A foot force detection system includes variable capacitors, drive sense circuits, a processing module, and a power unit. A drive sense circuit supplies a reference signal to the variable capacitor. It then generates a sensed signal regarding a characteristic of the variable capacitor based on the reference signal. It then converts the sensed signal into a digital signal. The processing module generates a digital impedance value for the variable capacitor based on the digital signal and writes the digital impedance value in memory. The power unit include a battery and a power harvesting circuit, where the battery and/or the power harvesting circuit provide power for the foot force detection system.

A force detection system includes first and second sets of pressure sensors, memory, and a processing module. The first set of pressure sensors are in an insole of a shoe and the second set of pressure sensors are in an outsole of a shoe. The processing module receives first data regarding the first set of pressure sensors and generates a first digital representation of the first data. The processing module also receives second data regarding the second set of pressure sensors and generates a second digital representation of the second data. The processing module also writes the first and second digital representations to the memory.

A foot force detection system includes first and second shoe force detection units. The first shoe force detection unit includes pressure sensors, a processing module, and a communication unit. The pressure sensors are operably coupled to produce first force data. The processing module is operably coupled to produce a first digital representation of the first force data. The second shoe force detection unit includes its own pressure sensors, a processing module, and a communication unit. The first and second shoe force detection units communicate with each other via the communication units.

A method includes determining, by a processing module of a foot force detection system, an athletic mode. The method further includes, when the athletic mode is active, determining, by the processing module, an athletic burst mode. The method further includes determining, by the processing module, a sampling rate for the foot force detection system based on the athletic burst mode for sampling foot force data.

An electricity generating shoe assembly includes an article of footwear that is wearable for walking. A pocket is integrated into the article of footwear at a strategic location to facilitate a user to access the pocket while wearing the article of footwear. A pair generators is each of the generators is integrated into the article of footwear. Each of the generators produce an electrical charge when the generators are alternatively compressed and decompressed as a result of being stepped upon when the article of footwear is worn during walking. A charge unit is integrated into the article of footwear and the generators charge the charge unit when the user is walking. A charge port is integrated into the article of footwear and a charge cord is stored in the pocket in the article of footwear to charge an electronic device.

An electricity generating shoe assembly includes an article of footwear that is wearable for walking. A pocket is integrated into the article of footwear at a strategic location to facilitate a user to access the pocket while wearing the article of footwear. A pair generators is each of the generators is integrated into the article of footwear. Each of the generators produce an electrical charge when the generators are alternatively compressed and decompressed as a result of being stepped upon when the article of footwear is worn during walking. A charge unit is integrated into the article of footwear and the generators charge the charge unit when the user is walking. A charge port is integrated into the article of footwear and a charge cord is stored in the pocket in the article of footwear to charge an electronic device.

Aspects of the present disclosure describe systems, methods, and structures that scavenge mechanical energy to provide electrical energy to a wearable, where the mechanical energy is scavenged by a bending-strain-based transducer that includes a non-resonant energy harvester. By employing a non-resonant energy harvester that operates in bending mode, more electrical energy can be generated that possible with prior-art energy harvesters. In some embodiments the bending-strain-based transducer also includes a sensor and/or a haptic device. Some transducers in accordance with the present disclosure comprise a piezoelectric layer comprising a low-K piezoelectric material, such as aluminum nitride, which enables generation of higher voltage and power/energy output and/or a thinner transducer. As a result, transducers in accordance with the present disclosure can be included in wearables for which large transducer thickness would be problematic, such as sole members (e.g., shoe insoles, midsoles or outsoles), garments, bras, handbags, backpacks, and the like.

An apparatus has a shoe. Further, the apparatus has a support structure positioned within the shoe. Additionally, the apparatus has a rechargeable power supply that is operably attached to the support structure. Further, the apparatus has a force-to-energy conversion device that is operably attached to the support structure. The force-to-energy conversion device receives one or more external forces from an environment external to the shoe. Further, the force-to-energy conversion device converts the one or more external forces to electrical energy. Moreover, the force-to-energy conversion device transfers the electrical energy to the rechargeable power supply for storage in the rechargeable power supply.

Aspects of the present disclosure describe systems, methods, and structures that scavenge mechanical energy to provide electrical energy to a wearable, where the mechanical energy is scavenged by a bending-strain-based transducer that includes a non-resonant energy harvester. By employing a non-resonant energy harvester that operates in bending mode, more electrical energy can be generated that possible with prior-art energy harvesters. In some embodiments the bending-strain-based transducer also includes a sensor and/or a haptic device. Some transducers in accordance with the present disclosure comprise a piezoelectric layer comprising a low-K piezoelectric material, such as aluminum nitride, which enables generation of higher voltage and power/energy output and/or a thinner transducer. As a result, transducers in accordance with the present disclosure can be included in wearables for which large transducer thickness would be problematic, such as shoe insoles, midsoles or outsoles, garments, bras, handbags, backpacks, and the like.

The present invention is a type of shock absorbent shoes with the heel portion of each shoe bottom divided into an upper and lower portion; by having a horizontal gap between the outsole and midsole or along the midsole. Also, several resistive devices are each connected to said lower portion and said upper portion or the upper of said shoe. Whereby, having resistive device attached to the side of both the outsole and midsole and/or upper; allow them to be more lengthy, hence more energy can be store and released along, their entire length, to the point where both the outsole and midsole touches, therefore, the amount of play the resistive devices have is dependent on the amount of space between said outsole and midsole. Each shoe also includes a small detachable power bank charger device for use of partially charging of cell phone, blue tooth speakers, wireless ear buds etc. Each power bank is charged by electrical pulse from a piezoelectric device via a circuit board and is fitted to a modest structure on the shoe such that it does not cause the shoes to look bulky or feel uncomfortable.