Insole for controlling and adjusting the temperature of the foot

• US 10,285,469 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2017
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aria srl
• Original Assignee: Aria srl
• Inventors: Antonetti, Alessandra, Brienza, Eros
• Primary Examiner(s): Bays, Marie D
• Application Number:
  US15/687,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20180055140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 36136, 36 26
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/006 multilayered
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/14 made of sponge, rubber, or plastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/35 with electric heating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/44 with sensors, e.g. for detecting contact or position
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/005 with cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/028 Bending or folding regions of flexible printed circuits H05K1/0283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 Sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10219 Thermoelectric component
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/13 characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/17 characterised by the structure or configuration of the cell or thermocouple forming the device

Abstract

An insole for controlling and adjusting the temperature of the foot. The insole includes a first heat conductive layer made of fabric, a second heat insulating layer comprising a Peltier cell. The Peltier cell includes a first surface and has a predetermined polarity such that, when the Peltier cell is on, the first surface is heated or cooled. A third heat dissipating layer includes an accelerometer and a logic control unit connected to the accelerometer and to the Peltier cell. The insole further includes a first flexible printed circuit configured to measure the temperature of the foot, through at least a first temperature sensor and the temperature of the first surface of the Peltier cell, through a further first temperature sensor.

Claims

1. An insole for controlling and adjusting the temperature of a foot, said insole comprising from top to bottom:

a first heat conductive layer (1) made of fabric, comprising a first surface (1A) intended to contact said foot, and a second surface (1B), opposite to said first surface (1A);

a second heat insulating layer (2), comprising a first surface (2A) in contact with the second surface (1B) of said first heat conductive layer (1), and a second surface (2B), opposite to said first surface (2A), where said second heat insulating layer (2) has a through hole (200), arranged substantially at the center of the foot sole, inside which a Peltier cell (CP) is arranged, said Peltier cell comprising a first surface (CP1) and a second surface (CP2), opposite to said first surface (CP1), where said first surface (3A) of said Peltier cell (CP) at least partially contacts the second surface (1B) of said first heat conductive layer (1);

said Peltier cell (CP) having a predetermined polarity such that, when the Peltier cell (CP) is turned on, the first surface (CP1) of said Peltier cell (CP) is heated or cooled;

a third heat dissipating layer (3), comprising a first surface (3A) having shape and dimensions such as to contact at least partially said second surface (2B) of said second heat insulating layer (2) at the second surface (CP2) of said cell Peltier (CP), where said third heat dissipating layer (3) comprises;

a first seat (31) housing an accelerometer (AC) and a logic control unit (MC), where said logic control unit (MC) is connected to said accelerometer (AC) and, via an H-bridge (HB), to said cell Peltier (CP), and

a second seat (32) housing power supply means (MA), connected to said logic control unit (MC), for supplying said logic control unit (MC) and said Peltier cell, as well as said accelerometer (AC),

said insole further comprising;

a first flexible printed circuit (21) configured to measure the temperature of the foot and the first surface (CP1) of the Peltier cell (CP), comprising a first portion (211), connected to the logic control unit (MC), a second portion (212), arranged in contact to the first surface (CP1) of the Peltier cell (CP), and a third portion (213), arranged in contact with the first surface (2A) of said second heat insulating layer (2), where said first flexible printed circuit (21) comprises;

at least one first temperature sensor (21A) for detecting the temperature of the foot in a respective foot point, arranged inside said third portion (213) of said flexible printed circuit (21), and at least one further first temperature sensor (S1) for detecting the temperature in a respective point of said first surface (CP1) of said Peltier cell (CP), arranged inside said second portion (212) of said flexible printed circuit (21);

where

said accelerometer (AC) is configured to detect an acceleration and send a signal to said logic control unit (MC) to communicate that an acceleration has been detected or has not been detected in a predetermined period of time,

said logic control unit (MC) is connected to said at least one first temperature sensor (21A) and said at least one further first temperature sensor (S1), by means of said flexible printed circuit (21), and is configured to;

communicate with said accelerometer (AC) to know whether a foot is in contact with said insole,

turn on and off said Peltier cell (CP), said at least one first temperature sensor (21A), said at least one further first temperature sensor (S1), respectively, when the foot is in contact with said insole and when the foot is not in contact with said insole,

acquiring the temperature value detected by said at least one first temperature sensor (21A),

comparing the said temperature value detected by said at least one first temperature sensor (21A) with a predetermined temperature range comprised between a predetermined first temperature threshold and a predetermined second temperature threshold, where said predetermined second temperature threshold is greater than said predetermined first temperature threshold,

turn on the Peltier cell (CP) so that its first surface (CP1) is heated or cooled, when said temperature value is less than said predetermined first temperature threshold or greater than said predetermined second threshold temperature, or turn on the cell Peltier (CP) and reverse said predetermined polarity of said Peltier cell (CP) via said H-bridge (HB), so that the first surface (CP1) is cooled or heated, when said temperature value is greater than said predetermined second temperature threshold or less than the predetermined first temperature threshold,

acquiring the temperature value detected by said further first temperature sensor (S1),

comparing said temperature value acquired from said further first temperature sensor (S1) with a predetermined third temperature threshold,

turn off the Peltier cell (CP) when said temperature value of said first surface (CP1) of the Peltier cell (CP) is higher or lower than the predetermined third temperature threshold.

2. The insole according to claim 1, wherein said second heat insulating layer (2) comprises a third seat (20), arranged on its first surface (2A), and said third portion (213) of said first flexible printed circuit (21) is housed in said third seat (20).

3. The insole according to claim 2, wherein said third portion (213) is pronged and said third seat (20) is substantially Y-shaped and comprises:

a first branch (20A) extending substantially from the center of the foot to a first foot point, substantially disposed between the second cuneiform and the third cuneiform,

a second branch (20B) extending substantially from said first foot point to a second foot point, substantially disposed between the metatarsal bone and the proximal phalanx of the big toe, and

a third branch (20C) extending substantially from said first foot point to a third foot point, substantially disposed between the metatarsal bone and the proximal phalanx of the fifth toe.

4. The insole according to claim 3, wherein said at least one first temperature sensor (21A) is arranged substantially at said first foot point.

5. The insole according to claim 4, wherein

said flexible printed circuit (21) comprises inside a second temperature sensor (21B), arranged substantially at said second foot point, and a third temperature sensor (21C), arranged substantially at said third foot point,

wherein

said logic control unit (MC) is connected to said second temperature sensor (21B) and said third temperature sensor (21C), by means of said flexible printed circuit (21), and is configured to:

acquire the temperature values detected by said second temperature sensor (21B) and said third temperature sensor (21C),

calculate the temperature average value between the temperature values of said first temperature sensor (21A), said second temperature sensor (21B) and said third temperature sensor (21C),

compare said temperature average value with said predetermined temperature range comprised between said first threshold temperature and said second temperature threshold,

turn on the Peltier cell (CP) so that the first surface (CP1) is heated or cooled, when said temperature average value is less than said predetermined first temperature threshold or higher than the second temperature threshold, or turn on the Peltier cell (CP) and reverse said predetermined polarity of said Peltier cell (CP) via said H-bridge (HB), so that the first surface (CP1) is cooled or heated, when said mean temperature value is greater than said predetermined second threshold temperature or lower than said predetermined first temperature threshold.

6. The insole according to claim 1, wherein

said first flexible printed circuit (21) comprises inside a further second temperature sensor (S2) for detecting the temperature of said first surface (CP1) of said Peltier cell (CP), arranged inside said second portion (212) of said first flexible printed circuit (21),

wherein

said logic control unit (MC) is connected to said further second temperature sensor (S2), by means of said flexible printed circuit (21), and is configured to:

acquire the temperature value from said further second temperature sensor (S2),

calculate the temperature average value between the temperature values of said further first temperature sensor (S1) and said further second temperature sensor (S2),

compare said temperature average value of said first surface (CP1) of the Peltier cell (CP) with said predetermined third temperature threshold,

turn off the Peltier cell (CP) when said temperature average value of said first surface (CP1) of the Peltier cell (CP) is higher or lower than the predetermined third temperature threshold.

7. The insole according to claim 1, wherein said insole comprises a second flexible printed circuit (22) configured to measure the temperature of the second surface (CP2) of the Peltier cell (CP), comprising a first portion (221), connected to said logic control unit (MC), and a second portion (222), arranged in contact with the second surface (CP2) of said Peltier cell (CP), said second surface (CP2) of said Peltier cell (CP) contacting at least partially the first surface (3A) of said third heat dissipating layer (3);

wherein

said second flexible printed circuit (22) comprises a further third temperature sensor (S3) for detecting the temperature of said second surface (CP2) of said Peltier cell (CP), arranged inside said second portion (222) of said second flexible printed circuit (22),

wherein

said logic control unit (MC) is connected to said further third temperature sensor (S3), by means of said second flexible printed circuit (22), and is configured to;

acquire the temperature value from said further third temperature sensor (S3),

compare said temperature value of said second surface (CP2) of the Peltier cell (CP) with a predetermined fourth temperature threshold,

turn off the Peltier cell (CP) when said temperature value of said second surface (CP2) of the Peltier cell (CP) is higher or lower than the predetermined fourth temperature threshold.

8. The insole according to claim 7, wherein said logic control unit (MC) is configured to:

verify if the temperature value of said further third temperature sensor (S3) is lower than a predetermined fifth temperature threshold or greater than a predetermined sixth temperature threshold,

turn off the Peltier cell (CP) until said temperature value is less than said fifth predetermined threshold temperature or higher than the predetermined sixth temperature threshold.

9. The insole according to claim 7, wherein

said second flexible printed circuit (22) comprises a further fourth temperature sensor (S4) for detecting the temperature of said second surface (CP2) of said Peltier cell (CP), arranged inside said second portion (222) of said second flexible printed circuit (22),

wherein

said logic control unit (MC) is connected to said further fourth temperature sensor (S4), by means of said second flexible printed circuit (22), and is configured to:

acquire the temperature value from said further fourth temperature sensor (S4),

calculate the temperature average value of said second surface (CP2) of the Peltier cell (CP) between the temperature values of said further third temperature sensor (S3) and said further quarter of a temperature sensor (S4),

compare said temperature average value of said second surface (CP2) of the Peltier cell (CP) with said fourth predetermined temperature threshold,

turn off the Peltier cell (CP) when said average value of temperature of said second surface (CP2) of the Peltier cell (CP) is higher or lower than the predetermined fourth temperature threshold.

10. The insole according to claim 9, wherein said logic control unit (MC) is configured to:

verify if said temperature average value between the temperature values of said further third temperature sensor (S3) and said further fourth temperature sensor (S4) is lower than a predetermined fifth temperature threshold or greater than a predetermined sixth temperature threshold,

turn off the Peltier cell (CP) until said temperature average value is less than said fifth predetermined temperature threshold or higher than the predetermined sixth temperature threshold.

11. The insole according to claim 1, wherein said first heat conductive layer (1) comprises a predetermined first amount of graphene and a predetermined first amount of polymeric matrix material, and said third heat dissipating layer (3) comprises a predetermined second amount of graphene and a predetermined second amount of polyurethane, where said second predetermined amount of graphene is greater than said predetermined first amount of graphene.

12. The insole according to claim 1, wherein

said first heat conductive layer (1) is a fabric of fibers of silver, in particular a Silverell©

fabric, and

wherein

said third heat dissipating layer (3) comprises a predetermined second amount of graphene and a predetermined second quantity of polyurethane, where said predetermined second amount of graphene is between 3% and 20%, and said predetermined second amount of polyurethane is between 80% and 97%.

13. The insole according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined temperature range is centered on a temperature value equal to 36.5°

C. and said predetermined first temperature threshold is 30.5°

C. and said second temperature threshold is 42.5°

C.

14. The insole according to claim 1, wherein said accelerometer (AC) is a three-axis accelerometer or a six-axis accelerometer or a nine-axis accelerometer.

15. A shoe comprising an insole according to claim 1.

16. The insole according to claim 2, wherein

said first flexible printed circuit (21) comprises inside a further second temperature sensor (S2) for detecting the temperature of said first surface (CP1) of said Peltier cell (CP), arranged inside said second portion (212) of said first flexible printed circuit (21),

wherein

said logic control unit (MC) is connected to said further second temperature sensor (S2), by means of said flexible printed circuit (21), and is configured to:

acquire the temperature value from said further second temperature sensor (S2),

calculate the temperature average value between the temperature values of said further first temperature sensor (S1) and said further second temperature sensor (S2),

compare said temperature average value of said first surface (CP1) of the Peltier cell (CP) with said predetermined third temperature threshold,

turn off the Peltier cell (CP) when said temperature average value of said first surface (CP1) of the Peltier cell (CP) is higher or lower than the predetermined third temperature threshold.

17. The insole according to claim 3, wherein

said first flexible printed circuit (21) comprises inside a further second temperature sensor (S2) for detecting the temperature of said first surface (CP1) of said Peltier cell (CP), arranged inside said second portion (212) of said first flexible printed circuit (21),

wherein

said logic control unit (MC) is connected to said further second temperature sensor (S2), by means of said flexible printed circuit (21), and is configured to:

acquire the temperature value from said further second temperature sensor (S2),

calculate the temperature average value between the temperature values of said further first temperature sensor (S1) and said further second temperature sensor (S2),

compare said temperature average value of said first surface (CP1) of the Peltier cell (CP) with said predetermined third temperature threshold,

turn off the Peltier cell (CP) when said temperature average value of said first surface (CP1) of the Peltier cell (CP) is higher or lower than the predetermined third temperature threshold.

18. The insole according to claim 4, wherein

said first flexible printed circuit (21) comprises inside a further second temperature sensor (S2) for detecting the temperature of said first surface (CP1) of said Peltier cell (CP), arranged inside said second portion (212) of said first flexible printed circuit (21),

wherein

said logic control unit (MC) is connected to said further second temperature sensor (S2), by means of said flexible printed circuit (21), and is configured to:

acquire the temperature value from said further second temperature sensor (S2),

calculate the temperature average value between the temperature values of said further first temperature sensor (S1) and said further second temperature sensor (S2),

compare said temperature average value of said first surface (CP1) of the Peltier cell (CP) with said predetermined third temperature threshold,

turn off the Peltier cell (CP) when said temperature average value of said first surface (CP1) of the Peltier cell (CP) is higher or lower than the predetermined third temperature threshold.

19. The insole according to claim 5, wherein

said first flexible printed circuit (21) comprises inside a further second temperature sensor (S2) for detecting the temperature of said first surface (CP1) of said Peltier cell (CP), arranged inside said second portion (212) of said first flexible printed circuit (21),

wherein

said logic control unit (MC) is connected to said further second temperature sensor (S2), by means of said flexible printed circuit (21), and is configured to:

acquire the temperature value from said further second temperature sensor (S2),

calculate the temperature average value between the temperature values of said further first temperature sensor (S1) and said further second temperature sensor (S2),

compare said temperature average value of said first surface (CP1) of the Peltier cell (CP) with said predetermined third temperature threshold,

turn off the Peltier cell (CP) when said temperature average value of said first surface (CP1) of the Peltier cell (CP) is higher or lower than the predetermined third temperature threshold.

20. The insole according to claim 2, wherein

said insole comprises a second flexible printed circuit (22) configured to measure the temperature of the second surface (CP2) of the Peltier cell (CP), comprising a first portion (221), connected to said logic control unit (MC), and a second portion (222), arranged in contact with the second surface (CP2) of said Peltier cell (CP), said second surface (CP2) of said Peltier cell (CP) contacting at least partially the first surface (3A) of said third heat dissipating layer (3);

wherein

said second flexible printed circuit (22) comprises a further third temperature sensor (S3) for detecting the temperature of said second surface (CP2) of said Peltier cell (CP), arranged inside said second portion (222) of said second flexible printed circuit (22),

wherein

said logic control unit (MC) is connected to said further third temperature sensor (S3), by means of said second flexible printed circuit (22), and is configured to;

acquire the temperature value from said further third temperature sensor (S3),

compare said temperature value of said second surface (CP2) of the Peltier cell (CP) with a predetermined fourth temperature threshold,

turn off the Peltier cell (CP) when said temperature value of said second surface (CP2) of the Peltier cell (CP) is higher or lower than the predetermined fourth temperature threshold.