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US 12,631,535 B2Granted
Outsole-embedded optoelectronic sensor to measure shear ground reaction forces during locomotion
AssigneeThe Trustees of the Stevens Institute of Technology
InventorsDamiano Zanotto, Ton Duong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sensor apparatus for footwear includes at least one pair of light sources and at least one pair of light receivers, each light receiver being positioned and configured to receive light emitted from a respective one of the light sources. A pair of movable curtains functions to adjust the amount of light received by the pair of light receivers. The curtains are movable conjointly such that the amount of light received by one of the light receivers is inversely proportional to the amount of light received by the other light receiver. (FIG. 1B).
Claims26
Sensor apparatus adapted to measure shear ground forces, comprising:
- a first light source;
- a first light receiver located in a fixed position relative to said first light source and configured to receive light emitted from said first light source, wherein said first light source and said first light receiver constitute a first sensor unit;
- a first curtain movably positioned between said first light source and said first light receiver, said first curtain being movable relative to said first light source and said first light receiver so as to adjust the amount of light received by said first light receiver from said first light source;
- a second light source;
- a second light receiver located in a fixed position relative to said second light source and configured to receive light emitted from said second light source, wherein said second light source and said second light receiver constitute a second sensor unit that is independent of said first sensor unit;
- and
- a second curtain movably positioned between said second light source and said second light receiver, said second curtain being movable relative to said second light source and said second light receiver so as to adjust the amount of light received by said second light receiver from said second light source, said second curtain being movable conjointly with said first curtain in a first direction such that the amount of light received by said first light receiver from said first light source is inversely proportional to the amount of light received by said second light receiver from said second light source;
- wherein the shear ground forces are in foot-worn wearable systems.
5 more elements
Footwear retrofitted with sensor apparatus adapted to measure shear ground forces, said sensor apparatus being located in an outsole of said footwear and comprising:
- a first light source;
- a first light receiver located in a fixed position relative to said first light source and configured to receive light emitted from said first light source, wherein said first light source and said first light receiver constitute a first sensor unit;
- a first curtain movably positioned between said first light source and said first light receiver, said first curtain being movable relative to said first light source and said first light receiver so as to adjust the amount of light received by said first light receiver from said first light source;
- a second light source;
- a second light receiver located in a fixed position relative to said second light source and configured to receive light emitted from said second light source, wherein said second light source and said second light receiver constitute a second sensor unit that is independent of said first sensor unit;
- and
- a second curtain movably positioned between said second light source and said second light receiver, said second curtain being movable relative to said second light source and said second light receiver so as to adjust the amount of light received by said second light receiver from said second light source, said second curtain being movable conjointly with said first curtain in a first direction such that the amount of light received by said first light receiver from said first light source is inversely proportional to the amount of light received by said second light receiver from said second light source.
4 more elements
A method of providing existing footwear with the ability to measure ground reaction forces, said method comprising the step of:
- retrofitting an outsole of said existing footwear with sensor apparatus comprising a first light source;
- a first light receiver located in a fixed position relative to said first light source and configured to receive light emitted from said first light source, wherein said first light source and said first light receiver constitute a first sensor unit;
- a first curtain movably positioned between said first light source and said first light receiver, said first curtain being movable relative to said first light source and said first light receiver so as to adjust the amount of light received by said first light receiver from said first light source;
- a second light source;
- a second light receiver located in a fixed position relative to said second light source and configured to receive light emitted from said second light source, wherein said second light source and said second light receiver constitute a second sensor unit that is independent of said first sensor unit;
- and
- a second curtain movably positioned between said second light source and said second light receiver, said second curtain being movable relative to said second light source and said second light receiver so as to adjust the amount of light received by said second light receiver from said second light source, said second curtain being movable conjointly with said first curtain in a first direction such that the amount of light received by said first light receiver from said first light source is inversely proportional to the amount of light received by said second light receiver from said second light source.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.