An automatic lacing system for an article of footwear includes a motor, a gear train coupled to the motor, a speaker, and a speaker controller in communication with the speaker and the motor. The speaker controller is configured to instruct the speaker to output a damping sound wave in response to activation of the motor to reduce or cancel sound generated by the motor or the gear train.

Embodiments include a haptic transducer device comprising a magnetic assembly including a yoke and a magnet disposed within an inner cavity formed by the yoke. The device further includes a diaphragm having a top surface, a ledge projecting below and outwards relative to the top surface, and a sidewall extending downwards from the ledge towards the inner cavity. The device also includes a suspension extending concentrically around the diaphragm and including arms extending between inner and outer edges of the suspension, the inner edge being attached to the ledge of the diaphragm and the outer edge being attached to the outer ledge of the yoke. The device further includes a coil attached to the sidewall of the diaphragm and suspended within the inner cavity. One embodiment further includes an attachment groove integrated into the top surface of the diaphragm and configured for receiving attachment structures included on a footwear insole.

In one embodiment, a shoe includes a top portion configured to provide covering to a top of a user's foot, a sole portion coupled to the top portion, and one or more processors embedded within the sole portion. Communicatively coupled to the one or more processors are one or more memory modules, one or more user input devices, and a user output device. The user input device includes at least a microphone. Machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the shoe to: receive a command from a user with the one or more user input devices; process the command from the user; and output information with the user output device relevant to the command from the user.

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 automating a collaborative operation between an intelligent electronic shoe (IES) and an intelligent transportation management (ITM) system includes receiving, via a detection tag attached to the IES shoe structure, a prompt signal from a transmitter-detector module communicatively connected to a traffic system controller of the ITM system. In reaction to the received prompt signal, the detection tag transmits a response signal to the transmitter-detector module. The traffic system controller uses the response signal to determine a location of the IES's user, and the current operating state of a traffic signal proximate the user's location. The traffic system controller transmits a command signal to the traffic signal to switch from the current operating state to a new operating state.

A wearable gait detection device, a walking ability improvement system and a wearable gait detection system detect manifestation in a brain based on the wearer's gait and preventive measures. A load measurement part measures a load of a sole of the wearer's feet, a foot movement detection part at the shoes detects acceleration and/or angular velocity during feet movement, a centroid position calculation part calculates a centroid position of the feet based on changes in measured load, a movement locus calculation part calculates a movement locus of the feet based on acceleration and/or angular velocity detected by the foot movement detection part, a manifestation recognition part recognizes manifestation in the brain according to a specificity of centroid fluctuation of the feet based on the calculated centroid position and movement locus of the feet, and a sensory output part feeds back a sensation to the wearer based on a recognition result.

Presented are intelligent electronic footwear with controller automated features, methods for making/using such footwear, and control systems for executing automated features of intelligent electronic footwear. An intelligent electronic shoe includes an upper that attaches to a user's foot, and a sole structure attached to the upper for supporting thereon the user's foot. A collision threat warning system, a detection tag, a wireless communications device, and a footwear controller are all mounted to the sole structure/upper. The detection tag receives a prompt signal from a transmitter-detector module and responsively transmits thereto a response signal. The footwear controller receives, through the wireless communications device, a pedestrian collision warning signal generated by the remote computing node responsive to the response signal. Responsively, the footwear controller transmits a command signal to the collision threat warning system to generate a visible, audible and/or tactile alert warning the user of an impending collision with a vehicle.

A footwear system that includes a left having a left toe region, left forefoot region, a left arch region and a left heel region, a left outsole, a left upper secured to the left outsole, and a left sensor system that includes at least a first left heel pressure sensor positioned in the left heel region, and at least a first left forefoot pressure sensor positioned in the left forefoot region. The footwear system also includes a right shoe that includes a right toe region, a right forefoot region, a right arch region and a right heel region, a right outsole, a right upper secured to the right outsole, and a right sensor system that includes at least a first right heel pressure sensor positioned in the right heel region, and at least a first right forefoot pressure sensor positioned in the right forefoot region.

A system may be provided for incorporation in an article of footwear that has an upper coupled to a sole, where the sole has an insole and an outsole and the upper and the insole define an interior space for receiving a foot of a user. The system may include a device configured to be coupled to the footwear beneath the user's foot and a structure for fixing the device in place in a predetermined position in the footwear. In such system, the structure may include a compressible portion coupled to a substantially incompressible portion, and the device may be directly supported by the hard plastic portion of the structure to provide a feedback signal to the user when a pressure applied to the device by the user's foot exceeds a threshold value.

Apparel is disclosed that can be worn to assist an interactive game in tracking the movement of the wearer. The apparel may include one or more tracking marks formed of designs, patterns, or reflective materials that can be easily tracked by an interactive game. By providing tracking marks on apparel, rather than using a special-purpose device that must be separately worn, a player may enjoy a more natural feel when playing the interactive game. A user can wear the apparel for everyday purposes, and then simply begin playing the game wearing the apparel without having to put on any additional equipment. The apparel may use reflective materials, and the interactive game can employ a camera and a light source configuration where the camera is located within the observation angle of a player employing retroreflective materials reflecting light from the light source.

Adaptive output control is performed on the basis of sound and motion. Footwear includes a sensor portion that detects motion of the footwear, a transmission portion that transmits sensor data detected by the sensor portion to an external apparatus, a reception portion that receives an output control signal based on sound data and the sensor data from the external apparatus, and an output portion that performs output based on the output control signal.