Capacitive Foot Presence Sensing for Reliable Auto-Lacing Footwear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorized lacing systems in footwear face challenges such as high cost, complexity, assembly difficulties, and fragile mechanical mechanisms, which hinder mass production and daily use, while also requiring accurate foot presence and orientation sensing to prevent premature activation of automated tightening mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A modular footwear platform with a capacitive foot presence sensor integrated into the arch or heel region, allowing for interchangeable lacing engines and providing reliable, serviceable, and customizable automated lacing systems with tactile and visual feedback, using a capacitive sensor to detect foot presence and orientation without moving parts, ensuring proper foot alignment before initiating lacing or other functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If motorized lacing systems are implemented in footwear, then automated tightening function is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sensing mechanisms with capacitive sensors that have no moving parts. The foot presence detection is achieved through electrical field changes rather than mechanical switches or pressure sensors, eliminating fragile mechanical components while maintaining automated control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary mechanical intermediary components by implementing a direct motor-to-spool connection. The motorized lacing system uses a simplified architecture where the motor unit directly drives the spool without complex transmission mechanisms, reducing device complexity while preserving the automated tightening function
2Extent of automation
If motorized lacing systems with mechanical mechanisms are used, then automated tightening is achieved, but reliability decreases due to fragile mechanical parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical sensing components with solid-state capacitive sensors that detect foot presence through electrical field changes. This eliminates moving parts in the sensing system, dramatically improving reliability while maintaining automated detection and control functions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the lacing system into independent functional modules: capacitive sensing module, motor control module, and spool-lacing module. This modular design isolates potential failure points and allows individual components to be replaced or serviced without affecting the entire system, thereby improving overall reliability
3Extent of automation
If complex motorized lacing systems are implemented, then automated tightening function is achieved, but ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the automated lacing system into discrete, pre-assembled modules that can be independently manufactured and tested before final integration. The capacitive sensor array, motor unit, and spool assembly are separate modules that simplify the manufacturing process and enable parallel production, improving ease of manufacture while maintaining automated functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes complex mechanical linkages and intermediary components from the design, resulting in a streamlined system with fewer parts to assemble. The direct motor-to-spool connection and integrated capacitive sensors eliminate multiple assembly steps, making the system easier to manufacture at scale
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 solution provides a cost-effective, reliable, and user-friendly automated lacing system that ensures proper foot alignment and tensioning, reducing sensor costs and complexity, and enhancing user experience by preventing premature activation of the lacing mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor configured to sense changes in a capacitance signal in response to proximity of a body
Implementation Method 2
A dielectric member can be provided between the capacitive sensor and the body to enhance an output signal from the sensor
Data Source
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 configured to sense changes in a capacitance signal in response to proximity of a body. A dielectric member can be provided between the capacitive sensor and the body to enhance an output signal from the sensor.