Footwear having sensor system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sensor system comprising:
- an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer and a second layer;
a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module;
a pathway providing electrical communication between the first layer and the second layer;
a plurality of sensors formed on the insert member, each sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, the second contact being generally aligned with the first contact, wherein the sensors are each configured such that pressure on the insert causes increased engagement between the first and second contacts to change a resistance of the sensor;
a plurality of leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first contacts, the second contacts, the pathway, and the port;
a first resistor located on the first layer and connected to at least one of leads; and
a second resistor located on the second layer and connected at least one of the leads,wherein the port, the pathway, the sensors, the leads, and the first and second resistors form a circuit on the insert member, the circuit configured to have a voltage applied between a first terminal and a ground located at the port, and wherein the first and second resistors are arranged in parallel between the first terminal and the ground, andwherein the insert member further comprises a spacer layer located between the first and second layers, the spacer layer having holes aligned with the sensors to permit engagement of the first and second contacts of each sensor through the spacer layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor system is adapted for use with an article of footwear and includes an insert member including a first layer and a second layer, a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module, a plurality of force and/or pressure sensors on the insert member, and a plurality of leads connecting the sensors to the port.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. A sensor system comprising:
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an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer and a second layer; a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module; a pathway providing electrical communication between the first layer and the second layer; a plurality of sensors formed on the insert member, each sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, the second contact being generally aligned with the first contact, wherein the sensors are each configured such that pressure on the insert causes increased engagement between the first and second contacts to change a resistance of the sensor; a plurality of leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first contacts, the second contacts, the pathway, and the port; a first resistor located on the first layer and connected to at least one of leads; and a second resistor located on the second layer and connected at least one of the leads, wherein the port, the pathway, the sensors, the leads, and the first and second resistors form a circuit on the insert member, the circuit configured to have a voltage applied between a first terminal and a ground located at the port, and wherein the first and second resistors are arranged in parallel between the first terminal and the ground, and wherein the insert member further comprises a spacer layer located between the first and second layers, the spacer layer having holes aligned with the sensors to permit engagement of the first and second contacts of each sensor through the spacer layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A sensor system comprising:
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an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear; a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module; a plurality of sensors formed on the insert member, each sensor configured for detecting pressure applied to the sensor; a plurality of leads located on the insert and connecting the sensors to the port; and a resistor connected to the sensors and the port by the leads, the resistor comprising; an inner section connected to a first lead, an outer section connected to a second lead, the outer section substantially surrounding the inner section and being spaced from the inner section, and a bridge extending between the inner section and the outer section and partially overlapping both the inner section and the outer section, wherein the resistor is configured such that an electronic signal can pass between the first lead and the second lead through the inner section, the bridge, and the outer section. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A sensor system comprising:
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an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer, a second layer, and a spacer layer located between the first and second layers; a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module; a pathway providing electrical communication between the first layer and the second layer, the spacer layer having a hole therein to permit electrical communication between the first and second layers through the pathway; a plurality of sensors formed on the insert member, each sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, the second contact being generally aligned with the first contact, wherein the sensors are each configured such that pressure on the insert causes increased engagement between the first and second contacts to change a resistance of the sensor, wherein the first and second contacts comprise a carbon material; a plurality of leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first contacts to the pathway, connecting the second contacts to the port, and connecting the port to the pathway, wherein the leads comprise a silver material; a first resistor located on the first layer and connected to at least two of leads; and a second resistor located on the second layer and connected at least two of the leads, wherein the first resistor and the second resistor each comprise; an inner section connected to first lead and comprising the silver material; an outer section connected to a second lead and comprising the silver material, the outer section substantially surrounding the inner section and being spaced from the inner section, and a bridge extending between the inner section and the outer section and partially overlapping both the inner section and the outer section, the bridge comprising the carbon material, wherein the first and second resistors are configured such that an electronic signal can pass between the first lead and the second lead through the inner section, the bridge, and the outer section; and wherein the port, the pathway, the sensors, the leads, and the first and second resistors form a circuit on the insert member, the circuit configured to have a voltage applied between a first terminal and a ground located at the port, and wherein the first and second resistors are arranged in parallel between the first terminal and the ground. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A sensor system comprising:
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an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer, a second layer, and a spacer layer located between the first and second layers; a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module; a pathway providing electrical communication between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the spacer layer includes a hole located around the pathway to permit the electrical communication between the first and second layers through the pathway; a plurality of sensors formed on the insert member, each sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, the second contact being generally aligned with the first contact, wherein the sensors are each configured such that pressure on the insert causes increased engagement between the first and second contacts to change resistance of the sensor; and a plurality of leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first contacts to the pathway, connecting the second contacts to the port, and connecting the port to the pathway, wherein the pathway further comprises a substantially annular stiffener positioned around the pathway on at least one of the first and second layers, wherein the stiffener has decreased flexibility compared to the pathway. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A sensor system comprising:
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an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer, a second layer, and a spacer layer located between the first and second layers; a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module; a pathway providing electrical communication between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the spacer layer includes a hole located around the pathway to permit the electrical communication between the first and second layers through the pathway, the pathway further comprising a substantially annular stiffener positioned around the pathway on at least one of the first and second layers, wherein the stiffener has decreased flexibility compared to the pathway; a plurality of sensors formed on the insert member, each sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, the sensor configured to sense pressure on the sensor through engagement between the first and second contacts; and a plurality of leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first contacts and the second contacts to the port and to the pathway, wherein the pathway comprises a first conductive portion on the first layer and a second conductive portion on the second layer, wherein the first and second conductive portions are in continuous engagement with each other through the hole to provide electrical communication between the first and second layers, and wherein the stiffener is located on the first layer and positioned around the first conductive portion, and the pathway further comprises a second substantially annular stiffener located on the second layer and positioned around the second conductive portion, wherein the second stiffener has decreased flexibility compared to the pathway, and wherein the hole in the spacer layer is larger than the first and second stiffeners, and wherein the first and second layers deflect toward each other through the hole to be in continuous engagement with each other, such that the first and second stiffeners define a substantially annular transition region on each of the first and second layers, wherein the first and second layers deflect toward each other at the transition region and a majority of the first and second conductive portions are in engagement with each other inside an area bounded by the transition region. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A sensor system comprising:
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an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer, a second layer, and a spacer layer located between the first and second layers; a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module; a plurality of sensors formed on the insert member, each sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, the sensor configured to sense pressure on the sensor through engagement between the first and second contacts, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a first metatarsophalangeal sensor located in a position configured to be directly beneath a first metatarsophalangeal joint of a user and a fourth metatarsophalangeal sensor located in a position configured to be directly beneath a fourth metatarsophalangeal joint of the user; a pathway providing electrical communication between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the spacer layer includes a hole located around the pathway to permit the electrical communication between the first and second layers through the pathway, the pathway being located in a position configured to be beneath at least one of a second metatarsophalangeal joint and a third metatarsophalangeal joint of the user, the pathway further comprising a first conductive portion on the first layer and a second conductive portion on the second layer, wherein the first and second conductive portions are in continuous engagement with each other through the hole to provide electrical communication between the first and second layers, with the first and second conductive portions each having a gap extending therethrough and dividing the first and second conductive portions into separate first and second sections, and wherein the gap is elongated and aligned substantially perpendicular to a virtual line extending between a front edge of the first metatarsophalangeal sensor and a rear edge of the fourth metatarsophalangeal sensor; and a plurality of leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first contacts and the second contacts to the port and to the pathway. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A sensor system comprising:
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an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer, a second layer, and a spacer layer located between the first and second layers; a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module; a plurality of sensors formed on the insert member, each sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, the sensor configured to sense pressure on the sensor through engagement between the first and second contacts; a pathway providing electrical communication between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the spacer layer includes a hole located around the pathway to permit the electrical communication between the first and second layers through the pathway, the pathway being located in a position configured to be beneath at least one of a second metatarsophalangeal joint and a third metatarsophalangeal joint of the user; and a plurality of leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first contacts and the second contacts to the port and to the pathway. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A sensor system comprising:
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an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer and a second layer; a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module; a pathway providing electrical communication between the first layer and the second layer; a plurality of sensors formed on the insert member, each sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, the second contact being generally aligned with the first contact, wherein the sensors are each configured such that pressure on the insert causes increased engagement between the first and second contacts to change a resistance of the sensor; a plurality of leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first contacts, the second contacts, the pathway, and the port; a first resistor located on the first layer and connected to at least one of leads; and a second resistor located on the second layer and connected at least one of the leads, wherein the port, the pathway, the sensors, the leads, and the first and second resistors form a circuit on the insert member, the circuit configured to have a voltage applied between a first terminal and a ground located at the port, and wherein the first and second resistors are arranged in parallel between the first terminal and the ground, and wherein the first and second resistor each comprise; an inner section connected to a first lead, an outer section connected to a second lead, the outer section at least partially surrounding the inner section and being spaced from the inner section, and a bridge extending between the inner section and the outer section and partially overlapping both the inner section and the outer section, wherein the resistor is configured such that an electronic signal can pass between the first lead and the second lead through the inner section, the bridge, and the outer section. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A sensor system comprising:
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an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer and a second layer; a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module; a pathway providing electrical communication between the first layer and the second layer; a plurality of sensors formed on the insert member, each sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, the second contact being generally aligned with the first contact, wherein the sensors are each configured such that pressure on the insert causes increased engagement between the first and second contacts to change a resistance of the sensor; a plurality of leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first contacts, the second contacts, the pathway, and the port; a first resistor located on the first layer and connected to at least one of leads; and a second resistor located on the second layer and connected at least one of the leads, wherein the port, the pathway, the sensors, the leads, and the first and second resistors form a circuit on the insert member, the circuit configured to have a voltage applied between a first terminal and a ground located at the port, and wherein the first and second resistors are arranged in parallel between the first terminal and the ground, and wherein the circuit further comprises a measurement terminal at the port electrically connected between the first and second resistors combined and each of the sensors and configured for measuring a voltage between the measurement terminal and the ground, and wherein each of sensors forms a voltage divider with the first and second resistors combined, such that a voltage between the first terminal and the ground is divided between each sensor and the first and second resistors combined, and the voltage between the measurement terminal and the ground changes as the resistance of each sensor changes.
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55. A sensor system comprising:
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an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer, a second layer, and a spacer layer located between the first and second layers; a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module; a pathway providing electrical communication between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the spacer layer includes a hole located around the pathway to permit the electrical communication between the first and second layers through the pathway, wherein the pathway comprises a first conductive portion on the first layer and a second conductive portion on the second layer, wherein the first and second conductive portions are in continuous engagement with each other through the hole to provide electrical communication between the first and second layers; a plurality of sensors formed on the insert member, each sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, the second contact being generally aligned with the first contact, wherein the sensors are each configured such that pressure on the insert causes increased engagement between the first and second contacts to change resistance of the sensor; a plurality of leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first contacts to the pathway, connecting the second contacts to the port, and connecting the port to the pathway; a first resistor located on the first layer and connected to the first conductive portion by one or more leads; and a second resistor located on the second layer and connected to the second conductive portion by one or more additional leads, wherein the port, the pathway, the sensors, the leads, and the first and second resistors form a circuit on the insert member, the circuit configured to have a voltage applied between a first terminal and a ground located at the port, and wherein the first and second resistors are arranged in parallel between the first terminal and the ground.
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56. A sensor system comprising:
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an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer, a second layer, and a spacer layer located between the first and second layers; a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module; a pathway providing electrical communication between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the spacer layer includes a hole located around the pathway to permit the electrical communication between the first and second layers through the pathway, the pathway further comprising a substantially annular stiffener positioned around the pathway on at least one of the first and second layers, wherein the stiffener has decreased flexibility compared to the pathway; a plurality of sensors formed on the insert member, each sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, the sensor configured to sense pressure on the sensor through engagement between the first and second contacts; and a plurality of leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first contacts and the second contacts to the port and to the pathway, wherein the pathway comprises a first conductive portion on the first layer and a second conductive portion on the second layer, wherein the first and second conductive portions are in continuous engagement with each other through the hole to provide electrical communication between the first and second layers, and wherein the stiffener is located on the first layer and positioned around the first conductive portion, and the pathway further comprises a second substantially annular stiffener located on the second layer and positioned around the second conductive portion, wherein the second stiffener has decreased flexibility compared to the pathway, and wherein the first and second conductive portions each have a gap extending therethrough and dividing the first and second conductive portions into separate first and second sections, and wherein the gaps of the first and second conductive portions are aligned such that the first section of the first conductive portion engages the first section of the second conductive portion and the second section of the first conductive portion engages the second section of the second conductive portion, with no direct engagement between the first sections and the second sections. - View Dependent Claims (57)
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58. A sensor system comprising:
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an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer, a second layer, and a spacer layer located between the first and second layers; a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module; a pathway providing electrical communication between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the spacer layer includes a hole located around the pathway to permit the electrical communication between the first and second layers through the pathway, the pathway further comprising a substantially annular stiffener positioned around the pathway on at least one of the first and second layers, wherein the stiffener has decreased flexibility compared to the pathway, wherein the pathway comprises a first conductive portion on the first layer and a second conductive portion on the second layer, wherein the first and second conductive portions are in continuous engagement with each other through the hole to provide electrical communication between the first and second layers, and wherein the stiffener is located on the first layer and positioned around the first conductive portion, and the pathway further comprises a second substantially annular stiffener located on the second layer and positioned around the second conductive portion, wherein the second stiffener has decreased flexibility compared to the pathway; a plurality of sensors formed on the insert member, each sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, the sensor configured to sense pressure on the sensor through engagement between the first and second contacts; and a plurality of leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first contacts and the second contacts to the port and to the pathway; a first resistor located on the first layer and connected to the first conductive portion by one or more leads; and a second resistor located on the second layer and connected to the second conductive portion by one or more additional leads, wherein the port, the pathway, the sensors, the leads, and the first and second resistors form a circuit on the insert member, the circuit configured to have a voltage applied between a first terminal and a ground located at the port, and wherein the first and second resistors are arranged in parallel between the first terminal and the ground.
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Specification