Navigation using microfluidics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10548366-B2
Application number	US-201715834772-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 7, 2017
Priority date	Dec 7, 2017
Publication date	Feb 4, 2020
Grant date	Feb 4, 2020

Abstract

A navigation system includes microfluidics, a piezoelectric charger, and a transceiver paired with a network connected mobile computing device sending walking navigation instructions to the navigation system. The instructions are received by the transceiver and rendered as an embossed line using the microfluidics. The embossed line is felt by a user and interpreted as a navigation instruction. Other position information, such as upcoming obstacles, gradients, and route outline, can be portrayed as an embossed line to a user using the microfluidics. Optionally, the navigation system includes one or more pressure sensors providing pressure measurements to the mobile computing device for determining the gait of a user. The analyzed pressure measurements are received by the transceiver and rendered as one or more projecting objects by the microfluidics at locations with improper applied pressure. Present invention embodiments may be utilized for guidance of visually impaired persons, and for monitoring a user's gait.

First claim

We claim as our invention:

1. An apparatus providing position information, comprising:
a footwear item wearable by a user,
the footwear item comprising:
an inner sole to contact a user's foot; and
a microfluidics system disposed in the inner sole and controlled by a processing device to form one or more embossed objects on the inner sole to indicate position information to a user;

wherein an angle of the one or more embossed objects on the inner sole is adjusted based on information from the processing device including a speed and a travel direction of the user to indicate to the user to change direction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the footwear item further comprises:
a communication device to communicate with a computing device; and
a power source to provide power signals to the communication device and microfluidics system.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the communication device receives navigation information from the computing device, and the microfluidics system forms an embossed line on the inner sole to direct the user according to the navigation information.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the microfluidics system further forms different patterns within the embossed line to indicate varying conditions along a path indicated by the navigation information.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more embossed objects have a configuration providing information indicating one of a desired direction, a location of a desired object, and an obstacle.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:
the footwear item further comprises one or more pressure sensors to measure pressure;
the communication device receives analysis of the pressure measurements from the computing device pertaining to a gait of the user; and
the microfluidics system forms an embossed line defined by a plurality of spaced apart projecting objects at corresponding locations on the inner sole with improper applied pressure based on the analysis to enable correction of the gait.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the processing device is trained to provide the embossed line on the inner sole with an amount of embossing based on a user's skin sensitivity.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the microfluidics system further forms the embossed line on the inner sole with different shapes to indicate varying conditions along a path indicated by the navigation information.

9. A system for providing position information, the system comprising:
a footwear item comprising a microfluidics system disposed in an insole of the footwear item and controlled by a processing device to form one or more embossed objects on the insole to indicate position information to a user;
a communication device comprising a wireless transceiver to communicate with a network connected mobile computing device to provide the position information to the microfluidics system; and
a power source to provide power signals to the wireless transceiver and microfluidics system,
wherein an angle of the one or more embossed objects on the insole is adjusted based on information from the processing device including a speed and a travel direction of the user to indicate to the user to change direction.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the position information comprises navigation information, and the microfluidics system forms an embossed line on the insole to direct the user according to the navigation information.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the microfluidics system forms different patterns within the embossed line to indicate varying conditions along a path indicated by the navigation information.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more embossed objects have a shape and form providing information indicating one of a desired direction, a location of a desired object, and an upcoming obstacle.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the footwear item further comprises one or more pressure sensors to measure pressure;
the wireless transceiver receives analysis of the pressure measurements from the computing device pertaining to a gait of the user; and
the microfluidics system forms an embossed line defined by a plurality of spaced apart projecting objects at corresponding locations on the insole with improper applied pressure based on the analysis to enable correction of the gait.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the power source comprises a piezoelectric charger that provides power when mechanical pressure is applied to the footwear item while walking, and
the wireless transceiver communicates with the network connected mobile computing device through Bluetooth connectivity.

15. A method for providing position information using a footwear item that includes a processor, a communication device comprising a wireless transceiver, and a microfluidics system disposed in an inner sole of the footwear item, the method comprising:
receiving, at the communication device, position information from a network connected mobile computing device;
transmitting, via the processor, the received position information to the microfluidics system;
forming, with the microfluidics system, one or more embossed objects on the inner sole to indicate the received position information to a user; and
adjusting, via the processor, an angle of the one or more embossed objects on the inner sole based on information from the processor including a speed and a travel direction of the user to indicate to the user to change direction.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the position information comprises navigation information, and wherein forming, with the microfluidics system, one or more embossed objects on the inner sole further comprises:
forming an embossed line on the inner sole to direct the user according to the navigation information.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein forming, with the microfluidics system, an embossed line on the inner sole further comprises:
adjusting the embossed line on the inner sole based on a changing location of the user.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein forming, with the microfluidics system, an embossed line on the inner sole further comprises:
forming different patterns within the embossed line to indicate varying conditions along a path indicated by the navigation information.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
indicating, with the one or more embossed objects on the inner sole, one of a desired direction, a location of a desired object, and an obstacle.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the footwear item further includes one or more pressure sensors to measure pressure; and wherein the method further comprises:
receiving, with the communication device, analysis of the pressure measurements from the computing device pertaining to a gait of the user;
transmitting, via the processor, received gait position information to the microfluidics system; and
forming, with the microfluidics system, an embossed line defined by a plurality of spaced apart projecting objects at corresponding locations on the inner sole with improper applied pressure based on the analysis to enable correction of the gait.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Rakshit Sarbajit K
• Keen Martin G
• Bostick James E
• Ganci Jr John M

Classifications

• A43B13/14

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title

• G06F3/016

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• A43B3/0015 Primary

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• G01C21/00

  Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00 (measuring distance traversed on the ground by a vehicle G01C22/00; control of position, course, altitude or attitude of vehicles G05D1/00; traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968) · CPC title

• G01C21/38

  Electronic maps specially adapted for navigation; Updating thereof · CPC title