Sensor incorporated into the sole of a shoe

Abstract

A shoe can include a sole with a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, an upper member coupled to the top surface of the sole, and a sensor coupled to and surrounded by the sole. The sensor can include a processor an antenna in communication with the processor where the antenna is positioned proximate the bottom surface of the sole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe comprising:
 a sole with a top surface, and a bottom surface opposite the top surface,   an upper member coupled to the top surface of the sole;   a sensor coupled to and surrounded by the sole, the sensor including:
 a processor; 
 an antenna in communication with the processor; 
 wherein the antenna is positioned proximate the bottom surface of the sole. 
   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes at least one assembly guide and the sole includes a corresponding assembly guide cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one assembly guide includes an irregularly shaped housing with a hollow interior that matches a shape of assembly guide cavity, wherein the processor and the antenna are positioned within the hollow interior. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is positioned in a proximal portion of the sole. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is positioned along a medial side of the sole. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna is configured to communicate with a remote device. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor further includes an accelerometer and a gyroscope, wherein the accelerometer and the gyroscope are configured to detect one of a stride length, distance traveled, foot position, degree of pronation, or gait cadence. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 6 , wherein the remote device comprises a second sensor in a second shoe; and
 wherein the processor is configured to record and process data in real time.   
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the shoe includes a housing that includes a two piece component coupled together to form a hollow interior; and
 wherein the sensor is disposed within the housing.   
     
     
         10 . A shoe, comprising:
 a sole with a top surface, and a bottom surface opposite the top surface,   a cavity formed in the top surface of the sole, the cavity having walls and a cavity floor;   an upper member coupled to the top surface of the sole;   a sensor positioned within the cavity in the sole, the sensor including:
 a housing; 
 a processor positioned inside the housing; 
 an antenna positioned inside the housing, the antenna in communication with the processor; 
 wherein the antenna is positioned proximate the bottom surface of the sole. 
   
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 10 , wherein the housing is a two piece component coupled together to define a hollow interior. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 10 , wherein the antenna is positioned between one and five centimeters from the bottom surface of the sole. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe of  claim 12 , wherein the antenna is positioned one centimeter from the bottom surface of the sole. 
     
     
         14 . A shoe system, comprising:
 a first shoe including:
 a sole with a top surface; 
 a bottom surface opposite the top surface; and 
 a cavity defined in the top surface of the sole, the cavity including: 
 at least one cavity wall, and 
 a cavity floor connected to the at least one cavity wall; 
   an upper member coupled to the top surface of the sole;
 a first sensor positioned within the cavity in the sole, the first sensor including:
 a housing; 
 a processor positioned inside the housing; 
 an antenna positioned inside the housing, the antenna being in communication with the processor; 
 wherein the antenna is positioned proximate the bottom surface of the sole; 
 
   a second shoe; and   a second sensor coupled to the second shoe.   
     
     
         15 . The shoe system of  claim 14 , wherein the second sensor includes:
 a second housing;   a second processor positioned inside the second housing;   a second antenna positioned inside the second housing, the second antenna in communication with the processor;   wherein the second antenna is positioned proximate the bottom surface of a second sole of the second housing.   
     
     
         16 . The shoe system of  claim 15 , wherein the first sensor is in communication with the second sensor, forming a sensor system; and
 wherein the first sensor is established as the master sensor and the second sensor is established as the slave sensor.   
     
     
         17 . The shoe system of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor system is configured to detect data including a stride length, distance traveled, foot position, degree of pronation, gait cadence, balance, or leg favoring. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe system of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor system detects the data in real time and is configured to transmit the data to a remote device. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe system of  claim 14 , wherein the second shoe further comprises:
 a second sole with a second top surface;   a second bottom surface opposite the second top surface;   a second cavity defined in the second top surface of the second, the second cavity having at least one second wall and a second cavity floor connected to the at least one second wall; and   a second upper member coupled to the second top surface of the second sole;   wherein the second sensor is positioned within the second cavity in the second sole.   
     
     
         21 . A sensor apparatus, comprising:
 a sensor, the sensor including:
 a first side; 
 a second side opposite the first side; 
 a circuit board incorporated into the first side; and 
 an antenna incorporated into the second side; 
   a sensor housing, the sensor housing including:
 a foot impact side shaped to contact an underside of a human foot; 
 an insertion side opposite the foot impact side and shaped to be inserted into a cavity defined in a sole of a shoe from within a foot cavity of the shoe; 
 the foot impact side and the insertion side collecting defining a sensor chamber; 
 the antenna being position adjacent the insertion side and opposite the foot impact side.