Motorized Shoe With Gesture Control

• US 20160262485A1
• Filed: 03/15/2016
• Published: 09/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Walker, Steven H.
• Granted Patent: US 11,071,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/12 Soles with several layers of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/14 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/203 provided with a pump or valve
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/386 multilayered
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/084 characterised by the location of the holes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/088 in the side of the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/165 characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0252 Load cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/168 Fluid filled sensor housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/222 Electrical cables or leads therefor, e.g. coaxial cables or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 : Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 : Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1124 : Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 : Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/205 : using distributed sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a motorized tensioning system, sensors, and a gesture control system. Based on information received from one or more sensors the gesture control system may detect a prompting gesture and enters an armed mode for receiving further instructions. In the armed mode the system may detect a variety of different control gestures that correspond to different tensioning commands.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a tensioning device used for adjusting tension in a first article of footwear based on movements of the first article of footwear and a corresponding second article of footwear, comprising:

receiving a first set of information from a first sensor in the first article of footwear;

detecting a prompting gesture based on the first set of information and entering an armed mode;

while in the armed mode, receiving a second set of information from at least one sensor in the first article of footwear;

while in the armed mode, detecting a control gesture based on the second set of information;

retrieving a tensioning command corresponding with the control gesture; and

controlling the tensioning device according to tensioning command.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is the first sensor.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a second sensor that is different from the first sensor.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the prompting gesture is a heel click.

5. The method according to claim 1, further including exiting the armed mode if the second set of information is not received in a predetermined time after entering the armed mode.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning command is an instruction to fully tighten the first article of footwear.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning command is an instruction to incrementally tighten the first article of footwear.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning command is an instruction to fully loosen the first article of footwear.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning command is an instruction to incrementally loosen the first article of footwear.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second set of information corresponds with information generated by the at least one sensor when a toe of the first article of footwear is tapped.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second set of information corresponds with information generated by the at least one sensor when a heel of the first article of footwear is tapped.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second set of information corresponds with information generated by the at least one sensor when a forefoot of the first article of footwear is contacted by a sole structure of the second article of footwear.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second set of information corresponds with information generated by the at least one sensor when a heel of the first article of footwear is contacted by a toe of the second article of footwear.

14. The method according to claim 2, wherein the second set of information corresponds with information generated by the at least one sensor when the first heel of the first article of footwear is clicked with the second heel of the second article of footwear.

15. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper and a sole structure;

a tensioning member extending across at least one region of the upper;

a tensioning device including a reel member and a motor, wherein a portion of the tensioning member is joined to the reel member so that the tensioning member can be wound and unwound from the reel member;

a first sensor and a second sensor;

a control unit, the control unit configured to;

receive information from the first sensor;

enter an armed mode when the information from the at least one sensor corresponds to a predetermined set of information;

control the tensioning device according to information received from the second sensor while in the armed mode.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the first sensor or the second sensor is a contact sensor.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the first sensor or the second sensor is an angular velocity sensor.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the first sensor is disposed in a heel of article of footwear.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the second sensor is disposed in a forefoot of the article of footwear.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the predetermined set of information corresponds to information generated by the first sensor when a heel of the article of footwear is clicked with a heel of another article of footwear.