权利要求：
CLAIMS
‘What is claimed is:
1. An article of apparel or equipment comprising a plurality of (one or more) microfluidic
circuits integrated into the article, each comprising an inlet, and an outlet, wherein each
microfluidic channel connects an inlet to an outlet, a connector to provide mechanical access
to the inlet and outlet, and variations in density, angle or color of the plurality of microfluidic
channcls allow thc uscr to define an appearance through usc of a docking station.
2. The appearance of claim 1, wherein the variations in density, angle or color of a single
microfluidic channel provides the illusion of having multiple independent panels within the
article.
3. The docking station of claim 1, comprising a manually actuated plunger assembly, a fluid
cartridge, a waste cartridge, and an integrated connector.
4. The docking station of claim 3, further comprising a ratcheted syringe in the waste cartridge,
and a syringe nub in the fluid cartridge.
5. The connector of claim 3 comprising a freely rotating screw ring and tapered ports to allow
an interference seal to the female connector.
6. The connector of claim 3, comprising a O-rings to provide a firm fluidic seal to the female
connector.
7. The docking station of claim 1, comprising a fluid cartridge, a waste cartridge filled with a
vacuum, and an integrated connector.
8. The connector of claim 1, comprised of a dry break connector.
9. The connector of claim 8, comprised of a sclf-clcaning screw housing with microfluidic lines
fed through a portion of the screw threading.
10. The connector of claim 8, comprised of a magnetic connector with integrated microfluidic
inlet and outlet fluid paths.
11. A system for configuring the design of a design element comprising a microfluidic circuit,
the system comprising:
(a)a module configured to set a color sequence for filling the microfluidic circuit
with one or more colored fluid; and
(b)a module configured to set the flow rate or pressure of fluid filled into the
microfluidic channel.
12. The system of claim 11, further comprises a module configured to access a remote server
comprising color scquence, flow rate, and/or pressure information for configuring the design
of the design element.
13. The system of claim 11, further comprising
(¢) a module configured to detect the type of design element comprising the
microfluidic circuit; and
(d) one or more module configured to adjust the color sequence, flow rate of fluid,
and/or pressure of fluid.
14. The system of claim 11, comprising a central processing unit comprising the module of (a)
and/or (b).
15. A process of preparing a design element or design article, the process comprising: providing
a first material that is configured in a channel network; laminating a second material onto the
first material.
16. The process of claim 15, wherein a first thermoplastic material and second thermoplastic
material comprise the same thermoplastic and/or same durometer.
17. The proccss of claim 15, wherein a first thermoplastic material is of a harder or softer
durometer than a second thermoplastic material.
18. The process of claim 15, wherein a second thermoplastic material is laminated onto the first
thermoplastic material using heat and/or pressure.
19. The process of claim 15, wherein a second thermoplastic material is laminated onto the first
metal foil material using heat and/or pressure.
20. The process of claim 18, wherein the heat is applied to the second thermoplastic material with
at cast onc roller, ultrasonic welding, or RF welding.
21. The process of claim 15, wherein a connector is overmolded to the channel network. 22. An article of apparel or equipment comprising a plurality of microcapsules integrated into or
onto a surface of the article, the plurality of microcapsules with at least a portion thereof
exposed to an external surface of the apparel or equipment, and the plurality of microcapsules
containing ink therein,
23. The article of apparel or equipment of claim 22, further comprising one or more microfluidic
channels.
24. The article of apparel or equipment of claim 22, wherein each microcapsule is configured to
provide the appearance of color change upon application of an external field thereto. 25. The article of apparel or equipment of claim 24, wherein the external field causes external
rotation of the microcapsule, whereby as the microcapsule rotates, the ink domain that is
visible on a surface of the article of apparcl or cquipment changes.
26. The article of apparel or equipment of claim 24, wherein the external field causes color
modulation by internal motion of the ink.
27. An article of apparel or equipment comprising a fluidic circuit integrated into or onto a
surface of the article, the fluidic circuit comprising a microfluidic channel with at least one
segment exposed to an external surface of the apparel or equipment, and the fluidic circuit
comprising a plurality of microparticles therein.
28. The article or cquipment of claim 27, wherein microparticle orientation is controlled
electrophoretically by a passive electronic array embedded in within the fluidic circuit.