# US 2019/0166954 A1 · Sensing device for footwear > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0166954 A1 - Document ID: US20190166954A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/197,905 - Filed: 2018-11-21 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-15 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Steven H. Walker; Phillip Meneau - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190166954A1 ## CPC - A43C 11/165: {characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation} - 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 3/44: with sensors, e.g. for detecting contact or position - A43B 13/125: {characterised by the midsole or middle layer} - A43B 13/14: characterised by the constructive form - A43B 13/18: Resilient soles {(skating boots provided with resilient means A43B5/1658)} - A43B 17/00: Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined - A43C 1/00: Shoe lacing fastenings (garment fastening devices A41F) - A43C 7/00: Holding-devices for laces - A43C 7/08: Clamps drawn tight by laces - A43C 11/008: {Combined fastenings, e.g. to accelerate undoing or fastening} - A43C 11/14: Clamp fastenings {, e.g. strap fastenings}; Clamp-buckle fastenings; Fastenings with toggle levers - A61B 5/1036: {Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies} - A61B 5/6807: {Footwear} - 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 1/14: by measuring variations in capacitance or inductance of electrical elements, e.g. by measuring variations of frequency of electrical oscillators - G01L 1/142: {using capacitors} - G01L 1/144: {with associated circuitry (G01L1/146 and G01L1/148 take precedence)} - G01L 5/0009: {Force sensors associated with a bearing (testing of bearings G01M13/04)} - G01L 5/0014: {by using capacitive sensors} - G01L 5/0071: {Specific indicating arrangements, e.g. of overload} - G01L 5/12: for measuring axial thrust in a rotary shaft, e.g. of propulsion plants - G01L 5/16: for measuring several components of force - G01L 5/165: using variations in capacitance - 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 - A43B 3/38: with power sources - A43C 1/003: {Zone lacing, i.e. whereby different zones of the footwear have different lacing tightening degrees, using one or a plurality of laces (laces combined with another system A43C11/008; zone tightening using straps A43C11/14)} - A43C 1/006: {Rear lacing, i.e. with a lace placed on the back of the foot in place of, or in addition to the traditional front lace} - A43C 1/02: with elastic laces - A43C 1/04: with rings or loops - A43C 1/06: tightened by draw-strings - A43C 11/00: Other fastenings specially adapted for shoes (dress fastenings in general A44B) - 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 - Y02P 90/02: Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] - A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - 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) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The detector of claim 2, wherein the body sensor is configured to generate the electric field substantially inside the footwear. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The detector of claim 2, further comprising a processor circuit; wherein the body sensor is configured to generate a sensor signal that includes information about a presence or absence of the user body; and wherein the processor circuit is configured to receive the sensor signal and generate a response based on information from the sensor signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The detector of claim 4, wherein the sensor signal generated by the body sensor includes information about a proximity of the user body to the body sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The detector of claim 4, wherein the processor circuit is configured to initiate a motorized footwear lacing apparatus based on information from the sensor signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The detector of claim 2, wherein the body sensor comprises a capacitive sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The detector of claim 7, wherein the capacitive sensor includes a reference electrode and at least one electrode configured to receive the drive signal from the signal generator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The detector of claim 2, wherein the body sensor comprises multiple electrodes spaced apart by a substantially fixed distance. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The detector of claim 2, further comprising a detector housing that encloses the signal generator and at least a portion of the body sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The detector of claim 2, further comprising a dielectric member configured to enhance a sensitivity of the body sensor to a presence of the user body. ### Claim 12 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving the drive signal at the body sensor includes receiving the drive signal at an electrode that comprises a portion of a capacitive sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a proximity of a user body to the body sensor based on the change in the electric field. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the generating the electric field comprises generating the electric field in proximity to a surface of the automated footwear system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the controlling the function of the automated footwear system includes actuating a motorized lacing apparatus. ### Claim 17 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The detector of claim 17, wherein the body sensor is configured to generate the electric field substantially inside the footwear. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The detector of claim 17, further comprising a processor circuit configured to receive information about the proximity of the user body from the body sensor and, in response, conditionally actuate a motorized lacing apparatus of the footwear. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The detector of claim 17, wherein the body sensor includes a capacitive sensor including at least one electrode that is configured to receive the AC drive signal. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The detector of claim 17, further comprising a dielectric member configured to change a sensitivity of the body sensor to a presence of the user body.