IP Library Granted Patent US 11,344,227
Granted Patent B2
US 11,344,227 · App. 16/918,302 · Granted May 31, 2022

Apparel with ultrasonic position sensing and haptic feedback for activities

Inventor: Ernest Kim (Portland, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A61B5/1114A41D1/002A61B5/0816A61B5/486A61B5/6804G08B6/00A41D13/0015A41D31/18A61B5/002A61B5/1135A61B5/7455A61B2503/10A61B2562/0204A61B2562/046
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,344,227
App. No.
16/918,302
Granted
May 31, 2022
Kind
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.

Claims (35)

1. An article of apparel, comprising:

a fabric configured to conform to a body of a wearer;

a plurality of ultrasonic positioning sensors 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; and

a plurality of feedback devices secured with respect to the fabric at a second set of predetermined locations, wherein each of the feedback devices configured to output a feedback signal that is detectable by the wearer of the article of apparel, wherein individual feedback devices of the plurality of feedback devices are configured to provide feedback signals at respective different times according to a predetermined feedback signal sequence;

a processor, configured to:

at a plurality of discrete sequential times, determine positional values of the plurality of ultrasonic positioning sensors based, at least in part, on electronic signals output by the plurality of ultrasonic positioning sensors; and

cause at least some of the plurality of feedback devices to output the feedback signal corresponding to one of the plurality of predetermined sequences based, at least in part, on a difference between the positional values as determined at the plurality of discrete sequential times and a parameter set of an activity program.

2. The article of apparel of claim 1 , 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 the individual ones of the plurality of feedback devices to output the feedback signal based on a variation between an associated positional value and the target value.

3. The article of apparel of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to cause the individual ones of the plurality of feedback devices to output the feedback signal when the variation exceeds a tolerance margin of the target value.

4. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the predetermined sequences incudes a variable intensity of the feedback signal provided by at least one of the plurality of feedback devices.

5. The article of apparel of claim 4 , wherein the variable intensity is based, at least in part, on a degree of deviation from the activity program.

6. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the predetermined sequences includes providing the feedback signal from only one of the plurality of feedback devices at a time.

7. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the predetermined sequences includes providing the feedback signal from more than one of the plurality of feedback devices at a time.

8. A method, comprising:

determining, with a processor, at a plurality of discrete sequential times, positional values of a plurality of ultrasonic positioning sensors secured with respect to a fabric at a first set of predetermined locations, the positional values based, at least in part, on electronic signals output by the plurality of ultrasonic positioning sensors, 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 to output a feedback signal corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined sequences based, at least in part, on a difference between the positional values as determined at the plurality of discrete sequential times and a parameter set of an activity program, wherein individual feedback devices of the plurality of feedback devices are configured to provide feedback signals at respective different times according to a predetermined feedback signal sequence.

9. The method of claim 8 , 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 the individual ones of the plurality of feedback devices to output the feedback signal based on a variation between an associated positional value and the target value.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to cause the individual ones of the plurality of feedback devices to output the feedback signal when the variation exceeds a tolerance margin of the target value.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the predetermined sequences incudes a variable intensity of the feedback signal provided by at least one of the plurality of feedback devices.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the variable intensity is based, at least in part, on a degree of deviation from the activity program.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the predetermined sequences includes providing the feedback signal from only one of the plurality of feedback devices at a time.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the predetermined sequences includes providing the feedback signal from more than one of the plurality of feedback devices at a time.

15. A system, comprising:

a fabric configured to conform to a body of a wearer;

a plurality of ultrasonic positioning sensors 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; and

a plurality of feedback devices secured with respect to the fabric at a second set of predetermined locations, wherein individual feedback devices of the plurality of feedback devices are configured to provide feedback signals at respective different times according to a predetermined feedback signal sequence; and

a processor, configured to:

at a plurality of discrete sequential times, determine positional values of the plurality of ultrasonic positioning sensors based, at least in part, on electronic signals output by the plurality of ultrasonic positioning sensors; and

cause at least some of the plurality of feedback devices to output the feedback signal corresponding to one of the plurality of predetermined sequences based, at least in part, on a difference between the positional values as determined at the plurality of discrete sequential times and a parameter set of an activity program.

16. The system of claim 15 , 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 the individual ones of the plurality of feedback devices to output the feedback signal based on a variation between an associated positional value and the target value.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to cause the individual ones of the plurality of feedback devices to output the feedback signal when the variation exceeds a tolerance margin of the target value.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the predetermined sequences incudes a variable intensity of the feedback signal provided by at least one of the plurality of feedback devices.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the variable intensity is based, at least in part, on a degree of deviation from the activity program.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the predetermined sequences includes providing the feedback signal from only one of the plurality of feedback devices at a time.

21. The system of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the predetermined sequences includes providing the feedback signal from more than one of the plurality of feedback devices at a time.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2020
From: KIM, ERNEST
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 053302/0870 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 16039711 · Jul 19, 2018
Continuation 15365815 · Nov 30, 2016
Provisional Application 62260988 · Nov 30, 2015
Related Publication 20200334962A1 · Oct 22, 2020