Foot presence signal processing using velocity

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018199674-A1
Application number	US-201815921414-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 14, 2018
Priority date	Mar 15, 2016
Publication date	Jul 19, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor, and the sensor is configured to sense changes in a foot proximity to the sensor in footwear. Information about the sensed proximity can be used to determine a foot velocity characteristic, which in turn can be used to update an automated footwear function, such as an automatic lacing function, or can be used to determine a step count, foot strike force, a rate of travel, or other information about a foot, about an activity, or about the footwear.

First claim

The claimed invention is:

1 . A method comprising:
receiving a time-varying sensor signal from a sensor that is coupled to an article of footwear, wherein the sensor is configured to sense information about a proximity of a foot to the sensor; and using a processor circuit:
identifying a velocity characteristic of the foot relative to the sensor using the time-varying sensor signal; and
based on the velocity characteristic as identified, at least one of:
initiating data collection about the footwear or about the proximity of the foot to the sensor using the same or different sensor coupled to the footwear, and
updating an automated function of the footwear.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying the velocity characteristic of the time-varying sensor signal includes using displacement information about a location of the foot relative to the sensor.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising using the processor circuit, determining whether a foot is present in the article of footwear based on the velocity characteristic as identified.

4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising using the processor circuit, determining a step count using the velocity characteristic as identified.

5 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising using the processor circuit, determining a foot strike force characteristic using the velocity characteristic as identified.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying the velocity characteristic using the time-varying sensor signal includes, using the processor circuit:
identifying first portions of the time-varying sensor signal corresponding to a foot strike and identifying other second portions of the time-varying sensor signal corresponding to a foot lift; and determining a step count, a rate of travel, or a distance of travel, using information about timings of the first and second portions of the time-varying sensor signal.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying the velocity characteristic using the time-varying sensor signal includes, using the processor circuit:
identifying first portions of the time-varying sensor signal corresponding to a foot strike and identifying other second portions of the time-varying sensor signal corresponding to a foot lift; and determining a lifecycle status of an insole component of the footwear using at least the first portions of the time-varying sensor signal.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the determining the lifecycle status of the insole component includes identifying a peak-to-peak excursion characteristic of the time-varying sensor signal.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the updating an automated function of the footwear includes initiating or inhibiting operation of an automatic lacing engine, wherein the lacing engine is configured to tighten or loosen the footwear about the foot.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the time-varying sensor signal from the sensor includes receiving a time-varying capacitance-indicating signal from a capacitive sensor.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the receiving the time-varying capacitance-indicating signal from the capacitive sensor includes providing a drive signal to a driven shield that is configured for use with the capacitive sensor.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising using the processor circuit, intermittently monitoring the time-varying capacitance-indicating signal from the capacitive sensor over a specified duration and, when the signal indicates less than a specified threshold signal change over the specified duration, updating a reference capacitance characteristic of the capacitive sensor.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising identifying a later subsequent velocity characteristic of the foot relative to the sensor using the time-varying sensor signal and the reference capacitance characteristic as updated.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the time-varying sensor signal includes while a foot is inserted or removed from the footwear, and wherein the identifying the velocity characteristic of the time-varying sensor signal includes identifying a changing proximity characteristic of the foot as toe, arch, and heel portions of the foot approach the sensor in the footwear.

15 . A foot proximity sensor system for footwear, the system comprising:
a capacitive proximity sensor coupled to an article of footwear and configured to provide a time-varying sensor signal indicating a proximity of a foot to the sensor; and a processor circuit coupled to the proximity sensor, the processor circuit configured to:
identify a velocity characteristic using the time-varying sensor signal; and
based on the velocity characteristic as identified, at least one of:
initiate data collection about the footwear or about a location of the foot relative to the sensor, using the same proximity sensor or using a different sensor coupled to the footwear, and
update an automated function of the footwear.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the capacitive proximity sensor comprises a planar electrode and a driven shield provided at or near an insole of the footwear.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the processor circuit is configured to determine one or more of a step count, a foot strike force, and a rate of travel using the velocity characteristic as identified.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor circuit is configured to update a reference characteristic of the capacitive proximity sensor to accommodate a change in a fluid saturation of one or more components of the footwear.

19 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising a dielectric stack provided between the capacitive proximity sensor and a foot-receiving surface of the footwear.

20 . The system of claim 19 , further comprising a suspension member provided between the capacitive proximity sensor and a foot-receiving surface of the footwear, and the suspension member is configured to bias the dielectric stack toward an uncompressed state.

21 . An automated footwear system for use in a footwear article, the system comprising:
a lacing engine and a lacing engine housing configured to be disposed in the article; a processor circuit provided in the housing, and a capacitive sensor, including at least one electrode and corresponding driven shield provided at least partially inside of the housing, wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to sense changes in proximity of a body to the at least one electrode and provide a time-varying sensor signal indicative of the proximity of the body to the electrodes; wherein the processor circuit is configured to:
identify a velocity characteristic using the time-varying sensor signal; and
based on the velocity characteristic as identified, at least one of:
initiate data collection about the footwear or about the proximity of the body to the electrodes, using the same capacitive sensor or using a different sensor coupled to the footwear, and
update an automated function of the lacing engine.

22 . The automated footwear system of claim 21 , wherein the processor circuit is configured determine one or more of a step count, a foot strike force, or a rate of travel using the velocity characteristic as identified.

23 . The automated footwear system of claim 21 , wherein the processor circuit is configured to update a reference characteristic of the capacitive sensor based on a det

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Walker Steven H
• Meneau Phillip

Classifications

• A43C1/00

  Shoe lacing fastenings (garment fastening devices A41F) · CPC title

• A43B3/001

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A43C11/165 Primary

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

• A43B13/14

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title

• G01D5/24

  by varying capacitance · CPC title