Footwear Force Platform Layout for Accurate Total Foot Weight Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing baropodometry systems fail to accurately measure the total weight exerted by a patient's foot due to direct transmission of weight from the sole to the footwear, leading to erroneous real-time feedback for rehabilitation.
Innovation Solution
A footwear device with integrated force sensors and a processing unit that measures forces at separate contact zones, secured by a retaining member to prevent interference, and provides real-time feedback through a human-machine interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are integrated into the sole and the sole is attached to the footwear, then real-time weight measurement is enabled, but the direct transmission path from sole to footwear prevents accurate measurement of total foot weight
Solution Approach 1:
The sole is divided into multiple separate contact zones with sensors positioned at specific locations (rear portion and front portion). This segmentation allows the system to measure forces at distinct points and calculate the total weight by summing the forces from all contact zones, thereby achieving accurate weight measurement while maintaining a relatively simple sensor integration structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A retaining member is introduced as an intermediary element between the sole and the footwear. This retaining member secures the sole to the footwear without creating a direct rigid transmission path that would interfere with force measurement. The intermediary structure allows the sole to be retained while preventing direct force transmission to the footwear, thus enabling accurate weight measurement.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the sole is securely attached to the footwear, then stability is improved, but force transmission to the footwear prevents accurate measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining member serves as a mediator that provides stable attachment of the sole to the footwear while preventing direct force transmission. It secures the sole in place during use but allows the force measurement function to operate independently by blocking the direct transmission path.
Solution Approach 2:
The force transmission path is extracted or removed from the attachment mechanism. By using the retaining member to secure the sole without creating a rigid transmission path, the patent separates the attachment function from the force transmission function, allowing accurate measurement while maintaining stability.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are positioned at separate contact zones, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sole is segmented into multiple contact zones with sensors positioned at specific locations (rear portion and front portion). This segmentation allows the system to measure forces at distinct points and calculate the total weight by summing the forces from all contact zones, thereby achieving accurate weight measurement while maintaining a relatively simple sensor integration structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor arrangement serves multiple functions: it measures forces at different contact zones, determines the center of pressure, and calculates total weight. By positioning sensors at strategic locations, the system achieves multi-functional capability without proportionally increasing complexity.
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
Accurately measures total foot forces for precise rehabilitation guidance and neuromuscular stimulation, enhancing rehabilitation efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
sensors interposed between the support and the inner sole respectively at the contact zones, and each configured to provide a signal representative of a force exerted on the corresponding contact zone
Data Source
AI summary
A device for measuring a bearing force exerted by the foot of a patient, the device including: a shell; an inner sole that is intended to support the foot of the patient and that is held in the shell, the shell and the sole being arranged so that, when the foot of the patient is bearing against the inner sole, the forces exerted by the foot of the patient on the inner sole are transmitted to the shell in a limited number of contact regions; sensors that are interposed between the shell and the inner sole in the contact regions, respectively, and that are each configured to deliver a signal representative of a force exerted on the corresponding contact region; and a processing unit connected to the sensors and configured to acquire the force signals delivered by the sensors.