US-12622606-B2 - Apparel with ultrasonic position sensing and haptic feedback for activities

US12622606B2US 12622606 B2US12622606 B2US 12622606B2US-12622606-B2

Abstract

An article of apparel, a system, and methods include a fabric configured to conform to a body of a wearer. A plurality of ultrasonic positioning sensors are secured with respect to the fabric at a first set of predetermined locations, each of the ultrasonic positioning sensors configured to emit a sound wave configured to be detected by other ones of the plurality of ultrasonic positioning sensors and output an electronic signal indicative of having emitted or detected a sound wave. A plurality of feedback devices secured with respect to the fabric at a second set of predetermined locations, each of the feedback devices configured to output a feedback signal configured to be detectable by the wearer of the article of apparel.

Inventors

Ernest Kim

Assignees

NIKE, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240229

Claims (20)

1 . An article of apparel, comprising: a fabric configured to conform to a body of a wearer; a plurality of positioning sensors secured with respect to the fabric at a first set of predetermined locations, each of the positioning sensors configured to: emit a first signal that propagates through air or the fabric and is configured to be detected by one or more of the plurality of positioning sensors, and output a second signal indicative of having emitted or detected the first signal that propagates through the air or the fabric, the second signal indicative of having detected the first signal including an indication of a direction from which the first signal was detected; a plurality of feedback devices secured with respect to the fabric at a second set of predetermined locations; and a processor is configured to: based, at least in part, on the second signal output by the plurality of positioning sensors, determine positional values indicative of a relative position of each of the plurality of positioning sensors and directional values indicative of the direction from which the first signal was received for each of the plurality of positioning sensors; and cause at least some of the plurality of feedback devices to output a feedback signal based, at least in part, on the positional values and the directional values.
2 . The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the causing of at least some of the plurality of feedback devices to output the feedback signal is further based on a parameter set of an activity program.
3 . The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of positioning sensors include one or more of, an ultrasonic positioning sensor or a respiration sensor, and wherein the first signal includes a sound wave.
4 . The article of apparel of claim 1 , further comprising a respiration sensor positioned so as to detect expansion and contraction of the fabric.
5 . The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the output of the plurality of feedback devices includes at least one of, haptic feedback, electrical stimulation, heat, sound, or light.
6 . The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the first set of predetermined locations comprise a left shoulder, a right shoulder; a left arm, a right arm, a left side; and a right side.
7 . The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the positional values include a distance between a pair of the plurality of positioning sensors.
8 . The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of feedback devices comprises at least one haptic motor configured to cause a respective feedback device, of the plurality of feedback devices, to output the feedback signal to induce the wearer of the article of apparel to change posture.
9 . The article of apparel of claim 2 , wherein the parameter set comprises at least one target value indicative of a desired distance between two or more of the plurality of positioning sensors, and wherein the processor is configured to cause individual ones of the plurality of feedback devices to output the feedback signal based on a variation between an associated positional value and the at least one target value.
10 . The article of apparel of claim 9 , wherein the at least one target value is associated with a tolerance value and wherein the processor is configured to cause the individual ones of the plurality of feedback devices to output the feedback signal based on the variation exceeding the tolerance value.
11 . The article of apparel of claim 1 , further comprising a respiration sensor secured with respect to the fabric and configured to output a signal based, at least in part, on physiologic factors indicative of respiration of the wearer of the article of apparel, wherein the processor is further configured to cause at least some of the plurality of feedback devices to output the feedback signal based, at least in part, on the signal from the respiration sensor.
12 . A method, comprising: based, at least in part, on electronic signals output by a plurality of positioning sensors, determining, with a processor, positional values indicative of a relative position of each of the plurality of positioning sensors and directional values of the plurality of positioning sensors secured with respect to a fabric at a first set of predetermined locations, wherein each directional value, of the directional values, is indicative of a direction from which an electronic signal, of the electronic signals, is received by a respective positioning sensor through air or the fabric from another respective positioning sensor, wherein the fabric is configured to conform to a body of a wearer; and causing, with the processor, at least some of a plurality of feedback devices secured with respect to the fabric to output a feedback signal based, at least in part, on a difference between the positional values and the directional values.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the causing of at least some of the plurality of feedback devices secured with respect to the fabric to output the feedback signal is further based on a parameter set of an activity program.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of positioning sensors include one or more of, an ultrasonic positioning sensor or a respiration sensor.
15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising detecting expansion and contraction of the fabric via a respiration sensor.
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the output of the plurality of feedback devices includes at least one of, haptic feedback, electrical stimulation, heat, sound, or light.
17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first set of predetermined locations comprise a left shoulder, a right shoulder; a left arm, a right arm, a left side; and a right side.
18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the positional values include a distance between a pair of the plurality of positioning sensors.
19 . A system, comprising: a fabric configured to conform to a body of a wearer; a plurality of positioning sensors secured with respect to the fabric at a first set of predetermined locations, each of the positioning sensors configured to emit a first signal and output a second signal indicative of having emitted or detected the first signal, the second signal indicative of having detected the first signal including an indication of a direction from which the first signal was received from another positioning sensor; a plurality of feedback devices secured with respect to the fabric at a second set of predetermined locations, each of the plurality of feedback devices configured to output a feedback signal configured to be detectable by the wearer of the fabric; and a processor is configured to: based, at least in part, on the second signal output by the plurality of positioning sensors, determine positional values indicative of a relative position of each of the plurality of positioning sensors and directional values indicative of the direction from which the first signal is received from the another positioning sensor for the plurality of positioning sensors; and cause at least some of the plurality of feedback devices to output the feedback signal based, at least in part, on the positional values and the directional values.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the causing of at least some of the plurality of feedback devices to output the feedback signal is further based on a parameter set of an activity program.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/825,469, filed May 26, 2022, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 16/918,302, filed Jul. 1, 2020, issued on May 31, 2022, as U.S. Pat. No. 11,344,227, which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/039,711, filed Jul. 19, 2018, issued on Jul. 21, 2020 as U.S. Pat. No. 10,720,032, which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/365,815, filed Nov. 30, 2016, issued on Aug. 21, 2018 as U.S. Pat. No. 10,055,948, which application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/260,988, filed on Nov. 30, 2015, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. TECHNICAL FIELD The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to an article of apparel with a ultrasonic position detection and haptic feedback based on activities. BACKGROUND Articles of apparel, such as shirts, jackets, pants, footwear, and the like, have long been customized for use with particular activities. While certain activities support any of a range of types of articles of apparel, from loose-fitting to conformal, other activities are conventionally performed or conducted in relatively conformal for form-fitting apparel. For instance, aerobic exercises, acrobatics, yoga, and many other activities are commonly performed in tight-fitting apparel and various articles of apparel have been designed to provide such a conformal fitting. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Some embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings. FIGS. 1A and 1B are front and back depictions, respectively, of an article of apparel including various electronic devices, in an example embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of electronics of the article of apparel, in an example embodiment. FIG. 3 is an abstract illustration of the function of positioning sensors, in an example embodiment. FIG. 4 is an abstract rendering of an activity program, in an example embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a system including the article of apparel, in an example embodiment. FIGS. 6A and 6B are a depiction and a block diagram of an alternative example of an article of apparel and related system, in an example embodiment. FIGS. 7A-7C are illustrations of examples of arrangements of particular feedback devices. FIG. 8 is an illustration of a sleeve configured to be work over an arm of a wearer and incorporating various devices and functions of the article of apparel, in an example embodiment. FIGS. 9A and 9B are side and top views, respectively, of a button motor that may function as a haptic motor, in an example embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for making an article of apparel, in an example embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart for using an article of apparel, in an example embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Example methods and systems are directed to an article of apparel with a ultrasonic position detection and haptic feedback based on activities. Examples merely typify possible variations. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, components and functions are optional and may be combined or subdivided, and operations may vary in sequence or be combined or subdivided. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of example embodiments. It will be evident to one skilled in the art, however, that the present subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. Articles of apparel for particular activities have been developed that utilize electronics for various purposes. For instance, yoga apparel has been developed that incorporates haptic feedback devices at specific locations. An external sensor, such as a motion-capture camera, monitors the wearer of the apparel as the wearer engages in predetermined motions and positions. When the wearer deviates from the predetermined motions, the wearer receives a haptic interaction to guide the wearer back into proper position. However, by relying on external sensors, such systems may have limitations on the capacity to determine what the user is doing and whether or not feedback is called for. For instance, while a camera may provide views of a front aspect of a user, the camera may not have views of the side and rear of the user. Even the use of multiple cameras may still result in portions of the body that may not be viewable all the time, particularly as the wearer twists and otherwise performs the prescribed actions. An article of apparel has been developed that provides for haptic feedback to guide a wearer through an activity that has integrated sensors. In various examples, the integrated sensors are ultrasonic sensors, though alternative sensors that operate on related, distance and direction-finding principles, may be utilized as well. The ultrasonic sensors are placed at predetermined locations