Foot Presence Sensing for Modular Automatic Lacing Footwear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorized lacing systems in footwear face challenges such as high manufacturing costs, complexity, assembly difficulties, and fragile mechanical mechanisms, which hinder mass production and daily use.
Innovation Solution
A modular footwear platform that accommodates both motorized and non-motorized lacing engines, featuring a mid-sole plate for interchangeable lacing engines, robust mechanical design, and capacitive foot presence sensors for accurate foot detection, enabling reliable operation and retail-level customization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If motorized lacing systems are implemented in footwear, then automated lacing functionality is achieved, but manufacturing costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The motorized lacing system is divided into separate functional modules: a motor unit housed in a motorized lacing unit, a separate lacing mechanism with tensioning members, and an independent sensor system. This modular segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies assembly and manufacturing processes while maintaining automated functionality.
2Extent of automation
If motorized lacing systems are implemented in footwear, then automated lacing functionality is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The motorized lacing unit is designed as a universal module that can be integrated into different footwear types and styles. The standardized motor unit housing and interface design allow the same automated lacing mechanism to serve multiple product lines, reducing per-unit manufacturing costs through economies of scale and simplifying the manufacturing process.
3Ease of operation
If foot presence sensors are added to detect foot insertion, then automated lacing activation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The foot presence detection capability is merged with the existing motorized lacing unit by integrating sensors directly into the unit housing. This combination eliminates the need for separate sensor modules and reduces overall system complexity while enabling automatic detection of foot insertion and triggering the lacing sequence.
4Reliability
If robust mechanical design is implemented, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motorized lacing unit is pre-assembled as a complete functional module before integration into the footwear. All mechanical components, including the motor, spool, and lacing mechanism, are configured and tested in advance as a unified assembly, which ensures mechanical reliability while simplifying the final assembly process during footwear manufacturing.
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 modular design simplifies assembly, reduces costs, and provides reliable, customizable, and user-friendly automated lacing systems with accurate foot presence detection, enhancing user experience and footwear functionality.
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
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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 or magnetic sensor configured to sense changes in a body's proximity to the sensor in footwear. Characteristics of the sensed proximity 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 or about the footwear.