Products incorporating piezoelectric material

• US 5,500,635 A
• Filed: 11/10/1994
• Issued: 03/19/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jonathan C. Mott
• Original Assignee: Jonathan C. Mott
• Inventors: Mott, Jonathan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/337,320
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 340/323 R, 340/691, 340/693, 340/665, 340/666, 340/573, 340/586, 340/588, 340/589, 310/319, 310/339, 310/311, 310/328, 310/337, 33/3 R, 33/3 A, 33/3 B, 374/141-143, 374/183, 374/185, 36/136, 36/137, 128/710, 128/736
• US Class Current: 340/323.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0072 made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/50 with sound or music sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0005 the light guides being of the fibre type G02B6/0003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/964 Piezoelectric touch switches

Abstract

A product, in particular a shoe, apparel, a ball or a fishing lure, incorporating an impact sensing element made from polymeric piezoelectric material. In response to impact, the piezoelectric material generates an electrical signal to a battery-powered light- or sound-emitting unit or to an information display device which is at least partially molded into or contained in the product, thus causing circuitry to energize the light- or sound-emitting device from the battery or to display information on the information display device. In some embodiments involving light-emitting devices such as LEDs, the light is conducted to an outside surface of the product directly through the LED or via one or more optical fibers. A shoe can be provided with numerous light-emitting devices, one or more impact sensing elements, a temperature sensor and appropriate circuitry to process the impact and temperature information. This information is then used to light appropriate light-emitting devices such as to display a bar graph of temperature or force of impact, to light or flash individual light-emitting devices or to activate an information display device. In addition, a microprocessor can be included in the circuitry to provide preprogrammed control of the light emitting devices or to evaluate the input from the impact sensing element and then light the appropriate light emitting device or devices or to control the information displayed on the information display de2vice.

Claims

1. A shoe that lights, comprising

a sole;

pressure sensor means incorporated within the sole comprising piezoelectric material for generating trigger signals upon application of pressure to the material, the sole imparting pressure to the material when impressed against a surface;

a light emitting diode (LED);

power means for powering the LED;

monstable multivibrator circuit means interconnecting the pressure sensor means, the LED and the power means, wherein the circuit means responds to the trigger signals to control the power means to power the LED in response to the pressure imparted by the sole on the material;

wherein the circuit means comprises

input means for accepting the trigger signals from the pressure sensor means and transmitting the trigger signals to the circuit means, the input means including sensitivity resistive means across which the trigger signals are applied for controlling the sensitivity of the piezoelectric material;

output leads for transmitting a signal generated by the circuit means to the LED, including a first resistive means for limiting the current through the LED;

a second resistive means coupled with a capacitive means to form a resistive-capacitive (R-C) combination timing means for determining the length of time the signal is generated by circuit means; and

means for applying the voltage developed across the capacitive means of the R-C timing circuit means to the input of the monostable multivibrator circuit means.

2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the LED is positioned at the rear of the shoe and is visible from behind the shoe.

3. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the LED is positioned within the shoe and includes optic fibers leading from the LED to the outside of the shoe to conduct light from the LED to the outside of the shoe.

4. The shoe of claim 3, wherein the optic fibers include a plurality of notches for permitting the emission of light therefrom.

5. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor means comprises a plurality of pressure sensors.

6. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the output means comprises a plurality of LEDs.

7. The shoe of claim 6, wherein the plurality of LED'"'"'s are arranged sequentially in the upper of the shoe to form a bar graph display of information produced by the pressure sensor means and the circuit means.

8. The shoe of claim 7, wherein the circuit means comprises a microprocessor means to provide preprogrammed control of the plurality of LEDs.

9. A lighted shoe comprising

a sole;

pressure sensor means incorporated within the sole comprising a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymeric piezoelectric material for generating trigger signals upon application of pressure to the material;

the sole imparting pressure to the material when impressed against a surface;

a light emitting diode (LED);

a battery for powering the LED;

a monostable multivibrator circuit means interconnecting the pressure sensor means, the LED and the battery, wherein the circuit means responds to the trigger signals to control the battery to power the LED in response to the pressure imparted by the sole on the material;

wherein the circuit means comprises

input means for accepting the trigger signals from the pressure sensor means and transmitting the trigger signals to the circuit means, the input means including a sensitivity resistive means across which the trigger signals are applied;

output leads for transmitting a signal generated by the circuit means to the LED, including a first resistive means for limiting the current through the LED;

a second resistive means coupled with a capacitive means to form a resistive-capacitive (R-C) combination timing means for determining the length of time the signal is generated by the circuit means;

means for applying the voltage developed across the capacitive means of the R-C timing circuit means to the input of the monostable multivibrator circuit means;

a sealed capsule incorporated within the sole for encapsulating the battery and circuit means, the capsule comprising

a base having a cylindrical portion and a lip thereon;

a lower sealing ring sized to receive the cylindrical portion of the base and to coact with the lip;

means for releasable accepting leads from the pressure sensor means;

an upper sealing ring sized to receive the cylindrical portion of the base, the upper sealing ring and the lower sealing ring co-acting to position and hold leads from the pressure sensor means and the LED and to seal the capsule;

circuit board means for supporting the circuit means, the circuit board means sized to be accepted within the cylindrical portion of the base, the circuit board means being in electrical contact with the leads and the battery;

the battery sized to be received within the cylindrical portion of the base, the battery being in electrical contact with the circuit means on the circuit board means;

a contact spring means positioned within the cylindrical portion of the base, one end of the contact spring means contacting the negative terminal of one battery and the other end contacting the circuit means on the circuit board means; and

a cap threadably attachable to the base, the cap and the base co-acting to close and seal the capsule.