Shoe-Mounted Pedometer Using Magnetic Proximity Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pedometers often record false step counts due to improper alignment and sensitivity to vertical orientation, low-speed movements, and environmental wear, leading to inaccurate distance calculations.
Innovation Solution
A shoe-mounted pedometer system with first and second signal generators and a sensor assembly, utilizing magnetic, optical, or RFID technologies to detect foot proximity, generating electrical signals processed by a microcontroller unit for accurate pedestrian performance data, which is then transmitted to a separate display unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electro-mechanical switches are embedded in a shoe to detect steps, then step counting accuracy is improved, but the switches are prone to contamination and wear in the harsh shoe environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electro-mechanical switches with a magnetic field-based detection system. Magnets are embedded in the shoe sole, and a sensor detects their position through magnetic field changes, eliminating mechanical switches that are prone to contamination and wear in the harsh shoe environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the shoe structure and the detection system. Magnets serve as intermediaries that encode step information through their position changes, which are then detected by sensors without direct mechanical contact, thereby protecting the sensing elements from environmental degradation.
2Productivity
If accelerometers are used to detect pedestrian steps, then high-frequency step counts are improved, but false steps and erroneous distances are generated during low speed movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from acceleration magnitude to magnetic field position changes. By detecting the position of magnets through magnetic field variations, the system can distinguish between actual steps and low-speed movements, as the magnetic field changes only occur when the shoe actually moves relative to the ground.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the accelerometer-based mechanical sensing system with a magnetic field-based detection system. This substitution allows the system to detect step frequency without the false positives that occur with accelerometers during low-speed movement, as the magnetic field detection is more specific to actual foot movement.
3Measurement precision
If accelerometers are aligned axially to measure steps, then measurement accuracy is improved, but improper axial alignment during use adversely affects accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses asymmetric placement of magnets at specific positions on the shoe sole, creating a unique magnetic field pattern that is inherently aligned with the shoe's structure. This eliminates the need for user alignment, as the magnetic field orientation is fixed by the shoe design itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the shoe structure itself as the reference frame for alignment. By embedding magnets in the shoe sole at fixed positions, the shoe becomes the intermediary that provides inherent alignment, eliminating the need for separate axial alignment procedures and making the system insensitive to improper alignment during use.
4Device complexity
If pendulum-based pedometers are used to detect steps, then mechanical simplicity is maintained, but false steps are recorded due to bending and leaning movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the pendulum-based mechanical detection system with a magnetic field-based electronic sensing system. This substitution maintains relative simplicity while eliminating false steps caused by bending and leaning, as the magnetic field detection only responds to actual foot movement rather than body posture changes.
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 system significantly reduces false step count readings, provides high accuracy at low speeds, and is simple to implement in existing footwear, offering real-time user feedback on foot speed, step count, and distance traveled with reduced reliance on mechanical movements and axial alignment.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing magnetic, optical, or RFID technologies to detect foot proximity, generating electrical signals
Implementation Method 2
utilizing magnetic, optical, or RFID technologies to detect foot proximity, generating electrical signals
Data Source
AI summary
A pedometer has first and second signal generators mounted along the inner margin of a first shoe and separated by a fixed distance. A sensor and transmitter assembly is mounted along the inner margin of a second shoe. The sensor and transmitter assembly includes a sensor, a microcontroller unit and a wireless transmitter. A pair of impulses is received by the microcontroller unit each time the shoes pass in close proximity to each other. The microcontroller unit generates various pedestrian performance data based on the impulses. The pedestrian performance data is wirelessly transmitted to a display unit carried by the pedestrian.