Foot Gesture Detection System for Hand-Free Device Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic systems lack effective methods for detecting and utilizing user foot gestures for device control and interaction, relying predominantly on hand-based inputs.
Innovation Solution
A compass-sensor embedded footwear system that acquires and communicates foot gesture features such as pointing direction, touch state, tilt angles, and movement levels to enable foot gesture detection and control in electronic devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hand-based input devices (keyboard, mouse, touch screen) are used for device control, then device control functionality is achieved, but user interaction is limited to hand movements and cannot provide hand-free operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical hand-based input devices with a sensor-based foot gesture detection system. Sensors detect foot gestures (pressure, position, movement) and convert them into electronic signals for device control, eliminating the need for physical hand interaction with mechanical input devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot gesture detection system is designed to support multiple types of gestures (tap, press, slide, circle) and can control various electronic devices (computers, game consoles, smartphones). This multi-functional approach allows a single system to replace multiple specialized hand-based input devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If foot gesture detection is implemented, then hand-free operation and enhanced interaction capabilities are achieved, but system complexity increases due to additional sensors and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a footrest or platform as an intermediary device that houses the sensors and processing electronics. This intermediary acts as a bridge between the user's foot gestures and the electronic device control system, centralizing the complexity in a separate unit rather than requiring complex integration throughout the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system copies the functionality of hand-based input devices to foot-based operation. By mapping foot gestures to equivalent hand gestures (e.g., foot tap corresponds to mouse click, foot slide corresponds to touch drag), the system replicates familiar interaction patterns, reducing the cognitive complexity for users despite the physical change.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to detect foot gesture features (pointing direction, touch state, tilt angle, movement), then detection precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (pressure sensors, position sensors, tilt sensors, motion sensors) into an integrated foot gesture detection system. These sensors are merged into a unified processing framework that simultaneously extracts multiple gesture features (pointing direction, touch state, tilt angle, movement), achieving high detection precision while managing complexity through integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot gesture detection system is segmented into distinct functional modules: pressure detection, position detection, tilt detection, and motion detection. Each module uses specialized sensors for its specific function, allowing independent optimization and simplifying the overall system architecture by dividing complex detection tasks into manageable segments.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a method, including acquiring information related to foot gesture features, and sending the acquired information related to the foot gesture features to an electronic device for a foot gesture detection. The foot gesture features include foot pointing direction(s), foot touch state(s), foot tilt angle(s), and foot movement levels. A button pad device that can be placed in shoe sole or insole for effective foot touch state detection is also disclosed. The disclosure also provides a method for cursor control using foot touch state, foot pointing angle, foot tilt angle from a foot gesture feature information acquisition device.