System and method of analyzing athletic activity

• US 9,810,591 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2016
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Walker, Steven H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Milap
• Assistant Examiner(s): HENRY, THOMAS HAYNES
• Application Number:
  US15/230,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20160341611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• 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 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/44 with sensors, e.g. for detecting contact or position
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 19/00 Attachments for footwear, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/16 using properties of piezoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/18 using properties of piezo-resistive materials, i.e. materials of which the ohmic resistance varies according to changes in magnitude or direction of force applied to the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/2206 Special supports with preselected places to mount the resistance strain gauges; Mounting of supports
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/80 Constructional details

Abstract

Various sensor systems are described herein, including inserts having sensors thereon, which are configured to be received in an article of footwear. The inserts may be connected to a sole member of the footwear, or may function as a sole member. The sensors may be piezoelectric sensors in some configurations. The system may also include an electronic module that is overmolded into the sole structure and includes a connector for external access.

Claims

1. A sensor system comprising:

a flexible insert member configured to be connected to a sole structure of an article of footwear;

a port connected to the insert member and configured for communication;

a plurality of sensors connected to the insert member, each sensor comprising a strip of a sensor material that is electrically connected to the port, wherein a first plurality of the strips of the sensor material extend from a midfoot region to a forefoot region of the insert member, wherein the first plurality of strips define a plurality of different lengths, and wherein the sensor material of each sensor is a piezoelectric material configured to generate a voltage when deformed; and

an electronic module connected to the port, wherein the electronic module is configured for collecting data from the sensors based on voltage generated by the piezoelectric material and for communication with an external device, wherein the electronic module is further configured for determining a degree of flexing of the forefoot region of the insert member based on a number of the first plurality of strips that are deformed.

2. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein each strip is directly connected to the port to electrically connect the sensors to the port.

3. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sensors further comprise a second plurality of the strips of the sensor material extending from the midfoot region to a heel region of the insert member, wherein the second plurality of strips define a second plurality of different lengths.

4. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the electronic module, the port, and the sensors are further configured such that the electronic module is configured for generating a voltage across the sensors to cause deformation of the piezoelectric material to provide tactile feedback to a user.

5. The sensor system of claim 1, the first plurality of strips are arranged in a plurality of pairs of strips that extend immediately adjacent to each other, and wherein each pair of strips includes a longer strip and a shorter strip.

6. The sensor system of claim 5, the shorter strips of all of the plurality of pairs are shorter than the longer strips of all of the plurality of pairs.

7. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the electronic module comprises a power source, and wherein the electronic module is further configured for utilizing the voltage generated by the piezoelectric material to charge the power source.

8. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein each sensor comprises the strip of the piezoelectric material having metallization on opposed surfaces thereof, wherein the metallization provides a point for electronic connection.

9. The sensor system of claim 8, wherein each sensor further comprises polymer layers surrounding the piezoelectric material and the metallization.

10. An article of footwear comprising:

a sole structure;

an upper member connected to the sole structure; and

a sensor system connected to the sole structure, the sensor system comprising;

a flexible insert member connected to the sole structure;

a port connected to the insert member and configured for communication;

a plurality of sensors connected to the insert member, each sensor comprising a strip of a sensor material that is electrically connected to the port, wherein a first plurality of the strips of the sensor material extend from a midfoot region to a forefoot region of the insert member, wherein the first plurality of strips define a plurality of different lengths, and wherein the sensor material of each sensor is a piezoelectric material configured to generate a voltage when deformed; and

an electronic module connected to the port, wherein the electronic module is configured for collecting data from the sensors based on voltage generated by the piezoelectric material and for communication with an external device, wherein the electronic module is further configured for determining a degree of flexing of the forefoot region of the insert member based on a number of the first plurality of strips that are deformed.

11. A sensor system comprising:

a flexible insert member configured to be connected to a sole structure of an article of footwear;

a port connected to the insert member and configured for communication with an electronic module; and

a plurality of sensors connected to the insert member, each sensor comprising a strip of a sensor material that is electrically connected to the port, wherein a first plurality of the strips of the sensor material extend from a midfoot region to a forefoot region of the insert member, wherein the first plurality of strips define a plurality of different lengths, and wherein the sensor material of each sensor is a piezoelectric material configured to generate a voltage when deformed, and wherein each sensor is further configured to transmit the voltage generated by the piezoelectric material to the port for transmission to the electronic module,

wherein the insert member is configured such that a first flex zone is definable extending a first distance from the port and a second flex zone is definable extending a second distance from the port that is different from the first distance, wherein when the insert member flexes within the first flex zone, a first number of the strips of the sensor material are configured to deform to generate the voltage, and when the insert member flexes within the second flex zone, a second number of the strips of the sensor material are configured to deform to generate the voltage, wherein the second number is different from the first number.

12. The sensor system of claim 11, wherein each strip is directly connected to the port to electrically connect the sensors to the port.

13. The sensor system of claim 11, wherein the sensors further comprise a second plurality of the strips of the sensor material extending from the midfoot region to a heel region of the insert member, wherein the second plurality of strips define a second plurality of different lengths.

14. The sensor system of claim 11, wherein the port and the sensors are further configured such that the port is configured to supply electric power to the sensors, and the strips of the sensor material are configured to deform when the electric power is received from the port, to provide tactile feedback to a user.

15. The sensor system of claim 11, the first plurality of strips are arranged in a plurality of pairs of strips that extend immediately adjacent to each other, and wherein each pair of strips includes a longer strip and a shorter strip.

16. The sensor system of claim 15, the shorter strips of all of the plurality of pairs are shorter than the longer strips of all of the plurality of pairs.

17. The sensor system of claim 11, wherein each sensor comprises the strip of the piezoelectric material having metallization on opposed surfaces thereof, wherein the metallization provides a point for electronic connection.

18. The sensor system of claim 17, wherein each sensor further comprises polymer layers surrounding the piezoelectric material and the metallization.

19. An article of footwear comprising:

a sole structure;

an upper member connected to the sole structure; and

a sensor system connected to the sole structure, the sensor system comprising;

a flexible insert member connected to the sole structure;

a port connected to the insert member and configured for communication with an electronic module; and

a plurality of sensors connected to the insert member, each sensor comprising a strip of a sensor material that is electrically connected to the port, wherein a first plurality of the strips of the sensor material extend from a midfoot region to a forefoot region of the insert member, wherein the first plurality of strips define a plurality of different lengths, and wherein the sensor material of each sensor is a piezoelectric material configured to generate a voltage when deformed, and wherein each sensor is further configured to transmit the voltage generated by the piezoelectric material to the port for transmission to the electronic module,

wherein the insert member is configured such that a first flex zone is definable extending a first distance from the port and a second flex zone is definable extending a second distance from the port that is different from the first distance, wherein when the insert member flexes within the first flex zone, a first number of the strips of the sensor material are configured to deform to generate the voltage, and when the insert member flexes within the second flex zone, a second number of the strips of the sensor material are configured to deform to generate the voltage, wherein the second number is different from the first number.

20. A sensor system comprising:

a flexible insert member configured to be connected to a sole structure of an article of footwear;

a port connected to the insert member and configured for communication;

a plurality of sensors connected to the insert member, each sensor comprising a strip of a sensor material that is electrically connected to the port, wherein a first plurality of the strips of the sensor material extend from a midfoot region to a forefoot region of the insert member, and wherein the sensor material of each sensor is a piezoelectric material configured to generate a voltage when deformed; and

an electronic module connected to the port, wherein the electronic module is configured for collecting data from the sensors based on voltage generated by the piezoelectric material and for communication with an external device, wherein the electronic module is further configured for determining a degree of flexing of the forefoot region of the insert member based on a number of the first plurality of strips that are deformed,

wherein the electronic module, the port, and the sensors are further configured such that the electronic module is configured to supply electric power to the sensors through the port, and the strips of the sensor material are configured to deform when the electric power is received from the electronic module, to provide tactile feedback to a user.

21. The sensor system of claim 20, wherein each strip is directly connected to the port to electrically connect the sensors to the port.

22. The sensor system of claim 20, wherein the first plurality of strips define a plurality of different lengths.

23. The sensor system of claim 22, wherein the sensors further comprise a second plurality of the strips of the sensor material extending from the midfoot region to a heel region of the insert member, wherein the second plurality of strips define a second plurality of different lengths.

24. The sensor system of claim 22, the first plurality of strips are arranged in a plurality of pairs of strips that extend immediately adjacent to each other, and wherein each pair of strips includes a longer strip and a shorter strip.

25. The sensor system of claim 24, the shorter strips of all of the plurality of pairs are shorter than the longer strips of all of the plurality of pairs.

26. The sensor system of claim 20, wherein each sensor comprises the strip of the piezoelectric material having metallization on opposed surfaces thereof, wherein the metallization provides a point for electronic connection.

27. The sensor system of claim 26, wherein each sensor further comprises polymer layers surrounding the piezoelectric material and the metallization.

28. An article of footwear comprising:

a sole structure;

an upper member connected to the sole structure; and

a sensor system connected to the sole structure, the sensor system comprising;

a flexible insert member connected to the sole structure;

a port connected to the insert member and configured for communication;

a plurality of sensors connected to the insert member, each sensor comprising a strip of a sensor material that is electrically connected to the port, wherein a first plurality of the strips of the sensor material extend from a midfoot region to a forefoot region of the insert member, and wherein the sensor material of each sensor is a piezoelectric material configured to generate a voltage when deformed; and

an electronic module connected to the port, wherein the electronic module is configured for collecting data from the sensors based on voltage generated by the piezoelectric material and for communication with an external device, wherein the electronic module is further configured for determining a degree of flexing of the forefoot region of the insert member based on a number of the first plurality of strips that are deformed,

wherein the electronic module, the port, and the sensors are further configured such that the electronic module is configured to supply electric power to the sensors through the port, and the strips of the sensor material are configured to deform when the electric power is received from the electronic module, to provide tactile feedback to a user.