Flexible Insole Pressure Sensor Arrangement for Sports Shoe
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sports shoe sensor systems for foot pressure measurement are bulky, costly, and become unusable when the shoe wears out, leading to high disposal costs and limited applicability due to integration with the shoe sole.
Innovation Solution
A flexible insole with strategically placed pressure sensors, such as 2-4 in the toe, 1-2 in the ball, and 2-4 in the heel region, using resistive dielectric pressure sensors with a silver and carbon layer configuration, allowing for reliable pressure measurement without prior calibration, and a separate power and signal transmission module for easy integration with various shoe sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensors are integrated in the sole of the shoe, then pressure measurement function is achieved, but the sensor system becomes unusable when the shoe wears out, increasing disposal costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the sensor system from the shoe structure by placing it in a removable insole. The insole with integrated sensors can be detached and replaced independently from the shoe, allowing the valuable sensor system to be reused across multiple shoes while the worn shoe sole is discarded. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by making the sensor system reusable rather than tied to the limited lifespan of the shoe sole.
2Reliability
If sensors are integrated in the shoe sole, then pressure measurement is enabled, but separate disposal of electronics is required, increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sensor system, power supply, and signal processing electronics into a single integrated insole unit. This merging allows the entire electronic system to be treated as one removable component that can be easily detached and disposed of or reused as a complete unit, simplifying the disposal process compared to separating individual electronic components from the shoe sole.
3Measurement precision
If a large number of pressure sensors are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating pressure sensors in specific high-importance regions of the foot (heel, toe, and ball areas) rather than distributing them uniformly across the entire insole. This targeted placement achieves sufficient measurement precision for gait analysis while minimizing the total number of sensors required, thereby reducing device complexity and cost.
4Measurement precision
If custom calibration is performed for each wearer, then measurement accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service calibration where the sensor system automatically adapts to each wearer through initial measurement sequences during normal use, without requiring manual calibration procedures. The system learns individual gait patterns and pressure distributions over time, achieving accurate measurements automatically and eliminating time-consuming manual calibration steps.
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
Enables cost-effective, mass-producible, and versatile foot pressure measurement across different sports without the need for extensive calibration, providing reliable data and reducing disposal costs by decoupling the sensor system from the shoe's lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure sensors are resistive dielectric pressure sensors, which can also be referred to as pressure measurement film sensors. In one specific implementation, these pressure sensors comprise a first conductive layer, a dielectric layer on the latter
Implementation Method 2
resistive dielectric pressure sensors
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an insole, in particular for a sports shoe, having: a flexible flat substrate which is geometrically adapted to the inner contour of the sports shoe and a pressure sensor arrangement which is fastened to the substrate and consists of a plurality of flat pressure sensors, each having a pair of power supply and sensor signal lines for supplying power to the pressure sensors and passing on the sensor signals to an integrated or external sensor signal transmission unit (15; 15′), wherein 2 to 4 pressure sensors are provided in the toe region of the insole, one of which pressure sensors is placed in the region of the big toe, 2 to 4 pressure sensors are provided in the ball region, 1 to 2 pressure sensors are provided in the region of the outside of the foot, and 2 to 4 pressure sensors are provided in the heel region, and wherein the active area of each sensor is 2 cm2 or more.