Mobile Foot Scanning via Morphable 3D Models
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Solution Overview
Problem
The footwear industry lacks a standardized method for determining shoe size, leading to inconvenience for consumers, high return rates due to sizing issues, and significant financial losses for retailers, as existing precision foot measurement devices are costly and inaccessible to ordinary consumers.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a mobile computing device with imaging and sensor technologies to create a 3D model of a user's feet, allowing for precise measurement of parameters like foot width and arch height, enabling accurate shoe sizing without specialized hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If professional foot measurement devices are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a mobile computing device to capture images and create a digital copy of the foot, which is then processed to extract measurement data. This replaces complex physical measurement devices with a software-based solution that uses standard imaging technology to achieve professional-grade measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical measurement systems (such as laser scanners, pressure sensors, and physical calipers) with an optical imaging system combined with image processing algorithms. The mobile device captures 2D or 3D images of the foot, and software algorithms automatically extract dimensional data, eliminating the need for complex mechanical measurement apparatus.
2Measurement precision
If professional foot measurement devices are used, then measurement precision is improved, but accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a mobile computing device, which is a universal tool already owned by most consumers, to perform foot measurement functions. This multi-functional approach allows the same device used for photos and videos to also capture and measure foot dimensions, making professional-grade measurement accessible to the general public without requiring specialized equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables consumers to perform their own foot measurements at home using their personal mobile devices. The automated image processing and measurement extraction algorithms allow users to obtain professional-grade measurements without assistance from trained personnel or visits to specialized fitting centers.
3Ease of operation
If traditional shoe sizing methods are used, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs foot measurement in advance of the shoe purchasing decision, creating a detailed digital model of the user's foot. This preliminary action provides accurate dimensional data that can be used to select the correct shoe size online or in-store, eliminating the need for trial-and-error fitting and ensuring precise sizing from the first purchase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a digital foot model as an intermediary between the user's physical foot and the shoe selection process. This digital representation captures comprehensive foot dimensions and can be compared against shoe size charts or used with virtual try-on features, bridging the gap between simple sizing and precise measurement.
Data Source
AI summary
The proposed approach is a system and method that allows a user to calculate a 3D model for each of his or her feet using a simple reference object and a mobile computing device with one or more cameras and/or one or more sensors. The mobile computing device moves around the user's feet to scan and/or capture data of his or her feet via the camera and/or the sensors. The captured sensor data is then processed by the mobile computing device to create two sets of 3D (data) point sets (also referred to as “point clouds”). These point clouds are then matched to a 3D model of an average foot to establish a correspondence between the point clouds and the 3D model. Once the correspondence is established, the mobile computing device is configured to fit one or more morphable models to the user's feet.