Pressure sensor to quantify work

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11700905-B2
Application number	US-202117172880-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2021
Priority date	Mar 10, 2014
Publication date	Jul 18, 2023
Grant date	Jul 18, 2023

Abstract

A monitoring system includes a shoe and a sole integrated into the shoe. The monitoring system also includes a connection mechanism attached to an underside of the sole and is shaped to connect the sole to a pedal. A pressure sensor is incorporated into the shoe that senses a force exerted on the pedal when the shoe is connected to the pedal through the connection mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for monitoring pedaling, comprising:
determining a force applied to a pedal by a shoe during a pedal stroke, wherein determining the force includes measuring a change in distance of a first plate relative to a second plate of a capacitor force sensor located in a shoe;
determining movement information of the shoe using an accelerometer located in the shoe; and
using the movement information, modifying the determined force to correct for a motion artifact of the shoe during the pedal stroke.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the accelerometer collects movement information in at least three directions.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the movement information includes movement information in an upward direction, a downward direction, and side to side.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a direction of the force using the movement information.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the determined force includes modifying the determined force to reflect the determined force without the motion artifact.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining whether a user is pedaling or walking based on the movement information.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining when a pedal stroke is completed using the movement information.

8. A method for monitoring pedaling, comprising:
determining a force value for a force applied to a pedal by a shoe using a capacitive force sensor located in a shoe above a cleat configured to connect to the pedal;
determining a direction of the force by measuring a change in distance between two plates of the capacitive force sensor relative to a baseline distance, the change in distance being a result of the force applied to the pedal during a pedal stroke;
determining if a motion artifact exists in the force value based on movement information received from an accelerometer in the shoe; and
if the motion artifact exists, modifying the force value to correct for the motion artifact.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the accelerometer collects movement information in at least three directions.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the movement information includes movement information in an upward direction, a downward direction, and side to side.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising transmitting the force value and the movement information to a remote device.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining if the motion artifact exists and modifying the force value occur at the remote device.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein determining if the motion artifact exists and modifying the force value occur at the shoe.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the direction of the force is a force direction, and further comprising determining an accelerometer direction of the force using the movement information.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising comparing the force direction with the accelerometer direction to determine in which direction the pedal is moving.

16. A pedal stroke monitoring system, comprising:
a shoe including a sole;
a connection mechanism attached to an underside of the sole, wherein the connection mechanism is shaped to connect the sole to a pedal;
a pressure sensor including a first plate and a second plate spaced apart from the first plate to form a capacitor, wherein the pressure sensor is incorporated within the sole of the shoe that senses a force exerted on the pedal when the shoe is connected to the pedal through the connection mechanism, wherein the first plate is located above the second plate; and
an accelerometer that measures a motion of the shoe in at least three directions.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the accelerometer measures movement information in an upward direction, a downward direction, and side to side.

18. The system of claim 16 , further comprising a processing device in the shoe, and wherein, using the motion of the shoe, the processing device determines whether a motion artifact exists.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the processing device is configured to transmit information to a remote device.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the processing device determines whether there is an upward or downward force based on whether a distance between the first plate and the second plate is increasing or decreasing.

Assignees

• Ifit Inc

Inventors

• Ashby Darren C
• Watterson Scott R

Classifications

• A43B3/42

  where power is generated by conversion of mechanical movement to electricity, e.g. by piezoelectric means · CPC title

• A43B3/38

  with power sources · CPC title

• F03G5/064

  using a bicycle or a bicycle pedal, e.g. pedal generators · CPC title

• A43B5/14 Primary

  Shoes for cyclists · CPC title

• A43B3/34

  with electrical or electronic arrangements · CPC title