# US 11,026,481 B2 · Foot presence signal processing using velocity > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,026,481 B2 - Document ID: US11026481B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/311,813 - Filed: 2018-03-14 - Published: 2019-12-26 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-14 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Steven H. Walker; Phillip Meneau - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026481B2 ## CPC - A43B 3/34: with electrical or electronic arrangements - A43B 1/0054: {provided with magnets, magnetic parts or magnetic substances} - A43B 3/0031: {provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card} - A43B 3/36: with light sources - A43B 13/14: characterised by the constructive form - A43B 17/00: Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined - A43B 17/003: {characterised by the material (made of wood A43B17/12, made of sponge, rubber or plastic materials A43B17/14)} - A43C 1/00: Shoe lacing fastenings (garment fastening devices A41F) - A43C 7/00: Holding-devices for laces - A43C 11/008: {Combined fastenings, e.g. to accelerate undoing or fastening} - A43C 11/165: {characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation} - A61B 5/1038: {Measuring plantar pressure during gait} - A61B 5/117: Identification of persons (methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00) - A61B 5/6807: {Footwear} - A61B 5/6844: {Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue} - G01D 5/12: using electric or magnetic means (G01D5/06 takes precedence) - G01D 5/24: by varying capacitance - G01L 1/12: by measuring variations in the magnetic properties of materials resulting from the application of stress - G01L 1/142: {using capacitors} - G01L 1/144: {with associated circuitry (G01L1/146 and G01L1/148 take precedence)} - G01L 5/12: for measuring axial thrust in a rotary shaft, e.g. of propulsion plants - G01L 5/24: for determining value of torque or twisting moment for tightening a nut or other member which is similarly stressed - G05B 15/02: electric - G05B 19/048: Monitoring; Safety - A61B 5/112: {Gait analysis} - A61B 2562/0219: Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches - A61B 2562/0247: Pressure sensors - A61B 2562/0257: Proximity sensors - G01D 5/145: {influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields (see G01R33/06)} - G01D 5/2405: {by varying dielectric} - G01D 5/34: the beams of light being detected by photocells - G05B 2219/24015: Monitoring - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract 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 sensor, and the sensor is configured to sense changes in a foot proximity to the sensor in footwear. Information about the sensed proximity can be used to determine a foot velocity characteristic, which in turn 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, about an activity, or about the footwear. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving a time-varying sensor signal from a sensor that is coupled to an article of footwear, wherein the sensor is configured to generate an electric field in the footwear and sense information about a change in the electric field in response to a change in proximity of a foot to the sensor; and using a processor circuit: identifying a velocity characteristic of the foot relative to the sensor using the time-varying sensor signal; and based on the velocity characteristic as identified, at least one of: initiating data collection about the footwear or about the proximity of the foot to the sensor using the same or different sensor coupled to the footwear, and updating an automated function of the footwear. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying the velocity characteristic of the time-varying sensor signal includes using displacement information about a location of the foot relative to the sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying the velocity characteristic using the time-varying sensor signal includes, using the processor circuit: identifying first portions of the time-varying sensor signal corresponding to a foot strike and identifying other second portions of the time-varying sensor signal corresponding to a foot lift; and determining a step count, a rate of travel, or a distance of travel, using information about timings of the first and second portions of the time-varying sensor signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying the velocity characteristic using the time-varying sensor signal includes, using the processor circuit: identifying first portions of the time-varying sensor signal corresponding to a foot strike and identifying other second portions of the time-varying sensor signal corresponding to a foot lift; and determining a lifecycle status of an insole component of the footwear using at least the first portions of the time-varying sensor signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising using the processor circuit, determining whether a foot is present in the article of footwear based on the velocity characteristic as identified. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising using the processor circuit, determining a step count using the velocity characteristic as identified. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the determining the lifecycle status of the insole component includes identifying a peak-to-peak excursion characteristic of the time-varying sensor signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising reporting a footwear status indication to a user when the lifecycle status as determined indicates the insole provides insufficient cushioning to the user. ### Claim 9 A foot proximity sensor system for footwear, the system comprising: a capacitive proximity sensor coupled to an article of footwear and configured to provide a Lime-varying sensor signal indicating a proximity of a foot to the sensor; and a processor circuit coupled to the proximity sensor, the processor circuit configured to: identify a velocity characteristic using the time-varying sensor signal; and based on the velocity characteristic as identified, at least one of: initiate data collection about the footwear or about a location of the foot relative to the sensor, using the same proximity sensor or using a different sensor coupled to the footwear, and update an automated function of the footwear. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the capacitive proximity sensor comprises a planar electrode and a driven shield provided at or near an insole of the footwear. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the processor circuit is configured to update a reference characteristic of the capacitive proximity sensor to accommodate a change in a fluid saturation of one or more components of the footwear. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the processor circuit is configured to determine one or more of a step count, a foot strike force, and a rate of travel using the velocity characteristic as identified. ### Claim 13 An automated footwear system for use in a footwear article, the system comprising: a lacing engine and a lacing engine housing configured to be disposed in the article; a processor circuit provided in the housing; and a capacitive sensor, including at least one electrode and corresponding driven shield provided at least partially inside of the housing, wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to sense changes in proximity of a body to the at least one electrode and provide a time-varying sensor signal indicative of the proximity of the body to the electrodes; wherein the processor circuit is configured to: identify a velocity characteristic using the time-varying sensor signal; and based on the velocity characteristic as identified, at least one of: initiate data collection about the footwear or about the proximity of the body to the electrodes, using the same capacitive sensor or using a different sensor coupled to the footwear, and update an automated function of the lacing engine. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The automated footwear system of claim 13, wherein the processor circuit is configured determine one or more of a step count, a foot strike force, or a rate of travel using the velocity characteristic as identified. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The automated footwear system of claim 13, wherein the processor circuit is configured to update a reference characteristic of the capacitive sensor based on a detected change in a fluid saturation of one or more components disposed in or coupled to the footwear.