Article of clothing including bio-medical units

Abstract

An article of clothing includes a clothing fabric and a plurality of bio-medical units integrated into the clothing fabric. A bio-medical includes a power harvesting module, a communication module, a processing module, a functional module, a die, and an IC package. The die supports the power harvesting module, the processing module, the communication module, and the functional module. The IC package houses the die and includes a mechanism for adhering to the clothing fabric.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An integrated circuit (IC) for incorporation in a clothing fabric, the IC comprises:
 a power harvesting module configured to convert a radio frequency (RF) signal into a supply voltage;   a communication module configured, when powered by the supply voltage, to:
 convert an inbound wireless signal into an inbound symbol stream; 
 convert an outbound symbol stream into an outbound wireless signal; 
   a processing module configured, when powered by the supply voltage, to:
 convert the inbound symbol stream into a bio-medical function; 
 convert a bio-medical response into the outbound symbol stream; 
   a functional module configured, when powered by the supply voltage, to:
 perform the bio-medical function; and 
   
       when the bio-medical function is a monitoring function, generate the bio-medical response. 
     
     
         22 . The IC of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 an IC package housing the IC, wherein the IC package includes a fabric adhering mechanism   
     
     
         23 . The IC of  claim 22  wherein the fabric adhering mechanism comprises at least of:
 an eyelet for facilitating sewing the IC into the clothing fabric; 
 a hook for facilitating sewing the IC into the clothing fabric; 
 a notch for facilitating sewing the IC into the clothing fabric; and 
 a fabric adhesive for facilitating gluing the IC into the clothing fabric. 
 
     
     
         24 . The IC of  claim 21  further comprises:
 an encapsulant for encapsulating the IC package. 
 
     
     
         25 . The IC of  claim 21 , wherein the bio-medical function further comprises at least one of:
 an image capture function;   a movement capture function;   a sound capture function;   a topical treatment function; and   an electronic stimulation function.   
     
     
         26 . The IC of  claim 21 , wherein the power harvesting module comprises at least one of:
 an electromagnetic signal to voltage conversion module;   an RF signal to voltage conversion module;   a motion to voltage conversion module;   a light to voltage conversion module; and   a heat to voltage conversion module.   
     
     
         27 . The IC of  claim 26 , wherein the electromagnetic signal to voltage conversion module comprises at least one of:
 an array of inductors and a rectifying circuit module to produce the supply voltage from the electromagnetic signal; and   an array of Hall-effect devices and the rectifying circuit module to produce the supply voltage from the electromagnetic signal.   
     
     
         28 . An article of clothing comprises:
 a clothing fabric; and   a plurality of bio-medical units integrated with the clothing fabric, wherein a bio-medical unit of the plurality of bio-medical units includes:
 a power harvesting module operable to convert radio frequency (RF) signals into a supply voltage; 
 a communication module operable, when powered by the supply voltage, to:
 convert an inbound wireless signal into an inbound symbol stream; and 
 convert an outbound symbol stream into an outbound wireless signal; 
 
 a processing module operable, when powered by the supply voltage, to:
 convert the inbound symbol stream into a bio-medical function; and 
 convert a bio-medical response into the outbound symbol stream; 
 
 a functional module operable, when powered by the supply voltage, to:
 perform the bio-medical function; and 
 when the bio-medical function is a monitoring function, generate the bio-medical response. 
 
   
     
     
         29 . The article of clothing of  claim 28  wherein the plurality of bio-medical units are integrated into the clothing fabric by adhering the plurality of bio-medical units into seams of the clothing fabric. 
     
     
         30 . The article of clothing of  claim 28 , wherein the clothing fabric comprises:
 a plurality of pouches for housing at least some of the bio-medical units.   
     
     
         31 . The article of clothing of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a die supporting at least one of the power harvesting module, the processing module, the communication module, and the functional module; and   an IC package housing the IC.   
     
     
         32 . The article of clothing of  claim 31 , wherein the IC package further comprises:
 a fabric adhering mechanism that includes at least of:
 an eyelet for facilitating sewing the IC into the clothing fabric; 
 a hook for facilitating sewing the IC into the clothing fabric; 
 a notch for facilitating sewing the IC into the clothing fabric; and 
 a fabric adhesive for facilitating gluing the IC into the clothing fabric. 
   
     
     
         33 . The article of clothing of  claim 28 , wherein the bio-medical unit further comprises:
 an encapsulant for encapsulating the IC package.   
     
     
         34 . The article of clothing of  claim 28 , wherein the bio-medical function further comprises at least one of:
 an image capture function;   a movement capture function;   a sound capture function;   a topical treatment function; and   an electronic stimulation function.   
     
     
         35 . The article of clothing of  claim 28 , wherein the power harvesting module comprises at least one of:
 an electromagnetic signal to voltage conversion module;   an RF signal to voltage conversion module;   a motion to voltage conversion module;   a light to voltage conversion module; and   a heat to voltage conversion module.   
     
     
         36 . The article of clothing of  claim 35 , wherein the electromagnetic signal to voltage conversion module comprises at least one of:
 an array of inductors and a rectifying circuit module to produce the supply voltage from the electromagnetic signal; and   an array of Hall-effect devices and the rectifying circuit module to produce the supply voltage from the electromagnetic signal.   
     
     
         37 . A method for a executing a bio-medical application by a wireless communication device, the method comprising:
 transmitting a continuous wave (CW) signal for a predetermined period of time, wherein a power harvesting module of a bio-medical unit of a plurality of bio-medical units integrated into a clothing fabric converts the CW signal into a supply voltage;   after expiration of the predetermined period of time, transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal for executing the bio-medical application, including:
 converting the RF signal into an inbound symbol stream; 
 converting the inbound symbol stream into a bio-medical command; 
 performing the bio-medical command and, when commanded, generating a bio-medical response; 
 converting the bio-medical response into an outbound symbol stream; and 
 converting the outbound symbol stream into an outbound RF response signal; and 
   receiving the RF response signal.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising:
 receiving a request for re-transmission of the CW signal as the RF response signal. 
 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising: instructing the power harvesting module to also convert the RF signal into the supply voltage. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising:
 after sending the RF signal, resume transmitting the CW signal; 
 indicating a time window for when the bio-medical unit is to transmit the RF response signal; and 
 during the time window, stop transmitting the CW signal.