Connector enables high-tech fashion

Connector enables high-tech fashion
PORTLAND, Ore. — Call it the biggest advance since velcro: the Electrical Snap Patch from Autotime Corp. is a connector designed to be inserted into clothing to attach and connect wearable computers, sensors, display panels or keyboards to a host computer. The company believes the connector will enable a new fashion line consisting of stereo coats and jackets.

The connector has three contact snaps on a 3- x 1.5-inch fabric base with a molded custom cable assembly. Cable ends are terminated into a standard 3.5-mm phono plug for interfacing to the host computer or amplifier. A special add-on board is also available to control eight digital signals through the cable assembly.

The first application area is expected to be current portable audio products. For example, a headband could integrate stereo speakers with the connectors, according to Autotime.