Capacitive Foot Presence Sensing for Automatic Footwear Lacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoe-based sensor technologies face challenges in accurately determining foot presence and orientation for proper lacing and footwear function, often requiring multiple sensors and complex assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
A modular footwear platform incorporating a capacitive sensor in the arch or heel region, which detects foot presence by sensing changes in capacitance, allowing for accurate foot detection with minimal sensors and simplified assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to accurately determine foot presence and orientation, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing functions (foot presence detection and orientation detection) into a single capacitive sensor. The sensor simultaneously measures capacitance changes that indicate both whether the foot is present and how it is oriented, eliminating the need for multiple separate sensors and simplifying the overall device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitive sensor is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting foot presence by sensing capacitance changes and determining foot orientation by analyzing the spatial distribution of capacitance variations. This multi-functional approach reduces device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are deployed for comprehensive foot detection, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple sensing functions into a single capacitive sensor, the patent eliminates the need for precise alignment and assembly of multiple separate sensors. The single sensor approach significantly reduces manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining comprehensive foot detection capability.
3Measurement precision
If complex sensor systems are used for foot presence detection, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing functions into a single capacitive sensor, which can be integrated as one component rather than assembling multiple separate sensors. This significantly improves ease of manufacture by reducing the number of assembly steps, components to be aligned, and potential failure points in the manufacturing process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The capacitive sensor provides reliable foot presence detection, enabling automatic lacing and other footwear functions while reducing sensor costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitive sensor in the arch or heel region, which detects foot presence by sensing changes in capacitance
Data Source
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AI summary
A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor, and the sensor is configured to sense changes in a foot proximity to the sensor in footwear. Information about the sensed proximity can be used to determine a foot velocity characteristic, which in turn can be used to update an automated footwear function, such as an automatic lacing function, or can be used to determine a step count, foot strike force, a rate of travel, or other information about a foot, about an activity, or about the footwear.