A43B3/46

Piezo-Elements for Wearable Devices

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 output of a bending-strain-based transducer element is used for both energy scavenging and as a sensor signal indicative of a user parameter, such as a step, respiration rate, heart rate, weight and the like. In some embodiments, a transducer element includes a plurality of piezoelectric layers that are electrically connected in parallel to increase the energy and/or power provided by the transducer element.

Motorized shoe with gesture control
11684111 · 2023-06-27 · ·

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.

FOOTWEAR MIDSOLE WITH ANISOTROPIC MESH AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME

Soles for articles of footwear including a mechanically anisotropic three-dimensional mesh. The mechanically anisotropic three-dimensional mesh can include one or more mechanically anisotropic regions with a first lattice shear modulus measured in a first direction and a second lattice shear modulus measured in a second direction opposite to or orthogonal to the first direction. The first and second lattice shear moduli are different to provide the three-dimensional mesh with mechanically anisotropic properties. The mechanically anisotropic three-dimensional mesh can be three-dimensionally printed.

Intelligent electronic footwear and logic for navigation assistance by automated tactile, audio, and visual feedback
11678713 · 2023-06-20 · ·

Presented are intelligent electronic footwear and apparel with controller-automated features, methods for making/operating such footwear and apparel, and control systems for executing automated features of such footwear and apparel. A method for operating an intelligent electronic shoe (IES) includes receiving, e.g., via a controller through a wireless communications device from a GPS satellite service, location data of a user. The controller also receives, e.g., from a backend server-class computer or other remote computing node, location data for a target object or site, such as a virtual shoe hidden at a virtual spot. The controller retrieves or predicts path plan data including a derived route for traversing from the user's location to the target's location within a geographic area. The controller then transmits command signals to a navigation alert system mounted to the IES's shoe structure to output visual, audio, and/or tactile cues that guide the user along the derived route.

SMART TERMINAL SERVICE SYSTEM AND SMART TERMINAL PROCESSING DATA
20170339524 · 2017-11-23 ·

A smart terminal service system and a smart terminal processing data are disclosed. The smart terminal service system comprises smart shoes and the smart terminal. The smart shoes comprises a memory, a pressure sensor sensed by a predetermined pressure of a user, and a controller for calculating sensor velocity data on the basis of sensor data sensed by the pressure sensor and transmitting the calculated sensor velocity data to the smart terminal. And, the smart terminal comprises a communication unit for transmitting and receiving a signal to and from the smart shoes, a receiving unit for receiving GPS velocity data and sensor velocity data of the smart shoes, a memory, and a controller for controlling an execution of a smart shoes application and for calculating movement data of the smart shoes based on the received GPS velocity data and sensor velocity data which is sensed by the pressure sensor provided in the smart shoes.

Signaling sole for shoes, shoe provided with said sole and kit comprising at least one of said sole
20170290390 · 2017-10-12 ·

The present invention regards a sole for shoes including an upper surface, in use facing the user, a lower surface, in use facing the ground or the resting surface, and a thickness, wherein the thickness corresponds to a distance between the upper surface and the lower surface, wherein the sole includes at least one signaling means. Such at least one signaling means includes at least one vibrating motor, capable of vibrating inside such sole and/or at least one light device and the sole includes means for receiving-processing a control signal (sc) intended, in use, to receive and process such control signal (sc) and to emit in reply an activation-deactivation signal (S) towards such at least one signaling means.

Wearable personal monitoring system
09775520 · 2017-10-03 · ·

A system includes one or more sensors to detect activities of a mobile object; and a processor coupled to the sensor and the wireless transceiver to classify sequences of motions into groups of similar postures each represented by a model and to apply the models to identify an activity of the object.

Method and Apparatus for Analysis of Gait and to Provide Haptic and Visual Corrective Feedback
20170225033 · 2017-08-10 · ·

A system for analysis of user gait and to provide correction in form of haptic and visual feedback. This system comprises a motion and force sensors and a haptic actuator embedded in the user shoe insoles in communication with a smart-phone based analysis application, configured to calculate motion and orientation of the user feet in relation to the value, location and distribution of ground reaction forces measured by sensors located in the shoe insoles and after analysis of said forces and motion, to provide haptic feedback to the user foot instructing about the location (and timing) of pressure the user must apply to achieve an optimal gait.

INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC FOOTWEAR AND LOGIC FOR NAVIGATION ASSISTANCE BY AUTOMATED TACTILE, AUDIO, AND VISUAL FEEDBACK
20210368906 · 2021-12-02 · ·

Presented are intelligent electronic footwear and apparel with controller-automated features, methods for making/operating such footwear and apparel, and control systems for executing automated features of such footwear and apparel. A method for operating an intelligent electronic shoe (IES) includes receiving, e.g., via a controller through a wireless communications device from a GPS satellite service, location data of a user. The controller also receives, e.g., from a backend server-class computer or other remote computing node, location data for a target object or site, such as a virtual shoe hidden at a virtual spot. The controller retrieves or predicts path plan data including a derived route for traversing from the user's location to the target's location within a geographic area. The controller then transmits command signals to a navigation alert system mounted to the IES's shoe structure to output visual, audio, and/or tactile cues that guide the user along the derived route.

INSOLE-TYPE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING INSOLE-TYPE ELECTRONIC DEVICE
20220160072 · 2022-05-26 · ·

Provided is an insole-type electronic device wherein the electronic module is not susceptible to impact and/or load due to walking or running. The insole-type electronic device is an electronic device wherein an electronic module has been incorporated in the insole that is laid on the midsole of a shoe and contacts the sole of the foot. The insole-type electronic device has an insole body with the shape of a normal insole. Said insole body has a heel-protecting part that extends upward from the back end of the heel section of the insole body along the perimeter of the back end of the heel section. Additionally, the insole-type electronic device has an electronic module that is housed in the heel-protecting part.