Autolacing footwear motor having rotary drum encoder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11903449-B2
Application number	US-202217981619-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2022
Priority date	Aug 31, 2018
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

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. A motorized system, comprising:
a motor, including a motor shaft;
a processor circuit;
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, wherein the surface of the three-dimensional encoder faces the major axis; and
an optical sensor, positioned within optical range of the three-dimensional 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; and
a printed circuit board on which the processor circuit and the optical sensor are positioned, wherein the optical sensor comprises a first optical sensor on a first major surface of the printed circuit board and a second optical sensor on a second major surface of the printed circuit board on an opposite side of the first major surface.

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

3. The motorized system 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 optical encoder of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional encoder forms a cylinder.

5. The optical encoder 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.

6. A method for making a motorized system, comprising:
positioning a processor circuit on a printed circuit board;
operatively coupling a motor to the processor circuit, the motor including a motor shaft;
positioning a three-dimensional encoder in relation to the motor, the 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, wherein the surface of the three-dimensional encoder faces the major axis; and
positioning an optical sensor on the printed circuit board and within optical range of the three-dimensional encoder, the optical sensor 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; and
wherein the optical sensor comprises a first optical sensor on a first major surface of the printed circuit board and a second optical sensor on a second major surface of the printed circuit board on an opposite side of the first major surface.

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

8. The method of claim 6 , 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.

9. An optical encoder, comprising:
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 configured to be secured to a shaft such that the turning of the shaft causes the three-dimensional encoder to rotate about the major axis, wherein the surface of the three-dimensional encoder faces the major axis; and
an optical sensor, positioned within optical range of the three-dimensional encoder, configured to output a signal to a 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; and
a printed circuit board on which the optical sensor is positioned, wherein the optical sensor comprises a first optical sensor on a first major surface of the printed circuit board and a second optical sensor on a second major surface of the printed circuit board on an opposite side of the first major surface.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Pheil Holli
• Schneider Summer L

Classifications

• G01D5/3473

  Circular or rotary encoders · CPC title

• A43B3/34 Primary

  with electrical or electronic arrangements · CPC title

• A43C11/165 Primary

  characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation · CPC title

• A43C7/08

  Clamps drawn tight by laces · CPC title

• F16G11/00

  Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes (attaching ropes or cables to lift cars or cages B66B7/08, to winch drums or barrels B66D1/34; ground anchors E02D5/00; anchoring devices for prestressed members E04C5/00; rope clamps in earth drilling E21B19/12) · CPC title