# US 11,896,367 B2 · Wireless in-shoe physical activity monitoring

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- Number: US 11,896,367 B2
- Document ID: US11896367B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/485,613
- Filed: 2021-09-27
- Published: 2022-01-13
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-18
- Assignees: Sigmasense, LLC.
- Applicants: Athalonz, LLC
- Inventors: Timothy W. Markison; Sayfe Kiaei; Gary McCoy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896367B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/1036: {Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies}
- A43B 3/34: with electrical or electronic arrangements
- A61B 5/002: {Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building (A61B5/0017 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/02055: {Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature}
- A61B 5/1118: {Determining activity level}
- A61B 5/16: Devices for psychotechnics (using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00); Testing reaction times {; Devices for evaluating the psychological state}
- A61B 5/6802: {Sensor mounted on worn items}
- A61B 5/7275: {Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor}
- A61B 5/743: {Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots}
- A63B 24/0062: {Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance}
- A63B 71/06: Indicating or scoring devices for games or players {, or for other sports activities}
- G01S 13/42: Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates (indirect measurement G01S13/46)
- G01S 13/46: Indirect determination of position data
- G01S 13/58: Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems
- G01S 13/726: {Multiple target tracking}
- G01S 13/88: Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications (electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00)
- G16H 50/30: for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment
- H04Q 9/00: Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
- A61B 5/024: Measuring pulse rate or heart rate
- A61B 5/0816: {Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency (measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00)}
- A61B 2560/0214: of power generation or supply
- A61B 2562/0219: Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
- G01S 2013/468: {by Triangulation, i.e. two antennas or two sensors determine separately the bearing, direction or angle to a target, whereby with the knowledge of the baseline length, the position data of the target is determined}
- H04Q 2209/40: using a wireless architecture
- H04Q 2209/84: Measuring functions
- H04Q 2209/845: where the measuring is synchronized between sensing devices
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W)

## Abstract

A method includes obtaining foot force data that is created by sampling, in accordance with a sampling signal, data from a plurality of pressure sensing elements of a shoe sensor system, where the plurality of pressure sensing elements are distributed in a pattern having a first pressure sensing element at a fifth metatarsal area of a lateral wall of an insole of a shoe associated with the shoe sensor system, and a second pressure sensing element at a first metatarsal area of a medial wall of the insole. The method further includes processing the foot force data to determine a horizontal force of a foot of a user of the shoe sensor system while the user is performing a movement while wearing the shoe.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for execution by a processing module, the method comprises:
obtaining foot force data that is created by sampling, in accordance with a sampling signal, data from a plurality of pressure sensing elements of a shoe sensor system, wherein the plurality of pressure sensing elements are distributed in a pattern having a first pressure sensing element at a fifth metatarsal area of a lateral wall of an insole of a shoe associated with the shoe sensor system, and a second pressure sensing element at a first metatarsal area of a medial wall of the insole; and
processing the foot force data to determine a horizontal force of a foot of a user of the shoe sensor system while the user is performing a movement while wearing the shoe.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprises:
obtaining three-dimensional foot data that is created by sampling, in accordance with the sampling signal, data from a first accelerometer of the shoe sensor system, wherein the first accelerometer is positioned within the pattern;
correlating the foot force data and the three-dimensional foot data in accordance with the sampling signal to produce correlated foot data; and
processing the correlated foot data to determine one or more of: distance traveled during a time period, stride length data, fatigue indication, injury prevention indicators, time duration, elevation tracking for the time period, running optimization, and rotational sport optimization.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 further comprises:
the obtaining the foot force data includes receiving, by the processing module of the shoe sensor system, the foot force data from the plurality of pressure sensing elements; and
the obtaining the three-dimensional foot data includes receiving, by the processing module of the shoe sensor system, the three-dimensional foot data from the first accelerometer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 further comprises:
the obtaining the foot force data includes receiving, by the processing module of a computing device, the foot force data from a transmitter of the shoe sensor system; and
the obtaining the three-dimensional foot data includes receiving, by the processing module of the computing device, the three-dimensional data from the transmitter of the shoe sensor system.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the three-dimensional foot data comprises one or more of:
an accelerometer identifier;
an x-y-z origin coordinate;
a plurality of x-y-z coordinate values;
a first plurality of representations of x-y-z coordinate values; and
a first plurality of x-y-z coordinates.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the correlating the foot force data and the three-dimensional foot data comprises:
for a first sampling interval of the sampling signal:
identifying a first foot force data point of the foot force data and a first three-dimensional foot data point of the three-dimensional foot data; and
linking the first foot force data point with the first three-dimensional foot data point and with the first sampling interval; and
for a second sampling interval of the sampling signal:
identifying a second foot force data point of the foot force data and a second three-dimensional foot data point of the three-dimensional foot data; and
linking the second foot force data point with the second three-dimensional foot data point and with the second sampling interval.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the processing the correlated foot data to determine the distance traveled during the time period comprises:
determining a first x-y coordinate from a first three-dimensional foot data point that corresponds to a beginning of the time period;
determining a next x-y coordinate from a next three-dimensional foot data point that corresponds to a next sampling point of a sampling clock within the time period;
determining a next delta distance based on a difference between the first x-y coordinate and the next x-y coordinate;
adding the next delta distance to an accumulation of previous delta distances to produce an updated accumulation of delta distances;
when the next sampling point corresponds to an end of the time period, provided the updated accumulation of delta distances as the distance traveled during the time period; and
when the next sampling point does not correspond to the end of the time period, repeating the steps for subsequent sampling points until the next sampling point interval corresponds to the end of the time period.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the processing the correlated foot data to determine the stride length data comprises:
determining a first left x-y coordinate from a first left three-dimensional foot data point that corresponds to a left foot being in contact with a surface;
determining a first right x-y coordinate from a first right three-dimensional foot data point that corresponds to a right foot being in contact with the surface; and
determining a left foot to right foot stride length based on the first left x-y coordinate and the first right x-y coordinate.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the processing the correlated foot data to determine the time duration comprises:
counting clock cycle of a clock signal from a beginning of the time duration until an end of the time duration to produce a clock cycle count; and
interpreting the clock cycle count in light of a clock rate of the clock signal to determine the time duration.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the processing the correlated foot data to determine the fatigue indication comprises:
detecting, based on changes in the correlated foot data over time within the time period, one or more of a shortening of stride length, a slowing of pace, and a change in foot force; and
interpreting the one or more of the shortening of stride length, the slowing of pace, and the change in foot force to determine a fatigue level.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the processing the correlated foot data to determine the injury prevention indicators comprises:
detecting, based on changes in the correlated foot data over time within the time period, one or more of an imbalance in foot force between feet, a change in foot forces of one or both feet, an imbalance in stride lengths, an imbalance in stride height between the feet, and foot movement outside of a movement deviation range;
interpreting the one or more of the imbalance in foot force between the feet, the change in foot forces of one or both feet, the imbalance in stride lengths, the imbalance in stride height between the feet, and the foot movement outside of the movement deviation range to identify a potential injury; and
determining a preventive measure based on the potential injury and the one or more of the imbalance in foot force between the feet, the change in foot forces of one or both feet, the imbalance in stride lengths, the imbalance in stride height between the feet, and the foot movement outside of the movement deviation range.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the processing the correlated foot data to determine the elevation tracking for the time period comprises:
determining a first z coordinate from a first three-dimensional foot data point that corresponds to a beginning of the time period;
determining a next z coordinate from a next three-dimensional foot data point that corresponds to a next sampling point of a sampling clock within the time period;
determining a next delta distance based on a difference between the first z coordinate and the next z coordinate;
when the next delta distance is greater than or equal to zero, adding the next delta distance to an accumulation of previous delta distances to produce an updated accumulation of delta distances;
when the next sampling point corresponds to an end of the time period, provided the updated accumulation of delta distances as an elevation change that occurred during the time period; and
when the next sampling point does not correspond to the end of the time period, repeating all but the determining the first z coordinate from the first three-dimensional foot data point that corresponds to the beginning of the time period for another next three-dimensional foot data point until the next sampling point corresponds to the end of the time period.

### Claim 13 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the processing the correlated foot data to determine the running optimization comprises one or more of:
interpreting the correlated foot data to determine foot positioning while running is offset by at least a foot positioning threshold from an optimal foot positioning and providing a corrective measure to reduce the offset;
interpreting the correlated foot data to determine that, while running, weight distribution between the left foot and the right foot are imbalanced and providing a correct measure to reduce the weight distribution imbalance;
interpreting the correlated foot data to determine that, while running, stride lengths are imbalanced between a left-to-right stride and a right-to-left stride and providing a correct measure to reduce the stride lengths imbalance;
interpreting the correlated foot data to determine that, while running, ground reaction force are below an optimal level and providing a correct measure to improve the ground reaction force; and
interpreting the correlated foot data to determine that, while running, ground contact time is above an optimal level and providing a correct measure to reduce the ground contact time.

### Claim 14 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the processing the correlated foot data to determine the rotational sport optimization comprises:
determining a ground reaction force during performance of an athletic movement of a rotational sport;
determining a weight force vector distribution between medial and lateral side of the foot and between forefoot and heel based on the ground reaction force; and
when the weight force vector distribution is less than optimal, determining a corrective measure to optimize the weight force vector distribution during performance of the athletic movement.

### Claim 15 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 further comprises:
obtaining second three-dimensional foot data that is created by sampling, in accordance with the sampling signal, data from a second accelerometer of the shoe sensor system, wherein the second accelerometer is positioned within the pattern at a distance from the first accelerometer;
correlating the foot force data, the three-dimensional foot data, and the second three-dimensional foot data in accordance with the sampling signal to produce the correlated foot data; and
processing the correlated foot data to determine various foot orientations during the time period.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprises:
obtaining biometric data from one or more biometric sensors of the shoe sensor system; and
interpreting the biometric data to provide information regarding one or more of temperature, moisture, heart rate, and respiration rate.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein a pressure sensing element of the plurality of pressure sensing elements comprises one or more of:
resistive pressure sensor, a piezoelectric pressure sensor, a capacitive pressure sensor, and an inductive pressure sensor.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the foot force data comprises one or more of:
from the first pressure sensing element of the plurality of pressure sensing elements:
a first pressure sensor indicator;
a first plurality of pressure sensed values;
a first plurality of representations of sensed pressure levels; and
a first plurality of pressure measurements; and
from the second pressure sensing element of the plurality of pressure sensing elements:
a second pressure sensor indicator;
a second plurality of pressure sensed values;
a second plurality of representations of sensed pressure levels; and
a second plurality of pressure measurements.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern further comprises:
a third pressure sensing element at a medial ball of foot area, and
a fourth pressure sensing element at a lateral heel area.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern further comprises:
a third pressure sensing element at a lateral ball of foot area, and
a fourth pressure sensing element at a medial heel area.