Autolacing footwear motor having rotary drum encoder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11490676-B2
Application number	US-201916557289-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2019
Priority date	Aug 31, 2018
Publication date	Nov 8, 2022
Grant date	Nov 8, 2022

Abstract

An article of footwear and related method includes a midsole, an upper secured with respect to the midsole, and a lace extending through the upper. A motorized lacing system positioned within the midsole, configured to engage with the lace to increase and decrease tension on the lace. The motorized lacing system includes a motor, including a motor shaft, a spool, coupled to the motor shaft, configured to spool and unspool the lace based on the turning of the motor shaft, a processor circuit, and an optical encoder. The optical encoder comprises a three-dimensional encoder defining a major axis and having a surface having a first plurality of segments positioned between a second plurality of segments, and an optical sensor, positioned within optical range of the cylindrical encoder, configured to output a signal to the processor circuit indicative of a detected one of a first and second plurality of segments.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article of footwear, comprising:
a midsole;
an upper secured with respect to the midsole;
a lace extending through the upper;
a motorized lacing system positioned within the midsole, configured to engage with the lace to increase and decrease tension on the lace, the motorized lacing system comprising:
a motor, including a motor shaft;
a spool, coupled to the motor shaft, configured to spool and unspool the lace based on the turning of the motor shaft;
a processor circuit; and
an optical encoder, comprising:
a three-dimensional encoder defining a major axis and having a surface having a first plurality of segments positioned between a second plurality of segments, the first plurality of segments having a different light reflecting characteristic than the second plurality of segments, the three-dimensional encoder secured to the motor shaft such that the turning of the motor shaft causes the three-dimensional encoder to rotate about the major axis; and
an optical sensor, positioned within optical range of the cylindrical encoder, configured to output a signal to the processor circuit indicative of a detected one of the first and second plurality of segments;
wherein the processor circuit is configured to operate the motor based, at least in part, on the signal as received from the optical sensor;
wherein the motorized lacing system comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the processor circuit and the optical sensor are positioned; and
wherein the optical sensor comprises a first optical sensor on a first major surface of the PCB and a second optical sensor on a second major surface of the PCB, the second major surface opposite the first major surface.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional encoder forms a cylinder.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein a spacing between the first and second optical sensors is approximately the same as a spacing between adjacent ones of the first plurality of segments.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the three-dimensional encoder faces away from the major axis.

5. A method for making an article of footwear, comprising:
securing a midsole with respect to an upper;
extending a lace through the upper;
positioning a motorized lacing system within the midsole, the motorized lacing system configured to engage with the lace to increase and decrease tension on the lace, the motorized lacing system comprising:
a motor, including a motor shaft;
a spool, coupled to the motor shaft, configured to spool and unspool the lace based on the turning of the motor shaft;
a processor circuit; and
an optical encoder, comprising:
a three-dimensional encoder defining a major axis and having a surface having a first plurality of segments positioned between a second plurality of segments, the first plurality of segments having a different light reflecting characteristic than the second plurality of segments, the three-dimensional encoder secured to the motor shaft such that the turning of the motor shaft causes the three-dimensional encoder to rotate about the major axis; and
an optical sensor, positioned within optical range of the cylindrical encoder, configured to output a signal to the processor circuit indicative of a detected one of the first and second plurality of segments;
wherein the processor circuit is configured to operate the motor based, at least in part, on the signal as received from the optical sensor;
wherein the motorized lacing system comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the processor circuit and the optical sensor are positioned; and
wherein the optical sensor comprises a first optical sensor on a first major surface of the PCB and a second optical sensor on a second major surface of the PCB, the second major surface opposite the first major surface.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the three-dimensional encoder forms a cylinder.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein a spacing between the first and second optical sensors is approximately the same as a spacing between adjacent ones of the first plurality of segments.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the surface of the three-dimensional encoder faces away from the major axis.

9. A motorized lacing system, comprising:
a motor, including a motor shaft;
a spool, coupled to the motor shaft, configured to spool and unspool the lace based on the turning of the motor shaft;
a processor circuit; and
an optical encoder, comprising:
a three-dimensional encoder defining a major axis and having a surface having a first plurality of segments positioned between a second plurality of segments, the first plurality of segments having a different light reflecting characteristic than the second plurality of segments, the three-dimensional encoder secured to the motor shaft such that the turning of the motor shaft causes the three-dimensional encoder to rotate about the major axis; and
an optical sensor, positioned within optical range of the cylindrical encoder, configured to output a signal to the processor circuit indicative of a detected one of the first and second plurality of segments;
wherein the processor circuit is configured to operate the motor based, at least in part, on the signal as received from the optical sensor;
wherein the motorized lacing system comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the processor circuit and the optical sensor are positioned; and
wherein the optical sensor comprises a first optical sensor on a first major surface of the PCB and a second optical sensor on a second major surface of the PCB, the second major surface opposite the first major surface.

10. The motorized lacing system of claim 9 , wherein the three-dimensional encoder forms a cylinder.

11. The motorized lacing system of claim 9 , wherein a spacing between the first and second optical sensors is approximately the same as a spacing between adjacent ones of the first plurality of segments.

12. The motorized lacing system of claim 9 , wherein the surface of the three-dimensional encoder faces away from the major axis.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Pheil Holli
• Schneider Summer L

Classifications

• A43C11/008

  Combined fastenings, e.g. to accelerate undoing or fastening · CPC title

• A43C7/08

  Clamps drawn tight by laces · CPC title

• A43C7/005

  the devices having means to hold the traditional knots or part of it tightened · CPC title

• G01D5/3473

  Circular or rotary encoders · CPC title

• F16G11/12

  Connections or attachments, e.g. turnbuckles, adapted for straining of cables, ropes, or wire (straining wire in general B21F9/00) · CPC title