Footwear with motorized lacing and gesture control

Abstract

To provide an article of footwear with motorized lacing and gesture control.SOLUTION: An article of footwear includes a motorized tensioning system, sensors, and a gesture control system. Based on information received from one or more sensors, the gesture control system may detect a prompting gesture and enters an enabled mode for receiving further instructions. In the enabled mode, the system may detect a variety of different control gestures that correspond to different tensioning commands.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 96

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to motorized lacing and gesture control. The present invention relates to an article of footwear having [Background technology]

[0002] Footwear articles have traditionally been made up of an upper, a sole structure, and a footwear article that is attached to the wearer. A lacing mechanism or other mechanism that can be fixed relative to the foot of the The article of footwear also includes a sensor system. collects performance data that can be accessed for later use for analysis or other purposes. Such analysis may include any of a variety of performance data, as well as cadence, beat, distance, and jog. It can provide information related to pump characteristics. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0003] [Figure 1] FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an opposite side view of the shoe of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 1 is a top perspective view of the sole of a shoe (with the shoe upper removed and the foot contacting member folded aside) incorporating one embodiment of a sensor system according to an aspect of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a top perspective view of the sole and sensor system of FIG. 3 with the foot contacting member of the shoe removed and with the electronic module removed. FIG. [Diagram 5] 4 is a top perspective view of the sole of FIG. 3 with the foot contacting member of the shoe removed and without the sensor system. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an electronic module capable of being used with a sensor system in communication with an external electronic device. [Figure 7]FIG. 4 is a plan view of an insert of the sensor system of FIG. 3 adapted to be positioned within a plantar structure of an article of footwear for a user's right foot. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the insert of FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the sensor system of FIG. 3 including the insert of FIG. 7. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the sensor system of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the sensor system of FIG. [Figure 12] 10 is a plan view of the sensor system of FIG. 9 and a similar sensor system adapted for use within a plantar structure of an article of footwear for a user's left foot. [Figure 13] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the insert of FIG. 7 showing the four different layers. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a plan view of the first layer of the insert of FIG. 13. [Figure 15] 15 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the first layer of FIG. 14. FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 14 is a plan view of the second layer of the insert of FIG. 13. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the second layer of FIG. 16. [Figure 18] FIG. 14 is a plan view of the spacer layer of the insert of FIG. 13. [Figure 19] FIG. 14 is a plan view of the bottom layer of the insert of FIG. 13. [Figure 20] 10 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating one embodiment of a circuit formed by components of the sensor system of FIG. 9. [Figure 21] 21 is an enlarged cross-sectional view generally illustrating the area indicated by line 21-21 in FIG. 11. [Figure 22A] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the sensor system of FIG. [Figure 22B] FIG. 22B is a bottom view of the sensor system shown in FIG. 22A with a filter connected at the top of the vent of the sensor system. [Figure 22C]13 is a plan view of a spacer layer of another embodiment of an insert for a sensor system according to an aspect of the present invention, with dashed lines indicating the location of the sensor. FIG. [Figure 22D] FIG. 22D is a bottom view of an insert for a sensor system incorporating the spacer layer of FIG. 22C with dashed lines indicating the location of a filter connected to the insert. [Diagram 23] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the electronic module of FIG. 6 in communication with an external gaming device. [Figure 24] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a pair of shoes, each including a sensor system, in a mesh communication mode with an external device. [Diagram 25] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a pair of shoes, each containing a sensor system, in a "daisy chain" communication mode with an external device. [Figure 26] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a pair of shoes, each including a sensor system, in an independent communication mode with an external device. [Figure 27] 1 is a plot showing pressure versus resistance for one embodiment of a sensor according to an aspect of the present invention. [Figure 28] 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of the sole and sensor system of FIG. 4. [Figure 29] 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of another embodiment of a foot plantar and sensor system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. [Diagram 30] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the sole of FIG. 3 with the foot contacting member in an operating position. [Diagram 31] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematic view taken along line 31-31 of FIG. [Diagram 32] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematic view taken along line 32-32 of FIG. 10. [Diagram 33] 1 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a sensor system according to an aspect of the present invention; [Diagram 34] 1 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a sensor system according to an aspect of the present invention; [Fig. 35A-35B] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a sensor of the sensor system of FIG. [Diagram 36]1 is a top perspective view of the sole of a shoe (with the shoe upper removed and the foot contacting member folded aside) incorporating another embodiment of a sensor system according to an aspect of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 37] 37 is a top perspective view of the sole of FIG. 36 with the foot engaging member of the shoe removed and without the sensor system. FIG. [Figure 38] FIG. 37 is a top perspective view of the sole and sensor system of FIG. 36 with the foot contacting member of the shoe removed and with the electronic module removed. [Figure 39] FIG. 37 is a plan view of an insert of the sensor system of FIG. 36 adapted to be positioned within a plantar structure of an article of footwear for a user's right foot. [Diagram 40] FIG. 40 is a plan view of the first layer of the insert of FIG. 39. [Diagram 41] FIG. 40 is a plan view of the second layer of the insert of FIG. 39. [Diagram 42] FIG. 40 is a plan view of the spacer layer of the insert of FIG. 39. [Diagram 43] FIG. 40 is a plan view of the bottom layer of the insert of FIG. 39. [Diagram 44] FIG. 40 is an exploded perspective view of the insert of FIG. 39 showing the four different layers. [Diagram 45] 1 is a top perspective view of the sole of a shoe (with the shoe upper removed and the foot contacting member folded aside) incorporating another embodiment of a sensor system according to an aspect of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 46] FIG. 46 is a top perspective view of the sole of FIG. 45 with the foot contacting member of the shoe removed and without the sensor system. [Figure 47] FIG. 46 is a top perspective view of the sole and sensor system of FIG. 45 with the foot contacting member of the shoe removed and with the electronic module removed. [Figure 48] 13 is a plan view of another embodiment of an insert for a sensor system adapted to be positioned within a plantar structure of an article of footwear for a user's right foot in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 49] FIG. 49 is a plan view of the first layer of the insert of FIG. 48. [Figure 50] FIG. 49 is a plan view of the spacer layer of the insert of FIG. 48. [Figure 51] FIG. 49 is a plan view of the second layer of the insert of FIG. 48. [Figure 52] 13 is a plan view of another embodiment of an insert for a sensor system according to an aspect of the present invention. [Diagram 53] FIG. 53 is a plan view of the first layer of the insert of FIG. 52. [Figure 54] FIG. 53 is a plan view of the spacer layer of the insert of FIG. 52. [Figure 55] FIG. 53 is a plan view of the second layer of the insert of FIG. 52. [Figure 56] 56 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 56-56 of FIG. 52. [Figure 57] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating one embodiment of a method and apparatus for forming a recess in a sole structure of an article of footwear according to aspects of the present invention. [Figure 58] 58 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the sole structure of the article of footwear of FIG. 57 with the insert member and foot contacting member of the sensor system connected. [Figure 59] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of a sensor system positioned within a sole structure of an article of footwear, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. [Figure 59A] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of a sensor system positioned within a sole structure of an article of footwear, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. [Figure 60] 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a foot contacting member configured for use with a sensor system according to an aspect of the present invention; [Figure 61] 1 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a sensor system according to an aspect of the present invention. [Figure 62] 1A and 1B show plan and perspective views of a port in an insert member according to an aspect of the present invention. [Figure 63-64] 1A and 1B show plan and perspective views of a port in an insert member according to an aspect of the present invention. [Figure 65-67]1 shows the components of the port housing. [Figure 68-69] 1 shows a diagram of an interface assembly used in a port. [Fig. 70-71] 1 shows a diagram of an interface assembly used in a port. [Fig. 72-73] 1 illustrates an interface assembly operatively connected to an insert member. [Figure 74] FIG. 13 is an enlarged partial plan view of the port connected to the insert member and with the cover member removed. [Fig. 75-76] FIG. 2 is a side view of a port attached to an insert member. [Fig. 77-78] 4 is a further diagram of a module according to an aspect of the present invention; [Figure 79] 1 is a perspective view of a contact and module carrier according to an aspect of the present invention; [Figure 80] 1 is a perspective view of a contact and module carrier according to an aspect of the present invention; [Fig. 81-83] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the components of the module. [Figure 84] FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view showing overmolding of the interface contacts of the module. [Fig. 85-86] FIG. 2 is a modular plan view illustrating a lighting assembly according to an aspect of the present invention. [Fig. 87-88] FIG. 2 is an internal view of the module showing the components of the lighting assembly. [Fig. 89-90] FIG. 2 is an internal view of the module showing the components of the lighting assembly. [Fig. 91-92] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a PCB and ground plane extender associated with a module according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Fig. 93-94] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a PCB and ground plane extender associated with a module according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 95] 1A-1C show schematic diagrams of various gestures that may be performed using an object or a pair of objects, according to one embodiment. [Figure 96]1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an article of footwear including a sensor and a tensioning system having a tension adjustment device. [Figure 97] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of some components of a tensioning device according to one embodiment. [Figure 98] 1 is a schematic diagram of a method for operating a tension adjustment device based on gesture-based input, according to one embodiment. [Figure 99] 1 is a schematic diagram of a method for operating a tension adjustment device based on gesture-based input, according to one embodiment. [Figure 100] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of the correspondence between various gestures and various commands for a tension adjustment system, according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0004] The embodiments can be more fully understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, instead Emphasis is placed on illustrating the principles of the form. Moreover, in these figures, the same reference numbers Reference numbers refer to corresponding parts throughout the different figures.

[0005] Exemplary methods and systems include footwear with motorized lacing and gesture control. The examples are merely representative of possible variations. Components and features are optional unless expressly stated to the contrary; and , may be combined or parts may be divided, and the operations may also be performed in sequence. The functions may be changed, combined, or parts may be divided. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, a thorough understanding of example embodiments is provided. Numerous specific details are set forth in order to make the present subject matter easier to understand. It is apparent that the present invention may be practiced without each or all of these specific details. Let it be.

[0006] Traditionally, lacing mechanisms and other fastening mechanisms require a user to manually tighten and tighten the fastening mechanism under tension. 2. Place a fastening mechanism or other fastening mechanism at the It works by tying or otherwise securing it in place. The tightening cord is placed under tension. A motorized lacing system has been developed that provides a motor for fastening the lacing system together with and is integrated into an article of footwear. In such a system, the motor: By a user interacting with an interface, e.g., a button, or , may be activated by a sensor that detects the presence of a foot within the article of footwear.

[0007] However, such systems may vary depending on the type of sensor utilized to detect the wearer's activity. Moreover, such sensors do not rely on gestures by the wearer. It has no sensitivity to detecting the presence of a foot in an article of footwear. The sensors in the device can detect intentional commands by the user, for example to tighten or loosen a lace. There is no sensitivity to the corresponding gestures.

[0008] A method for detecting gestures by a wearer of an article of footwear comprising: Such gestures include heel clicking, toe tapping, , and the heel or forefoot of one article of footwear by the other article of footwear. The likelihood that a movement will be misinterpreted as a gesture corresponding to a command may be reduced. To reduce this, the system will set the first gesture to place the system in "enabled" mode. and a second gesture received while in the valid mode is a command gesture. The term "interpretation" can take place at multiple stages:

[0009] In Figs. 1 and 2, footwear such as shoes is shown as an example, which generally The footwear 100 is, for example, The shoes may have many different configurations, including a variety of athletic shoes. In this case, the shoe 100 generally comprises a power supply operatively connected to the universal communication port 14. and / or pressure sensor system 12. As will be described in more detail below, sensor system 1 2 collects performance data relating to the wearer of the shoe 100. Universal Communication Port Through the connection to 14, multiple different users may use a variety of different For usage, performance data can be accessed.

[0010] The article of footwear 100, as shown in FIGS. 1-2, includes an upper 120 and a sole structure 130. For purposes of reference in the following description, the footwear As shown in FIG. 1, the shoe 100 includes a forefoot region 111, a midfoot region 112, and a heel region 113. The areas 111-113 are the three comprehensive areas of the It is not intended to precisely define the boundaries of the area of ​​the software 100. Rather, Regions 111-113 are an overall view of footwear 100 that provides a framework for the following description. The regions 111-113 are generally intended to represent the target areas of the footwear 1 00, but the references to areas 111 to 113 are specifically to Table 12 0, or to the sole structure 130, or to the upper 120 or the sole structure 130 For individual components that are contained within and / or form part of However, it may still be applicable.

[0011] As further shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper 120 is secured to a sole structure 130. and defines a cavity or chamber for receiving the foot. 120 includes lateral side portions 121, medial side portions 122 on both sides, and a toe cap or instep area 123. The lateral side 121 extends along the lateral side of the foot (i.e., on the outside). and generally passes through each of the regions 111-113. In addition, the medial side 122 extends along the medial side of each side of the foot (i.e., on the medial side). and generally passes through each of the regions 111-113. The leather area 123 is connected to the lateral side 121 so as to correspond to the upper surface or instep area of ​​the foot. The toe area 123 is positioned between the medial side portions 122. In this case, the footwear 1 is made by changing the dimensions of the upper 120 in relation to the foot. A tightening cord 125 or other fasteners are used in a conventional manner to adjust the fit of the 00. The throat 124 has a desired closing mechanism. The shoe also includes an ankle opening 126 that provides the foot with access to a cavity within the upper 120. To construct the upper 120, materials conventionally utilized in footwear uppers are used. Thus, the outer shell 120 can be made of, for example, leather, synthetic Leather, natural or synthetic fabrics, polymer sheets, polymer foams, mesh textiles, It may be formed from one or more sections of felt, non-woven polymer, or rubber material. The cover 120 may be formed from one or more of these materials. In some cases, the material or a portion thereof may be, for example, a material that is conventionally known in the art and Depending on the system used, they are either sewn or adhesively bonded together.

[0012] The upper 120 also includes a heel element (not shown) and a toe element (not shown). The heel element, when present, may be configured to improve the comfort of the footwear 100. Extending upwardly in heel region 113 and along the interior surface of upper 120 The toe element, when present, may be adapted to contact the wearer's toe to provide wear resistance. in the forefoot region 111 to provide forefoot protection and to assist with foot positioning; In addition, it can be disposed on the outer surface of the cover 120. In some cases, one or both of the heel and toe elements may be absent, or The heel element may be positioned, for example, on the exterior surface of upper 120. Although the construction of the upper 120 is suitable for the footwear 100, the upper 120 may be modified to fit any purpose other than as described above. The present invention can have any desired conventional or non-conventional outer shell configuration without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. can.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 3, the sole structure 130 is secured to the lower surface of the upper 120. The sole structure 130 may be of any generally conventional shape. For example, the shoe may include a midsole 131, an outsole 132, and a foot contacting member 133. The foot contacting member 133 may have a multi-piece construction such as In order to improve the comfort of the wear 100, the upper 120 is provided with a cavity therein and a lower surface of the foot. In a state adjacent to the surface (or between the upper 120 and the midsole 131), In various embodiments, the foot is a thin, compressible member that can be deployed. The contact member 133 may be a sock, a stobel, an insole member, a bootie element, a sock, or the like. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the foot contacting member 133 is an insole. As used herein, the term "foot contacting member" refers to a foot support member or insole. The direct contact between the foot and the user is not necessarily required because other elements may prevent direct contact. Rather, the foot-contacting member is a foot-receiving member of the article of footwear. It forms part of the inner surface of the chamber, e.g., to prevent the user from directly contacting it. As another example, an external bootie element may be used. A shoe cover or shoe cover is configured to slide over a shoe or other article of footwear. The constructed sensor system 12 may be incorporated into an article of footwear. In the present product, although it does not directly contact the user's foot, the upper part of the sole structure is attached to the foot. In some configurations, an insole or inner liner is present. In other embodiments, the footwear 100 may not be The shoe may have a foot contacting member positioned on the upper portion of the insole or insole.

[0014] The midsole member 131 may be or may include a shock-damping member. and in some embodiments may include multiple members or elements. For example, the midsole member 131 may be in contact with the ground during walking, running, jumping, or other activities. or other contact surface reaction force damping, polyurethane, ethylvinyl chloride, acetate, or (phylon, phylite, etc.) The present invention may be formed from polymer foam materials, such as fluoroplastics, fluoroplastics, and other materials. In some exemplary constructions according to the present invention, the polymer foam material is improves the comfort, motion control, stability, and / or force damping characteristics of the ground or other contact surface; encapsulates or encapsulates various elements such as a fluid-filled bladder or moderator to improve In yet another example construction, the midsole 131 may include: It may include a further element that is compressed to dampen reaction forces of the ground or other contact surface. For example, the midsole 131 may be made of column-type materials to help cushion and absorb forces. It can contain elements of the group.

[0015] The outsole 132, in this illustrated example footwear structure 100, is a midsole. The lower surface of the footsole 131 is fixed to the lower surface of the footsole 131 and is adapted to be held against the ground or other objects during walking or other activities. Wear and tear, such as flexible synthetic materials like rubber or polyurethane, that come into contact with other surfaces The material forming the outsole 132 provides improved traction and It may be made of suitable materials and / or have a technology to provide slip resistance. The outsole 132 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. The outer sole 132 may include a plurality of notches or grooves 136 on either or both sides. Although shown as such, many tires having various types of treads, shapes, or other configurations may be used. Other types of outsoles 132 may be used in conjunction with the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention may be used with other types of footwear, as well as other types and configurations of shoes. It should be appreciated that the present invention may be used in conjunction with apparel and footwear constructions.

[0016] 1 to 5 are diagrams illustrating an example of footwear 100 incorporating a sensor system 12 according to the present invention. 3-22B show an example embodiment of the sensor system 12. The sensor system 12 includes a force and / or pressure sensor assembly 13 connected thereto. The insert member 37 is a foot configured to be positioned in contact with a sole structure 130 of the footwear 100; and In one embodiment, the insert member 37 is located below the foot contacting member 133 and Also, the midsole member 131 is positioned above the midsole member 131 and in a generally opposing relationship. The sensor assembly 13 includes a plurality of sensors 16 (e.g., A communication or output port in communication with the sensor assembly 13 (electrically connected via a conductor) The port 14 includes a power supply 15 and a power supply 16. The power supply 14 includes a power supply 17 and a power supply 18. The power supply 14 includes a power supply 19 and a power supply 20. The power supply 14 includes a power supply 20 and a power supply 21. The power supply 14 includes a power supply 22 and a power supply 23. The power supply 14 includes a power supply 23 and a power supply 24. The power 2, configured to communicate data received from the sensor 16 to an electronic module 22, such as The port 14 and / or the module 22 may also be described below. As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the embodiment can be configured to communicate with an external device. In an embodiment, the system 12 is configured to: A first sensor 16a, a second sensor 16b in the first metatarsal skull region and a fifth metatarsal skull region The two sensors 16b-c in the forefoot area of ​​the shoe including the third sensor 16c in the The foot has four sensors 16, a first sensor 16a at the foot and a fourth sensor 16b at the heel. The rear typically experiences the greatest amount of pressure during exercise. The sensor is configured to detect pressure exerted by a user's foot against the sensor 16. communicates with the port 14 through a sensor lead 18, which is a wire lead and / or another electrical conductor or suitable communication medium. For example, the embodiments of FIGS. In one embodiment, the sensor leads 18 are coated with a silver-based ink or a copper and / or tin-based ink. Printing on the insert member 37, such as ink based on the ink, other metallic ink, etc. Alternatively, the leads 18 may be In other embodiments, the lead 18 may be provided as a thin wire. The foot-contacting member 133, the midsole member 131, or another member of the sole structure 130 may be It can continue.

[0017] Other embodiments of the sensor system 12 may include different numbers or configurations of sensors 16. The system may include, and typically includes, at least one sensor 16. For example, In one embodiment, the system 12 includes a significantly greater number of sensors and In another embodiment, the system 12 may include one in the heel of the shoe 100, one in the forefoot, and In addition, the sensor 16 includes two sensors: Bluetooth and short-range communication. The port 14 may be connected in different ways, including any known type of wired or wireless communication. The pair of shoes may include a sensor system in each shoe of the pair of shoes. A stem 12 may be provided and a pair of shoe sensor systems may be provided in a synergistic manner. or may operate independently of each other, and each shoe It is understood that the sensor systems within may or may not communicate with each other. More details regarding communication with the sensor system 12 are provided below. The pressure data from the interaction of the user's foot with the ground or other contact surface may be included in the Computer programs / algorithms to control the collection and storage of data (e.g., The programs / algorithms may be provided, and these programs / algorithms may be implemented by the sensors 16, the The information may be stored in the module 22 and / or the external device 110 and / or It should be understood that the present invention may be implemented by any of the following methods:

[0018] The sensor system 12 may be positioned in a number of configurations within the sole 130 of the shoe 100. In the example shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the port 14, the sensor 16, and the reed 18 connect the insert member 37 to the midsole 131 and the foot contact member 133. 13. The foot contact member 133 is positioned between the midsole 131 and the foot contact member 133. The insert member 37 can be positioned in the midsole. The foot may be connected to one or both of the foot contacting member 133 and the foot support member 134. In one embodiment, a hole or well 1 is provided to receive the electronic module 22. 35 within the midsole 131 (FIG. 5) and / or within the foot contacting member 133. and the port 14 is accessible from within the recess 135. The recess 135 may further accommodate the housing 24 for the module 22. Together, the housing 24 provides physical space for the port 14 and / or and module 22, etc., by providing hardware for interconnection between port 1 4. In the embodiment shown in FIG. The recess 135 is formed by a hole in the upper major surface of the midsole 131. As shown in FIG. 1, the sole structure 130 has an internal periphery 140 for receiving the housing 24. The foot may include a compressible sole member 138 having a hole formed therein, which may include a recess 138. 35 and / or is considered to be part of the recess 135. The insert 37 may be configured to locate the housing 24 within the recess 135. The compressible sole member 138 may be disposed on top of the compressible sole member 138. 38 may be opposed to the midsole 131 in one embodiment, and The compressible sole member 138 may be in direct contact with the sole 131. A compressible sole member 138, such as a strobel member, and a midsole 13 1, with one or more additional structures positioned between the midsole 131 It should be understood that the compressible sole portion may be opposed to the compressible sole portion in the embodiment of FIGS. A material 138 is disposed between the foot contacting member 133 and the midsole 131 (e.g., EVA The foam member 138 has the form of a foam member (e.g., a member), which in this embodiment is The foam member 138 may be considered to be a lower insole / insole. In terms of form, the midsole 131 of the strobel 133A ( 58) and cover all the seams on the strobel. As a result, wear of the insert 37 due to the seam can be prevented. This configuration is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3 to Fig. 5. The housing 24 has a number of walls, including a side wall 25 and a base wall 26. A flange extends outwardly from the top of the insert 37 and is configured for connection to the insert 37. The flange 28 also includes a hole 27. pegs that connect through holes 28B in inserts 37 located at the front ends of the 28A, which connects to a tub 29 to form the housing 24. The pegs 28A may be connected via ultrasonic welding or other techniques. And, in one embodiment, may be received within a container. In one embodiment, the article of footwear 100 includes tabs formed within the sole structure 130. 29, and the flange 28 may optionally be fabricated with a port may be connected later, for example by snap connections, after other parts of the The housing 24 has a retaining member for retaining the module 22 within the housing 24. Such retention structures may include tab / flange and slot structures. Retention structures and complementary tabs, locking members, friction fit members, etc., on the module 22 may be used. The housing 24 may also be in flange 28 and / or tab 29. The housing 24 also includes a finger recess 29A disposed in the housing 24. 2, leaving room for a user's fingers to engage module 22 to remove it from Flange 28 provides a wide base that engages the top of insert 37. , so that the flange 28 contacts the insert 37 and / or the foot contacting member 133 The forces acting on the components are spread out, thus preventing serious deflection and The rounded corners on the flange 28 also reduce the likelihood of the insert 3 being damaged. 7 and / or foot contacting member 133. In other embodiments, the electrodes may have different shapes and / or configurations and may be It should be understood that similar functionality may be provided having any suitable shape and / or configuration.

[0019] The foot contacting member 133 is disposed on top of the foam member 138 to cover the insert 37. 3, the housing 24 is configured to be placed in the It may include a recess 134 in its lower major surface to provide space. Member 133 may be adhered to foam member 138, and in one embodiment 3, in order to access the module 22, the foot contacting member 133 is To allow for lift, the shoe may be bonded only in the forefoot area. The foot contacting member 133 may be made of an insert 37 and / or a foam member 134, such as a silicone material. 38. An adhesive or other adhesive disposed on at least a portion of the back surface to resist slippage between the The material may include a high friction material (not shown). Foot contacting member 133 is bonded in the forefoot region and in the heel region. In one embodiment, the foot contacting member 133 is disposed on the heel region. The adhesive material may have a thickness that is less than 100 μm. Also, the adhesive material may have a thickness that is less than 100 μm. In another embodiment, the present invention provides an improved seal to resist As shown at 60, the foot contacting member 133 is adapted to be positioned over the port 14. and allowing insertion and / or removal of the module 22 through the foot contacting member 133. The door or hatch 137 may be sized to accommodate the The embodiment of the foot contacting member 133 shown provides an access to the port 14 and the module 22. 3, 36, or 45 to provide access to the foot. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 60, the door 137 is The door 137 has a hinge 137A formed by the attachment of material along one edge of the door. This allows the door 137 to be opened and closed by swinging. In this embodiment, the door 137 provides a large portion of the cushioning due to the inclusion of the door 137. To prevent loss, it is made of the same material as the foot contacting member 133. , door 137 includes tabs 137B to assist a user in grasping and manipulating door 137. or other configurations. In one embodiment, the sensor system 12 includes , may be positioned on the underside of the foot contacting member 133, and the door 137 (FIG. In such an embodiment (not shown), a In another embodiment, the door 137 may be hinged on another edge. or may be opened in a different manner, such as by removal or sliding. In one embodiment, the foot contact member 133 has an upper portion, as described below. It may also have graphic indicia 92.

[0020] In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 and 7, a foam member 1 38 has the same circumference as the insert 37 so as to receive the insert 37 therein. The bottom layer 69 of the insert member 37 may include a recess 139 having a rectangular shape. (FIG. 13) includes an adhesive support to hold the insert 37 in the recess 139. In one embodiment, a fast-bonding acrylic adhesive, such as A relatively strong adhesive may be utilized. The insert 37 secures the housing 24 to the It has a hole or space 27 to receive it and provide room for it. and the foam member 138 in this embodiment allows the housing 24 to be and / or through the midsole 131 completely and / or through at least a portion of it. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. The contact member 133 is in relation to a general foot contact member 133 (e.g., an insole). 138 may have a reduced thickness, in which case the thickness of the foam member 138 is equivalent to To provide cushioning, the thickness of the foot contacting member 133 is substantially reduced. In this case, the foot contacting member 133 may be an insole having a thickness of about 2 to 3 mm; and , the foam member 138 may have a thickness of about 2 mm, in which case the recess 139 is , and has a depth of about 1 mm. In one embodiment, the foam member 138 is 38 is adhesively connected to the insert member 37 prior to connection to the article of footwear 100. This configuration allows the adhesive between the foam member 138 and the insert 37 to be bonded to the The foam member 138 may be bent or curved and may otherwise delaminate. Prior to attachment of the foam member to the trowel or other portion of the footwear 100, the foam member is flat. In one embodiment, the adhesively attached ink is allowed to cure under the desired conditions. In this configuration, the foam member 138 having the insert 37 is 0. Port 14 of FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 can be provided as a single product for insertion into the The positioning provides minimal contact, irritation, or other interference with the user's feet. 133. Not only does it show the foot contacting member 133, but it also allows easy access by simply lifting the foot contacting member 133. is also offered.

[0021] In the embodiment of Figures 3-5, the housing 24 includes an insert 37 and a foam member 58. The recess 135 extends completely through the recess 138 and is also shown diagrammatically in FIG. 13A, completely through the strobel 133A to receive the housing 24, and , extending partially into the midsole 131 of the footwear 100. In the embodiment, the recess 135 may be configured in different ways. In this embodiment, a window through the strobel 133A provides access to the module 22 within the recess 135. completely beneath the Strobel 133A, allowing access to The recess 135 can be positioned by the strobel 133A and / or the midsaw. 131, removing or cutting material from the stroke having the recess contained therein. 13A and / or midsole 131, or by other techniques or The method may be performed using a variety of techniques, including combinations of these techniques. In one embodiment, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 13A through the midsole 131 and into the midsole 131, removing a piece of material 135A to form a recess. A hot knife 109 is used to form 135. In terms of configuration, the hot knife 109 is configured to cut not only the fragment 135A to be removed, but also the fragment 1 35A。 35A defines a hole 109B that receives a protrusion 109C extending downward through the middle of the The hot knife 109 includes a wall 109A that extends around the periphery of the hot knife 109. The wall 109A , the Strobel 133A and the Mid-Plate 134A are used to cut the outer boundary of the piece 135A to be removed. The protrusions 109C are cut downward into the sole 131 to facilitate removal. This weakens the bottom side of the fragment 135A and also reduces the fragment's ability to move within the hole 109B during removal. 135A and thus helps to hold the hot knife 135A away from the sole structure 130. Piece 135A can be removed by simply lifting 109. In this embodiment, the hot knife 109 can be heated to a temperature of 250 to 260° C. In other embodiments, the hot knife 10 (which may be configured in a different manner) 9 shows differently shaped and / or configured recesses 130 in the sole structure 130. FIG. 58 shows an insulator connected to a sole structure 130. The housing 24 is received within the recess 135 after formation. As shown in FIG. 58, the housing 24 is formed with the walls of the recess 135 and It is a tight fit because the gap between the housing 24 and the recess 135 is not a material barrier. This may be advantageous since the process of removing the fragments 135 may be suitable. The process can be automated by using suitable computer-controlled equipment.

[0022] The recess 135 may be located elsewhere in the sole structure 130 in further embodiments. For example, the recess 135 may be disposed in the upper major surface of the foot contacting member 133. and the insert 37 is disposed on the top of the foot contacting member 133. As another example, the recess 135 may be located in the lower major surface of the foot contacting member 133. In this case, the insert 37 is disposed between the foot contacting member 133 and the midsole. In a further example, the recess 135 is disposed between the grooves 131 in the outsole 132. and through an opening in the side, bottom, or heel of the sole 130. In some cases, the shoe 100 may be accessible from the outside. In the embodiment, the port 14 is used to connect or disconnect the electronic module 22, as described below. In the embodiment shown in FIG. The material 133 has an insert 37 connected to its lower surface and includes ports 14 and The recess 135 may be formed in a sole structure similar to the same structure described above and shown in FIG. The interface 20 is formed within a structure 130. 2, is positioned on the side of the housing 24, similar to that shown in FIG. However, the interface 20 may be configured to engage any of the modules 22, such as through the top of the module 22. It should be understood that the module 22 may be located elsewhere. In this embodiment, the foot contact portion The material 133 has an opening for accessing the module 22 (as in FIG. 60). Alternatively, the module 22 may be provided with access to the In the embodiment shown in FIG. The insert 37 is located below both the foot contacting member 133 and the strobe 133A, and , and is positioned in contact with the midsole member 131. In the embodiment, the strobel 133A and / or the foot contact member 133 are connected to the module 22. An opening may be provided for access to the nozzle and / or the nozzle may be provided in the nozzle as shown in FIG. 2. The module 22 may be liftable to access the module 22.

[0023] In other embodiments, the sensor system 12 may be positioned in a different manner. For example, in one embodiment, the insert 37 is 2, may be positioned within the midsole 131 or foot contacting member 133. In one exemplary embodiment, the insert 37 is a sock, insole, inner footwear brace, or a support member, such as a footwear, a trouser, or other similar article positioned above the insole member; It may be positioned within the foot contacting member 133 or may be insulated from the foot contacting member 133. Additionally, other configurations are possible and may be used. Some examples of other configurations are described below. As described, the sensor system It should be understood that the shoe frame 12 may be included in each shoe of a pair of shoes.

[0024] The insert member 37 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 22B includes at least a first The first and second layers 66, 68 are formed of multiple layers. 8. Mylar® or other PET (polyethylene terephthalate) thin film or another polymeric thin film such as polyamide. In one embodiment, the first and second layers 66, 68 each have a thickness of 12 mm. It may be a thin PET film having a thickness of 0.05-0.2 mm, such as a thickness of 5 μm. Additionally, in one embodiment, the first and second layers 66, 68 each have a thickness of 2 mm. The insert 37 is disposed between the first and second layers 66, 68 and has a minimum bend radius of The spacer layer 67 is positioned above the second layer 68, and / or the insert layer 69 is positioned below the second layer 68. The base 37 may further include a bottom layer 69 positioned on the bottom of the base 37, which may include Included in the embodiment shown in Figures 3-22B are layers 66, 67 of the insert 37. , 68, 69 are stacked one on top of the other, face each other, and are of one solid body. In an embodiment, all of the layers 66, 67, 68, 69 have similar or identical peripheral shapes. In one embodiment, the spacers are Layer 67 and bottom layer 69 are each 89 to 111 μm thick, such as 100 μm thick. The overall thickness of the insert member 37 may be, in one embodiment, about 4 50 μm, or in another embodiment, about 428-472 μm. and in a further embodiment, may be about 278 to 622 μm. The insert 37 may also include an additional adhesive having a thickness of 100 to 225 μm. In other embodiments, one or more optional layers, such as an additional PET layer, may be added. In addition, in one embodiment, the four-layer insulation described above may further include a reinforcing layer. The entire insert has a minimum bend radius of 5 mm or less. In another embodiment, the second layer 68 is disposed as the top layer and the first layer 66 is disposed as the bottom layer. It should be appreciated that the arrangement may be reversed, such as by placing the first layer 66 underneath the second layer 68. In the embodiment of Figures 3-22B, the first and second layers 66, 68 are 18, resistors 53, 54, traces 50, dielectric patches 80, and other components. It has various circuits and other components printed thereon, including These components are described in more detail below. In this embodiment, on the back surface of the first layer 66 and on the top surface of the second layer 68 In other embodiments, at least some of the components are printed on the The materials may be printed on the opposite sides of the first and second layers 66, 68. The components disposed on the first and / or second layers 66, 68 are connected to the other layers 66, 68. It should be understood that components may be moved / replaced. In one embodiment, components may be on layers 66, 68 in such a way as to limit the total number of printer passes required. In one embodiment, all of the contacts on each layer 66, 68 may be printed. The components can be printed in a single pass.

[0025] Layers 66, 67, 68, 69, in one embodiment, are made of an adhesive or other bonding material. The spacer layer 67 may be connected to the first and second electrodes in one embodiment. and including an adhesive on one or both surfaces to connect the first and second layers 66, 68. The bottom layer 69 can be similarly attached to the second layer 68 as well as to the article of footwear 100. Also, the adhesive may be provided on one or more surfaces to provide a connection. Additionally or alternatively, the first or second layer 66, 68 may include an adhesive for this purpose. In other embodiments, layers 66, 67, 68, and 69 may have a surface. Various other techniques, such as heat sealing, spot welding, or other known techniques, may be used to make the connections. The method can be used.

[0026] Also, the insert 37, the foot contacting member 133, and / or the sensor system 12 and the footwear The other components of the hardware 100 are mounted on a graphics board (not shown). The graphic structure may include a first graphic structure or other indicia. Insert 37 may be overlaid with a graphic layer on top of layer 66. It may be provided on one or more graphics layers (not shown) to which it may be connected. The graphic structure is supported by the sensor assembly 13, the leads 18, and the layers. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. In this case, the foot contact member 133 is provided with a sensor system positioned below the foot contact member 133. Graphical indicia 9 forming a graphical depiction of the insert 37 of the stem 12 In other embodiments, reference, stylistic, and other such Other graphical configurations may be used, including configurations such as:

[0027] The insert 37 shown in FIGS. 3-22B has less The design allows for the use of low-cost materials and has a relatively low resistance to fracture at common stress points. In this embodiment, the insert 37 is In areas that may be redundant, such as in the lateral forefoot area or the lateral and mid heel area. The cutout area has several pieces of material cut out from the area of ​​the insert 37. The insert 37 is a midfoot portion configured to be engaged by the midfoot region of the user's foot. 37A and a front foot support configured to be engaged by a forefoot (i.e., midfoot) region of a user's foot. and foot portion 37B, where the heel region and the first phalangeal region of the user's foot are respectively In a state in which the heel portion 37C is configured to be engaged by the midfoot portion 37A, A first phalangeal portion 37D extends rearward from the forefoot portion, and a first phalangeal portion 37C extends forward from the forefoot portion. Figures 4, 8, 10 and 22A show these features in more detail. Depending on the shape of the foot, the first phalangeal portion 37D may only engage the first phalangeal region of the user's foot. It should be understood that in this embodiment, the first phalangeal portion 37D and the heel portion 37C The elongated shape allows the shoe to be independently extended from the base in the generally wide midfoot and forefoot portions 37A-B. The forefoot is configured as a peninsula extending forward or backward, respectively, to the distal end. The width of the midfoot portion 37B is greater than the width of the midfoot portion 37A, and the width of the midfoot and forefoot portions 37A-B Each of the first phalangeal portion 37D and the heel portion 37C has a width greater than that of the first phalangeal portion 37D and the heel portion 37C. The width of the portion of the insert 37, as referenced in the figure, is measured laterally from the midpoint. The length is measured from front to back (toe to heel). In the embodiment of 22B, the first phalangeal portion 37D is engaged by the first phalange of the user. The foot has one of the sensors 16a located at its upper portion so that the foot can be detected by the sensor. Part 37C is another of the sensors 16d at its top to be engaged by the heel of the user. The remaining two sensors 16b and 16c are located at the first and second positions of the user's foot, respectively. and on the forefoot portion 37B of the insert 37 so as to be engaged by the fifth metatarsal head region. Specifically, in the first metatarsal skull region and in the fifth metatarsal skull region , is disposed in the middle leg portion 37A. and the hole 27 is located between the forefoot portion 37B and the heel portion 37C. The wire defines two strips 88 extending through and connecting the wires. In this embodiment, the strip 88 has a minimum width of 8 mm or 3 to 10 mm of the overall length of the insert 37. In this application, the length of the insert 37 is in the range of 0.5% from the first phalange. The length of the shoe is measured from the forefoot end of the portion 37D to the heel end of the heel portion 37C. The lip 88 experiences high stresses during use and this width is required to avoid injury during use. In other embodiments, the strip 88 is supported by additional structure. For example, in one embodiment, the strips 88 and / or the insulator 89 may be Other portions of the sert 37 may be reinforced with fibers or similar structures. As another example, the insert 37, in one embodiment, completely surrounds the housing 24. and between both strips 88 and the remainder of the insert 37 A further structural layer, such as a further structural layer occupying the entire joint of the insert 37. It may be included at least in part.

[0028] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 22B, the insert 37 is 7 and extends from the rear of the heel portion 37C to the front end of the first phalangeal portion 37D. A medial edge 85 extends along the medial side of the insert 37 and extends from the back of the heel portion 37C to the forefoot. The lateral edges 86 extending forward of the portion 37B and the second, third, fourth, and an anterior portion extending from the lateral edge 86 along the fifth metatarsal area to the first phalangeal portion 37D. The peripheral edges include an intermediate edge 85, a lateral edge 86, and a front edge 87. The side edges 87 are, for example, as shown in Figs. 8, 10, and 22A, respectively. , in this embodiment, has a cutout portion. Cutout portion 8 along the front edge 87 7A is disposed between the lateral edge 86 and the first phalangeal portion (i.e., peninsula) 37D. Cutouts 85A, 86A along the medial and lateral edges 85, 86 define the forefoot portion 37. B and midfoot portion 37A, and The width W1 of the insert 37 (defined between the middle and lateral edges 85, 86) and and width W2 in forefoot portion 37B is measured between first and second cutouts 85A, 86A. This configuration is larger than the width W3 of the insert to be inserted in the midfoot portion 37A or the forefoot portion 37B. 37A and 37B, creating a narrower neck 89 between the midfoot portion 37A and the forefoot portion 37B that is narrower than the The widths W1 and W2 of the midfoot portion 37A and the forefoot portion 37B are measured at the heel portion 37C. The width W4 is greater than the width W2 of the forefoot portion 37B, and the forefoot portion 37B has the largest relative width W2. In the embodiment, the heel portion 37C is a portion extending from the midfoot portion 37A to the insert member 37. The width of the heel portion 37C increases toward the heel end of the 37E, which is wider than the tail portion 37A.

[0029] Cutout portions 85A, 86A, and 87A each face inwardly into the body of insert 37. and generally has a concave and / or indented shape. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 22B, each of cutout portions 85A, 86A, and 87A It has a smooth, concave, inwardly curved shape, The insert 37 is resistant to tearing, fracturing, or crack propagation within the insert 37. In this case, each of the cutouts 85A, 86A, and 87A has an arc of at least 120°. At least in part, the surface is defined by a concave curved edge that defines the surface. In addition, In one embodiment, at least one of the cutouts 85A, 86A, and 87A is , at least in part, by a concave curved edge defining a circular arc of at least 180° As can be seen, for example, in Figs. 8, 10, and 22A, At least the medial and lateral cutouts 85A, 86A, respectively, are at least 180 The surface is defined, at least in part, by a concave curved edge that defines a circular arc of 10°. In addition, each of the cutouts 85A, 86A, and 87A in this embodiment has both On the sides, the periphery of the insert at the intermediate, lateral and forward edges 85, 86, 87 The boundary is defined by a smoothly curved edge disposed on the Smoothly curved edges defining the boundaries of the cutouts 85A, 86A, and 87A in the One or both of the edges define an arc of at least 90°. The use of cutout portions 85A, 86A, 87A in and having these configurations is For example, as described above, it may be desirable to resist the propagation of tearing, fracturing, or cracks within the insert 37. This can increase the durability and lifespan of the insert 37. In the present embodiment, cutouts 85A, 86A, and 87A are the largest cutouts in the art where this damage resistance is most beneficial. Positioned within the stress area. The insert 37 was tested for at least 500,000 cycles and was able to withstand up to 20 MPa. The material may have sufficient fatigue resistance to withstand stresses of up to 100 kPa.

[0030] In further embodiments, the insert 37 may have different cutout portions. and / or have cutouts in the same location but with different shapes. For example, the insert 37' shown in Figs. 22C-D can be In comparison with the insert 37, cutouts 85A, 86A, and 87A are provided in similar locations. In this case, the cutouts 85A, 86A, and 87A have slightly different peripheral shapes. In this embodiment, the intermediate cutout portion 85A has the same shape as that of the inset in FIGS. In comparison with the intermediate cutout portion 85A of insert 37, it defines a smaller arc overall. The front cutout portion 87A of this embodiment corresponds to the front cutout portion 87A of the insert 37 of FIGS. 3-22B. In comparison with the cutout portion 87A, the cutout portion 87B is relatively less symmetrical and has a less uniform curvature. , which defines the shape.

[0031] 36-47 are schematic diagrams of the sensor system 12 described above and shown in FIGS. 3-22B. and inserts 437, 537 having different shapes and configurations from insert 37. Further embodiments of the sensor system 412, 512 are shown. The sensors of Figs. The systems 412 and 512 are common to the sensor systems 12 of FIGS. 3 to 22B. For example, the sensor system 412, 512 includes a sensor array 412, 512 as shown in FIG. A sensor 16 configured and positioned substantially similarly to the sensor system 12 of FIG. As another example, the sensor systems 412, 5 12 is a sensor system having two fixed resistors 5 in parallel, similar to the sensor system 12 in FIGS. 3 to 22B. 3, 54 and vias 50 between layers 66, 68. These and other common features may be omitted here for the sake of brevity.

[0032] In the embodiment of FIGS. 36-44, the insert 437 is the same as the insert of FIGS. 3-22B. In comparison with port 37, it has cutouts 85A, 86A, and 87A in similar locations. In this case, cutouts 85A, 86A, and 87A have slightly different peripheral shapes. In this embodiment, the intermediate cutout portion 85A is the same as that of the insert of FIGS. In comparison with the intermediate cutout portion 85A of 37, this defines a relatively small circular arc. The forward cutout 87A of this embodiment corresponds to the forward cutout of the insert 37 of FIGS. 3-22B. In comparison with 87A, it defines a relatively deep and relatively large arc. The lateral cutout portion 86A of this embodiment is the lateral cutout portion of the insert 37 of FIGS. 3-22B. In comparison with the portion 86A, it defines a relatively shallow and relatively small arc. In addition, the insert 437 of FIGS. 36-44 has a heel portion having a substantially constant width. 37C and does not have the widened tail portion 37E.

[0033] In the embodiment of FIGS. 45-47, the insert 537 is the same as the insert of FIGS. 3-22B. In comparison with port 37, port 37 has cutouts 85A, 86A, and 87A in similar locations. In this case, cutout portions 85A, 86A, and 87A have slightly different peripheral shapes. In this embodiment, the intermediate cutout portion 85A is the same as that of the insert 3 of FIGS. In comparison with the intermediate cutout portion 85A of 7, this defines a relatively small circular arc. The lateral cutout portion 86A of the embodiment corresponds to the lateral cutout portion of the insert 37 of FIGS. 3-22B. In comparison with portion 86A, it defines a relatively shallow and relatively small arc. The front edge 87 of the insert 537 of Figs. 45-48 extends from the first phalangeal portion 37D to the fifth metatarsal At a stable angle toward the sensor 16C and directly within the front cutout 87A. The resulting front cutout portion 8 defines a substantially straight edge extending therethrough. 7A is a comparative example of the front cutout portion 87A of the insert 37 of FIGS. 3 to 22B. In addition, the insert 537 of Figs. 45-48 defines a smaller arc. 37C having a substantially constant width, and a widened tail portion 37E. The leads 18 and many other components of the sensor system 512 of FIGS. Although not shown and / or referenced herein, such components are The component is the sensor system 12 of FIGS. 3 to 22B and / or the sensor system of FIGS. 36 to 44. Similar (structurally and / or functionally) to the corresponding components in stem 412 It should be understood that the same may be configured in any manner.

[0034] The inserts 37, 37', 437, 537 may be configured with different numbers and / or configurations of sensors 16. , different insert configurations or perimeter shapes, and any number of different configurations, shapes, and structures. For example, the insert 37 described herein may be , 37', 437, 537 are contoured and dimensioned in different ways. While being constructed and configured, the cutouts 85A, 86A, 87A and other features of the peripheral shape Some or all of the structural features and functions associated with such structural features described above, such as the In addition, the inserts 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, Any of 7', 437, 537 may have additional or different configurations and / or functions. may also include different structural features.

[0035] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-22B, the sensor 16 detects pressure on the sole 130. The sensor 16 is a force and / or pressure sensor for measuring force and / or pressure. The sensor is connected to the sensor 16 so that a resistance measurement can be performed through the port 14 to detect the pressure on the sensor 16. As the pressure on the sensor 16 increases, the resistance decreases. In the illustrated embodiment, the sensors 16 are elliptical or round in shape, so that This allows for the use of a single sensor size across several different shoe sizes. In this embodiment, the sensors 16 are each positioned on the first layer 66. The first contact 40 is disposed on the second layer 68, and the second contact 42 is disposed on the second layer 68. The first layer 66 includes contacts 40, 42. The views shown in this specification depict the first layer 66 in plan view. Furthermore, the electronic structure (including contacts 40, leads 18, etc.) is specifically described as not being such. Unless otherwise specified, it is positioned on the bottom surface of the first layer 66 and is transparent or translucent. It should be understood that the view is through the first layer 66. The contacts 40, 42 are connected to the user's feet, etc. The pressure on the insert member 37 due to the contacts 40, 42 also causes increased engagement. Positioned opposite each other and in a superimposed relationship with respect to each other so as to hang down The resistance of the sensor 16 decreases as engagement between the contacts 40, 42 increases. and the module 22 is adapted to detect pressure based on a change in resistance of the sensor 16. In one embodiment, the contacts 40, 42 are configured as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. , etc., by conductive patches printed on the first and second layers 66, 68. and the two contacts 40, 42 may be formed from the same or different materials. Additionally, in one embodiment, the leads 18 may include sensor contacts 40, 42. A material having a higher electrical conductivity and a lower resistivity than one or more of the materials of 42. For example, the patch may be made of carbon black or another conductive carbon material. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the two contacts 40, 42 can be formed on the same or from two materials having similar hardness values, As a result, wear and tear due to differences in hardness of materials in contact with each other can be reduced. In this embodiment, a first contact 40, 42 is provided to allow engagement between the contacts 40, 42. The contacts 40 are printed on the backside of the first layer 66 and the second contacts 42 are printed on the backside of the second layer 68. The embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 22B is a spacer. layer 67, which separates other portions of the first and second layers 66, 68 from each other. To allow engagement of the contacts 40, 42 through the spacer layer 67 while insulating them, The sensor 16 has a hole 43 positioned therein. In one embodiment, each The hole 43 is aligned with one of the sensors 16 and is connected to the contacts of the individual sensor 16. 7-18, allowing at least partial engagement between 40, 42. In an embodiment, the hole 43 is smaller in area than the sensor contacts 40, 42; This allows the outer portions of the contacts 40, 42 and the distributed lead 18A to be insulated from each other while retaining the contacts 40, 42 in contact with the distributed lead 18A. The central portions of 40, 42 are allowed to engage with each other (see, for example, FIGS. 13 and 35). In another embodiment, the holes 43 are It may be sized to allow engagement between the contacts 40, 42. In the present embodiment, the size, dimensions, and It is understood that the geometry and structure can be varied. The sensors 16 may be utilized in different sized inserts 37 for different shoe sizes. Often, in this case, the dimensions of the sensor 16 in relation to the overall dimensions of the insert 37 may vary. It should be understood that different sizes of inserts 37 may vary.

[0036] In other embodiments, the sensor system 12 may be any of the sensor systems of the embodiments of FIGS. 3-22B. It is possible to have a sensor 16 configured in a different way than the sensor 16 shown in FIG. 33 to 34 show a different method for the sensor 16 in the sensor system shown in FIGS. 3 to 22B. Further embodiments of the sensor system 212, 312 having a sensor 16 constructed according to In the embodiment shown in FIGS. The contacts 40, 42 of the fourth sensor 16 are the same as those of the sensor 16 in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 22B. The points 40 and 42 are constructed in a different manner. Other components and features may be used in any variation or substitution described herein. 3-22B, including alternative embodiments. As another example, FIGS. 48-51 show the sensor of the embodiment of FIGS. 3-22B. and contacts 740, 742, 74 which are constructed in a manner different from that of contacts 40, 42. 7 shows an embodiment of a sensor system 712 including a sensor 16 having a diameter of 4. In the example, the sensor 16 includes carbon-based or similar contacts 40, 42. A different configuration may be used that does not require a resistive sensor 16 and / or function as a Examples of such sensors include capacitive pressure sensors or strain sensors, among other examples. Includes gauge pressure sensor.

[0037] As further shown in FIGS. 3-22B, in one embodiment, the insert 37 is 3 to allow air flow through the insert 37 during compression and / or bending of the insert 37. The internal airflow system 70 may be configured as shown in FIG. 8, 22A-B, and 28-30 show components of airflow system 70 in greater detail. The airflow system 70 is shown in detail in FIG. 1. The airflow system 70 directs air from the sensor 16 to a first and between the second layers 66, 68 and outwardly through one or more vent holes 72. One or more sensors 16 may be connected to the insert 37 to allow flow to the outside of the insert 37. The air passage or channels 71 may include one or more air passages or channels 71 that extend to a number of vents 72. The airflow system 70 resists the creation of excessive pressure during compression of the sensor 16 and also provides It also allows for consistent separation of the contacts 40, 42 of the sensor 16 at various pressures and altitudes. This results in relatively consistent performance. The spacer layer 66 may be formed between the two layers 68, 69 as shown in FIG. 67 has channels 71 formed therein, and air flows through these channels. Suitable ventilation means or means may be provided between the first and second layers 66, 68 through the flannel 71. The vent 72 can, in one embodiment, be As shown, the filter 73 covers itself. Filter 73 allows air, moisture, and debris to pass out of vent 72 while It can be configured to resist the passage of moisture and debris into the vent 72. In an embodiment, the insert 37 may not include a spacer layer and may be The panel 71 is formed by bonding layers 66, 68 together in a particular pattern, such as by application of a non-sealable material. The airflow system 70 may be formed by not sealing one of the airflow systems. In one embodiment, the layer 66, 68 may be integral with or supported by the layer 66, 68. In other embodiments, , the airflow system 70 may include different numbers or configurations of air channels 71, vents 72, and / or Other passageways may be included.

[0038] In the embodiments shown in Figures 3-22B, 28, and 30, the airflow system The system 70 has two vents 72 and four sensors 16 each connected to one of the vents 72. and a plurality of air channels 71 connecting the spacer layer 67 to the In each sensor, a hole 43 is included, and a channel 71 is provided so that air can pass through the channel. 71 and away from the sensor 16. Additionally, in this embodiment, two of the sensors 16 are channel 4 and 7 to 18. As shown, the first midfoot sensor 16b is located just above the first midfoot area of ​​the insert 37. The first finger bone sensor 1 has a channel 71 extending to a vent 72 at the rear of the finger bone sensor 1. 6a also travels to the same ventilation opening 72 via a route that includes movement through the first middle foot sensor 16b. In other words, the first phalange sensor 16a has a channel 71 extending therethrough. A channel 7 extending from a hole 43 in the first metatarsal sensor 16a to a hole 43 in the first metatarsal sensor 16b. 1 and another channel 71 extending from the first midfoot sensor 16b to a vent 72. The fifth midfoot sensor 16c and the heel sensor 16d are located in the heel portion of the insert 37. The sensors share a common vent 72. One channel 71 is connected to the fifth metatarsal sensor 16. Extending rearward from hole 43 at c to vent 72, another channel 71 extends from the heel The sensor 16d extends forward from the hole 43 to the vent 72. Specifically, by sharing the vent 72 with the In another embodiment, the airflow system The stem 70 may be configured in different configurations, such as those shown in FIGS. 22C-D and described below. In a further embodiment, each sensor 16 may have its own Alternatively, more than two sensors 16 may have separate vents 72. The ventilation holes 72 may be shared.

[0039] The opening of each ventilation hole 72 is as shown in FIGS. 16 to 18 and 22A to 22B. 3. Allowing an outward flow of air, moisture, and / or debris from the airflow system 70 so that the 3 and 4. The second layer 68 is formed as an opening in the bottom surface (i.e., opposite the first layer 66) of the second layer 68 so as to In another embodiment, the vent 72 may include multiple openings. In one embodiment, the vent 72 may additionally or alternatively allow air to enter the An opening in the first layer 66 allows air to be exhausted upwardly out of the insert 37. In a further embodiment, the vent 72 can be formed by the channel 71. The channel 71 is extended to the edge so that it opens through the edge to the outside of the insert 37. 37. The insert 37 may be located on the side (thin edge) of the insert 37, for example by being supported by a support member 38. Downward air exhaust is provided in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3-22B, 28, and 30. As in the case of the vent 72, it is relatively difficult for debris to enter the vent 72. 9, when present, allows air to flow out of vent 72 through bottom layer 69. The air vent 72 includes an aperture 74 disposed below the air vent 72 to accommodate the air vent 72. The aperture 74 includes: As will be described below, a filter 73 is disposed around the periphery of each vent 72 in the bottom layer 69. vent 72 to allow the second layer 68 to be attached to the second layer 68 through the Additionally, in this embodiment, each vent 72 is around the vent 72 to add stability and strength to the material and prevent breakage / tears. In the illustrated embodiment, the reinforcing material 75 is positioned To facilitate printing, the lead 18 is printed with the same ink (e.g., silver or other metallic ink) as the lead 18. The contacts 40, 42 are made of the same material (e.g., carbon, etc.) as the sensor contacts 40, 42. ) materials or from the dielectric materials described herein.

[0040] The vent 7 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 22B, 28, and 30 2 is open downward, and the air passing through the vent 72 is directed downward into the midsole. 131 and, if present, toward foam member 138. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, 28, and 30, the foam member 13 8 was positioned directly below the vent 72 so that the air leaving the vent was 3 to 5, 28, and 29, the cavity 76 is configured to pass through the cavity 76. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 30, each cavity 76 is stamped, cut, or by another technique, a slot extending completely through the foam member 138. In another embodiment, the cavity 76 is formed as a It may be a recess extending through only a portion of the Such as through at least a portion of the structure below the foam member 138 (such as the sole). In a further embodiment, the foam member 138 may extend deeper than the foam member 138. Alternatively, the sole structure may not include the foam member 138 and the cavity 76 may be filled with a strobe. A slot, recess, or other hole-like feature in another sole component, such as a footrest or midsole. As shown in FIG. 5, the void can be at least partially formed by the structure. At least a portion of the cavity 76 may be circular in one embodiment and may be ventilated. This configuration may extend wider than the vent 72 to provide space for Allowing air to pass out of vent 72 without obstruction from foam member 138 In another embodiment, the insert 37 has one or more cavities 7 as described above. 6 (such as a portion of the midsole 131) In a further embodiment, the pores may be absent, and Additionally, air can be exhausted 72 downwardly directly into the foam member 138 or other sole member. One or both of the cavities 76 may be configured to allow air to pass out of the cavities 76. Further, it may have an extension portion that forms a passage 77 for allowing the passage 77 to be inserted. And in the embodiment of FIG. 30, each of the cavities 76 has a lateral 3, the channel portion 77 extending in the direction and beyond the peripheral boundary of the insert 37. In other words, the channel portion 77 of the cavity 76 allows air to pass from the vent 72 to the insert 37. The foam extends laterally to a tip 78 disposed outside the peripheral boundary of the foam. If the body member 138 has a recess 139 to receive the insert member 37, the void The tip 78 of the channel portion 77 of the cavity 76 may also be located outside the peripheral boundary of the recess 139. It should be understood that in the embodiment shown in Figures 3-5, the tip 78 is made of foam. 2 and 3. The channel portion 77 extends laterally to the edge of the body member 138. and then upward and / or outwardly away from the foam member 138. By passing through the cavity 76, air can pass through the cavity 76 to release the sole structure 130. FIG. 28 shows a schematic cross-section of this configuration, where the arrows indicate the air The configurations shown in Figs. 3 to 5, 28, and 30 are (for example Resist the movement of debris (such as dust and fibers) and moisture to and through the ventilation openings and permitting airflow out of the vent 72 and possibly back into the vent 72. The combination of air passages through which air must travel between the vent 72 and the The downward, lateral and upward paths provided serve to resist this movement, and Debris often accumulates in the tip 78 of cavity 76, such as in a drain trap in plumbing applications. The object is captured in the vicinity of the target object.

[0041] In another embodiment, the tip 78 is disposed within the foam member 138 and still The insert 37 may stop at a point outside the peripheral boundary of the insert 37, thereby allowing the air It is possible to exhaust air upwardly out of the cavity 76 at the tip 78 and at the same Or similar functionality can be obtained. Figures 36-38 and 47 show an example embodiment of this configuration. The foot contact member 133 in the embodiment of FIGS. 28 and passage 79 shown in FIG. 30. 3 and 4. The present invention may include a passageway positioned about the tip 78 of the cavity 76 to allow It should be understood that in a further embodiment, at least a portion of the channel portion 77 is Instead of slits, tunnels within the foam member 138 may be used. In the embodiment, the channel portion 77 is a tunnel portion, and the air passing through the tunnel is exhausted upward. Alternatively, the tunnel portion may have a lateral opening to allow air to pass through. It may also extend all the way to the edge of the foam member 138 to allow for exhaust in the opposite direction. FIG. 29 shows a cross section of an alternative embodiment, where the foam member 138 is hollow. It includes a cavity 76 but does not include a channel portion 77 .

[0042] In addition, the foot contact member 133 is shown in FIGS. One or more annular grooves 132 extending through the foot contacting member 133 disposed at the distal end 78 of the sinus 76. 28 and 30, the passages 79 are formed on the foot contacting member 14. Alternatively, the passage 79 may be a pinhole type passageway extending vertically through the nozzle 133. In embodiments, different types of passages 79 may be used, including slits or grooves. , and at least one passage 79 extends not upwardly through the thickness of the foot contacting member 133. The passage 79 may extend laterally to the side of the foot contacting member 133. Air escaping through the foot contacting member 133 and outwardly through the cavity 76 flows through the foot contacting member 133. 2 and out of the sole structure 130. In some cases, the foot contacting member 133 may not include any passageways 79. 133 constitutes the foot contacting member 133 in a configuration that does not have any passages 79. By using breathable foam or other breathable materials to It is still possible to provide energy.

[0043] As mentioned above, in one embodiment, the insert 37 is shown in FIG. 22B and FIG. 28 to FIG. As seen in FIG. 9, one or more vents 72 are at least partially covered. The filter 73 may include one or more filters 73 that cover the vent 72. The closure may be considered to be a selectively permeable closure that blocks the passage of air from the vent 72. At least allow air to pass out of the vent and prevent certain undesirable materials from entering the vent. For example, in the embodiments of Figures 3-22B, 28, and 30, Filter 73 is a selectively permeable closure that allows inward and outward flow of air. and resists the inward flow of moisture and / or particles while also allowing the outward flow of moisture. One type of filter 73 that can perform this function is, for example, a PTFE (i.e., Teflon) fibers, such as a porous membrane. A fluoroplastic porous membrane. Such a porous membrane is In an embodiment, a porous membrane having a thickness of 10)lm to 100)lm. In the case of the filter 73 including PTFE fibers, the high surface energy of PTFE This causes the water to bead up on the surface of the filter 73 rather than penetrating through. , the filter 73 is 1 to allow the filter 73 to be connected to the insert 37. The adhesive may be on one side and provide shear strength for the porous membrane. To provide a better grip, the inner or outer surface of the housing may be provided with another material, such as a polyester material. The embodiments shown in Figures 3-22B, 28, and 30 In the embodiment, the filter 73 is disposed around the periphery of the vent 72 to cover the vent 72. 3 to 22B, the bottom layer 69 is attached to the bottom surface of the second layer 68. In the embodiment of Figures 28 and 30, a filter 73 is adhesively attached to the second layer 68. It includes an aperture 74 that is much larger than the vent 72 to allow for the air to flow through it. In this embodiment, different types of filters 73 may be used, and the filters The motor 73 may be connected to the insert 37 in another manner. In this case, the filter 73 may not be used.

[0044] 36-44 are different from the insert 37 described above and shown in FIGS. 3-22B. Insert 4 includes airflow system 70 with different channel 71 and vent 72 configurations. 22C-D and 45-47 show a sensor system 412 having a sensor 37. The insert 437 has a channel 71 and a vent hole 72 configured similarly to the insert 437 of FIGS. 3 shows a further embodiment 37', 537 of the insert member including an airflow system 70 for The positions of the sensors 16a-d in the embodiment of Figs. 22C-D are generally the same as those in Figs. 2B, 28, and 30, and in FIG. The structure is shown by the dashed line on the spacer layer 67. For the sake of brevity, a detailed description of the inserts in FIGS. In the embodiment of step 437, the first phalangeal sensor 16a and the first metatarsal sensor 16b are The same vent 72 is connected to the channel 71 having substantially the same configuration as described above. The fifth midfoot sensor 16c and heel sensor 16d also share a common ventilation port 72. This common ventilation hole 72 is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 22B, 28, and 30. It is located in the fifth metatarsal area of ​​the insert 437, rather than in the heel area. In this configuration, the heel sensor 16d is connected to the fifth metatarsal sensor through a hole 43 in the heel sensor 16d. 16c includes a channel 71 extending to a hole 43 in the sensor 16c, and another channel 71 36 to 44, the fifth midfoot sensor 16c extends from the fifth midfoot sensor 16c to the ventilation hole 72. As shown, the location of the vent 72 is different from the embodiment described above, and therefore the Cert 437 includes features specifically adapted for vents 72 in these locations. 36 to 38 show a sole structure 130 and A foam section including a cavity 76 positioned for cooperation with the vent 72 of the insert 437. These cavities 76 are shown in FIGS. 3-5 and are It functions similarly to the cavity 76 of the embodiment described in the specification. For example, foam Member 138 prevents air from escaping through vent 72 in the fifth metatarsal area of ​​insert 437. The first portion of the sole structure 130 extends forward beyond the peripheral edge of the insert 437 to prevent 5. The foam member 138 has a cavity 76 in the midfoot area. The foam member 138 also has an insert 437. In order to prevent air from escaping through the ventilation hole 72 in the first midfoot area of ​​the insert 4, 37. A void in a first midfoot area of ​​the sole structure 130 extending rearwardly beyond the peripheral edge of the The inserts 37', 537 of FIGS. 22C-D and 45-47 may be of various In one embodiment, the foam member 1 has cavities 76 positioned at similar locations. 38 may be utilized. In other embodiments, different locations of the cavity 76 and It should be understood that multiple configurations may be utilized. In a further embodiment, a single sole structure 1 30 includes several different types of inserts 37, 38 having different vent 72 locations. 7′, 437, 537 may include a plurality of cavities 76 configured for use with the In this embodiment, at least some of the cavities 76 are formed within the structure of the insert 37. In a further embodiment, the present invention may not be used depending on the composition, etc. Any of the features, characteristics, or the like of the embodiments of the airflow system 70 described may be used in conjunction with the airflow system. The sensor system 12, the insert 37, and / or the insert 37 may be configured in various ways, as well as in other embodiments of the system 70. Or it may be combined with other embodiments of footwear 100.

[0045] In the embodiment of FIGS. 3-22B, as described above, the spacer layer 67 is generally When electrical contact is desired, such as at the via 50 of the sensor 16 and between the contacts 40, 42, Except for the desired area, the conductive members / components on the first and second layers 66, 68 are electrically isolated from each other. The spacer layer 67 provides insulation from the area of ​​desired electrical contact between layers 66, 68. The components of the airflow system 70, particularly the The channel 71 is shorted by one or more conductive members between the first and second layers 66, 68. or other routes for undesired electrical contact. In this case, the sensor system 12 may be configured to include an open area of ​​the spacer layer 67, such as a channel 71. To resist or prevent undesirable short circuits caused by one or more conductive members spanning the To achieve this, the dielectric material 80 may be included in one or more patches. Use acrylic ink or other UV curable ink or another suitable ink for application. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 16 to 17, In this regard, the insert 37 includes distributed leads 11 disposed around the sensor contacts 40, 42. 8A from each other. As shown in FIGS. 16-17, the dielectric material 80 is disposed on the second layer 68. 1 and 2. In another embodiment, The dielectric material 80 may be connected to the first layers 66, 68 or both layers may be connected to the dielectric material 80. 80. The spacer layer 67 may also include a channel 71. In addition, the dielectric material completely covers a portion of the distributed lead 18A and is wider than the width of the channel 71. 6, so that any movement or displacement of the spacer layer 67 or differences in manufacturing tolerances are compensated for. In this embodiment, the insert 37 is located at the rear of the first phalange sensor 16a. a patch 80 on the front and rear ends of the first metatarsal sensor 16b; One patch 80 on the rear side of the foot sensor 16c and one patch 8 on the front side of the heel sensor 16d. At each intersection of each channel 71 with the distributed lead 18A, including In another embodiment, the insert has a patch of dielectric material 80 disposed thereon. 37 connects other portions of the distributed lead 18A or other conductive members between layers 66, 68. Dielectric material placed elsewhere on the insert 37 to insulate it from short circuits The patch may have holes, apertures, and / or patches shaped and / or positioned in different ways. The spacer layer 67, which has a different structure having a conductor, an opening, etc., is provided for insulation purposes. It should be understood that the present disclosure may result in the use of dielectric material 80 elsewhere in the present specification. As described in US Pat. No. 6,993,623, the dielectric material 80 may be used elsewhere as a reinforcing or stiffening material. It may also be used in

[0046] In the embodiment of FIGS. 3-22B, the port 14, the sensor 16, and the lead 18 are The circuit 10 is formed on the insert member 37. The port 14 includes a plurality of terminals 11. In this case, each of the four terminals 11 is individually connected to one of the four sensors. one terminal 11 for applying a voltage to the circuit 10; In addition, one terminal 11 is for measuring voltage. The system 12 includes a pair of resistors, each disposed on top of one of the layers 66, 68. 5, and a path 50 connecting the circuitry on the first layer 66 with the circuitry on the second layer 68. The resistors 53 and 54 are used to measure the resistance of the respective sensors 16. 2 and the module 22 measures the variable current from the active sensor 16. In addition, resistors 53 and 54 allow the circuit 10 to convert the and / or the variation in the thickness of the lead 18 and / or the sensor contacts 40, 42 to be printed. The materials used to create resistors 53, 54, such as variations in the conductivity of the inks used, These are implemented in parallel within a circuit 10 that compensates for manufacturing process variations. In an embodiment, the equivalent resistance of the two resistors 53, 54 is 1500+ / -500k In another embodiment, a single resistor 53, 54 or two in series is used. In a further embodiment, resistors 53, 54 may be used. 3, 54 may be positioned elsewhere on the insert 37, or , may be disposed in the circuit of the module 22. A technical diagram is described and illustrated in FIG.

[0047] FIG. 20 illustrates a circuit that may be used to detect and measure pressure in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The circuit 10 includes a power supply terminal 104a for applying a voltage to the circuit 10, As described above, a measurement terminal 104b for measuring voltage, and four sensor terminals 104 The sensor terminals 104a to 104f include six terminals 104a to 104f, four sensor terminals 104c to Each of 104f is individually dedicated to one of the sensors 16a-16d; and In this embodiment, the terminals 104a to 104f are connected to the port 14. In the illustrated embodiment, resistors 53 and 54 are shown. The fixed resistors 102a and 102b are connected in parallel. Terminals 104a and 102b may be physically located on separate layers. The equivalent resistance across 104b and 104c is determined by the well-known formula: Req=R102a*R1102b / (R102a+R102b) (Formula 1) Here, each term is as follows:

[0048] R102a = resistance value of fixed resistor 102a R102b = resistance value of fixed resistor 102b Req = equivalent resistance By electrically connecting the fixed resistors 102a and 102b in parallel, a fixed The variations in the manufacturing process used to create the constant resistors 102a and 102b are compensated for. For example, if the fixed resistor 102a has a resistance value that deviates from the desired resistance value, is the equivalent resistance determined by Equation 1 by averaging the effect of fixed resistor 102b. The deviation in value is minimized. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that two fixed resistors are shown for illustrative purposes only. It will be understood that this is merely a representation of the resistors connected in parallel. and each fixed resistor may be formed on a different layer. .

[0049] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 20, fixed resistors 102a and 102b are The sensors 16a to 16d are connected to the pressure sensors 16a to 16d. The sensor 1 may be implemented as a variable resistor that changes its resistance in response to a change in temperature. Each of 6a to 16d can be realized by a plurality of variable resistors. In the embodiment, each of the sensors 16a to 16d is disposed on a different physical layer. The present invention is embodied by two variable resistors electrically connected in parallel. For example, as described above in connection with one embodiment, each sensor 1 6a-16d engage with each other to a relatively greater extent as the applied pressure increases. The sensors 16a-16d may include two contacts 40, 42, and the resistance of the sensors 16a-16d may be determined by the As mentioned above, the resistors in parallel can be The connection creates an equivalent resistance value that minimizes deviations created during the manufacturing process. In another embodiment, the contacts 40, 42 may be configured in series. The sensors 16a to 16d may be connected to ground via the switches 108a to 108d. The switches 108a to 108d are switched on one at a time to connect one sensor. In some embodiments, the switches 108a to 108d may be It is embodied by a transistor or an integrated circuit.

[0050] In operation, a voltage level, such as 3 volts, is applied at terminal 104a. The switches 108a to 108d are connected to ground to connect one of the sensors 16a to 16d. When connected to ground, each of the sensors 16a-16d is closed. The resistors 102a and 102b, together with the combination of the fixed resistors 102a and 102b, form a voltage divider. When switch 108a is closed, the voltage between terminal 104a and ground is The current is divided between the combination of terminals 102b and 102c and sensor 16a. The measured voltage changes as the resistance of the sensor 16a changes. The pressure applied to the sensor 16a can be measured as a voltage level at the terminal 104b. The resistance of the sensor 16a can be determined by a combination of a fixed resistor 104a having a known value. and 104b, by utilizing the voltage applied to the sensor 16a in series with Similarly, the switches 108b to 108d are selectively closed to measure the sensor voltage. The voltage level at terminal 104b is related to the pressure applied at terminals 16b-16d. The connections between the sensors 16a to 16d and the terminals 104c to 104f are the same as those in other implementations. It should be understood that this may vary in embodiment. For example, sensors 16a-d may be As shown in FIG. 1, the left shoe insert 37 has a larger diameter than the right shoe insert 37. In another embodiment, the pins are connected to different pins of the interface 20. The voltage level is determined such that ground is located at terminal 104a and voltage is located at terminals 104c- The state applied at f can be applied in the opposite manner. In alternate embodiments, alternative circuit configurations may be used to achieve similar results and functionality. This can be done.

[0051] The two resistors 53, 54 have similar or identical construction in the illustrated embodiment. However, it will be understood that the resistors may have different constructions in other embodiments. Each resistor 53, 54 has two separate sections 55, 56. , a bridge positioned between and connecting sections 55, 56. 15 and 17 show more detailed views of resistors 53 and 54. In this case, one resistor 53 is shown from above and the other resistor 5 4 is shown from the back. Sections 55, 56 are connected to resistors through one lead 18. An electronic signal or current entering the transducers 53, 54 is transmitted across the bridge 57 to the sections 55, 5 6 and then exits through the other lead 18. The sections 55, 56 are connected to different leads 18 so that To provide a large length for transmission between sections 55, 56 in the rear, a side section 55, and an outer section 56 substantially surrounding the inner section 55; Also, in this embodiment, the bridge 57 is formed as an inner section. The inner section 54 substantially surrounds the outer section 55 and is substantially surrounded by the outer section 56. As can be seen and understood from FIGS. 15 to 17, the bridge 5 7 is connected to the inner section 55 and the outer section 56 to allow transmission through the bridge 57. 15 and 17. The inner section 55 is formed in a circular or substantially circular shape. The outer section 56, in this embodiment, is at least partially the inner section 55. The ring is at least partially formed by a semi-annular ring shape that also partially surrounds the The inner section is spaced apart from the inner section around the inner edge of the ring. The bridge 57 in the embodiment has a semi-annular ring shape with inner and outer semi-circular edges, At least partially formed, the bridge 57 extends the inner section 55 at least Partially surrounding and at least partially filling the space between sections 55, 56 As shown in FIG. 17, the inner edge of the bridge 57 is 5, and the outer edge of the bridge 57 is over the outer section 56. In addition, in this embodiment, the lead 18 is 55 without contacting the inner section 56 or the bridge 57. , and a gap 5 to allow passage away from the inner section 55. 8 is defined through the outer section 56 and the bridge 57. In other words, the semi-ring The ring-shaped outer section 56 and bridge 57 define a gap 58 therebetween. The relative shapes, sizes, and It should be understood that configurations may vary in other embodiments.

[0052] In one embodiment, the bridge 57 is made of a more resistive material than the sections 55, 56. and thus providing the majority of the resistance of each resistor 53, 54. Sections 55, 56 may be made at least from a highly conductive material, such as a silver material. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 22B, The inner and outer sections 55, 56 are printed silver based or other metal based. The lead 18 is made of the same material as the lead 18, such as ink. The bridge 57 is made of a conductive material such as carbon black or another conductive carbon material. , 42. The inner and outer sections 55, 56 and / or It should be understood that bridge 57 may be formed from different materials in other embodiments. I want to be.

[0053] Path 50 generally allows for continuous and / or uninterrupted electrical communication and is The signal passes between the first and second layers 66, 68. In the embodiment, the port 14 is directly connected to the second layer 68 and the path 50 is Serving as a vertical pathway between the port 14 and the sensor contacts 40 on the first layer 66, 68 In this embodiment, the path 50 is formed such that the conductive portion 51 is disposed between the first and second layers. 66, 68 are adapted to be in continuous engagement with one another to provide continuous electrical communication between them. 21 , the conductive portion 51 is included on the first layer 66 and the second layer 68. The spacer layer 67 in this embodiment has holes aligned with the vias 50. 38 and allows continuous engagement between the conductive portions 51 through the spacer layer 67. In addition, in the embodiment of FIG. 3 to FIG. 22B, each of the conductive portions 51 It is divided into two sections separated by a longitudinal gap 59 (Figure 1). 15) These conductive sections 52 are shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 5, the conductive portion 51 has a substantially semicircular shape, and the conductive portion 52 has a generally circular shape. The section 52 on the first layer 66 is a section on each of the layers 66, 68. 4. The sections on the second layer 68 are then aligned to engage with corresponding sections 52 on the first layers 66, 68. The two layers 66, 67 are substantially similar in shape, size, and arrangement to the two layers 52, 53, 54, 55, and 56. 8 are substantially aligned in this embodiment. In other words, the conductive portion 51 is located in either the left section 52 or the right section 52. When there is no direct engagement between the left section 52 of the conductive portion 51 and the 5 and 6, and the right section 52 of the conductive portion 51 is configured to engage with each other. Alternatively, the configuration can be constructed as two separate side-by-side passes. A path may be described as being formed between the first and second layers 66, 68, and Each section 52 may be considered to be a separate conductive portion forming a respective path. The conductive portion 51 of the path 50 is made of a conductive material and has a single In an embodiment, the conductive portion 51 is made of a material such as a silver-based or other metallic ink. , may be formed from the same material as lead 18. The channels 50 and their components described herein may be of different sizes, shapes, and configurations. , shape, or location and may be formed from different materials.

[0054] The pathway 50, in one embodiment, is rigid to provide structural support and / or effectiveness. The stiffening structure 60 may be at least partially surrounded by the Alternatively, the boundary may be defined. As shown, the conductive portion 51 is surrounded by a substantially annular stiffening material 60. In the embodiment, the stiffening material 60 has a gap 59 extending therethrough. Therefore, it is not completely annular, and the stiffener 60 may be a conductive material. 1 includes an additional gap for the lead 18 to pass through and connect to the conductive portion 51. The stiffening material 60 in this embodiment provides maximum engagement between the conductive portions 51. FIG. 21 shows the engagement between the conductive portions 51 in more detail. FIG. 21 shows this configuration in detail, the characteristics of which are at least partially schematic. 21. and the relative sizes of the components shown in FIG. 21 are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, FIG. 21 shows other layers. For clarity of illustration of 66, 67, 68, the bottom layer 69 is not shown. The layer 67 is arranged such that the layers 66 and 68 are aligned in the path 50 so that the conductive portions 51 engage with each other. 10. The present invention provides separation between the conductive portions 51 so that they must be deflected toward each other. There are.

[0055] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 21, the holes 38 in the spacer layer 67 are 51 are biased toward each other and allowed to engage with each other. The two layers 66, 68 are preassembled at the location of the passage 50 to remove excess air. To achieve this contact, e.g. by passing a roller over the gate 37, the air is evacuated or , or may otherwise be pressed together. The deflection of the layers 66, 68 toward each other is , annular transitions on one or both of layers 66, 67 around the edges of hole 38 Produces a region 61 where one or more layers 66, 68 are deflected toward one another. The transition region 61 in this embodiment is defined by an outer annular break line 61a and an inner annular The transition region 61 is defined by a break line 61b. 1a, 61b, and the conductive portion 51 is located within the inner break line 61b. In this configuration, the first and second layers 66, 68 are generally positioned at the outer breaks. Outside the line 61a and inside the inner break line 61a, horizontal and the first and second layers 66, 68 should create an engagement between the conductive portions 51. The holes 38 are tapered toward each other at the transition region 61. The stiffening material 60 is larger in size than the stiffening material 60 so as to be positioned adjacent the edge of the In this configuration, the increased stiffness of the stiffener 60 is The inclination of the layers 66, 68 provides a sharp transition from a horizontal to at least partially vertical orientation. 4. The stiffening material 60 has a tendency to define a transition region 61 .

[0056] As can be seen in FIG. 21, the location of the transition region 61 in the stiffener 60 is Maximum contact between conductive portions 51 within area 62 bounded by region 61 In one embodiment, the majority of the conductive portion 51 is separated by a transition region 61. They are in continuous engagement with each other through holes 38 within a bounded area 62 . In another embodiment, the conductive portion 51 is an endoplasmic reticle bounded by a transition region 61. 2. The rear 62 of the vehicle is in continuous engagement with the rear 62 of the vehicle through the aperture 38 extending through the entire or substantially entire rear 62 of the vehicle. This continuous contact ensures that the path 50 and circuit 10 are uninterrupted and function properly. Improved engagement between layers 66, 68 in passage 50. Adhesive may be utilized at or around the passage 50 to improve stiffness. 60 may be made of any material having suitable stiffness, and in one embodiment In this case, the conductive portion 51 may be made of a material having a greater rigidity than the material of the conductive portion 51. One example of such a material is carbon black or other carbon-based material. In other embodiments, other materials, including other types of printable substances, are used. It can be used.

[0057] The stiffening material 60 also helps achieve continuous engagement between the conductive portions 51 in a different manner. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 22B, the stiffening material 60 has a reflective property. In comparison to metal-based inks of the conductive portion 51, which may have a tendency to The layers 66, 68 are formed of a carbon-based ink that absorbs more of the wavelengths of light. The ink may be cured using IR radiation, and in this embodiment In this case, the stiffening material 60 absorbs a relatively greater amount of IR radiation than the conductive portion 51. This absorption occurs because the layers 66, 68 are relatively thick on the surface on which the stiffening material 60 is printed. The layers 66, 68 are arranged so that the first surface is relatively warm and the second surface is relatively cool. The area of ​​the layers 66, 68 directly below the stiffener 60 to create a temperature gradient across the thickness of the This temperature gradient can then tend to heat the phases in the stiffening material 60. The oppositely warm surface contracts relative to the opposite surface of the stiffener 60, thereby The regions of each layer 66, 68 within the stiffening material 60 (i.e., in the conductive portion 51) 2, around the stiffener 60 so as to cause it to protrude or recess slightly upward. This allows for differential expansion / contraction at the opposing surfaces of layers 66, 68. The protrusions 6, 68 extend the conductive portions 51 on the layers 66, 68 closer together; This results in increased engagement between the conductive portions 51, which in turn results in increased engagement between the stiffeners 6 0. The protrusions of layers 66, 68 may additionally or alternatively create a protruding or recessed effect. To achieve this, mechanical stamping or other pre-deformation operations are used. Additionally or alternatively, the engagement between the conductive parts 51 may be improved. To increase the adhesion, joining techniques such as ultrasonic spot welding or other spot welding are used. In one embodiment, a conductive portion 51 may be maintained in mutual engagement. To this end, ultrasonic spot welds are formed between the conductive portions 51 in a waffle pattern. It may also be used in the le pattern.

[0058] The gap 59 in the pathway 50 can serve multiple functions. One function that can be provided by the FET is to create separate connections between layers 66, 68. The objective is to create electrical isolation between sections 52 of path 50. Another function that may be provided by the groove 59 is the durability of the channel 50 during bending of the insert 37. Generally, the user's foot is in the fifth metatarsal area (fifth metatarsal head). From the first metatarsal area (also called the 5th metatarsal phalangeal area or the 5th metatarsal phalangeal area) to the 1st metatarsal area (1st metatarsal head tend to "roll" in the ankle area (also called the first metatarsal phalangeal area) In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 22B, the path 50 is aligned along the roll of the user's foot. The second and / or third metatarsal area of ​​the insert 37 is arranged so that the The repetitive rolling with this characteristic is 51 bending, which in turn can result in wear, breakage, separation, etc. The gap 59, when properly aligned, can be used to prevent bending of the conductive portion 51. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 22B, In this case, the gap 59 is generally perpendicular to the typical roll direction of the user's foot. , or in other words, between the fifth midfoot area and the first midfoot area of ​​the insert 37 In one embodiment, the alignment is perpendicular to the extending line. An imaginary line L (see FIG. 10) is drawn between the sensor 16b in the first midfoot area and the sensor 16c in the fifth midfoot area. A gap 59 may be drawn between the sensors 16c in the midfoot area. Perpendicular to line L or within + / - 45° of perpendicular to line L, The line L shown in FIG. 10 is the line L of the first midfoot sensor 16b. The front edge (e.g., the front center) and the rear edge (e.g., the rear center) of the fifth metatarsal sensor 16c. In other embodiments, the gap 59 (which exists) is between the In particular, when the channels 50 are arranged in different areas of the insert 37, In other cases, they may be positioned in a different manner.

[0059] 52-56 are similar to the sensor system 12 and insert 37 of FIGS. 3-22B. FIG. 52 shows another embodiment of a sensor system 612 including an insert member 37. In the embodiment of FIG. 56, the path 50 is similar to that in the embodiment of FIGS. 3-22B. , does not include stiffening material 60. In addition, the conductive path 50 in this embodiment The portion 51 is covered by the stiffening material 60 in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 22B. In other words, in this embodiment, the conductive The conductive portion 51 extends almost to the edge of the hole 38 aligned with the passage 50. 56, each of the conductive portions 51 is formed in a transition region. 52 to 56. The conductive portion 51 in the embodiment of FIG. The increased size of the conductive portions 51 provides a relatively large surface area for potential engagement between the conductive portions 51. 2. The rear of the path 50 may be provided with a relatively consistent and uninterrupted In other respects, the path 50 can provide functions not shown in FIGS. 2B and described elsewhere herein. The embodiments share structural and functional features. A re-explanation of the functions and features will be omitted for the sake of brevity. Thus, the engagement between the conductive portions 51 is improved by creating a protruding or recessing effect of the layers 66, 68. Mechanical stamping or other pre-deformation operations can be used to improve the fit. As also described above, in addition or instead, conductive portion 51 To increase the engagement between the Techniques can also be used.

[0060] In other embodiments, the path 50 may be positioned elsewhere or For example, in one embodiment, the path 50 includes a first A two-pin connection (not shown) on layer 66 is utilized, along with a crimping connection. 2 pin connection by using the 5th and 6th terminals of interface 20. 1, or the like. In further embodiments, other structures for forming the vias 50 may be utilized. Cut.

[0061] 48-51 are diagrams illustrating the sensor systems 12, 412, 5 12, 612 and are constructed in a manner different from that described herein. The different modes of operation are compared to the sensor systems 12, 412, 512, and 612. 48 to 51. The stem 712 is connected to the sensor system 12 described above and shown in FIGS. 3-22B. For example, the structures and functions of the two types of casings shown in Figs. 48 to 51 are similar to each other. The external shape of the insert 37 in the embodiment, the general location of the sensor 16, and the airflow system The configuration of the system 70 is based on the shape of the insert 37 in FIGS. 3 to 22B and the general configuration of the sensor 16. The location and configuration of the airflow system 70 may be similar or identical to those of the airflow system 70. A restatement of these and other such common features is omitted here for the sake of brevity. It may be abbreviated as .

[0062] In the embodiment of FIGS. 48-51, the sensor system 712 is disposed on the second layer 68. Two contacts or electrodes 740, 742 positioned on the first layer 66. and a third contact 744. In this embodiment, all The contacts 740, 742, 744 are formed from the carbon-based ink described above. , with one or more distributed leads at the edge of each contact 740, 742, 744. 18A. Contacts 740, 742 on the second layer 68 are different from contact 744 on the first layer 66. They may have different electrical conductivities and may be doped to achieve a relatively greater electrical conductivity. The contacts 740, 743 on the second layer 68 may be formed from a carbon-based ink. 2 are electrically isolated from each other and are connected to ports 14 and 15 by leads 18, respectively. A single power or ground lead 18B is connected to the first contacts of all sensors 16. 740, and the second contact 742 of each individual sensor 16 is connected to an individual It is connected to port 14 by lead 18 .

[0063] The structure of the sensor 16 in the sensor system 712 in FIGS. 3 to 22B. In this case, the combined first and second contacts 740, 742 are the same as those in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 22B. In this embodiment, the first and second contacts 740, 742 are electrically isolated from each other and 3. Contact 744 is structured similarly to contact 40 on first layer 66, except that contact 744 is The contacts 42 on the second layer 68 of the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 22B have a similar structure. In an embodiment, the sensor 16 and / or contacts 740, 742, 744 may have different configurations. For example, in one embodiment, the contacts 744 on the first layer 66 may include a carbon It may be a single patch of ink based on the dye.

[0064] In the embodiment of the sensor system 712 of FIGS. 48 to 51, the first and second contacts 74 0, 742 are electrically isolated from each other, and the third contact 744 is 4, the first and second contacts 740, 744 are connected together upon application of vertical pressure to the sensor 16. 2. In this configuration, the first and second contacts 740, 742 are in opposing relationship to engage the first and second contacts 740, 742. In this example, the signal from port 14 is fed to two electrodes of each sensor 16 on the second layer 68. Between the poles 740, 742, the electrode 744 of the sensor 16 on the first layer 66 passes Therefore, the resistivity of the sensor 16 is increased by the contact 740 on the second layer 68. , 742 and the electrode 744 on the first layer 66, and is determined by the engagement between the electrode 742 and the electrode 744 on the first layer 66, and is The relationship between the applied pressure and the resistance of the sensor 16 may be determined as described herein. 27, and that of the sensor 16 of the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 22B. The sensitivity range, actuation pressure, and other functions of the sensor 16 in Figs. 48 to 51 are similar. The functional properties are similar to those of the sensor 16 of the sensor system 12 of FIGS. 3 to 22B. Ugh.

[0065] The connections at port 14 of the sensor system 712 in FIGS. 49 to 51 are the same as those in FIGS. 20, which is similar to the embodiment of The resistor includes a power supply terminal 104a, a measurement terminal 104b, and four sensor terminals 104c to 104f. Resistivity / resistance measurements can be completed in the same or similar manner as described above. The circuitry of the embodiment of Figures 48 to 51 is similar to that shown in Figure 20, but This embodiment uses two fixed resistors in parallel as in the embodiment of Figures 3 to 22B. 53, 54, and only a single fixed resistor 53. In addition, Each sensor 16 in this embodiment can be viewed as five resistors in parallel. In one embodiment, each sensor 1 in the sensor system 712 of FIG. 6 is configured in series with three further resistors (contact 740) in parallel. The resistors can be considered to be two resistors (contact points 742) in parallel connected together. In this embodiment, the sensor system 712 of FIG. 48 to FIG. 51 is configured as two sensors in a parallel state. 10. The resistor configuration may include one fixed resistor or any other resistor configuration described herein. The leads 18 connected to the ports 14 may be arranged on the second layer 68. Since the via 50 between layers 66, 68 is only present in this embodiment, It should be understood that it is not necessary. Therefore, in the sensor system 712 of FIG. The spacer layer 67 does not include holes 38 as in the spacer layer 67 of FIGS. 3-22B. Good too.

[0066] The insert 37 is a thin polymer film (e.g., PET) that is coated with various components. In one embodiment, the insert can be constructed by depositing the insert. Port 37 is first formed by (distributed lead 18A, conductive portion 51 of path 50, resistors 53, 54 The trace pattern of the leads 18 includes inner and outer sections 55, 56, etc. A conductive metallic material is deposited on each of the layers 66, 68, such as by printing. Then, the stiffening material 60 of the contacts 40, 42 and the vias 50 and the resistance Further carbon material is applied by printing or the like to form bridges 57 between the vessels 53 and 54. Then, any dielectric portions, etc., may be deposited on the respective layers 66, 68. Any further components may be deposited. Layers 66, 68 are in one embodiment In the form, it may be printed on a PET sheet, and then after printing , may be cut away to form the outer perimeter shape.

[0067] Port 14 receives data collected by sensor 16 in one or more known manners. In one embodiment, port 1 is configured for communication to external sources. 4 is configured for communication of data in a universally readable format In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 22B, Port 14 is connected to an electronic module, which is shown in FIG. The embodiment includes an interface 20 for connection to a controller 22. In the embodiment, the port 14 is recessed 135 in the central arch or midfoot region of the midsole 131. associated with a housing 24 for insertion of an electronic module 22 arranged at As shown in FIGS. 7 to 16, the sensor lead 18 is connected to the port 14. In order to achieve this, a single In one embodiment, the integrated interface has multiple electrical connections. Individual connections of the sensor leads 18 to the port interface 20, such as through a point In another embodiment, the sensor lead 18 may include a plug-type or another configuration, to form an external interface. In a further embodiment, the sensor lead 18 may be Unintegrated, with each lead 18 having its own separate terminal 11 As will be described later, the module 22 may also form an interface. 20 and / or an interface for connection to the sensor lead 18 It may also have an interface 23.

[0068] In the embodiment shown in Figures 3-22B, the interface 20 is In one embodiment, the terminals 11 are in the form of dots or terminals 11 between the layers 66, 68. A tongue extends from one of the holes into a hole 27 provided for the housing 24. or on the extension 21. The extension forms the interface 20 In order to achieve this, the ends of the leads 18 are integrated into a single area. In this case, the extension 21 extends from the second layer 68 into the hole 27 and into the housing 24. The terminals 11 are arranged in the housing 24, and the interface 20 is arranged in the housing 24. It is folded down within the housing 24 to allow access. 8 is, in this embodiment, for increasing the length of the extension 21 and is bent downwardly and extends downwardly into the housing 24. The extension 21 further includes a slit 83 on each side. The rounded ends of the slit 83 are Resist the formation and / or propagation of cracks and fractures in the material of the second layer 68 around the portion 21. The extension 21 is formed on the front of the housing 24 so as to extend into the housing 24. Below the lunge 28 and through a slot or other space below the lip 28 As in the embodiment shown in Figs. When the flange 28 is a separate piece, the extension 21 is disposed at the end of the flange 28 that is connected to the tab 29. Before the connector is connected to the flange 28, the connector may be inserted between the flange 28 and the tab 29. In the illustrated embodiment, extension 21 is made from the same polymeric thin film material as second layer 68. and a second layer 68 (e.g., formed as a single piece). In other embodiments, the extension 21 extends from the first layer 66. and / or may include portions connected to both layers 66, 68; Or, it may be formed from separate pieces connected to one or both layers.

[0069] The extension portion 21 shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 22B and FIG. 32 is a part that is reinforced. The extension has a reinforcing material 81 connected thereto so as to provide strength, rigidity, You can choose from several different materials that provide resistance to wear and tear and other reinforcements. For example, the reinforcing material 81 may be a UV curable ink such as an acrylic ink or other UV curable ink. , the same dielectric material 80 used to provide insulation between layers 66, 68 in channel 71. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 to 22B and Fig. 32, In the embodiment, the reinforcing material 81 extends across the entire width of the extension 21 midway along the length of the extension 21. In this embodiment, the extension 21 has the form of a long strip extending across the The reinforcing material 81 extends from the second layer 68 into the hole 27 and is disposed on the upper surface of the extension 21. 2, deposited on the ends of the leads 18 and across them. The reinforcing material 81, in one embodiment, increases the stiffness of the material of the lead 18. In another embodiment, layers 66, 68 may be formed. It can also have greater stiffness than thin film materials.

[0070] In the configurations shown in FIGS. 3 to 22B and 32, the extension 21 is 11 is disposed within the housing 24, and thereby within the housing 24 To form interface 20, as described above, the recess 135 and the housing As shown in FIG. 32, the extension 21 is bent downward into the handle 24. An extension 21 is attached around the periphery of the housing 24 so as to extend downwardly along the side wall 25 of the housing 24. At the edge of the side, there is a bend area 84 that bends downward. The bend area 84 is generally linear. 2 and extends transversely across the extension 21. The reinforcing material 81 is attached to the extension 21 at the bend area 84 by a strip of the reinforcing material 81. Extending transversely across and generally parallel to the bend area 84, The reinforcing material 81 is disposed on the extension 21. In one embodiment, the reinforcing material 81 is an elongated 8, and the reinforcing material 81 extends over the entire bend area 84. At this location, the reinforcing material 81 has a sufficient width to cover One such function is to protect the extension 21 from damage due to bending. , to protect the thin film of the lead 18 and / or the extension 21. The function is to reduce the bending area 8, such as from friction against the housing 24 at that location. 4 to protect the thin film of the lead 18 and / or extension 21 from wear and abrasion. A further such function is to add stiffness and / or strength to the extension 21. Other benefits of the reinforcing material 81 may become apparent to those skilled in the art. In other embodiments, the reinforcing material 81 may be positioned, shaped, or otherwise modified in a different manner. Alternatively, the reinforcing material 81 may additionally or alternatively provide strength, Different components of the sensor assembly 12 may be provided with different stiffness, wear resistance, etc. It should be understood that the reinforcing material may be used in any location. 81 may not be used, or the majority of the extension 21 may be covered by the reinforcing material 81. It may be possible.

[0071] The housing 24 is adapted to establish a connection between the interface 20 and the module 22. , may include connecting structures such as connecting pins or springs (not shown). In one embodiment, the port 14 includes an electrical connector 8 that forms an interface 20. 2, and interface 20 as described above and shown in FIG. The connector 82 may include contacts that are respectively attached to the plurality of terminals 11. The extension 21 and the terminal 11 can be connected via a damping connection. The interface 20 in each of the sensors 16 is individually connected to one of the sensors 16. four terminals 11 connected to the ground, one terminal functioning as a measurement terminal (104b in FIG. 20), and One end serves as a power terminal (104a in FIG. 20) for applying a voltage to the circuit 10. As mentioned above, the power terminals may be replaced by another embodiment. In this case, the sensor terminals (104c to 104f in FIG. 20) are configured as power supply terminals. As shown in FIG. 12, the sensor 16 can be configured as a ground terminal. , leads 18, and other components of the sensor system 12 are configured for left and right feet. The sensor 16 may be different between the right insert 37 and the right insert 38. 7, in the left insert 37, it is possible to connect to a different terminal 11. In this embodiment, the four first terminals 11 are arranged in a number of different positions (potentially in different orders). Nevertheless, the fifth, sixth and seventh terminals 11 are still connected to both the left and right inserts 37. Reserved for connection to sensor 16 while maintaining the same functionality on the other side. This configuration may be different in other embodiments. In one embodiment, the module 22 is used with a left or right shoe 100 and an insert 37. The seventh terminal can be specially configured to accommodate an active element such as a unique identification chip. In one embodiment, the sixth and seventh terminals 11 extends on a tail 21A extending from the end of the extension 21. The adapter is connected across two terminals on Tail 21A to power the accessories. The accessory may be attached via anisotropic contact formation to the tail 22A. It may contain a small printed circuit board (PCB) with memory chips. In one embodiment, the accessory chip may include a unique identifier for the article of footwear, such as a serial number. 00, as well as information that uniquely identifies the footwear 100 as a left or right shoe, Are they men's or women's shoes (e.g. running, tennis, basketball, etc.) (specific type of shoe) and other types of important information. This information may be read by the module 22 and may be stored in the This information can later be used in analyzing, presenting, and / or compiling data from the sensors. The accessories may be encapsulated within the housing 24, such as via epoxy or other material. This can be done.

[0072] The port 14 is adapted for connection to a variety of different electronic modules 22. These electronic modules 22 include memory components (e.g., flash drives) It may be as simple as a single component or may include relatively complex features. The module 22 may be as complex as a personal computer, a mobile device, a server, etc. It should be understood that port 14 may be any component of any variety. and / or transmit data collected by the sensor 16 to a module 22 for processing. In some embodiments, the port 14, the sensor 16, and and / or other components of the sensor system 12 configured to process the data. The port 14, the sensor 16, and / or other components of the sensor system 12 may be The components may additionally or alternatively be connected to an external device 110 or multiple Configure for direct data transmission to module 22 and / or external device 110 The ports 14, the sensors 16, and / or other components of the sensor system 12 may also be The components may include appropriate hardware and software for these purposes. It should be understood that examples of housings and electronic modules within an article of footwear include: U.S. Patent Application No. 2007 / 0260421, which is now published as U.S. Patent Application No. No. 11,416,458, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The port 14 is connected to the module 22. As shown by the electronic terminals 11 forming an interface 20 for connection, In other embodiments, the port 14 may include one or more additional or alternative communication interfaces. For example, port 14 can include a USB port, a Firewire Includes connections based on ports, 16-pin ports, or other types of physical contacts or may have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, near field communication, RFID, Bluetooth Low Energy, Zigbee, or other wireless Interfaces for line communication techniques, or for infrared or other optical communication techniques. The communication interface may include a wireless or contactless communication interface. In an embodiment, the sensor system 12 includes one or more modules 22 or external devices. 110. Alternatively, the device may include a plurality of ports 14 configured for communication with the Alternatively, the configuration may be considered as a single distributed port 14. For example, each sensor 16 may be 2, each of which has a separate port 14 for communication with one or more electronic modules 22. The separate port 14 can also be used for wireless communication using radio or contactless communication as described above. In one embodiment, each port 14 can be configured for line communication. , may include an RFID chip having an antenna, and in another embodiment One or more ports 14 may be located from the user's foot to another location on the user's body. The user's body is used as a transmission system to transmit information to the module 22 placed in the The port 14 in this embodiment is connected to the sensor 16 by a lead 18. 61 is a lead on the bottom layer of the insert 37. It should be understood that the port 14 represents an insert 18 in various embodiments. between the layers of the insert 37, within the holes of the insert 37, or above or below the insert 37. A combination of two or more sensors connected to a single port 14 may be used. It should be understood that multiple or distributed ports 14 may also be used. In this embodiment, the sensor system 12 may include one or more ports 14 having different configurations. These may include combinations of two or more of the features described herein. may include.

[0073] Module 22 may additionally include a plurality of casings, as described below and shown in FIGS. 1 for connecting to an external device 110 to transmit data for processing, as shown in FIG. or multiple communication interfaces. Such interfaces may include , may include any of the contact or contactless interfaces described above. In the embodiment, the module 22 is a module for connecting to a computer and / or The device includes at least a retractable USB connection for charging the battery in the device 22. In the present embodiment, the module 22 may be integrated into a variety of devices, such as a wristwatch, a cell phone, a portable music player, etc. It can be configured for contact or contactless connection to a mobile device. 22 may be configured for wireless communication with external device 110, such that device 2 2 can remain within the footwear 100. However, in another embodiment, The module 22 can be connected to an external device for data transfer, such as by the retractable USB connection mentioned above. 110. The footwear 100 may be configured to be removed from the footwear 100 so that it can be directly connected to the In one wireless embodiment, the module 22 may include an antenna for wireless communication. The antenna may be connected to an appropriate transmission frequency for the selected wireless communication method. It can be shaped, sized, and positioned for use with Additionally, the antenna may be internally within the module 22 or external to the module. In one example, the lead 18 may be arranged to form an antenna. The sensor system 12 itself (such as the conductive portion of the sensor 16) could be used. The module 22 may further be configured to position, position, and / or adjust the antenna to improve reception. may be configured, and in one embodiment, the user's body as an antenna. In one embodiment, the module 22 is a footwear The device may be permanently installed within the computer 100, or alternatively, may be user The footwear may be removable according to the user's choice and may remain within the footwear 100 as appropriate. In addition, as will be further described below, the module 22 may also have a removal force. and may collect and / or utilize data from the sensors 16 in other ways. may be replaced by another module 22 programmed and / or configured to If the module 22 is permanently attached within the footwear 100, In this case, the sensor system 12 may be configured to transmit data and / or charge the battery. It may further include an external port (not shown), such as an USB or Firewire port. Module 22 can be configured for both contact and contactless communication. Please understand this.

[0074] The port 14 may be located in a variety of locations without departing from the invention. However, in one embodiment, the port 14 is adapted to be worn while in use, such as during athletic activities. A person steps down and / or otherwise engages the article of footwear 100. As the article of footwear 100 is used, contact with the wearer's foot and / or irritation may occur. and / or The positioning of the port 14 in Figures 3-4 is such that In another embodiment, the port 14 is located at the heel or upper of the shoe 100. Other features of the footwear structure 100 include a Assists in reducing or avoiding contact between ports 14 (or elements connected to ports 14). and improving the overall comfort of the footwear structure 100. For example, as described above and shown in FIGS. 3-5, the foot contacting member 133 is 1, by fitting over and at least partially covering the port 14. This provides a layer of padding between the wearer's foot and the port 14. 1. Reduces contact with the port 14 on the wearer's foot and any undesirable sensations Further features for modulating may be used, as desired, without departing from the invention. and providing an opening for the port 14 through the upper surface of the foot contacting member 133 without Such a configuration can provide additional comfort and sensory modulation elements. For example, the housing 24, the electronic module 22, and other features of the port 14 may The present invention relates to a footwear that includes a structure and / or is made of a material that modulates sensation in a user's foot. Without departing from the invention, the present invention can be used in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: The present invention relates to a method for providing a wearer's Low contact between the feet and the housing (or an element received within the housing) The various above-mentioned features aid in the reduction or avoidance of inflammatory bowel movements and improve the overall comfort of the footwear construction. Any of the features may be provided.

[0075] 62-76 show a port 14 configured for use with an insert member 37. 1A and 1B are further views of an embodiment of the present invention. Similar structures described above are designated with the same or similar reference numerals. The embodiment and modifications of the embodiment will be described in detail below. As described and disclosed herein, the port 14 is connected to a module 22. The module defines and supports an interface 20 for operative connection of the The module 22 will be described in more detail below. Through the operative connection, the data sensed by the sensor assembly 12 may be used for further purposes. and may be acquired, stored, and / or processed for analysis.

[0076] As can be seen from FIGS. 62-64, the port 14 generally comprises an insert assembly 37. The port 14 is generally supported at the mid-port of the interface assembly 1. 56. As will be described in more detail below, the interface assembly The solid 156 is connected to the extension 21 of the insert member 37 having the lead 11 at its upper portion. Such a connection allows the interface 23 of the module 22 An interface 20 is established for further operable connection with the

[0077] As further shown in FIGS. 65-67, the housing 24 in this embodiment is The base member 140 includes a side wall 25 and a cover member 142. The first end of the base member 140 may correspond to the tab 29 described above that defines the wall 26. , has a generally right-angled configuration that receives the extension 21 of the insert member 37. The second end of the base member 140 has a rounded configuration. The first section 144 generally defines two sections 146 that are symmetrical in shape. and is dimensioned to accommodate the module 22; The second section 146 is adapted to receive and support an interface assembly 156. The second section 146 is dimensioned to include a first lateral strip that is in communication with one another. The first lateral slot 148 and the second lateral slot 150 are also included. , may extend wider than the second lateral slot 150 and may have a larger The housing 24 may be configured to hold the module 22 within the housing 24. The finger recess 29A further defines a protrusion 151 at the second end. 51. The base member 140 is cooperably connected to a cover member 142. It further has a pair of receiving portions 152 for receiving the

[0078] As further shown in FIGS. 66 to 67, the cover member 142 is 2. The cover member 142 has a central aperture 153 sized to receive the cover member 142. The cover member 142 further includes a beam member 154 at the first end and a second end of the cover member 142. The beam members 154 are connected to the base member 140 as described. When the cover is closed, it overhangs above a portion of the first section 144. The underside of member 142 cooperates with a receptacle 152 on base member 140 as described below. The cover member 142 has a pair of depending posts 155. The outer periphery of the cover member 142 is formed with a lip or flange. In one exemplary embodiment, the cover member 142 defines the housing 28. The housing 24 may have depending walls that cooperate to define the side walls 25 of the housing 24. In such a configuration, the base member 140 has a hanging wall on the cover member 142. To accommodate this, a ledge can be defined on the sidewall.

[0079] 68-71 further illustrate components of the interface assembly 156. The interface assembly 156 may be any suitable interface assembly, such as that generally described with reference to FIG. The electrical connectors 82 each have a carrier 157 for supporting the electrical connectors 82. , which are resiliently supported by carriers 157 that cooperate with corresponding contacts on the module 22. The electrical connector 82 has a tip defining a contact supported by the carrier 157. and has a plurality of fingers 158 at its upper portion. In one embodiment, the four fingers 158 are The fingers 158 are associated with the connector 82 and have a flower-petal configuration. al arrangement. As described in more detail below, The interface assembly 156 further includes a filler material 159 or potting compound 159. Also, the end 82A of the connector can be inserted into the insert as shown in FIG. It will be appreciated that prior to connection of member 37 with extension 21, it is cut at a predetermined location. I want to.

[0080] As shown in FIGS. 72-73, the interface assembly 156 includes an insert Operatively connected to extension 21 of member 37 having lead 11 thereon. For this purpose, the fingers 158 are adapted to be engaged with the leads 11 and the connector 82 when engagement is present. At the location of the extension 21, the extension 21 is connected to the extension 21. This engagement is shown in FIG. This can be observed and understood from FIG. In one embodiment for use, the fingers 158 protrude through the extension 21. In this case, each of the plurality of fingers 158 extends circumferentially through the extension 21. As further shown in FIG. 72, the tail 21A extends It should be understood that the portion 21 may be further folded so as to be positioned adjacent the rear surface of the portion 21. As described, the tail 21A having the sixth and seventh connectors includes a PCB member 90. This may be a unique identification chip connected to function as described above. The extension 21 and the carrier 157 are suspended from the upper flat surface of the insert member 37. It should be understood that the casing is positioned so as to be lowered. As further shown in FIG. The carrier 157 is then inserted into the first lateral slot 148 of the base member 140 of the housing 24. The carrier 157 is positioned snugly within the first lateral slot 148. The dimensions are designed to fit and be held within the The connectors 82 are opposed within a first section 144 defined by the housing 24. As can be seen from FIGS. 75-76, the filler material 159 or the potting compound 15 9 defines an opening 150A (FIG. 65) in the base member 140 adjacent the second lateral slot 150. It should be understood that the potting compound 15 may be injected into the second lateral slot 150 through the 9 may be a thermosetting plastic in one exemplary embodiment, and one Potting compound 159 may be a second lateral strip. The lot 150 is filled, and the connector 8 with the extension 21 held by the carrier 157 is inserted. 2, thereby providing a protective connection. In one embodiment, the potting compound 159 secures the connection between the extension 21 and the port 14. The potting compound 159 also maintains a desirable level of flexibility to improve the The base member 140 is capable of resisting shock and vibration while also resisting ingress and corrosive agents. , is positioned in the insert member 37. In this case, the receiving portion 152 is It will be further understood that the insert member 37 is aligned with the corresponding opening 28B. The cover member 142 is positioned on the upper surface of the insert member 37. In this case, the depending post 155 fits within the receptacle 152. (FIGS. 62 to 67). To connect the cover member 142 to the base member 140, ultrasonic welding is performed. This connection is similar to the connection of peg 28A, as shown in FIG. In other embodiments, the connector includes a snap connection or other mechanical connection. Other connection techniques for connecting the cover member 142 to the base member 140 may be utilized. A beam member 154 extends over the interface 20, where: It should be understood that the connector 82 is protected within the housing 24. The construction is based on the stability of the port 14 to the insert member 37 as described herein. 2. Provide a fixed connection between the module 22 and the .

[0081] 77-90 disclose further views and features of one embodiment of module 22. As mentioned above, the module 22 is a sensor assembly. The port 14 is used to collect, store, and / or process data received from the body 12. The module 22 is received by and operatively connected to the For such purposes, without limitation, printed circuit boards, power supplies, lighting components, in interface, as well as various sensors including multi-axis accelerometers, gyroscopes, and / or magnetometers. It should be appreciated that the device may house a variety of components, including sensors of various types.

[0082] The module 22 generally comprises contacts for cooperating with the interface 20 of the port 14. A housing 170 supporting the interface 23 having an electrical connector forming As will be described in more detail below, the interface 23 of the module 22 is associated with The contacts are formed to have a sealed configuration to protect against the ingress of moisture. The module 22 is a dead-front LED light that is only visually perceptible when illuminated. Finally, the module 22 may further include a function that improves the operation of the module 22. The TDK 1000 utilizes a unique ground plane extender that provides

[0083] As shown in Figures 79 to 83, the housing 170 of the module 22 is The interface assembly 171 supports a plurality of connectors. The connector 172 has a module support 173. The contacts collectively define the interface 23 of the module 22. The connector 172 is connected to the connector 17 to define a module carrier 173. It should be understood that the connector is insert molded around the connector 2. Each portion 172A (FIG. 79) of connector 172 is of suitable length for further operative connection. It will be understood that the cutouts are made at predetermined locations to allow for placement of connector 172. The housing 170 generally includes an outer base member 175 and an inner base member 176. The housing 170 has an outer top member 178 and an inner It further includes a module top member 177 having side top members 179. 175, 176, module upper members 178, 179, and interface assembly 17 1 cooperate to provide a sealed arrangement around the connector 172. Connector 172 is considered to have an over-molded construction. These components can also be mounted in a housing 170 that is connected to a connector 172. An internal circuit board 180 supporting internal components including a printed circuit board 180 operatively connected thereto. It also forms holes.

[0084] As described, the connector 172 is insert molded, in this case a modular A carrier 173 is formed around the connector 172. 5 is formed, such as in an injection molding process, and defines an end opening. It should be understood that in such a process, the injection molding process requires a process that is capable of withstanding the pressures associated with it. The connector 172 can be sufficiently supported inside the mold so that the connector 172 can be inserted into the mold. The face assembly 171 and the outer base member 175 are placed inside the mold, where The interface assembly 171 is positioned in the end opening and is attached to the outer base portion. In a further injection molding process, the inner base member 17 Additional material is injected into the mold to form the inner base member 176. Around the tip of the support 173 and the connector 172, and further, the outer base member 1 75. An internal bore is defined by an inner base member 176, which In the case of a conventional casing, a printed circuit board 180 is supported therein, as is known in the art. It should be appreciated that the connector 172 is operably connected to a printed circuit board 180 . It is further understood that other components of the module 22 are supported within the internal bore. It should be understood that, as will be described in more detail below, the connector 172 may be formed by an overmolding process. It is constructed in a way that it is sealed from the elements.

[0085] 85-86 and 89-90, which include the inner upper member 179 and the outer upper member 178. The modular top member 177 shown in FIG. 90, in one embodiment, is As shown in Figure 88, the inner upper part The outer upper member 178 generally comprises: The inner top member 179 is positioned on the base member 174 and The outer upper member 178 is positioned on the inner upper member 179. A member 177 is attached to the base member 175 to house the internal components of the module 22. This is being continued.

[0086] This structural configuration allows the connector 172 to be sealed to prevent potential moisture ingress. As shown in FIG. 84, the carrier 173 is substantially inside the connector 172. At the side surface, the connector 172 is in surface-to-surface engagement. The part 176 is disposed on the outer surface of the connector 172 and generally surrounds the connector 172. The inner base member 176 is positioned relative to the outer base member 175. 84 further includes an engagement surface 182 that abuts and engages with an engagement surface 183. As shown in FIG. 1, this configuration results in a meandering line represented by a very thin line L. Such a tortuous path L minimizes the possibility of moisture ingress. For example, a user may run through a puddle during use, causing water to pool on port 14. and potentially exposing the module 22 to moisture. In the above, the connector 172 can be considered to be sealed to 5 ATM. In the vicinity of the meandering path L, such as one or more points P in FIG. A bonding material (e.g., adhesive) is applied between the carrier 173 and the inner base member 176. It can be used.

[0087] It should be understood that module 22 is received within port 14. Module 2 The front end of the second is inserted through the central aperture 153 and into the first section 144. The module 22 corresponds approximately in size to the first section 144. The dimensions are set so that the fitting is tight and the fitting is tight. In this example, interface 23 on module 22 is the same as interface 14 on port 14. 20, where the individual contacts of the interfaces 20, 23 are The structure is therefore in face-to-face contact with the interface 23 of the module 22. is pressed against the interface 20 of the port 14 in a pressure-contact state. The module 22 is connected to port 14 via a snap connection. 24. The module 22 is supported by a housing 24 having a projection 151 therein. The user can then, with the assistance of the finger recesses 29A, insert the finger into the recess 184 on the rear surface of the device. This allows access to the module 22, making it easy to remove the module 22 from the port. Therefore, it can be used for charging or data transfer or for one purpose. One type of module 22 can be used with different types of modules for different applications. When replacing or replacing a depleted module with a newly charged module 22 When needed, such as to replace module 22, module 22 can be easily inserted into port 14. The device can be attached to the housing and removed from the port 14.

[0088] As shown in Figures 85 to 90, the module 22 includes an illuminated indicia. A lighting assembly 185 is provided to provide a user with a visual indication of the lighting. The lighting assembly 185 generally comprises a lighting member 186. 186 and a light guide 187. The light member 186 in one example embodiment includes The lighting components are LED lighting components, but other lighting components can also be used. 86 has an arched section 188 and is indicated by arrow A1. The first direction may be, for example, In an embodiment, the illumination member 186 may be a side-illuminating LED. The light guide 187 can be considered as a first light guide configured in a first direction. The first section 189 defines a path 190. In order to capture as much light as possible from the lighting member 186, the arched section of the lighting member 186 188. Thus, the recessed area generally corresponds to and receives the recess 188. The first section 189 is in opposing relation to the arched section 188 of the lighting member 186. The illumination member 186 is in engagement with and partially surrounds the illumination member 186. As shown in the figure, The light guide 187 directs light along an arc by spreading the light over a relatively large area. The light guide 187 has a shape that helps to diffuse the light in the second direction. The second path 192 further includes a second section 191 that defines a second path 192. The second path 192 includes , extending upward and at an angle, and thus in a different direction than the first direction. In one exemplary embodiment, the second section 191 is configured to improve light reflection. The second path 192 is inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees, which is determined to be the inner upper portion. The illumination guide has a tip positioned adjacent an aperture 181 in the material 179. Dow 187 adds a dispersant to the resin before injection molding the light guide. The illumination member 186 and the illumination guide 187 are disposed in an opposing relationship. Because the components are constructed in a compact package, they have a very small footprint. This is due to the limited area defined within module 22. In operation, the lighting member 186 may be connected to the printed circuit board 180 as needed. The light is projected in the direction indicated by the arrow A1. The light is projected in an arched configuration based on the shape of the light guide 187. The light guide 187 guides the light in the direction indicated by the arrow A. 2. Light is initially directed from a side-illuminating LED into a second path 192. As it is projected, the light is directed from the direction A1 toward the second path 192 in an inclined direction. The light then passes through aperture 181 in direction A2 and exits Illumination is provided through the upper member 178. The shape of the light guide 187 is very short, as shown. The light guide 187 is adapted to distribute light evenly over a short path length. The dispersion agent used disperses the light from the lighting element 186 relatively evenly. Due to the short path lengths involved, the LED lighting components 186 could project light with a relatively focused brightness in a particular area. With this configuration, the light is diffused and reflected relatively evenly, in this case There is a finite light gradient across the aperture 181. The outer top member 178 is designed to have a thickness of material that provides the desired translucency. and the amount of colorant added. Therefore, as can be understood from Figs. 90 and 91, In addition, when the lighting member 186 is not illuminated, the user can see that the LEDs are not illuminated within the module 22. It is not possible to detect the presence of When the lighting element 186 is activated, it provides a blank or dead-front appearance. Then, the light is directed along the arrow A1 and as shown by the notation LT in FIG. upward along arrow A2 and through aperture 181 and outer upper member 178; Due to the shape and treatment of the light guide 187 and the upper member, the light is relatively improved. This allows the light to be reflected across the entire area of ​​the upper member. It also provides a more uniformly distributed light that reflects light in a relatively improved manner. For example, the light guide 187 may include a light reflector. A surface texture could be provided to improve the illumination. Walls or other surfaces can be painted to achieve desired changes in light reflection. or it could have a sticker applied on top of it. It should be understood that the lighting member 186 may project light of multiple colors. , provides indicia to inform various parameters, including the battery life of the module 22. Provide.

[0089] The port 14 and module 22 construction described herein is a perfect fit. These constructions provide a watertight construction and are moisture resistant. These properties provide a workable connection between the port 14 and the module 22. This is achieved while maintaining the same engagement area between the fingers and the extensions. Accordingly, the fingers 158 on the interface assembly are extended from the insert member 37. The filler material 159 is flexible and corrodible. It is selected to have a desirable hardness to provide corrosion resistance properties. In one embodiment, the filler material 159 has a viscosity of 30 or less on the Type A scale. The filler material 159 may have a shore durometer of , providing protection around the connection between the extension 21 and the interface assembly 156. The housing and the receiver / column connection of the insert member 37 are In order to minimize the possibility that the insert 37 may break during use, stress relief is provided to the insert 37. More is offered.

[0090] 91-94 illustrate further features related to the ground plane extenders associated with module 22. Specifically, further aspects disclose one or more The present invention relates to maximizing the surface area of ​​one layer of a PCB of an electronic device. This relates to increasing the surface area of ​​the ground plane layer. FIG. 91 is a perspective plan view of an example PCB 1002. FIG. 10 shows a PCB 1002 that includes, without limitation, a processor, capacitors, One or more components including diodes, resistors, and / or combinations thereof The PCB 1002 may have a horizontal axis (the "x" axis) ), those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention may be practiced with a PCB 1002 (or The individual PCBs (in operable communication) are arranged to form a non-planar structure. It will be appreciated that the PCB 1002 may be constructed of a conductive material, such as copper. 91. The semiconductor device further includes a ground plane layer (see 1004) formed from a material. As shown, the visible portion of the ground plane layer 1004 is located around the periphery of the PCB 1002. Although each portion of layer 1004 is shown, each portion of layer 1004 may be disposed and / or connected to other portions of PCB 1002. Or it can be connected.

[0091] In a particular embodiment, at least one component of the PCB 1002 may be, for example, For example, a battery (not shown in Figs. 91 to 93 but shown in Fig. 94) The PCB1 may be configurable to be in operative communication with a portable power source. 002 is in a portable device with limited dimensions for a battery or other form of portable power source. Due to the dimensional limitations of the portable devices discussed above, Batteries are often small and therefore have limited supply time between charges and / or According to one embodiment, the PCB 1002 may have a limited discharge rate. 91, the battery space 10 may have a space such as 006. 06 is a PCB 1002 to allow placement of a power supply adjacent to the PCB 1002. 1002. The PCB 1002 has an area along the x and z planes. or to form one or more battery spaces, configured to be altered (such as through snap areas and / or areas of alternating thickness) In this regard, an exemplary space is the battery space, but those skilled in the art will recognize that This disclosure is limited only to areas and / or spaces configured to house or position batteries. You will understand that this is not something that can be achieved.

[0092] The battery space 1006 of the PCB 1002 is flanked on three sides by sections of the PCB 1002. Although the PCB 1002 is shown in a slot configuration, those skilled in the art will appreciate the shape, size, and The sizes and / or configurations are for illustrative purposes only and other shapes may be used within the scope of the present disclosure. It will be readily understood that the exact shape and size of the battery cavity 1006 is within the scope of the present invention. The size may be determined by its intended use and is not limited by this disclosure. Therefore, the only requirement for the battery space 1006 is that it be aligned along the same plane. and to allow placement of a power supply adjacent to the PCB 1002 (e.g., along the x-axis). The inclusion of the area along the horizontal planes of PCB1002. As shown in FIG. 94, which shows a side view, a battery such as battery 1008 is mounted on PCB 1002. The battery 1008 can be positioned along the horizontal plane (x-axis) of the Since the PCB 1002 occupies an area within the gap 1006, the surface area of ​​the PCB 1002 is In comparison with PCBs that do not have spaces, such as the 008, the space is minimized, but in return 10 includes a relatively large area of ​​the ground plane layer 1004 located in the same spot.

[0093] According to certain embodiments, a ground plane extender (see, e.g., 1010) , may be electronically connected to the ground plane layer 1004 of the PCB 1002. 1 illustrates an example ground plane extender 1010 according to an embodiment. 0 may be formed from any material that effectively increases the surface area of ​​the ground plane layer 1004. In one embodiment, the ground plane extender comprises copper and / or aluminum. However, in further embodiments, at least one of the ground plane extenders 1010 may For the part, any conductive material may be used. Conductive adhesives, soldering, Extenders can be attached by soldering, welding, snap-ins, or combinations of these. 1010 and the ground plane layer 1004 to allow for contact (and / or alignment) between the One or more connectors 1012 may be utilized. As best shown in FIG. Thus, the extender 1010 is adjacent to one side of the battery 1008 (e.g., on the top). The PCB may be arranged in a vertically-spaced manner and aligned substantially parallel to the horizontal (x) axis. 1002 and therefore planar therewith (e.g., 1014, etc. For example, the extender 1010 may have a portion, such as a top region, of the PCB 100. 2 and extending from the PCB 1002 to the upper region 1016. The upper region 1016 may include a vertical ridge 1016. The upper region 1016 may include a battery 1008. One or more apertures that may allow heat exchange from the surrounding components. It can have 1018.

[0094] As can be seen in FIG. 94, the extender 1010 is disposed on the first side ( 1002) and is electrically connected to the PCB 1002. and an antenna 1020 is adjacent to the opposite side (e.g., bottom) of the battery 1008. Also, in the example embodiment of FIG. The surface extender 1010 and the antenna 1020 are connected to the PCB 1002 and to each other. Thus, in at least one embodiment, the portable device The device includes a first layer having a ground plane extender, such as extender 1010, at least one A portion of the PCB is operatively connected to the ground plane extender. A second layer having a battery positioned in such a way that the first layer is electrically connected to the first electrode and an antenna such as antenna 1020. In an exemplary embodiment, the layers are vertically spaced. Although the electrodes are shown aligned perpendicularly, other configurations are within the scope of the present disclosure. Unless otherwise stated, each layer is a contiguous layer of adjacent layers. There is no requirement that the device be in direct physical contact with a surface. For example, an antenna The requirement that 1020 be in direct physical contact with the adjacent surfaces of the battery 1008 does not exist.

[0095] FIG. 6 is a diagram of a data transmission / reception system that may be used in accordance with at least some examples of this invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary electronic module 22 including data transmission / reception capabilities over a system 107. The example structure of FIG. 6 is shown as being integrated into an electronic module structure 22. Although a data transmission / reception system (TX-RX) 107 is shown, those skilled in the art will recognize that a separate component The components may communicate with the footwear structure 100 or other structures for the purpose of transmitting / receiving data. The data transmission / reception system 107 may be included as part of the structure of the present invention. In all instances of the invention, the invention is entirely contained within a single housing or package. It will be appreciated that it is not necessary for the data transmission / reception system to be The various components or elements of system 107 may be implemented in a variety of different ways without departing from the invention. Depending on the way they are installed, they may be separate from each other, may be in different housings, may be in different It may be on a substrate and / or separate from the article of footwear 100 or other device. Various examples of different potential attachment structures are described in more detail below. do.

[0096] In the example of FIG. 6, electronic component 22 communicates with one or more remote systems. A data transmission / reception request is provided to transmit data and / or receive data between In one embodiment, the transmit / receive element 107 may include the Configured for communication through port 14, such as by contact or contactless interface. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the module 22 includes a port 14. and / or an interface 23 configured for connection to the sensor 16. In the illustrated module 22, the interface 23 is connected to the port 14. To this end, the port 14 has contacts that are complementary to the terminals 11 of the interface 20. In another embodiment, as described above, the port 14 and the module 22 may be different types. The device may include a type of interface 20, 23, which may be contact or wireless. In some embodiments, the module 22 may include a TX-RX element 107. It will be appreciated that the present invention may interface with the port 14 and / or the sensor 16 via Thus, in one embodiment, the module 22 is located on the exterior of the footwear 100. and the port 14 may be a wireless transmitter for communication with the module 22. The electronic component 22 in this example may have an interface (e.g., A processing system 202 (e.g., one or more microprocessors), a memory system 204 , and a power source 206 (e.g., a battery or other power source). In this case, the power source 206 may include a coil or other inductive element for inductive charging. In this configuration, the article of footwear 100 can be configured with an inductive pad. or other inductive charger, thereby allowing module 2 to be powered from port 14. 2, thereby allowing charging without removing the module 22. In another embodiment, the power supply 206 may additionally or alternatively include: The device may be configured to charge by using energy harvesting technology. and charges the power source 206 through the absorption of kinetic energy caused by the user's movement. It may include devices for energy harvesting, such as chargers.

[0097] The connection to one or more sensors can be realized as shown in FIG. However, pedometer-type speed and / or distance information, other speed and / or distance data sensors information, temperature, altitude, air pressure, humidity, GPS data, accelerometer output or data, heart rate, pulse Heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, EKG data, EEG data, (gyroscope-based sensors Articles of footwear, including data on angular orientation and changes in angular orientation, such as 00 usage or physical or physiological data associated with the user Further sensors (not shown) may be provided to sense or provide data or information relating to the parameters of the (not shown) may be provided, and this data may be provided, for example, by the transmitting / receiving system 1 07 to some remote location or system. and / or may be made available in a further one or more Multiple sensors, if present, may be used (e.g., for detecting changes in direction while walking, for pedometer-type speed and / or distance information, for detection of jump height, etc.) It may also include an accelerometer. In one embodiment, the module 22 includes a The sensor 16 may include a further sensor 208, and data from the sensor 16 may be The data can be integrated with data from the accelerometer 208, for example by the controller 22 or an external device 110. can.

[0098] As a further example, the various types of electronic modules, systems, and methods described above may be implemented using This can be used to provide automatic shock attenuation control for articles of clothing. Such systems and methods may, for example, be used to actively and / or dynamically improve the impact attenuation properties of an article of footwear. No. 6,430,843, which describes a system and method for dynamically controlling The specification, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003 / 0009913, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. It is possible to operate as described in the patent application 2004 / 0177531. (U.S. Patent No. 6,430,843, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003 / 0009 No. 913 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004 / 0177531, respectively. (All of which are incorporated herein by reference and make a part hereof). When used to provide speed and / or distance type information, U.S. Patent No. 5,722,633. Specification No. 4,265, Specification No. 5,955,667, Specification No. 6,018,705, Nos. 6,052,654, 6,876,947, and 6,882,9 The detection units, algorithms, and systems of the type described in the '55 patent Each of these patent documents is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. These, as well as further embodiments of the sensors and sensor systems, are encompassed herein. Footwear articles and sole structures and components utilizing the same are described in U.S. Pat. 010 / 0063778 and 2010 / 0063779, These patent documents are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference, and portions thereof are hereby incorporated by reference. Compose minutes.

[0099] The electronic module 22 may also include a start-up system (not shown). The activation system, or portions thereof, may be integrated with or into other portions of the electronic module 22. Separately, the module 22 and / or the article of footwear 100 (or other The activation system can be coupled to the electronic module 22 and / or the Select at least some of the functions of the electronic module (e.g. data transmission / reception functions). Various different methods may be used to selectively activate the device without departing from the invention. Any of a variety of start-up systems may be used, and various such systems are described in the included This will be described in further detail below in connection with various figures. The system 12 may be configured to respond to specific patterns, such as continuous or alternating toe / heel taps. The sensor 16 may be activated and / or deactivated by activating the sensor 16 in In another example, the sensor system 12 may be activated by a button or switch. The button or switch may be on the module 22 and on the shoe 100. , or on an external device in communication with the sensor system 12, as well as other In any of these embodiments, the sensor The system 12 may include a "sleep" mode, which may be configured to After a period of inactivity, the system 12 may be deactivated. In this case, the sensor system 12 operates as a low power device that does not turn on or off. can be done.

[0100] The module 22 may be updated for communication with an external device 110, as shown in FIG. The external device 110 may be configured as an external computer or computer system. The device may be a computer, a mobile device, a gaming system, or any other type of electronic device. The exemplary external device 110 shown at 23 includes a processor 302, a memory 304, a power supply 306, a display 308, a user input 310, and a data transmission / reception system 108. The transmit / receive system 108 is described above and elsewhere herein. Any type of known communication method, including contact and contactless communication methods described in Through electronic communication, the module 22 via the transmission / reception system 107 of the module 22 The modules 22 and / or ports 14 are configured for communication between various It includes electronic devices of different types and configurations and is capable of communicating information to other external devices. and such data may or may not be further processed; It should be appreciated that the device may be configured for communication with multiple external devices, including intermediate devices. In addition, the transmit / receive system 107 of the module 22 can receive multiple different types of The shoe 100 may be configured for electronic communication, as desired. A separate power source may be included to operate the sensor 16, such as a power source, a power supply, or the like. It should be further understood that in the embodiment of FIGS. 3-22B, the sensor 16 is a module It receives power through a connection to 22.

[0101] As will be described below, such a sensor assembly may be coupled to the electronics module 22 and / or an external device. Can be customized for use with specific software for the 110 Third parties have been developing such devices with plantar inserts that have customized sensor assemblies. The modules 22 and / or the modules 23 may be provided as a package. The entire sensor system 12 may be mounted on a module, an external device 110, or on a separate component. The sensor 16 includes an algorithm stored in and / or executed by the sensor 16. The system may cooperate with one or more algorithms for analysis of data obtained from the system.

[0102] During operation, the sensor 16 collects data according to its functionality and configuration and The port 14 then transmits the signal to the electronic module 22, which then transmits the signal to the sensor 16. Interfacing and collecting data for later use and / or processing In one embodiment, the data is stored in a manner that allows the data to be used for a variety of different purposes. To be used for a variety of different purposes, accessed and / or by multiple users. Collected in a universally readable format so that it can be downloaded In one example, the data is stored in XML format. In one embodiment, the module 22 currently The measurement terminal 10 reflects the change in resistance of the particular sensor 16 being switched on. 20, by measuring the voltage drop at 4b. The pressure change in the sensor 16 is detected. FIG. 27 shows the pressure-resistance curve in the sensor 16. An example of a line is shown, and the dashed line indicates the potential for a curve due to factors such as bending of the insert 37. The module 22 has a starting resistance R A which may have This is the detected resistance required for module 22 to register the pressure on the sensor. The corresponding pressure to generate such a resistance is the starting pressure P A It is called. Resistance value R A is the specific start pressure P for which it is desired that the module 22 register data. A To In one embodiment, the starting pressure P A is approximately 0 .15 bar (approximately 15 kPa), approximately 0.2 bar (approximately 20 kPa), or approximately 0.25 bar (approximately 25 kPa) and the corresponding starting resistance R A is about 100kΩ In addition, in one embodiment, the maximum sensitivity range is 150 to 150 0 mbar (15 kPa to 150 kPa). The sensor system 12 constructed as shown in FIG. 22B has a resolution of 0.1 to 7 Within the range of .0 bar (or approximately 0.1 to 7.1 atm) (10 kPa to 700 kPa) and in another embodiment, the sensor system 1 2 is able to detect pressures above this range due to its high sensitivity.

[0103] In different embodiments, sensor system 12 collects different types of data. In one embodiment (described above), one or more sensors 16 may collect data regarding the number, sequence, and / or frequency of compressions. For example, the system 12 may record walking, jogging, and other movements occurring while wearing the footwear 100. The number or frequency of pumps, cuts, kicks, or other compressive forces as well as the time of contact and flight Other parameters such as time can be recorded. Both on and off type sensors can collect this data. The system is capable of recording the sequence of compression forces generated by the footwear. This can be achieved by controlling the pronation or supination of the foot, weight transfer, foot strike pattern, or other factors. It can be used for the purpose of determining the applicability of the In another embodiment, the one or more sensors 16 are located on adjacent portions of the shoe 100. It is possible to quantitatively measure the compressive force in the specimen, and the data is The force on different parts of the shoe 100 may include measurements of compression and / or impact. The relative difference can be used to determine the weight distribution and "center of pressure" of the shoe 100. The distribution of weight and / or the center of pressure can be calculated by dividing the center of pressure or weight distribution in the whole body of a person. Independent calculations for one or both shoes 100, such as to find the center of the fabric or can be calculated for both shoes together. In this embodiment, the one or more sensors 16 measure the rate of change of compressive force, the time of contact, (ja Dependent on flight time or time between impacts and / or time (e.g. in pumps and planning) In any embodiment, the sensor 16 may be capable of measuring a parameter such as So, a certain threshold force or impact is required before the force / impact is registered. Please understand that it is possible.

[0104] As mentioned above, data is stored in a database that contains information about applications, users, and processes that can use the data. Universal Port 14 allows the number of programs to be virtually unlimited. The data is provided to the module 22 in a universally readable format. Thus, ports 14 and modules 22 can be configured and / or programmed by a user as desired. The port 14 and the module 22 are programmed to receive the signal from the sensor system 12. Input data is received and the data is processed in any manner desired for different applications. The module 22 may use the unique identifier described herein. The data received can be associated with either the left or right shoe, such as through the use of a separate chip 92. The module 22 may be capable of recognizing whether the left / right shoe is being worn or not. The data can be processed in a variety of ways, and the data is from the L / R shoes. Data may also be sent to the external device 110 along with an identification of whether or not the external device 110 is connected. The device 110 similarly processes the data in a different manner based on the L / R shoe identification. In one example, the terminal 11 and the insulator 12 may be The connection of the sensor 16 to the interface 20 is as shown in FIG. As described above, the thickness of the left and right inserts 37 may be different. According to this configuration, the data from the right insert 37 is processed differently from the data from the right insert 37. The module 22 and / or the electronic device 110 may be configured to generate a unique identifier. Perform similar operations in relation to other identifying information contained on chip 92. In many applications, the data may be stored in the module 22 and and / or further processed by an external device 110. The external device 110 further processes the data. In this configuration, the module 22 can transmit data to the external device 110. This transmitted data is stored in the same universally readable format. It may be transmitted in a single format or in another format and may be modular. The rule 22 may be configured to change the format of the data. Thus, the module 22 collects data from the sensor 16 for one or more specific applications. The device may also be configured and / or programmed to collect, utilize, and / or process the information. In one embodiment, module 22 collects data that is used in multiple applications. Examples of such uses and applications include: As used herein, the term "use" means Generally, this term refers to a specific use and does not necessarily imply that the term is used in the computer arts. As used in this document, "use in a computer program application" means However, certain uses may be found in computer program applications. The present invention may be implemented in whole or in part in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

[0105] Moreover, in one embodiment, the module 22 can be removed from the footwear 100. and configured to operate in a different manner than the first module 22. The replacement can be achieved, for example, by a second module 22 formed on the foot contact area. Lift the member 133 to disconnect the first module 22 from the first port 14 and Remove the module 22 from the housing 24 and then insert a second module 22 into the housing. 2. Insert the second module 22 into the port 14 and connect it to the port 14. This is achieved by placing the contact member 133 in its original position. The first module 22 may be programmed and / or configured in a different manner. In one embodiment, the first module 22 may be configured to The second module 22 may be configured for use with one or more different For example, the first module 22 may be configured for use in a variety of applications. The second module may be configured for use in one or more gaming applications. Module 22 may be configured for use in one or more athletic performance monitoring applications. In addition, the module 22 may be used in different applications of the same type. For example, the first module 22 may be configured to monitor a single game or athletic performance. The second module 22 may be configured for use in a visual application, and As another example, the device may be configured for use in gaming or athletic performance monitoring applications. Thus, modules 22 may be configured for different uses in the same game or performance monitoring application. In another embodiment, the first module 22 may store one type of data. and the second module 22 may be configured to collect another type of data Quantitative force and / or pressure measurements, relative force and and / or measuring pressure (i.e., sensors 16 in relation to one another), weight shift / transfer, (foot impact sequence, rate of change of force and / or pressure, etc. Examples of such types of data are described herein. In this embodiment, the first module 22 is secured in a different manner than the second module 22. The module may be configured to use or process data from the sensor 16. The system 22 may be configured only to collect, store, and / or transmit data, Alternatively, the module 22 may edit the data, change the form of the data, perform calculations using the data, etc. The data can be further processed in some manner, such as by running In yet another embodiment, the module 22 may be configured to use a different communication interface. or configured to communicate with different external devices 110. Module 22 can be configured to communicate in different ways. This may involve both structural and functional aspects, such as using different power sources, or (e.g. Additional or different hardware, such as the additional sensors mentioned above (such as GPS, acceleration, etc.) It may function differently in other embodiments, including as a component. Cut.

[0106] One anticipated use of the data collected by system 12 is weight transfer. This is the measurement of the golf swing, baseball / softball swing, , hockey swing (ice hockey or field hockey), tennis swing, It is important in many athletic activities, such as throwing / pitching a ball. The pressure data collected by the system 12 may be used to measure the pressure of any applicable athletic discipline. Gives valuable feedback regarding balance and stability that can be used in improving Based on the intended use of the data collected, It will be appreciated that it is possible to construct a sensor system 12 that is extremely expensive and complex. I want to.

[0107] Data collected by the System 12 may be used to measure a variety of other athletic performance characteristics. The data can be used to measure foot pronation / supination degree and / or velocity, foot strike performance, and It can be used to measure turns, balance, and other such parameters. These parameters can be measured during running / jogging or other athletic activities. It can also be used to improve the technique of pronation / supination. Analysis of the data can be used as a predictor of pronation / supination. Speed ​​and distance monitoring This can be done in a way that is similar to a pedometer, such as contact measurement or loft time measurement. It may also include contact or loft time measurements. You can also measure the height of a jump by using a cutting The lateral cutting forces, including differential forces applied to different portions of the shoe 100 during the cutting process, are The sensor 16 can also measure the foot sliding laterally within the shoe 100. It can be positioned in any way to measure the shear force. Further sensors may be built into the sides of the upper 120 of the shoe 100 to detect the force applied to the shoe. can.

[0108] The data, or measurements derived from it, may include speed, power, rapidity, consistency, technique, etc. Port 14, Module 22 and / or the external device 110 may provide active real-time feedback to the user. In one example, the port 14 and / or the module The system 22 communicates results in real time to computers, mobile devices, etc. In another example, one or more vibration Elements may be contained within shoe 100 and thus are incorporated herein by reference. No. 6,978,684, incorporated herein by reference. By vibrating a portion of the shoe to assist in controlled movements, such as the feature described in In addition, the data can be used to provide feedback to the user. Compare the workout to the user's past workouts to show consistency, improvement, or lack thereof; or or comparing the user's motion with the same motion of another person, such as a professional golfer's swing; etc., can be used to compare exercise movements. 2. Recording biomechanical data for athletes' "signature" physical exercise This data can also be used for gaming purposes or to of a movement, for use in shadow applications where a movement is overlaid on a similar movement, etc. may be provided to other persons for use in reproductions and simulations. Today.

[0109] The system 12 also includes a "one day" function to record the various activities that the user engages in throughout the day. For this purpose, the system 12 may be configured for "daily activity" tracking. Special accessories may be installed within the module 22, the external device 110, and / or the sensor 16, etc. It can include an algorithm.

[0110] Also, system 12 may be used for control applications rather than data collection and processing applications. In other words, the system 12 can also detect the movement of the user detected by the sensor 16. Based on the motion, an external device 110, such as a computer, a television, a video game, etc. to footwear or to another article subject to physical contact for use in controlling In fact, the built-in sensor 16 and the universal port 1 4, and the footwear has a lead 18 extending to the input system and the electronic module 22 receives input from the sensor 16. The input can be used as a control input for a remote system, for example. The software may be configured, programmed, and adapted for use in any manner desired by the user. For example, a shoe with sensor control could be used as a computer or tablet device, similar to a mouse. Used as a control or input device for programs being run by a computer In this case, it is possible to perform a tap (e.g., foot tap, two foot taps, heel tap, etc.) taps, two heel taps, foot movement from side to side, foot direction, foot bending Certain foot movements and gestures (e.g., page down, page up, etc.) (up, down, undo, copy, cut, paste, save, exit, etc.) For this purpose, the foot gestures can be used to control the specified actions. Software can be provided to control the computer functions. The rating system receives and recognizes control inputs from the sensor system 12. This method is expected to be able to be configured so that televisions or other external devices The footwear 100 incorporating the system 12 can also control a child device. intendo Wii controller as well as game applications and game programs It is possible to use within a gram, where a particular movement has a particular function. and / or a virtual representation of the user's movements on the display screen. Specific movements can also be used to generate a representation of the In gaming applications that may involve virtual representation of heavy shifts and other performance activities The center of pressure data and other weight distribution data can be used for the system. 12 may be used as the only controller for a game or other computer system, or can be used as a complementary controller. As a controller for external devices Such control foot gestures can be used in conjunction with a sensor system for an article of footwear. For examples of configurations and methods for using the No. 6,313,933, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In the following, various logic devices are used to control one or more systems. Further embodiments utilizing gestures are described in more detail below and are also useful for tensioning systems. The above gesture-based control is illustrated in FIGS.

[0111] In addition, the system 12 may communicate with and / or communicate with an external device 110. It may also be configured to communicate directly with the controller for the device. As mentioned above, FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment for communication between electronic module 22 and an external device. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 23, the system 12 includes an external gaming device. The external game device 110A can be configured for communication with the external game device 110A shown in FIG. The external gaming device may include components similar to the exemplary external device 110 shown in FIG. The device 110A may be a storage device (e.g., a cartridge, a CD, a DVD, a Blu-Ray, or other At least one game medium 307 including a game program (such as a storage device); configured to communicate via a wired and / or wireless connection through the transmit / receive element 108. and at least one remote controller 305. In the illustrated embodiment, , the controller 305 complements the user input 310, which in one embodiment includes: The controller 305 may serve as the only user input. In the present embodiment, the system 12 includes an external device to enable communication between the module 22. 110 and / or the controller 305. An accessory device 303 is provided, such as a wireless transmitter / receiver having In one embodiment, the accessory device 303 includes a controller 305 and an external device 1. One or more further controllers of the same and / or different type to 10 and / or may be configured to be connected to an external device. In the case where the sensor includes other types of sensors mentioned above (e.g., accelerometers), such additional The sensor may be integrated into the control of a game or other program on the external device 110. Please understand that.

[0112] An external device 110, such as a computer / game system, may include a Other types of software may be provided to facilitate the Ram has been asked to change the attributes of the in-game character based on the user's real-life activities. , thereby encouraging exercise or greater activity by the user. In another example, the program may include a program for detecting the presence of a person's shoes. User avatars function in relation to or proportionate to user activity. In one such configuration, the avatar can be configured to display When the user is active, he / she may feel excited or full of energy. The avatar can appear sleepy or lazy when the user is not active. The sensor system 12 may also detect the athlete's "signature" It can also be configured for relatively careful detection to record data describing "movements." This can then be used in a variety of ways, such as within a gaming or modeling system. It may be used for various purposes.

[0113] A single article of footwear including the sensor system 12 described herein. 100 may be used alone or in combination with a pair of shoes 100 as shown in FIGS. 00, 100', etc., a second foot with its own sensor system 12'. The second shoe 100' may also be used in combination with the second article of footwear 100'. The sensor system 12' is generally connected to an electronic module 22' by a sensor lead 18'. The device includes one or more sensors 16' connected to a port 14' in communication with the sensor. The second sensor system 12' of the second shoe 100' shown in FIG. However, in another embodiment, the shoe 100 , 100' may have sensor systems 12, 12' having different configurations. Both shoes 100, 100' are configured for communication with an external device 110. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the shoes 100, 100' is connected to an external device 11. 0. In another embodiment, the electronic module 22, 22' is configured to communicate with the In this case, both shoes 100, 100' are configured for communication with the same electronic module 22. In this embodiment, at least one of the ports 14, 14' may be provided. One shoe 100, 100' may be configured for wireless communication with the module 22. 24-26 show various modes for communication between modules 22, 22'. is.

[0114] FIG. 24 illustrates a “mesh” communication mode, in which the modules 22, 22' are configured for communication with each other and independently with the external device 110. Figure 25 shows the "daisy chain" communication mode. In this case, one module 22' is connected to the external device through the other module 22. In other words, the second module 22′ (which may contain data) The signal is transmitted to the first module 22. is configured to transmit signals from both modules 22, 22' to an external device 110. Similarly, an external device can transmit a signal to the first module 22 to Through the first module 22 which transmits the signal to the second module 22' In one embodiment, the modules 22, 22' also communicate signals to an external device. The devices 110 may also communicate with each other for purposes other than transmission. 26 indicates an "independent" communication mode, in which each module 22, 22' is configured for independent communication with an external device 110 and includes a module 22, 22' are not configured for communication with each other. The sensor systems 12, 12' may be connected to each other and / or to an external device in another manner. 110.

[0115] The embodiment includes one or more gestures that may be detected using one or more sensors. , movement, motion, action, or other behavior to interact with various systems. This may include facilities for controlling systems, devices, and other components. The gestures or movements for use include, without limitation, heel clicking, toe tapping, heel Tapping, stamping, tapping the toe of one shoe against the heel of the other shoe or any other method by touching the sole of one shoe against the forefoot of another shoe or by any other method. tapping the lateral or medial side edge of the sole of the foot on the ground; pumping, pointing the toe of the shoe in a given direction, movement of the foot from one side to the other, bending of the foot A tap can include a gesture, but also possibly other kinds of gestures or movements. Some embodiments use a toe or heel tap to provide the command. A single tap, two taps, three taps, or any combination of these can be used as a single gesture for It should be understood that other numbers of taps may be used. The gestures may include any combination of the gestures and movements listed above. In one embodiment, for example, tapping the toe and then tapping the heel. This could be considered as a gesture.

[0116] Any such gesture, movement, or motion may be included in one or more detected gestures. One or more systems, devices, or other components based on a It can be used as input to a "gesture control system" that controls it. For example, The embodiments of Figures 95-100 are provided in the form of foot-based gestures or movements. and actuating a tension adjustment device within the article of footwear in accordance with commands from a user / wearer. 1 illustrates a gesture-based control system that can be used to operate a

[0117] Embodiments also include a method for controlling one or more systems or devices using gestures or other determines whether the movement is intended or unintended. In some embodiments, the device may include a facility for setting a gesture control The system actively executes one or more gesture-based user commands. A mode that "listens for" or has the ability to detect Such a mode may be called an "enabled mode." When the system is in such a mode, it will Gestures (i.e., toe taps) can be interpreted as commands or instructions from the user. However, when the system is not in such a mode, the user may issue commands or instructions. Since it is assumed that the gestures are not issued intentionally, the system When not in valid mode, the system can ignore the detection of A default gesture (called an "enabling gesture" or "facilitating gesture") can be The device enters the command ready mode upon detection of a prompting gesture. The default gesture is to activate the keyboard in either armed or passive mode. In disabled mode, this may be the only gesture that the system does not ignore. In this case, the disabled mode may be referred to as the first mode, while the enabled mode may be referred to as the This may be called the second mode, because the command is first started in the default mode. Transition from the first mode to the second mode (using gestures) and then the control gestures This is because it requires command initiation via

[0118] FIG. 95 illustrates a method for providing various instructions or commands to a gesture control system, according to one embodiment. 1 is a schematic diagram of various possible sequences of gestures or movements for providing For example, FIG. 95 illustrates a first article of footwear 1102 and a second article of footwear 1104 in a footwear system. 11 shows various moments or configurations of an article of footwear 1104. Some of the footwear items are accompanied by both footwear articles, while others are single items. Only the item may be involved (and in some cases, between a single item and the ground) (This may include contact with

[0119] Each sequence prompts the system to switch from disabled to enabled mode. It can be seen that the action was started by a gesture or activation gesture (e.g., the initial gesture The chatter acts to "arm" or "prompt" the system. For clarity, the embodiment of FIG. 95 uses the heel click gesture 1110. 11 shows an activation gesture in the form of a , and first in a heel-off state (as shown by moment 1114) The heels are then swung together (as shown by moment 1116). This initial heel click gesture is a step forward in various gestures. Activate the gesture control system so that it can receive the gesture as input. It works like this.

[0120] In this example embodiment shown in FIG. 95, a heel click gesture 111 The 0 acts as a prompt gesture to activate the system. All other gestures or movements detected while the device is not enabled will be ignored for this particular implementation. In some embodiments, however, the promotion The gestures or enabling gestures are not limited to the various gestures listed above. Any other gesture, including any combination of such gestures. It would be good.

[0121] Referring to the bottom portion of FIG. 95, several different possible follow-up gestures are shown. These will be executed after the heel click gesture 1110. In some cases, after performing the heel click gesture 1110, the first hook The first article of footwear 1102 and the second article of footwear 1104 are Before being executed, the robot may be placed in another predefined position 1118 .

[0122] As an example gesture, a toe tap gesture 1120 (moment 1130 1132) and (as shown by moment 1133). Another example gesture is tapping the toe against the ground. Then, the heel tap gesture 1122 (as shown by moment 1134) Lift the heel of the item and place the heel against the ground (as shown by moment 1136). Another example gesture includes a first two-legged gesture 1 124 places one item above the other (as shown by moment 1138). and (as shown by moment 1140) the article is placed on the ground. Another exemplary gesture includes touching the front paw of one foot with the sole of the other foot. The two-legged gesture 1126 of one of the articles (as shown by moment 1142) behind the other and on the ground (as shown by moment 1144). This includes touching the heel of the positioned item with the toe of the other foot. In other embodiments, the command or control gesture may be another heel click. In other words, the first heel click is the system's first action (functioning as a prompt gesture). While a system may be activated, a second process may be performed while the system is already activated. The heel click is a command to release tension in the system sufficiently. This would be interpreted as scha.

[0123] FIG. 96 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an article of footwear 1200. , an upper 1202, and a sole structure 1204. Also, the article of footwear 1200 may also be provided with a tension adjustment system 1220 and a sensor system 1230. can.

[0124] The tension adjustment system includes a tension adjustment member, a drawstring guide, a tension adjustment assembly, a housing unit, and a tension adjustment member. The drive may include a drive shaft, a motor, gears, a spool or reel, and / or a power source. These components provide fixation, tension adjustment, and customization to the wearer's foot. These components can help provide a good fit for the wearer. The shoe may be secured to the foot, have adjustable tension, and provide a customized fit. may be provided.

[0125] In some embodiments, the tension adjustment system can include a tension adjustment member. As used throughout this detailed description and in the claims, "tension adjustment" means The term "member" generally refers to any member having an elongated shape and high tensile strength. In some cases, the tension adjusting member may be a Generally, the tension adjusting member may have a small elasticity. Without limitation, laces, cables, straps, and cords. The tension adjustment member is adapted to secure an article, including an article of clothing and / or footwear, and / or In other cases, the tension adjustment member may be used to tighten or tighten the , for the purpose of operating some component or system, tension is set to a predetermined value. It can be used to apply at a location.

[0126] An embodiment of the tension adjustment system 1220 is described in Beers et al., 2013. The patent application was filed on August 20, 2013, and is based on the patent application "Motorized Tensioning System (Mo U.S. Patent No. 5,333,663 entitled "Ultrasonic Tensioning System" Publication No. 2014 / 0068838, i.e., current U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 01 No. 4,491, filed August 20, 2013, by Beers "Motorized Tensioning System with Sensors (Mo torized Tensioning System with Sensors)” U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0070042, i.e., No. 14 / 014,555, and Beers, et al. , filed on September 20, 2013, and is a patent application for "Footwear Having Removable Motorized Adjustment System (Footwear Having Removable Motorized Adjustment System) US Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0082963, which is currently No. 14 / 032,524, Any of the systems, components, features, elements, methods, and / or processes disclosed herein The present invention may include any suitable tension adjustment system, including incorporating a tension adjustment system. The patent documents are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. (collectively referred to as "automatic lacing cases").

[0127] Referring to FIG. 96, the tension adjustment system 1220 includes a tension adjustment device 1222 and a tension adjustment The tension adjustment device 1222 may include a tension adjustment system 1224. Within 220, one or more means for automatically increasing or decreasing the tension of the tightening lace are provided. As will be described in more detail below, the tension adjusting member may include a step, a tension adjusting member, or other tension adjusting member. Such means may include a motor, a spool for winding up the tightening strap, and a power supply (e.g. For example, a battery.

[0128] FIG. 97 includes an expanded schematic view of some components of the tension adjustment device 1222. The force adjustment device 1222 includes a reel member 1300 (or spool), a motor 1302, and The reel member 1300 may include a power source 1304. The power source 1304 may thus A motor 1302 can be powered to rotate it. In this case, the motor 1302 and the reel member 1300 are configured to use a gear assembly 1306. Further combinations could be achieved by:

[0129] In some embodiments, the motor 1302 could include an electric motor. However, in other embodiments, the motor 1302 may be any suitable motor known in the art. Examples of various motors that may be used include, but are not limited to, (permanent magnet motor, brushed DC motor, brushless DC motor, DC motors (such as switching reluctance motors), motors with a sliding rotor AC motors, such as synchronous electric motors, asynchronous electric motors, induction motors, etc. Any of the motors known in the art, including universal motors, stepper motors, and piezoelectric motors. Any other type of motor is included.

[0130] A motor 1302 is configured to drive one or more components of the tensioning system. Further, a crankshaft may be used. For example, the crankshaft of the motor 1302 may be used. The crankshaft may drive a gear assembly 1306, which in turn drives the reel. With this configuration, the reel member 1300 is also coupled to a central axis 13. The motor 1302 may be placed in communication with the motor 1302 to rotate in the opposite direction around the center of gravity. This can be done.

[0131] The power supply 1304 is a power supply configured to power and control the motor 1302. The power supply 1304 may include a power supply and / or a control unit (not shown). One that can be used to power the power motor 1302 and tension adjustment system 1220. Or any suitable battery of multiple types of battery technology. A battery technology that can be used is the Lithium Polymer battery. A battery (or batteries) can be Rechargeable or replaceable batteries packaged as flat, cylindrical or coin-shaped In addition, the battery may be a single cell. Alternatively, it could be multiple cells in series or parallel. A pond and / or a power source can be used for the power source 1304 .

[0132] The tension adjustment device 1222 may be disposed within the foot structure 1204. In an embodiment, the sole structure 1204 includes a hole or recess that receives the tension adjustment device 1222. In other embodiments, the tension adjustment device 1222 may include a tension adjustment unit. 200, other areas may be secured, such as, for example, a harness. This includes those that are externally fixed to the cover 1202 using a bracket or other mounting equipment. can be.

[0133] At least a portion of the tension adjustment member 1224 is a lead, as seen in FIG. Further, the tension adjustment member 1224 may be wound on the tension adjustment device. The tension adjustment device 1222 is connected to the tension adjustment device 1222 through one or more openings in the housing of the tension adjustment device 1222. When the tension adjusting member 1222 is released from the tension adjusting device 1222, 224 extends through the front surface 1202 and across one or more regions of the front surface 1202, In the embodiment of FIG. 96, the tension adjustment member 1224 can be used to adjust the tension. As the adjustment member 1224 is wound onto the reel member 1300, the fixed area 1250 The upper 1202 is provided at an instep or fastening area 1250 so that the instep or fastening area 1250 is fastened around the foot. It is guided in a reciprocating direction along the

[0134] The arrangement of elements shown in Figures 96-97 allows control commands to be sent to tensioner 122. 2 (or directly to the motor 1302 in the tension adjustment device 1222). Any system constructed as described above may include a tension adjustment member 1224 wound on a reel member 1300. By winding or unwinding the article 1200, the tension of the article 1200 can be controlled. I want you to understand that it is possible.

[0135] The sensor system 1230 may include one or more sensors, as well as one or more sensors. One or more control units or devices (e.g., wires or electrical Some of the components may be configured as peripheral components, such as In an embodiment, the sensor system 1230 includes a plantar sensor system 1232, It has a set of sensors disposed within the plantar structure 1204. In this embodiment, the plantar sensor system 1232 is the same as that described above and shown in FIG. The sensor system 1230 may be similar to the sensor system 12. Also, the sensor system 1230 may be a surface 1202. These sensors may include one or more sensors associated with the surface 1202. a heel sensor 1236 in the heel region 1208 and a forefoot sensor 1236 in the forefoot region 1209 of the upper 1202; 1238. Particular configurations of plantar and instep sensors are shown. However, in other embodiments, any number of sensors may be located in the area of ​​the plantar structure 1204. It is understood that the location may be within the area and / or within any area of ​​Table 1202. It should be understood that the exemplary sensors used in the sensor system 1230 are not intended to be limiting. Without any problem, not only contact sensors, angular velocity sensors (i.e., gyro sensors), but also other This also includes sensors of the following types:

[0136] By placing two or more sensors at different locations on the article 1200, gestures can be detected. The camera control system may be implemented, for example, as shown in FIG. 95 and described above. The present invention may have the capability to detect a variety of foot-based gestures or movements, including foot-based movements. For example, by using the heel sensor 1236, the gesture control system can When the area 1208 is kicked or tapped by the toe of the corresponding article and / or the heel kick It is possible to detect when a kick is performed by a corresponding item. By using the sensor 1238, the gesture control system can determine whether the forefoot region 1209 is It can also detect when contact is made by the sole of the foot or other portion of a corresponding article. The various sensors of the plantar sensor system 1232 detect the pressure of the foot. A toe tap, heel tap, or other gesture may be used to accompany the application of one or more It can also be used to detect

[0137] For illustrative purposes, FIG. 96 also shows a stand-alone control unit 1260. This in some embodiments houses the logic for the gesture control system. In such an embodiment, the control unit 12 60 is a connection (wired or wireless) between the sensor system 1230 and the tension adjustment device 1222. However, in other embodiments, the gesture control system may be in communication with the The logic of the system may include any component of the sensor system and / or the tension adjustment system. It should be understood that the tensioner / tensioner components are incorporated into the system.

[0138] A control unit 1260 associated with the tension adjustment device 1222 and / or a separate on-board control Regarding the system of this embodiment shown in Figures 95 to 100 including the control unit, Pheil, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. No. 1, i.e., the current The patent application was filed on December 1, 2015 and is based on the concept of "automated tensi An Automa ted Tensioning System for an Article of No. 14 / 955,705, entitled "U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 955,705" , and a system, sensor, and components for handling tension adjustment control logic. Any of the components, methods, and / or processes disclosed herein may be utilized. are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0139] FIG. 98 illustrates a method for controlling a tension adjustment device according to any input corresponding to a gesture or movement of an article. may be executed by any component, device, or system configured to control 98 is a schematic diagram of the process. In the embodiment described herein, the process is performed by a gesture control system. However, in other embodiments, one or more The steps may include applying to any component, system, and / or device of the article of footwear. In some cases, some steps may be performed by The system is executed by a remote device or system that is in wireless communication with the system mounted on the It would be.

[0140] In step 1400, the gesture control system detects an enabling gesture (or a prompt). This is possible by using not only contact sensors and force sensors, but also angular sensors. This can be done using one or more sensors, including a speed sensor. Next, in step 1402, while the system is enabled, the gesture control system is The gesture control system can then detect the control gesture. In step 1404, the tension adjustment device is controlled according to the detected control gesture. It is possible.

[0141] FIG. 99 is a schematic diagram of a more detailed process that may be performed by the gesture control system. In step 1500, the gesture control system detects one or more sensors. As mentioned above, such sensors may include contact sensors and / or It may be any type of sensor associated with the item, including an angular velocity sensor. The sensors could be disposed in a variety of different locations on the article, as described above. At step 1502, the gesture control system detects that an "enable gesture" has been detected. The enable gesture determines whether the tension adjustment command is enabled. The default gesture that the system recognizes as the first gesture in a sequence of two gestures. An example activation gesture would be a heel click, although other implementations may be used. In this embodiment, the enabling gesture can be any predefined gesture or movement. The gesture control system receives information generated by one or more sensors. and this information is analyzed to determine whether an enabling gesture has occurred. This measured or sensed information is then used to Comparing the information to a predefined set of information known to be generated by one or more sensors It is possible.

[0142] If no enabling gesture is detected, the system returns to step 1500, and The enabling gesture is detected and the one or more sensors continue to receive information. If so, the system proceeds to step 1504 where the system enters an enable mode, and then , any new gestures that can correspond to actual control gestures (also called command gestures) Proceed to step 1506 to continue receiving new information from the one or more sensors. nothing.

[0143] In some embodiments, the system is configured to: It may contain a timeout mechanism so that the request does not remain indefinitely in When the valid mode is entered in step 1504, the second gesture is triggered for a predetermined time. If no detection occurs within the interval, the system will automatically switch from enabled mode to disabled mode. You can shut it out (i.e., leave the active mode). The time interval could be set at any value. In one exemplary embodiment, In this case, the system can time out after 5 to 10 seconds. The system determines whether a timeout has occurred and therefore whether to return to step 1500. Step 1508 is performed to determine whether the system is reset (i.e., whether the system is reset). If the system does not return to step 1500, it proceeds to step 1510. move on.

[0144] In step 1510, the system receives the Determine whether any new sensed information corresponds to a known control gesture (or control movement). If not, the system will occurs at some point in step 1508) The system continues to receive new information from the control gestures while the system is active. If the system detects that the .

[0145] In step 1512, the system determines an action or motion corresponding to the detected control gesture. In other words, the system takes control commands based on the information received from the sensors. Based on this, it is checked which command should be sent to the tension adjustment device. In step 4, the system controls the tension adjustment device by using the obtained control command. In some cases, the control command for the tensioner is It can be called a "command."

[0146] The process in Figure 99 shows an automatic timeout process that occurs after a predefined period of time. However, other embodiments may incorporate a manual control for leaving the enable mode. In some cases, the user may be able to manually exit the enabled mode. , so that you can reset the system without waiting for the system's automatic timeout. To do this, you can use a different default gesture (different from the activation gesture). Hello.

[0147] FIG. 100 illustrates a diagram of a given gesture (or movement) detected by the system and the system FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a table showing the correspondence between commands, where an example set of gestures is: While listed in column 1602, the corresponding command is given in column 1604. In the example of FIG. 100, the first row 1610 indicates that the “toe tap” gesture is The command "tighten enough" is generated. A command used to apply a preset maximum amount of tension in a stem. Additionally, the second row 1612 indicates that the "heel tap" gesture is equivalent to the "loosen up enough" command. A sufficient release command is sufficient to allow the foot to be easily removed from the item. This may be a command used to completely release tension in the system so that Further, the third row 1614 indicates that the "forefoot touch with other shoe" gesture is an incremental loosening control. While the fourth line 1616 can generate a "heel touch with the forefoot of the other shoe" command, This shows that a stunner can generate an “incremental tightening” command. "Incremental tightening" and "incremental loosening" refer to the adjustment of tension in a system in fixed increments. It means an increase or decrease.

[0148] The embodiments are not intended to be limiting and in other cases The control system controls the distance between the plurality of footwear articles by the footwear article. between the hands and the article of footwear and / or by the hands or other extremities only Any kind of gesture can be used as a command input, including any gesture that is performed. It should be understood that some embodiments may be used on legs, arms, and feet, rather than just feet. In some cases, sensors may be used that can detect some type of movement in the hand. Such sensors are assumed to be visual (such as cameras), infrared, Or other types of sensors could be included.

[0149] In some embodiments, the set of gestures and associated commands are generated during manufacturing. It may be pre-programmed, although in some embodiments the user may To add new gesture / command pairs and / or modify existing pairs, , would be acceptable (e.g., a toe tap would "tighten" the tensioning system). (Change the setting so that the command is "loosen up enough" instead of "loosen up enough"). In some embodiments, the user may also use the , using a computing device, including a mobile computing device such as a smartphone or tablet. In some cases, this could be done on a mobile device. This could be done through the Bluemix application. using a wireless tooth, wireless network, or other wireless communication It may be possible to communicate with one or more systems.

[0150] As mentioned above, as used herein, "gesture or other movement detection" means " refers to converting a stream of input data (a first set of information) from one or more sensors into a known A gesture (toe tap, heel tap, tap from first toe to second heel, etc.) is performed. The data type may include comparing the measured data with predetermined data when the data is measured. The tap can vary according to the type of sensor used. Systems using contact or force sensors in the sole or upper heel are The force at the heel can be observed for a certain time and for a certain duration. In another example used in a video game, the same heel-click gesture involves one heel being clicked by another. The system notifies you that your foot is swinging in a way that is consistent with clicking. , generate a stream of specific angular velocity values ​​(or values ​​within some threshold range) Moreover, the present invention is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. No. 6,393,635, which is incorporated herein by reference. issue details The current application, which is filed on May 28, 2015, and is a "lockout application" A Lockout Feature for Control Devices U.S. patent application entitled "A Method and System for a Control Device" 14 / 723,832, to identify activity types or levels. Any of the methods could be used.

[0151] As will be understood by those skilled in the art upon reference to this disclosure, Various aspects may be presented as a method, a data processing system, or a computer program product. Thus, these aspects may be implemented in a fully hardware embodiment, a fully A software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Further, such an embodiment may be in the form of a storage medium. or having computer readable program code or instructions embodied thereon. stored by one or more tangible computer readable storage media or storage devices The present invention may also have the form of a computer program product. CD-ROM, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, and / or any combination thereof Any suitable tangible computer readable storage medium may be utilized, including In addition, various non-transitive data that represent the data or events described herein may be used. The body's signals may be transmitted through metal wires, optical fibers, and / or other channels (e.g., air and / or space). ) A source and destination in the form of electromagnetic waves traveling through a signal transmission medium such as a radio transmission medium may be transferred between

[0152] As described above, aspects of the present invention may be implemented by a computer and / or its processor. In the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, Generally, a program module is a program that performs a particular task. A routine, program, or object that performs a specific function or implements a specific abstract data type. Such program modules include, but are not limited to, the above. As described above, the method may be stored in a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium. In addition, an aspect of the present invention is that the tasks can be performed by remote The present invention may also be implemented in a distributed computing environment, where the processing is performed by multiple processors. The program module may be connected to the memory 204 of the module 22 or the memory 30 of the external device 110. 4, or in local and remote locations including memory storage devices. In an external medium, such as a game medium 307, which may include a computer storage medium. The module 22, the external device 110, and / or the external medium may be arranged in such a manner that May contain complementary program modules that are used together in a specific application, etc. It should be understood that a single processor 202, 302 and a single memory 204, 304 are shown and described within module 22 and external device 110 for the purposes of clarity. As described above, the processors 202, 302 and the memories 204, 304 each include The processor and / or memory may include a plurality of processors and / or memories. It should be understood that may include a system of memories.

[0153] The sensor system described herein is suitable for use in fitness training or Including general athletic performance monitoring, such as in sport-specific activities such as sketball It can be used in a variety of different applications and configurations. It should be understood that additional sensors may be positioned in the sensor system. Sensors in the system are configured to detect specific lateral and vertical cutting movements. As described herein, the collected data may be collected by a sensor system. The collected data can then be sent to relevant applications in electronic modules, mobile devices or remote sites. Such data processing can be done by algorithms such as Advise users on wear and tear so as to advise users when they are needed. It is anticipated that such data may be used to Advise the user on specific types of shoe configurations that may be beneficial to the user. Finally, by processing this data, The sensor system can also assist in custom design of footwear. Although shown in a garment, the system may be used in other types of garments. It is also possible.

[0154] The sensor systems described herein as well as articles of footwear, Various embodiments of contact members, inserts, and other structures incorporating the sensor system are , providing benefits and advantages over existing technologies. Many of the sensor embodiments described herein provide a sensor system with little to no additional cost. so that it can be incorporated into an article of footwear without any trouble and with good reliability. It offers a relatively low cost and durable option in sensor systems. As a result, the sensor system is ultimately desirable for use by consumers. Regardless of whether the sensor is integrated or not, the price is not significantly affected. In addition, the footwear can be manufactured to have the same functionality as the software. Software designed to take advantage of sensor systems without significantly impacting cost The company plans to manufacture a customized plantar insert with a sensor system together with the equipment at low cost. As another example, the sensor system can be used in games, fitness , athletic training and improvement, practical controls for computers and other devices, and , and many others as described herein and as will be recognized by those of skill in the art. In one embodiment, third party software Software developers may develop programs that use input from the sensor system, including games and other programs. It is possible to develop software that is configured to run on a universal The ability of the sensor system to provide data in a readable format is subject to third-party software. This will greatly expand the range of other applications in which software and sensor systems can be used. In addition, in one embodiment, the sensor system allows for accurate detection of the applied force. It is possible to generate signals and data that correspond to the Further examples include the use of a liner, insole, and other components. A variety of plantar inserts that house the sensor system are available to facilitate the use of the sensor system in a variety of applications. It allows for interchangeability and customization. Other advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art. do.

[0155] Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated herein. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the features of the individual embodiments and the possible combinations and variations of the components. Those skilled in the art will understand that any of the embodiments described herein may be It is further understood that the present invention may be provided in any combination with the other embodiments shown. The present invention may be modified in other specific ways without departing from its spirit and central characteristics. It should be understood that the present examples and embodiments may be implemented in the form of: It is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. and the invention is not limited to the details given herein. As used herein, the terms "first" and "second" are used interchangeably. Terms such as "top," "bottom," etc. are provided for illustrative purposes only. The present invention is intended to be illustrative and not to limit the embodiments in any manner. In addition, the term "plurality" as used herein The word may, where necessary, be used disjunctively or conjunctively to refer to any number greater than one, up to an infinite number. Furthermore, as used herein, "provision" of an article or device means Making an article available or accessible for future operations to be performed on it It means broadly that the party providing the goods manufactures, produces or supplies the goods. This does not imply that the party providing the Goods has any right to ownership or payment of any interest in the Goods. Therefore, the specific embodiments shown and described herein are not intended to imply any right to use the present invention. However, numerous modifications may be made without departing substantially from the spirit of the invention. The scope of protection is limited only by the scope of the accompanying claims.

[0156] Working Example In example 1, a method includes receiving a first set of information from a first sensor in an article of footwear. receiving the first set of information; identifying a facilitation gesture based on the first set of information; and while in the enable mode, receiving a second set of information from the at least one sensor of the identifying a control gesture based on the second set of information; determining a force adjustment command and adjusting the tension of the article of footwear in accordance with the tension adjustment command; This includes controlling the regulator.

[0157] In Example 2, the method of Example 1 optionally further comprises: It further includes being one sensor. In Example 3, any one or more of the methods of Examples 1 and 2 may optionally and wherein the at least one sensor is a second sensor different from the first sensor. include.

[0158] In Example 4, any one or more of the methods in Examples 1 to 3 may be optionally Thus, the facilitation gesture is a gesture in which the heel of the article of footwear is pressed against the heel of a second article of footwear. It further includes being clicked on.

[0159] In Example 5, any one or more of the methods of Examples 1 to 4 may be optionally Therefore, the tension adjustment command is an instruction to sufficiently tighten the article of footwear. The present invention further includes the following.

[0160] In Example 6, any one or more of the methods of Examples 1 to 5 may be optionally Thus, the tension adjustment command is an instruction to gradually tighten the first article of footwear. It further includes that.

[0161] In Example 7, any one or more of the methods of Examples 1 to 6 may be optionally Thus, the tension adjustment command is an instruction to gradually tighten the first article of footwear. It further includes that.

[0162] In Example 8, any one or more of the methods of Examples 1 to 7 may be optionally Thus, the tension adjustment command is an instruction to sufficiently loosen the first article of footwear. It further includes:

[0163] In Example 9, any one or more of the methods of Examples 1 to 8 may be optionally Thus, the tension adjustment command is an instruction to gradually loosen the first article of footwear. It further includes:

[0164] In Example 10, any one or more of the methods of Examples 1 to 9 may be optionally The control gesture may be a tap on the toe of the article of footwear. Further includes.

[0165] In Example 11, any one or more of the methods in Examples 1 to 10 are optionally The selection indicates that the control gesture is a tap on the heel of the article of footwear. Further includes.

[0166] In Example 12, any one or more of the methods in Examples 1 to 11 are optionally The control gesture is to select whether the forefoot of the article of footwear is in contact with the forefoot of the second article of footwear. It further includes being contacted by a plantar structure.

[0167] In Example 13, any one or more of the methods in Examples 1 to 12 are optionally The control gesture may include: The object may further include being contacted by the toe of an article.

[0168] In Example 14, any one or more of the methods in Examples 1 to 13 are optionally The control gesture may include moving the heel of the article of footwear to the heel of a second article of footwear. It further includes being clicked by.

[0169] In Example 15, the article of footwear comprises an upper, a sole structure, a reel member, and a motor. a tension adjustment device comprising: an upper structure; and a sole structure; A portion of the tension adjustment device is disposed at one end of the reel member. a tension adjustment device coupled to the reel member for taking up and unwinding the yarn; A first sensor and a second sensor, and information is received from the first sensor. If the device supports the promotion gesture, it enters the enable mode, and while in the enable mode, A control unit configured to control the tension adjusting device according to information received from the sensor. The information includes a control unit corresponding to the control gesture.

[0170] In example 16, the article of footwear of example 15 optionally includes a first sensor. The sensor may further be a contact sensor. In Example 17, any one or more of the footwear of Examples 15 and 16 is used. The article of claim 1 further optionally includes the second sensor being an angular velocity sensor.

[0171] In Example 18, any one or more of the footwear of Examples 15 to 17 The article of footwear optionally further comprises a first sensor disposed within a heel of the article of footwear. It further includes:

[0172] In Example 19, any one or more of the footwear of Examples 15 to 18 The article optionally further comprises a second sensor disposed within a forefoot of the article of footwear. It further includes:

[0173] In Example 20, any one or more of footwear of Examples 15 to 19 The article optionally includes a control gesture that continues until the tension adjustment member is sufficiently tightened. The instructions further include instructions to operate a motor to spin the reels.

[0174] In Example 21, any one or more of footwear of Examples 15 to 20 The article optionally further comprises a control gesture for controlling a reel to tighten the tension adjustment member. The command may further include a command to operate a motor to gradually rotate the

[0175] In Example 22, any one or more of footwear of Examples 15 to 21 The article optionally includes a control gesture that causes the tension adjustment member to be pulled until the tension adjustment member is sufficiently loosened. The instructions may further include instructions to operate a motor to rotate the wheel.

[0176] In Example 23, any one or more of the footwear of Examples 15 to 22 The article optionally further comprises a control gesture for slowly rotating the reel to loosen the tension adjustment member. The instructions may further include instructions to operate a motor to rotate the respective

[0177] In Example 24, any one or more of the footwear of Examples 15 to 23 The article optionally includes a control gesture in which the toe of the article of footwear is tapped. It further includes:

[0178] In Example 25, any one or more of the footwear of Examples 15 to 24 The article of footwear may optionally include a control gesture in which the heel of the article of footwear is tapped. It further includes:

[0179] In Example 26, any one or more of footwear of Examples 15 to 25 The article optionally further comprises a control gesture for controlling a forefoot of the article of footwear to be in contact with a second foot. The method further comprises contacting the foot by a sole structure of the article of wear.

[0180] In Example 27, any one or more of the footwear of Examples 15 to 26 The article optionally further comprises a control gesture for controlling a heel of the first article of footwear to be in contact with a second It further includes being contacted by the toe of the article of footwear.

[0181] In Example 28, any one or more of footwear of Examples 15 to 27 The article of footwear optionally further comprises a control gesture for controlling a heel of the article of footwear to be attached to a second foot. It further includes being clicked by the heel of the article of wear.

[0182] In example 29, the footwear system includes a first article of footwear and a second article of footwear. Each of the articles of footwear includes an upper, a sole structure, a reel, A tension adjustment device including a member and a motor, the tension adjustment device being configured to adjust the tension of an upper and a sole structure. and a portion of the tension adjustment device is disposed in at least one of the tension adjustment members. The reel member is connected to the reel member so that the reel member can be wound on and unwound from the reel member. , a tension adjusting device, a first sensor and a second sensor, and a first sensor that receives information from the first sensor. If the information from the sensor corresponds to the promotion gesture, the device enters the enable mode. adjusting a tension associated with one of the first and second articles of footwear while in The device is connected to associated ones of the first and second articles of footwear. a control unit configured to control according to information received from the second sensor of The information comprises a control unit corresponding to the control gesture.

[0183] In example 30, the footwear system of example 29 optionally includes a first section. The sensor may further be a contact sensor. In Example 31, any one or more of the footwear of Examples 29 and 30 is used. The system optionally further includes the second sensor being an angular rate sensor.

[0184] In Example 32, any one or more of footwear of Examples 29 to 31 The system optionally further comprises: a first sensor detecting a first and a second article of footwear, The inflatable cushioning member may further include being disposed within the heel of the inflatable cushioning member.

[0185] In Example 33, any one or more of footwear of Examples 29 to 32 The system optionally further comprises: a second sensor for detecting the position of each of the first and second articles of footwear; The method further includes disposing the ankle support within the forefoot of the foot.

[0186] In Example 34, any one or more of footwear of Examples 29 to 33 The system optionally further comprises a control gesture to detect when the tension adjustment member is sufficiently tightened. The instruction further includes the instruction to operate a motor to spin the reel until

[0187] In Example 35, any one or more of footwear of Examples 29 to 34 The system optionally includes a control gesture that causes the tension adjustment member to tighten. The instruction further includes a command to operate a motor to gradually rotate the wheel.

[0188] In Example 36, any one or more of footwear of Examples 29 to 35 The system optionally continues to operate until the control gesture is performed until the tension adjustment member is sufficiently loosened. It further includes instructions to operate a motor to spin the reels.

[0189] In Example 37, any one or more of footwear of Examples 29 to 36 The system optionally includes a control gesture to rotate the reel to loosen the tension adjustment member. It further includes being an instruction to run the motor to rotate incrementally.

[0190] In Example 38, any one or more of footwear of Examples 29 to 37 The system optionally determines whether the control gesture is associated with a first and second article of footwear. The toe of one of the fingers is tapped.

[0191] In Example 39, any one or more of footwear of Examples 29 to 38 The system optionally determines whether the control gesture is a first or second article of footwear. It further includes the heel of one of them being tapped.

[0192] In Example 40, any one or more of the footwear of Examples 29 to 39 The system optionally determines whether the control gesture is a first or second article of footwear. The forefoot of one of the first and second articles of footwear is supported by the sole structure of the other of the first and second articles of footwear. It further includes contacting.

[0193] In Example 41, any one or more of footwear of Examples 29 to 40 The system optionally determines whether the control gesture is a first or second article of footwear. The heel of one of the first and second articles of footwear is contacted by the toe of the other of the first and second articles of footwear. It further includes when

[0194] In Example 42, any one or more of footwear of Examples 29 to 41 The system optionally determines whether the control gesture is a first or second article of footwear. The heel of one of the first and second articles of footwear clicks with the heel of the other of the first and second articles of footwear. It further includes being.

[0195] While various embodiments have been described above, this description is given for purposes of illustration and not limitation. Many further embodiments and implementations are possible that fall within the scope of the embodiments. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that any embodiment, unless specifically limited, Any feature of may be combined with any other feature or element in any other embodiment. may be used in conjunction with or substituted therefor. Except in light of the above and its equivalents, the embodiments are not limited. and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. 1. A method comprising: receiving a first set of information from a first sensor in the article of footwear; identifying a facilitation gesture based on the first set of information; entering a valid mode based on said prompting gesture; While in the enabled mode, receiving a second set of information; While in the enabled mode, identifying a control gesture based on the second set of information. thing, determining a tension adjustment command corresponding to the control gesture; controlling a tensioning device of said article of footwear in accordance with said tensioning commands; , a method comprising:

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is a first sensor.

3. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a second sensor different from the first sensor. The method described.

4. The facilitation gesture may include: The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second buttons are clicked by a mouse.

5. The tension adjustment command is an instruction to adequately tighten the article of footwear. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

6. The tension adjustment command is an instruction to gradually tighten the first article of footwear. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. The tension adjustment command is an instruction to fully loosen the first article of footwear. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

8. The tension adjustment command is an instruction to gradually loosen the first article of footwear. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

9. wherein the control gesture is a tap on the toe of the article of footwear. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

10. the control gesture being a tap on the heel of the article of footwear. Item 4. The method according to any one of items 1 to 3.

11. The control gesture may include moving a forefoot of the article of footwear to a forefoot of a second article of footwear.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the contact is by a plantar structure.

12. The control gesture may include a heel of a first article of footwear contacting a heel of a second article of footwear.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the contact is made by a toe.

13. The control gesture may include moving the heel of the article of footwear in contact with the heel of a second article of footwear. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second buttons are clicked by a mouse.

14. 1. An article of footwear comprising: The shell and The plantar structure, A tension adjusting device including a reel member and a motor, the tension adjusting device being configured to adjust the tension of the surface and and a portion of the tension adjustment member is disposed in at least one of the sole structure and the tension adjustment member. A force adjustment member is wound onto and unwound from the reel member. the tension adjuster coupled to the reel member; A first sensor and a second sensor; A control unit, receiving information from the first sensor; Entering an enable mode if information from the first sensor corresponds to a prompting gesture. 、 While in the enable mode, the tension adjustment is performed according to information received from the second sensor. and a control unit configured to control the adjustment device, The information corresponds to a control gesture.

15. The article of footwear of claim 14 , wherein the first sensor is a contact sensor.

16. 16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the second sensor is an angular velocity sensor. Articles of footwear.

17. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first sensor is disposed at a heel of the article of footwear.

2. An article of footwear as described in

18. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second sensor is disposed in a forefoot of the article of footwear.

18. An article of footwear according to any one of claims 17 to 17.

19. The control gesture causes the reel member to rotate until the tension adjustment member is sufficiently tightened. 14, 15 and 16 are instructions for operating the motor to rotate a 8. An article of footwear according to any one of claims 7.

20. The control gesture gradually rotates the reel member to tighten the tension adjustment member.

18. The method of claim 14, 15, and 17, wherein the instruction is to operate the motor to rotate.

2. An article of footwear according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

21. The control gesture rotates the reel member until the tension adjustment member is sufficiently slackened.

18. The method of claim 14, 15, and 17, wherein the command is to operate the motor to rotate the 13. An article of footwear according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

22. The control gesture gradually rotates the reel member to loosen the tension adjustment member. Any of claims 14, 15 and 17, wherein the command is to operate the motor to rotate the rotor.

13. An article of footwear according to any one of the preceding claims.

23. wherein the control gesture is a tap on the toe of the article of footwear.

18. The article of footwear of any one of claims 14, 15, and 17.

24. the control gesture being a tap on the heel of the article of footwear.

18. The article of footwear of any one of claims 14, 15 and 17.

25. The control gesture may include moving a forefoot of the article of footwear to a forefoot of a second article of footwear.

18. The method according to claim 14, 15, or 17, wherein the contact is made by a plantar structure. The article of footwear described.

26. The control gesture may include a heel of a first article of footwear contacting a heel of a second article of footwear.

18. The method according to claim 14, 15, or 17, wherein the contact is made by a toe. Articles of footwear.

27. The control gesture may include moving the heel of the article of footwear in contact with the heel of a second article of footwear.

18. The method according to claim 14, 15, or 17, Articles of footwear.

28. A footwear system having a first article of footwear and a second article of footwear. It is Each of the first article of footwear and the second article of footwear comprises: The shell and The plantar structure, A tension adjusting device including a reel member and a motor, the tension adjusting device being configured to adjust the tension of the surface and and a portion of the tension adjustment member is disposed in at least one of the sole structure and the tension adjustment member. A force adjustment member is wound onto and unwound from the reel member. the tension adjuster coupled to the reel member; A first sensor and a second sensor; A control unit, receiving information from the first sensor; Entering an enable mode if information from the first sensor corresponds to a prompting gesture. 、 While in the enable mode, one of the first and second articles of footwear and connecting the associated tension adjustment device to the associated one of the first and second articles of footwear. and controlling the footwear in accordance with information received from the second sensor of the associated article of footwear. and the control unit configured to: The information corresponds to a control gesture.

29. 30. The footwear system of claim 28, wherein the first sensor is a contact sensor.

30. 30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the second sensor is an angular velocity sensor. Footwear Systems.

31. The first sensor is disposed within a heel of each of the first and second articles of footwear.

30. The footwear system of claim 28.

32. The second sensor is disposed within a forefoot of each of the first and second articles of footwear.

32. The footwear system of claim 28 or 31,

33. The control gesture causes the reel member to rotate until the tension adjustment member is sufficiently tightened. 28, 29, and 3 are instructions to operate the motor to rotate 1. A footwear system as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

34. The control gesture gradually rotates the reel member to tighten the tension adjustment member.

32. The method of claim 28, 29, and 31, wherein the command is to operate the motor to rotate the 13. A footwear system as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

35. The control gesture rotates the reel member until the tension adjustment member is sufficiently slackened.

32. The method of claim 28, 29, and 31, wherein the command is to operate the motor to rotate the 13. A footwear system as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

36. The control gesture gradually rotates the reel member to loosen the tension adjustment member.

32. Any of claims 28, 29, and 31, wherein the command is to operate the motor to rotate the rotor.

13. A footwear system according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

37. The control gesture may include:

32. The footwear of any one of claims 28, 29 and 31, wherein the footwear is tapped. Software system.

38. The control gesture may include a heel touch of one of the first and second articles of footwear.

32. The footwear of claim 28, 29, or 31, A system.

39. The control gesture may include: being contacted by the sole structure of the other of the first and second articles of footwear; 32. The footwear system of any one of claims 28, 29, and 31, wherein:

40. The control gesture may include: and contacting the toe of the other of the first and second articles of footwear.

32. A footwear system as claimed in any one of claims 28, 29 and 31.

41. The control gesture may include: The first and second articles of footwear are clicked by the heel of the other of the first and second articles of footwear.

32. The footwear system of any one of claims 28, 29 and 31.

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