US-12622601-B2 - Compression sensing utilizing sensors incorporated in a wearable apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for worn by a user, includes: an elastic sleeve configured to be worn at a foot of the user; and a plurality of sensors coupled to the elastic sleeve, wherein the sensors comprise at least a first sensor configured to sense a first force or first pressure, and a second sensor configured to sense a second force or second pressure; wherein the first sensor is at a first location with respect to the elastic sleeve so that when the user wears the apparatus, the first sensor will be at a medial side of the foot; and wherein the second sensor is at a second location with respect to the elastic sleeve so that when the user wears the apparatus, the second sensor will be at a lateral side of the foot.

Inventors

• Ethan Y. Chan

Assignees

• Ethan Y. Chan

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20250122

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A method of determining compression at a foot of a user, the method comprising: providing an apparatus comprising an elastic sleeve to be worn at the foot of the user, and a plurality of sensors coupled to the elastic sleeve, the sensors comprising a first sensor and a second sensor; wherein when the user wears the apparatus, the first sensor is (1) facing a first peripheral side of the foot, (2) below an ankle of the user, (3) away from a bottom of the foot, and (4) away from a top of the foot; wherein when the user wears the apparatus, the second sensor is (1) facing a second peripheral side of the foot, (2) below the ankle of the user, (3) away from the bottom of the foot, and (4) away from the top of the foot; wherein the method further comprises an act of sensing, by the first sensor, a characteristic indicative of a first force or a first pressure; wherein the plurality of sensors also comprises a third sensor, and wherein when the user wears the apparatus, the third sensor is facing the bottom of the foot distal to a lisfrank of a joint of the user; and wherein the plurality of sensors also comprises a fourth sensor, and wherein when the user wears the apparatus, the fourth sensor is facing the bottom of the foot proximal to a chopart of the joint of the user.
2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the elastic sleeve is a sock comprising a first electrically non-conductive layer and a second electrically non-conductive layer, and wherein the sensors are disposed between the first non-conductive layer of the sock and the second non-conductive layer of the sock.
3. 3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensors further comprise an array of sensors, wherein when the user wears the apparatus, the array of sensors is at the bottom of the foot.
4. 4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises one or more transmitters, and wherein the method further comprises transmitting sensor data from the sensors to a device away from the apparatus.
5. 5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the device comprises a cellular phone, an iPad, a tablet, a computer, a sport-band, a watch, or a server.
6. 6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a battery compartment configured to house a battery, and wherein the sensors are configured to operate utilizing power from the battery.
7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises an energy harvester configured to obtain energy from motion of the user.
8. 8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises an array of sensors, and wherein when the user wears the apparatus, at least a part of the array of sensors is below a metatarsal head of the foot, a tibial sesamoid of the foot, a fibular sesamoid of the foot, a great toe of the foot, a plantar medial tubercle of the foot, a calcaneal-cuboid joint of the foot, a 5th metatarsal base of the foot, or any combination.
9. 9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises one or more registers or one or more memories, and wherein the method further comprises storing, by the one or more registers or the one or more memories, sensor data from the sensors.
10. 10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises one or more displays, and wherein the method further comprises displaying information derived from sensor data provided by the plurality of sensors.
11. 11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing sensor data from the plurality of sensors in a data structure that correlates the sensor data with respective time points.
12. 12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a mapping table in display form for viewing by the user, the mapping table mapping a first range of sensor values to a comfort classification, and mapping a second range of the sensor values to a discomfort classification, wherein the first range of the sensor values and the second range of the sensor values are pre-determined before the user uses the apparatus, and wherein the mapping table is configured to assist the user in determining whether a location at the foot of the user is having comfort or discomfort.
13. 13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a visual indicator, and wherein the method further comprises providing a visual indication by the visual indicator when a sensor value associated with the first sensor or the second sensor is above a threshold.
14. 14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the elastic sleeve is a sock, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a wireless device coupled to the sock, the wireless device configured to wirelessly transmit data based on output from the first sensor for reception by a handheld device.
15. 15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a vertical axis extending through the first sensor is away from the foot of the user when the user wears the apparatus.
16. 16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the elastic sleeve is a sock with an end having a sock opening, wherein the apparatus further comprises a cable extending from the end of the sock, and wherein the cable comprises wires respectively coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor.
17. 17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising; obtaining sensor outputs from the third sensor, and analyzing the sensor outputs to identify an activity performed by the user.
18. 18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of sensing is performed by the first sensor while the user is standing.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/128,968 filed on Mar. 30, 2023, pending. The entire disclosure of the above application is expressly incorporated by reference herein. FIELD The field relates to devices and methods for determining comfort levels associated with shoe wearing, and/or for determining correct shoe sizes. BACKGROUND It is important to have correct footwear fitting. Footwear that is incorrectly fitted can result in foot pathology. For example, incorrect footwear fitting may cause foot pain, and foot disorders including but not limited to corns, calluses, and toe deformity. The Brannock device is a popular instrument for determining one's shoe size. The Brannock device measures a length and a width of a person's foot, and determines the person's appropriate shoe size based on the measured dimensions. However, it is estimated that as much as 70% of the population may be wearing shoes that do not accommodate either the width or length dimensions of their feet. More importantly, the Brannock device may not be accurate in determining the right shoe size. This is because the Brannock device merely considers the length and the width of a person's foot when determining shoe size. However, the length and the width of a person's foot only account for four potential pressure points (front tip, left most, right most, and rear tip) of the foot. Accordingly, even if the length and the width of a person's foot are considered, the person may not be wearing a correct size shoe because there may be significant pressure point(s) caused by the shoe that is not accounted for. In addition, a person sometimes may continue to wear shoes that are slightly uncomfortable, and may bear some discomfort that comes with wearing the shoes, with the hope that the shoes will eventually be broken-in. However, in such situations, the amount of pressure exerted by the shoes towards the person's feet may be at an unhealthy level without the person realizing it, and the person may eventually develop a foot condition, such as calluses. Also, certain individuals may not remember, or may not be able, to express discomfort at the feet when wearing shoes. For examples, children, older people, disabled individuals, and people with medical conditions (e.g., Down syndrome, diabetes, etc.) may tend to wear poorly fitted shoes more frequent than others. Accordingly, new devices and methods for determining comfort levels associated with shoe wearing, and/or for determining correct shoe sizes for individuals are described herein. SUMMARY An apparatus includes: an elastic sleeve configured to be worn at a foot of a user; and a plurality of sensors coupled to the elastic sleeve, wherein the sensors comprise at least a first sensor configured to sense a first force or first pressure, and a second sensor configured to sense a second force or second pressure; wherein the first sensor is at a first location with respect to the elastic sleeve so that when the user wears the apparatus, the first sensor will be at a medial side of the foot; and wherein the second sensor is at a second location with respect to the elastic sleeve so that when the user wears the apparatus, the second sensor will be at a lateral side of the foot. Optionally, the elastic sleeve comprises a first layer and a second layer, and wherein the sensors are disposed between the first layer and the second layer of the elastic sleeve. Optionally, the sensors comprise an array of sensors that includes the first and second sensors. Optionally, the elastic sleeve and the sensors form a wearable device, and wherein the wearable device comprises one or more transmitters configured to transmit sensor data from the sensors to a device away from the wearable device. Optionally, the device comprises a cellular phone, an iPad, a tablet, a computer, a sport-band, a watch, or a server. Optionally, the apparatus further includes a battery compartment configured to house a battery, wherein the sensors are configured to operate utilizing power from the battery. Optionally, the apparatus further includes an energy harvester configured to obtain energy from motion of the user. Optionally, the apparatus further includes a switch coupled to the sensors, wherein the switch is manually operable to turn the sensors on or off. Optionally, the elastic sleeve is washable and re-usable. Optionally, the sensors comprise a third sensor configured to sense a third force or third pressure applied by a bottom of the foot of the user. Optionally, the apparatus further includes an array of sensors, the array of sensors located with respect to the elastic sleeve so that when the user wears the apparatus, the array of sensors will be at a bottom of the foot. Optionally, at least a part of the array of sensors is located with respect to the elastic sleeve so that when the user wears the apparatus, the at least the part of the array of sensors is below a meta