A modular article of footwear has a shock absorbing insert placed between the insole and the outsole thereof, for example at the heel. The insert includes a spring carrier having upper and lower portions, each having a plurality seats for receiving a respective ends of respective coil springs. Each of the springs extends between said upper and lower portions and is captured therebetween. A pair of opposed permanent magnets generates a separating force which supplements the supporting force of the mechanical springs. The insert may also contain a device for converting mechanical energy to electrical energy.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated circuit (IC) package. In embodiments, an integrated circuit (IC) package may include a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate may have a plurality of dies coupled therewith. The IC package may include a first encapsulation material, having a first rigidity, disposed on the flexible substrate to at least partially encapsulate each die of the plurality dies. The IC package may further include a second encapsulation material, having a second rigidity, disposed on the flexible substrate. In embodiments, the second rigidity and the first rigidity are different from one another. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

An insole with heat generating system is disclosed, which comprises an insole, a piezoelectric module disposed inside the insole and electrically connected with each other to form an electrical circuit, two flexible conductive strips having a first conductive copper piece and a second conductive copper piece disposed thereon, and at least one resistive heating chip. Wherein the piezoelectric module generates the electrical energy through stepping on the insole, and then turns into the heat energy through the resistive heating chip, thereby generating a temperature for the insole, so the insole with heat generating system can adjust the temperature appropriately, its safety is high, most importantly, the invention does not need to add the battery to generate heat.

A method for distinguishing a foot motion of a user by placing a pedometer at a foot of a user includes the steps of collecting an accelerating data from an accelerometer in a real time manner; filtering the accelerating data via a smoothing filter and a Kalman filter; generating a step data that represents number of steps taken by the user in response to the accelerating data through the smoothing filter; generating an activity data that represents a foot motion of the user in response to the accelerating data through the Kalman filter; and combining the step data and the activity data to form a resulted data that distinguishes the foot motion with step count of the user.

An article with a color change portion and a method of changing color. The article includes at least one color change portion capable of changing colors. The color change portion includes composite material including a photonic lattice. The color change portion can change colors according to one or more performance parameters. The article can be connected to a computer and the color change portion can be controlled using the computer

A lighting unit is removably inserted into a pocket to create a light effect through use of a light effect material. The lighting unit has a PCB with a first side to which one or more LEDs and a battery are mounted. A clear potting material encloses the PCB, LEDs, and the battery and creates a transparent space proximate an inner surface of the light effect material which maintains the light effect material at a preselected distance from the LEDs so that light emitted from each light emitting die is dispersed by a plurality of dispersive elements in the light effect materials to create the light material viewing effect.

Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine are discussed. In this example, the lace guide is deformable to assist in facilitating automated lace tightening. The lace guide can include a middle section, a first extension and a second extension. In this example, the lace guide can be configured to define a first route for a lace cable, the first route including receiving the lace cable along the first incoming lace axis and expelling the lace cable along the first outgoing lace axis. In this example, the lace guide can also deflect, in response to tension on the lace cable, resulting in defining a second route for the lace cable, the second route including receiving the lace cable along a second incoming lace axis and expelling the lace cable along a second outgoing lace axis.

Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine are discussed. In this example, the lace guide is deformable to assist in facilitating automated lace tightening. The lace guide can include a middle section, a first extension and a second extension. In this example, the lace guide can be configured to define a first route for a lace cable, the first route including receiving the lace cable along the first incoming lace axis and expelling the lace cable along the first outgoing lace axis. In this example, the lace guide can also deflect, in response to tension on the lace cable, resulting in defining a second route for the lace cable, the second route including receiving the lace cable along a second incoming lace axis and expelling the lace cable along a second outgoing lace axis.

Foot support systems, e.g., for articles of footwear, include systems for changing the hardness or firmness of the foot support portion (e.g., of a sole structure) and/or systems for moving (e.g., selectively moving) fluid between various portions of the foot support system.

A power generating device comprises a magnetic core, an induction coil assembly, a first housing, a conductive plate, and a second housing. The induction coil assembly is coupled with the magnetic core, and the magnetic core and the induction assembly are configured in the accommodating space of the first housing. The conductive plate is attracted to the magnetic core. The second housing is configured above the conductive plate. When the second housing receives an external force along an extending direction of the magnetic core, a distance change between the conductive plate and the magnetic core causes a variation of magnetic flux. The induction coil assembly generates a current by sensing the magnetic flux variation.