Sensing device for footwear
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsSteven H. Walker, Phillip Meneau
Life of this patent
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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 configured to sense changes in a capacitance signal in response to proximity of a body. A dielectric member can be provided between the capacitive sensor and the body to enhance an output signal from the sensor.
Claims21
(canceled)
A detector integrated into a footwear apparatus, the detector comprising:
- a signal generator;
- and
- a body sensor configured to:
- receive a drive signal from the signal generator;
- generate an electric field using the drive signal;
- and
- detect changes in the electric field caused at least in part by a change in proximity of a user body relative to the footwear apparatus.
A method for receiving information for use by an automated footwear system, the method comprising:
- generating a drive signal for a body sensor using a signal generator, the body sensor disposed in or on the automated footwear system;
- receiving the drive signal at the body sensor and in response generating an electric field;
- sensing, using the body sensor, a change in the electric field;
- and
- based on the change in the electric field as sensed using the body sensor, controlling a function of the automated footwear system.
A body detector for use with footwear, the detector comprising:
- a signal generator configured to generate an electrical drive signal;
- and
- a body sensor configured to receive the drive signal from the signal generator and in response generate an electric field, wherein the body sensor is configured to detect a proximity of a user body based on interference in the electric field that is due to the proximity of the user body to the body sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.