Piezoelectric Shoe Voltage Tracking for Replacement Decisions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable articles such as shoes lose resilience and support over time, leading to changes in the voltage output of integrated piezoelectric generators, making it difficult to determine when they need replacement.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating piezoelectric generators within the shoe's structure, coupled with electronic circuitry and a wireless transceiver, to monitor voltage output changes and transmit data indicative of the shoe's physical status, allowing for timely replacement recommendations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If piezoelectric generators are integrated into wearable articles to enable energy harvesting and status monitoring, then the ability to determine wear status is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewear status detectionVSAvoidelectronic circuitry integration

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into the wearable article: piezoelectric generators serve both as energy harvesting devices and as sensors for detecting wear status through voltage output monitoring. The electronic circuitry integrates power management, data processing, and wireless communication in a unified system, reducing overall complexity despite adding functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The piezoelectric generators perform dual functions: generating electrical energy from mechanical deformation and simultaneously serving as sensors to monitor the physical status of the wearable article. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate sensing components, addressing the complexity concern while maintaining measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If piezoelectric generators are used to monitor voltage output changes over time, then the reliability of wear status determination is improved, but the loss of energy increases due to continuous monitoring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewear status determinationVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic monitoring of voltage output rather than continuous monitoring, with measurements taken at predetermined intervals or after a threshold number of flexes. This approach maintains reliability by capturing wear status changes over time while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The piezoelectric generators harvest energy from the natural mechanical deformation of the wearable article during normal use, and this same deformation generates the voltage signals used for monitoring. The system essentially uses the wear-induced mechanical stress that would otherwise be wasted to simultaneously power the monitoring function, reducing net energy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the shoe structure is modified to accommodate piezoelectric generators and electronic components, then the functionality for wear monitoring is improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewear monitoring capabilityVSAvoidshoe construction

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The wearable article is divided into functional modules: piezoelectric generator elements positioned at strategic locations, electronic circuitry boards, and wireless communication components. This modular segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and tested separately before final assembly, simplifying the overall manufacturing process despite the added complexity of the monitoring system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables the determination of a shoe's wear status through voltage output analysis, ensuring timely replacement and maintaining user safety and comfort.

Implementation Method 1

a piezoelectric generator positioned with respect to a structural material of an article of footwear in a configuration to be flexed to output a voltage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11751626B2Determining footwear replacement based on piezoelectric output

Publication Date: 2023.09.12 NIKE INC

AI summary

An article of apparel, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the article of footwear to the worn on a body. A wireless transmission circuit is included and a piezoelectric generator is positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to induce a voltage signal output. A voltage sensor is configured to sense the voltage profile and output a sensor signal indicative of the voltage profile. An electronic data storage, coupled to the voltage sensor, is configured to store voltage profile information based on the sensor data. A comparator, coupled to the electronic data storage, is configured to identify a change in the voltage profile information over time. The wireless transmission circuit is configured to transmit data indicative of a physical status of the article of footwear based on the change in the voltage profile information over time.