Sensing device for footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020352284-A1
Application number	US-202016943364-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 30, 2020
Priority date	Mar 15, 2016
Publication date	Nov 12, 2020
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 configured to sense changes in a capacitance signal in response to proximity of a body. A dielectric member can be provided between the capacitive sensor and the body to enhance an output signal from the sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A detector for use with a footwear apparatus, the detector comprising:
a body sensor configured to:
provide an electric field inside of the footwear apparatus; and
detect a change in the electric field caused at least in part by a position of a body of a user relative to the footwear apparatus; and
determine a foot force characteristic based on the detected change in the electric field.

2 . The detector of claim 1 , further comprising a signal generator configured to provide a sensor drive signal, wherein the body sensor is configured to provide the electric field inside of the footwear apparatus using the sensor drive signal.

3 . The detector of claim 2 , wherein the body sensor is configured to provide the electric field in a foot arch-receiving portion of the footwear apparatus.

4 . The detector of claim 1 , wherein the detector comprises a processor circuit configured to determine the foot force characteristic based on information about the change in the electric field over time.

5 . The detector of claim 4 , wherein the processor circuit is configured to determine whether the user is sitting or standing based on the foot force characteristic.

6 . The detector of claim 4 , wherein the processor circuit is configured to identify a step event for the user based on the foot force characteristic.

7 . The detector of claim 4 , wherein the processor circuit is configured to determine a step count for the user based on the foot force characteristic.

8 . The detector of claim 4 , wherein the processor circuit is configured to determine a step rate for the user based on the foot force characteristic.

9 . The detector of claim 4 , wherein the processor circuit is configured to determine a gait characteristic of the user based on the foot force characteristic.

10 . The detector of claim 4 , wherein the processor circuit is configured to determine a weight characteristic of the user based on the foot force characteristic.

11 . The detector of claim 1 , further comprising a dielectric member provided between the body sensor and the body of the user.

12 . The detector of claim 1 , wherein the body sensor is configured to determine the foot force characteristic using information about a displacement over time of the body of the user relative to an electrode of the body sensor.

13 . A method for operating an automated footwear system, the method comprising:
providing an electric field inside of an article of footwear; sensing, using a body sensor, a change in the electric field inside of the article of footwear; and based on the change in the electric field as sensed using the body sensor, determining a force characteristic of a force applied to a footbed of the article of footwear by a user.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising actuating a lacing function of the automated footwear system based on the force characteristic as determined.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining a posture of the user based on the force characteristic as determined.

16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining a step event, step count, or a step rate for the user based on the force characteristic as determined.

17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining a gait characteristic of the user based on the force characteristic as determined.

18 . A detector for use with a footwear apparatus, the detector comprising:
a processor circuit configured to:
control an electric field provided inside of the footwear apparatus;
receive information about a change in the electric field caused at least in part by a position of a body of a user relative to the footwear apparatus; and
based at least in part on the information about the change in the electric field as detected, provide information a posture or gait characteristic of the user.

19 . The detector of claim 18 , wherein the processor circuit is further configured to determine a foot force characteristic based on the information about the change in the electric field, and wherein the processor circuit is configured to determine the posture or gait characteristic of the user using the foot force characteristic as determined.

20 . The detector of claim 18 , wherein the processor circuit is configured to use the information about the change in the electric field to discern a sitting posture of the user from a standing posture of the user.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Walker Steven H
• Meneau Phillip

Classifications

• G01L5/165

  using variations in capacitance · CPC title

• G01L5/16

  for measuring several components of force · CPC title

• G01L5/0071

  Specific indicating arrangements, e.g. of overload · CPC title

• G01L5/0014

  by using capacitive sensors · CPC title

• G01L5/0009

  Force sensors associated with a bearing (testing of bearings G01M13/04) · CPC title