阅读说明：本技术 使用速度进行足部存在信号处理 (Foot presence signal processing using velocity ) 是由 S·H·沃克 菲利普·梅诺 于 2018-03-14 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于主动鞋类物品的足部存在传感器系统可以包括传感器壳体,该传感器壳体被配置成设置在该物品的鞋内底处或鞋内底中；以及控制器电路,该控制器电路被设置在传感器壳体内,该控制器电路被配置成基于足部存在指示触发鞋类的一个或更多个自动化功能。在示例中,传感器系统包括电容传感器,并且该传感器被配置成感测鞋类中接近传感器的足部的变化。关于所感测到的接近度的信息可用于确定足部速度特性,该足部速度特性继而可用于更新自动化鞋类功能,诸如自动系带功能,或者可用于确定步数、足部冲击力、行进速率或关于足部、关于活动或关于鞋类的其他信息。(A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear may include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at an insole or in an insole of the article; and a controller circuit disposed within the sensor housing, the controller circuit configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on the foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor, and the sensor is configured to sense a change in a foot in the footwear proximate the sensor. Information about the sensed proximity may be used to determine foot speed characteristics, which in turn may be used to update automated footwear functions, such as automatic lacing functions, or may be used to determine steps, foot impact forces, rates of travel, or other information about the foot, about activities, or about the footwear.)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a time-varying sensor signal from a sensor coupled to an article of footwear, wherein the sensor is configured to sense information regarding a proximity of a foot to the sensor; and

using a processor circuit to:

identifying a velocity characteristic of the foot relative to the sensor using the time-varying sensor signal; and

based on the identified speed characteristic, performing at least one of:

initiating data collection with respect to the footwear or with respect to the proximity of the foot to the sensor using the same or a different sensor coupled to the footwear, and

updating the automated functionality of the footwear.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the velocity characteristic of the time-varying sensor signal comprises using displacement information about a position of the foot relative to the sensor.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining, using the processor circuit, whether a foot is present in the article of footwear based on the identified speed characteristic.

4. The method of any of claims 2 or 3, further comprising determining, using the processor circuit, a step count using the identified speed characteristic.

5. A method according to any one of claims 2-4, further comprising using the processor circuit to determine a foot impact force characteristic using the identified speed characteristic.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the speed characteristic using the time-varying sensor signal comprises using the processor circuit to:

identifying a first portion of the time-varying sensor signal corresponding to a foot strike, and identifying a further second portion of the time-varying sensor signal corresponding to a foot lift; and

determining a number of steps, a rate of travel, or a distance traveled using information about the timing of the first and second portions of the time-varying sensor signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the speed characteristic using the time-varying sensor signal comprises using the processor circuit to:

identifying a first portion of the time-varying sensor signal corresponding to a foot strike, and identifying a further second portion of the time-varying sensor signal corresponding to a foot lift; and

determining a life cycle state of an insole component of the footwear using at least the first portion of the time-varying sensor signal.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein determining the life cycle status of the insole component includes identifying a peak-to-peak excursion characteristic of the time-varying sensor signal.

9. The method of any one of claims 7 or 8, further comprising reporting a footwear status indication to a user when the determined life cycle status indicates that the insole provides insufficient cushioning for the user.

10. The method of any of claims 1-9, wherein updating the automated functionality of the footwear comprises enabling or disabling operation of an automatic lacing engine, wherein the lacing engine is configured to tighten or loosen the footwear around the foot.

11. The method of any one of claims 1-10, wherein receiving the time-varying sensor signal from the sensor comprises receiving a time-varying capacitance indicative signal from a capacitive sensor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the time-varying capacitance indicative signal from the capacitive sensor comprises providing a drive signal to a driven shield configured for use with the capacitive sensor.

13. The method of any one of claims 11 or 12, further comprising monitoring, using the processor circuit, the time-varying capacitance indication signal from the capacitive sensor intermittently for a specified duration, and updating a reference capacitance characteristic of the capacitive sensor when the signal indicates less than a specified threshold signal change for the specified duration.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein updating the reference capacitance characteristic comprises using a moving average of the output from the capacitive sensor.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising using the time-varying sensor signal and the updated reference capacitance characteristic to identify a later subsequent speed characteristic of the foot relative to the sensor.

16. The method of any of claims 1-15, further comprising adjusting the identified speed characteristic based on a detected life cycle state change of one or more components of the footwear.

17. The method of any of claims 1-16, wherein receiving the time-varying sensor signal comprises receiving as a foot is inserted into or removed from the footwear, and wherein identifying the velocity characteristic of the time-varying sensor signal comprises identifying a varying proximity characteristic of the foot as toe, arch, and heel portions of the foot approach the sensor in the footwear.

18. A foot proximity sensor system for footwear, the system comprising:

a capacitive proximity sensor coupled to an article of footwear and configured to provide a time-varying sensor signal indicative of a proximity of a foot to the sensor; and

a processor circuit coupled to the proximity sensor, the processor circuit configured to:

identifying a speed characteristic using the time-varying sensor signal; and

based on the identified speed characteristic, performing at least one of:

initiating data collection with respect to the footwear or with respect to the position of the foot relative to the sensor, using the same proximity sensor or using a different sensor coupled to the footwear, and

updating the automated functionality of the footwear.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the capacitive proximity sensor includes a planar electrode and a driven shield disposed at or near an insole of the footwear.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor circuit is configured to use the identified speed characteristics to determine one or more of a step count, a foot impact force, and a rate of travel.

21. The system of any of claims 18-20, wherein the processor circuit is configured to update a reference characteristic of the capacitive proximity sensor to accommodate changes in fluid saturation of one or more components of the footwear.

22. The system of any of claims 18-21, further comprising a dielectric stack disposed between the capacitive proximity sensor and a foot-receiving surface of the footwear.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising a hook and loop cover disposed between the capacitive proximity sensor and a foot-receiving surface of the footwear, and configured to bias the dielectric stack toward an uncompressed state.

24. An automated footwear system for use in an article of footwear, the system comprising:

a harness engine and a harness engine housing configured to be disposed in the article;

a processor circuit disposed in the housing; and

a capacitive sensor comprising at least one electrode and a corresponding driven shield disposed at least partially inside the housing, wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to sense a change in proximity of a body to the at least one electrode and provide a time-varying sensor signal indicative of the proximity of the body to the electrode;

wherein the processor circuit is configured to:

identifying a speed characteristic using the time-varying sensor signal; and

based on the identified speed characteristic, performing at least one of:

initiating data collection with respect to the footwear or with respect to the proximity of the body to the electrode, using the same capacitive sensor or using a different sensor coupled to the footwear, and

updating an automation function of the lacing engine.

25. The automated footwear system of claim 24, wherein the processor circuit is configured to use the identified speed characteristic to determine one or more of a step count, a foot impact force, or a rate of travel.

26. The automated footwear system of any of claims 24 or 25, wherein the processor circuit is configured to update the reference characteristic of the capacitive sensor based on a detected change in fluid saturation of one or more components disposed in or coupled to the footwear.

27. The automated footwear system of any of claims 24-26, further comprising a dielectric stack disposed on a foot-facing side of the capacitive sensor and configured to enhance sensitivity of the capacitive sensor to the body.

28. The automated footwear system of any of claims 24-27, further comprising a suspension member configured to bias the dielectric stack away from a compressed state.

29. The automated footwear system of any of claims 24-28, wherein the processor circuit is configured to update the automated function of the lacing engine, including activating an automatic lacing function of the footwear based on the identified speed characteristic.