the envi- ronment. Alternatively, the garment 100 can have more than one element 108 measuring the temperature, of which at least one element 108 is located on the side of the garment 100 nearest the user and at least one element 108 on the side of the garment 100 farthest away from the user so that by comparing the temperatures of these elements 108 located at different places it is possible to deduct whether the garment 100 has been put on the user or not.

Further, the garment 100 of the invention can be provided with the element 110. The element 110 can comprise a base of moisture impermeable material and a part between the base and the user's body, which is at least partly made of electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material can be, for example, a cloth- like structure manufactured of conductive fibres, the electrical conductivity of which changes substantially as the structure is watered. Upon using the garment 100 of the invention, the moisture evaporating from the user's body condenses to the structure of conductive material fastened to the base, thus changing considerably the electrical resistance of the structure of conductive material. The use of the garment 100 can then be detected by measuring, for example, the electrical resistance R of the element 110.

Alternatively, the element 110 can be arranged so that, upon using the garment 100, the element 110 retains moisture as above, but instead of the resistance R, the electrical capacitance C of the element is measured. The element 110 can especially be manufactured so that the capacitance C of the moist element 110 is considerably different from the capacitance C of the dry element 110.

The user interface of the garment 100 of the invention can alternatively be realised also using an ON/OFF switch 114 so that the user can either switch the garment 100 on or off depending on whether he has put on the garment or taken it off. Further, with the help of the ON/OFF switch 114, the user can switch the garment 100 off, although the garment 100 were in use or put on. However, it has to be noted that the ON/OFF switch 114 is an alternative embodiment of the invention and that the user interface of the garment according to the invention can also be realised without the separate ON/OFF switch 114.

The garment 100 of the invention can further comprise the power source 118, such as a button battery and/or photocell, and further some other electrical and/or electronic system known from intelligent clothing, such as, among others, the indicator light 120 as a device intended for, for example, pedestrians to improve visibility. According to one embodiment, as the garment 100 detects that the garment 100 has been put on the user, the garment 100 can switch on the indicator light 120. The garment 100 can also include the element 112 measuring brightness, such as a twilight switch, in which case, according to one embodiment, as the first condition, according to which the level of brightness has decreased below a certain limit, and as the second condition, according to which the garment 100 has been put on, are ful- filled, the system integrated into the garment 100 can switch on the indicator light 120 integrated into the garment 100.

The elements 102 - 120 shown in Figure 1 are located in the garment 100 in a way of an example, but however, it has to be noted that the elements can be placed to the garment 100 also to other places. In addition, it has to be noted that the user inter- face of the garment 100 of the invention can be realised either merely by using one element or, alternatively, by using several elements.

Figure 2 presents a second exemplary embodiment of the garment 200 of the invention, into which means for detecting the use of the said garment 200 and means for connecting to a data processing device through a data transmission connection are integrated. The garment 200 of the invention comprises at least one capacitive element 202, the capacitance of which changes substantially as the garment 200 is put on the user, and at least one power source 212. The garment 200 of the invention can thus detect the use of the garment 200 from the change in the capacitance of the capacitive element 202 so that the garment 200 can switch on or off other electrical and/or electronic systems integrated into the garment 200, for example, with the help of the data processing unit 210 integrated into the garment.

Further, at least one sound-producing element 204, such as a loudspeaker or earphone, can be integrated into the garment 200 of the invention, and at least one microphone 206 for registering sound and for changing it to electrical form. According to one embodiment of the invention, as the garment 200 detects the use of the gar- ment 200, for example, with the help of the data processing unit 210 integrated into the garment 200, the garment 200 can at least partly switch on the means 208 needed for connecting to a data processing device, such as a mobile station.

The means 208 for connecting to the data processing device, integrated into the garment 200 of the invention, further comprises means for detecting the user's data processing device, such as a mobile station and its presence, in which case the means 208 can form a connection with the user's data processing device, such as a mobile station, for example, through the Bluetooth data transmission connection. According to one embodiment of the invention, the means 208 can connect to the data transmission connection with the user's mobile station it detects, as a call is received to the mobile station. In this case, according to the invention, the call can be directed with the help of the data processing unit 210 integrated into the garment 200 so that the call is answered automatically and that the call is repeated with the help of at least one sound-producing element 204, such as a loudspeaker or ear- phone, integrated into the garment 200, and that the speech of the user is transferred to the phone with the help of at least one microphone 206 integrated into the garment 200.

Figure 3 presents a third exemplary piece of clothing 300 of the invention, into which means for detecting the use of the said piece of clothing 300 are integrated. The piece of clothing 300 shown in Figure 3 can be, for example, a belt or collar, such as a belt comprising means for measuring pulse and/or other vital signs of the user and to be worn against the user's skin. The piece of clothing 300 can also be any other piece of clothing known for one skilled in the art, and further, the piece of clothing 300 can be such that it can be easily integrated as a part of another garment, such as a reflector band of a coat.

Besides the power source 312, the piece of clothing 300 of the invention can comprise at least one optical fibre 302 detecting deformations for detecting the use of the piece of clothing 300, at least one element 306 measuring the temperature, at least one element 308 measuring pulse or breathing, or alternatively, a combination of some of the said elements. In addition, the piece of clothing 300 can comprise at least one element 304 collecting moisture from the user's body, the capacitance C or resistance R of which changes considerably as the moisture accumulates into the structures of the element 304 as the piece of clothing 300 is used.

As the use of the piece of clothing 300 is detected by the data processing unit 310 integrated into the piece of clothing 300, it can control, for example, a pulse meter integrated into the piece of clothing 300 or to its connection, EKG measuring devices, EMG measuring devices, respiration rate measuring devices, measuring devices measuring the electrical conductivity of skin, or other similar systems found in so-called intelligent clothing. Alternatively, the control of electronic systems inte- grated into the piece of clothing 300 can be realised so that as the output of at least one element 302 - 308 detecting the use of the piece of clothing 300 integrated into the piece of clothing 300 changes sufficiently, a second system integrated into the piece of clothing 300 switches on or off.

According to one embodiment, the piece of clothing 300 according to the invention can forward information measured by the element integrated into the piece of clothing 300, for example, to a receiver to be held in the user's wrist. The piece of clothing 300 can also be, for example, a radar collar intended for animals or other users to be followed, in which case, in addition to the elements detecting the use of the piece of clothing 300, the piece of clothing 300 also comprises elements characteris- tic of a radar collar known for one skilled in the art, such as a radio transmitter. According to one embodiment, the piece of clothing 300 can further be arranged so that, for example, the piece of clothing 300 gives a signal as it is taken off.

Figure 4 presents a fourth exemplary garment 400 of the invention, into which garment 400 means for detecting the use of the said garment are integrated. The gar- ment 400 of the invention can, for example, include the press-stud 402, which is closed as the garment 400 is put on, in which case the press-stud 402 acts as a switch. The garment 400 can further include the separate ON/OFF switch 424, which the user can switch to the ON position as he puts on the garment 400, or to the OFF position, as he takes off the garment 400. The garment 400 can further have the power source 426, such as a button battery, accumulator, solar panel, or a combination of these.

However, the garment 400 most preferably includes a capacitive element for detecting the use of the garment 400, such as one capacitive element 404a located in the shoulder area, and a second capacitive counterpart element 404b located in the area of the second shoulder. As the garment 400 has been taken off, there is substantially only air between and around the capacitive elements 404a and 404b so that the permittivity ε between and around the capacitive elements, and thus also the capacitance C, are considerably lower (by almost two orders) than as the garment 400 is put on, in which case there substantially is the user's tissue or some organ of the user, such as the head, between and around the capacitive elements 404a and 404b. The capacitive elements 404a and 404b can alternatively be located also in some other way; for example so that the one capacitive element 404a is placed to the front in the shoulder area and the second capacitive counterpart 404b is placed to the back in the shoulder area so that as the garment 400 has been put on, the user's shoulder is found between the capacitive elements 404a, 404b.

According to yet one embodiment of the invention, the capacitive elements 404a, 404b can be separate capacitive elements 404a, 404b, which have some specific capacitance C in dry air, corresponding to the situation in which the garment 400 has been taken off and there is dry air around the capacitive element 404a, 404b. As the garment 400 is put on the user, the capacitance C of the capacitive element 404a, 404b changes considerably as the dry air around the capacitive element 404a, 404b is replaced by the user's body tissue or organ, such as shoulder.

In addition, the garment 400 can be provided with at least one strain gauge 406 detecting deformations for detecting the use of the garment 400. The strain gauge 406 can be arranged to such an area into the garment 400 that, as the garment 400 is put on the user, a considerably different measurable tension is directed to the strain gauge 406 from the one prevailing as the garment 400 has been taken off. The garment 400 can have several strain gauges 406, and they can be placed, for example, to the neck, back, the sides area, sleeve and/or the chest area.

For detecting the use, the garment 400 can also be provided with at least one moisture-analysing element 408. The operation of the moisture-analysing element 408 can be based, for example, on electrical conductivity so that, as the garment 400 is put on the user, the moisture evaporating from the user's body condenses at least partly to the structure of the moisture-analysing element 408, changing considerably the electrical conductivity of the element 408, compared to the electrical conductivity of the dry element 408 (the garment taken off). There may be several moisture- analysing elements 408, and they can be located at different places of the garment 400, such as the armpit area and/or back.

The garment 400 can further have at least one element 410 measuring the tempera- ture, such as a thermo element arranged preferably so that, as the garment 400 is used, the temperature of the element 410 measuring the temperature would be close to the user's body temperature. According to one embodiment, the elements 410 measuring the temperature can be placed to different parts of the garment 400 so that part of the elements measures the temperature from the side of the garment 400 that is closest to the user's body, such as the armpit area, while part of the elements measures the temperature from the side of the garment 400 farthest away from the user's body, such as the hem or sleeve of the garment 400, in which case the use of the garment 400 can be detected from the temperature differences between the different elements 410 measuring the temperature in different parts of the garment 400. The garment 400 can also have the element 412 measuring the user's pulse or breathing for detecting the use of the garment.

According to one embodiment, also the zipper 414 can be integrated into the garment 400, which detects whether the zipper 414 is closed or open. The operation of the zipper 414 can be based, for example, on the measuring of the resistance R or capacitance C so that the zipper 414 itself forms the resistor or the capacitive element. The zipper 414 consisting of the resistor can, for example, be arranged so that as the garment 400 has been taken off and the zipper 414 is open, the resistance R of the zipper 414 is substantially infinite (the electric conductor is off). As the garment 400 is put on and the zipper 414 is closed, current can travel, for example, down the one edge of the zipper from the collar to the pull, and further, through the pull back up the other edge of the zipper. The element of the zipper measuring resistance can be located, for example, in the neck part of the garment 414. According to the embodiment, as the zipper 414 is being closed, the resistance R decreases substantially close to the specific resistance R of the zipper 414, which can be, for example, 10 Ω. However, it has to be noted that the zipper 414 does not have to be fully closed for detecting the use of the garment 400.

According to one embodiment, the garment 400 can also be provided with cuttings so that as the garment 400 has been taken off, the cuttings lie separate from each other, and during the use of the garment 400, the cuttings are substantially closer to each other, such as the capacitive sensor pairs 416 in the hems of the garment 400. As the garment 400 has been taken off, the capacitive sensor pairs 416 are at a distance from each other, in which case the capacitance C of the capacitive sensor pairs 416 is substantially lower than in the case in which the garment 400 has been put on so that the capacitive sensor pairs are close to each other, and also the capacitance C of the capacitive sensor pairs 416 is high, such as 0.1 pF.

The garment 400 can further be provided with the element 418 detecting deformations and consisting of at least one optical fibre. The element 418 can be arranged into the garment 400 so that as the garment has been taken off, the optical fibre of the element 418 bends or contracts at least partly, causing a considerable loss in the travel of light in the optical fibre, which loss can be detected, for example, by measuring the intensity of light at the other end of the optical fibre. However, as the gar- ment 400 is used, the optical fibre of the element 418 sets substantially more evenly to the garment 400 so that the loss occurring in the optical fibre is considerably smaller than in a situation, in which the optical fibre is even partly bent or contracted. There may be several elements 418 comprising optical fibres in the garment 400, and preferably in such places in the garment 400 that as the garment has been taken off, the optical fibre contracts, and straightens when put on, such as in the chest area, to the back, sleeve, and the area of the sides.

Further, other electronic systems known from intelligent clothing can be integrated into the garment 400, such as light emitting elements 420 for improving the visibil- ity of the user of the garment 400. The light emitting elements 420 are useful, for example, in the clothing of persons operating in rescue duties, such as firemen, policemen and traffic controllers, but also in the clothing of others who move in the dark in their free time, for example, as a replacement of or an addition to reflectors.

According to one advantageous embodiment, as the garment 400 detects the use of the garment 400, for example, on the basis of the change in the output of some element 402 - 418 or on the basis of some other signal, or with the help of the data processing unit 428 integrated into at least one element 402 - 418, the garment 400 can partly switch on or off electronic systems integrated into the garment 400. For example, the garment 400 can be provided with at least one twilight switch 422, so that as the garment detects the use of the garment 400 and a decrease in the level of brightness in the environment below a certain limit, the garment 400 can switch on the light emitting element 420 integrated into the garment 400 for improving the visibility of the user of the garment 400 and thus for improving safety, for example, in traffic.

Figure 5 presents a fifth exemplary garment 500 of the invention, into which means for detecting the use of the said garment and means for connecting to a data processing device are integrated. For detecting the use of the garment 500, the garment 500 of the invention is preferably provided with at least one capacitive element 506, but also elements 508 indicating moisture and or temperature can be integrated into the garment 500. In addition, also other, for example, above mentioned elements can be integrated into the garment 500 for detecting the use of the garment 500.

In addition to elements integrated into the garment 500 for its detection, also some electronic system can be integrated into the garment 500, such as means 504 for producing sound, microphone 502, power source 516, and data processing unit 510, which can be operatively connected to the elements and means integrated into the garment. In addition, means 512 for connecting to some other data processing device 514, such as a mobile station or PDA device, can be integrated into the garment 500. A connection to another data processing system 514 can be performed, for example, with the help of a radio link, such as the Bluetooth data transmission method.

According to one embodiment, as the data processing unit 510 integrated into the garment 500 detects the use of the garment, for example, with the help of an element 506, 508 detecting the use of the garment, the data processing unit 510 can supply the means 512 with a signal to connect to a possible second data processing device 514. The data processing unit 510 integrated into the garment 500 can, for example, detect the user's mobile station 514 with the help of the Bluetooth link and stay in standby state so that as a call comes to the mobile station 514, the means 512 connect to receive the call and forward it, for example, with the help of the data processing unit 510 to the sound-producing element 504 integrated into the garment 500, such as a loudspeaker or earphone. Respectively, the speech of the user of the garment 500 or some other sound can be registered with the help of the microphone 502 integrated into the garment 500 and forwarded, for example, to the mobile station 514 by the data processing unit 510 and means 512 integrated into the garment 500.

According to one embodiment, the data processing unit 510 can also be integrated as part of the means 512 needed for connecting to the data processing device 514.

Figure 6 presents an exemplary method 600 for detecting the use of the garment according to one embodiment of the invention. In step 602, the value of the outputs of each element can be recorded to the data processing unit monitoring the outputs of the elements indicating the use of the garment and integrated into the garment or to at least one element performing the detection of the use of the garment in a case in which the garment has been put on, and the value of the output in a case in which the garment has been taken off. In this case, the data processing unit can deduct, for example, on the basis of the output of a capacitive element whether there is air or the user's body around the capacitive element and thus also whether the garment has been taken off or put on.

In step 604, the value of the output of at least one element can be compared with the values predetermined in step 602 for detecting the use of the garment. It has to be noted that it can be required in step 604 that the value of the output of at least one or more elements is TRUE in order to really detect the garment as put on. This aims at preventing incorrect interpretations, which may arise, for example, in a situation in which, for example, the temperature of a garment taken off and left in the sun can rise suitably to the temperature of the user's body, and thus according to the output of the element measuring temperature, the garment would still be put on. However, in this situation, the capacitive element, for example, typically supplies the value of the output corresponding to air as the output, and as a summary, it can be deducted in the data processing unit that the garment has not been put on.

If in step 604, the values of a sufficient amount of outputs have not been TRUE, the possible systems integrated into the garment, such as light emitting elements and/or means for connecting to a mobile station, can be at least partly switched off in step 606, if this has not already been the case, and it is possible to return back to step 604. If the value of a sufficient amount of outputs was TRUE in step 604, at least part of the systems integrated into the garment can be at least partly switched on in step 608, and it is possible to return again back to step 604.

Figure 6 shows only the most essential steps of one embodiment. However, it has to be noted that the method of Figure 6 can be used as part of a larger method, in which considerably more complex systems integrated into the garment can be switched from one state to another and back as the result of the detection of the use or undressing of the garment, such as systems needed for connecting to a data processing device. In addition, it has to be noted that preliminary settings can be made, irrespective of the state of the flowchart, for example, by taking off the garment and by returning the system integrated into the garment to the basic state and by putting on the garment and supplying the signal indicating the use of the garment to the system integrated into the system, for example, with the help of a switch.

Only some embodiments according to the solution of the invention have been dis- closed above. The principle of the invention can naturally be varied within the scope defined by the claims, for example, concerning the details of the realisation and the range of use. For example, the garment of the invention can also be used so that the garment detects the taking off of the garment and makes, for example, an alarm with the help of the sound producing element integrated into the garment and/or with the help of a mobile station.

It especially has to be noted that the method, garment and/or user interface of the invention, presented in the explanation or Figures 1 - 6, can also be applied to other garments than the ones shown in the Figures, such as a neck cloth, scarf, coat, shirt, waistcoat, belt, trousers, sock, shoe, glove, or helmet. According to one embodi- ment, also cloth with which means available for the user can be upholstered, such as seats, can be understood as a garment. The method and system of the invention can also be at least partly applied to the detection of other means than the use of the garment, such as for detecting the use of tools, machines, vehicles, seats, and other means used by humans and/or animals. The method and user interface of the invention can also be used as part of more complex systems than the ones shown in the Figures.

Claims

1. Garment (100, 200, 300, 400, 500), characterised in that the garment comprises at least one element (102 - 110, 202, 302 - 308, 402 - 418, 424, 506, 508) supplying an output signal, the value of the output signal being determined accord- ing to the operational status of the garment.

2. Garment according to claim 1, characterised in that the element in the garment is a capacitive element, strain gauge, element detecting losses of light in the optical fibre, element measuring brightness, element analysing temperature, element analysing moisture, element detecting pulse, element detecting breathing, press-stud, zipper, or ON/OFF switch.

3. Garment according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the element comprises a structure containing conductive fibres and a moisture-retaining base, to which the structure containing conductive fibres is attached.

4. Garment according to one of the claims 1 - 3, characterised in that the said garment is headgear (100, 200), neck cloth, scarf, coat (400, 500), shirt, waistcoat, overalls, belt, trousers, sock, shoe, glove, helmet, or radar collar.

5. Garment according to one of the claims 1 - 4, characterised in that the garment comprises at least one sound-producing element (204, 504) and/or at least one microphone (206, 502).

6. Garment according to one of the claims 1 - 5, characterised in that the garment comprises means (208, 512) for connecting to the data processing device (514).

7. Garment according to claim 7, characterised in that the said data processing device is a mobile station (514).

8. User interface, being installable into the garment, characterised in that the user interface comprises at least one element (102 - 110, 202, 302 - 308, 402 - 418, 424, 506, 508) supplying an output signal, the value of the output signal being determined according to the status of use of the garment.

9. User interface according to claim 8, characterised in that the element in the user interface is a capacitive element, strain gauge, element detecting losses of light in the optical fibre, element measuring brightness, element analysing temperature, element analysing moisture, element detecting pulse, element detecting breathing, press-stud, zipper, on ON/OFF switch.

10. User interface according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the element comprises a structure containing conductive fibres and a moisture-retaining base, to which the structure containing conductive fibres is attached.

11. User interface according to one of the claims 8 - 10, characterised in that the user interface is installed into a garment, the garment being headgear (100, 200), neck cloth, scarf, coat (400, 500), shirt, waistcoat, overalls, belt, trousers, sock, shoe, glove, helmet, scarf, or radar collar.

12. User interface according to one of the claims 8 - 11, characterised in that the user interface comprises at least one sound-producing element (204, 504), and/or at least one microphone (206, 502).

13. User interface according to one of the claims 8 - 12, characterised in that the user interface comprises means (208, 512) for connecting to the data processing de- vice (514).

14. User interface according to claim 14, characterised in that the said data processing device is a mobile station (514).

15. Method (600) for detecting the operational status of the garment, characterised in that the operational status of the garment (604) is detected with the help of at least one element in the garment supplying an output signal by comparing the value of the output signal with the predetermined value, which corresponds to the detectable operational status.

16. Method according to claim 8, characterised in that at least one system in the garment is switched (608, 606) at least partly on or at least partly off on the basis of the output signal of the said element.